Elin Stebbins Waldal

 “here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)”

                                                                       –e.e. cummings 

About Me:

There are the cursory professional lists of what an individual has “done” (and you can get that on my Media page if that is what you are seeking)…otherwise here are just a few snippets about me. 

Glance over the shoulder:

My best memories of childhood are centered on being the youngest of five children:

We had it great in so many ways, safe, nourished, loved by each other and our parents, and really I am grateful. In some ways we each had a different version of childhood because of the eleven year span between oldest and youngest—but mostly from where I sit, my childhood was wonderful.

These are my parents…or this is what they looked like when they first met. I love this picture because it was taken with a self timer and it is slightly out of focus…but really…you can see their happiness and love.

Somewhere in the Middle:

So my late teens weren’t so great—hence my memoir—but that is truly the experience that has led me to this incredible gift: making a difference in as many lives as I can to end dating violence.

I am acutely aware that abuse does not discriminate. Abuse can happen to anyone no matter how charmed a life they have led. In my estimation, a childhood should blossom uninterrupted into adulthood. I am driven by the desire to educate young people, along with their parents, about the signs of abuse as a means to prevent anyone from suffering at the hands of someone who claims to love them.

The Present:

Truly my family is what roots me, the love and bond we share is the basis of my strength. Together with our three kids, my husband Jimmy and I, live in Southern California.

 Jimmy and I together have an enormous extended family, some are in California, while many others  are sprinkled across the United States—there is an abundance of love and for that we are each eternally grateful.

Writing keeps me tethered to myself—and having once lost the essence of who I was, I find I cleave to my passion in a way that is as important as breathing. Thankfully writing doesn’t require an office, a neat desk, or stipulated hours, and for that I feel lucky. I have written countless poems, short stories, journal entries, articles, and now my first book—all integral pieces of who I am.

Beyond that—I stand for equality for all people and strive to do away with gender bias and discrimination on any level. If at the end of my life I can look back and know I never backed away from making this world a better place for those who inherit it, then in my estimation, I will die a rich woman.

Thank you for visiting my website, I welcome your thoughts and comments and look forward to hearing from you if you are inclined.

OX-Elin