About Joanne Ivy StankievichPASSIONS: My white hair belies the fact that I love to Rock ’n Roll with my husband and snorkel amidst the many-colored fish of the Caribbean. Exploring far-out ideas in quantum physics and participation in inter-faith activities keep my mind challenged.
EUROPEAN ADVENTURE: My childhood daydream of “Exciting adventures in far-off lands” was realized when I married Walter Stankievich, a Belarusian activist, and we moved to Europe toward the end of the Cold War. Those unique, sometimes humorous, and sometimes perilous experiences are shared in my memoir, LIVING WITH A SCENT OF DANGER, European Adventures at the Fall of Communism. WRITING JOURNEY: When free-lancing for the local weekly, the Monroe Monitor, as a teenager, I decided I’d major in journalism at college. That got side-tracked to Sociology and International Relations at Principia College. Those new interests propelled me to work in NYC with Eleanor Roosevelt organizing Model U.N. programs on college campuses; then into social group work at YWCAs; and later, developing international businesses. In preparation for the memoir, I honed my writing skills with courses at Rutgers University and the Gotham Writers’ Workshop; and participated in numerous local writing workshops and conferences. Check out the PHOTOS to get to know our family better, including Walter, and our two sons, John and Steve. |