About the Author

Dodie Cross is a freelance writer and author of the memoir: A Broad Abroad In Thailand: An Expat's Misadventures in the Land of Smiles.

She is now fast at work on her next memoir: One Strappy-Sandaled Foot Ahead of the Mullahs: An Expat's Misadventures in Iran Before and During the Revolution.

About me? Age? Well, let's just say I've been hearing my favorite songs played in elevators lately. I'm a Virgo-compromised female, very disciplined and have a strict regimen that I adhere to: I write four hours a day, play golf four hours a day, quilt for a couple hours, and watch Seinfeld reruns; these tasks are accomplished whenever the urge hits me. Sleep comes in 5 or 6 hour spurts but I'm rarin' to go by 5 a.m. I'm a hopeless romantic, love and devour memoirs—the funnier the better. I fantasize about Dave Barry, Bill Bryson—The Thunderbolt Kid—and me, a literary ménage a trois, on an island in the Caribbean, writing and laughing at each other's hilarious humor. Did I mention I'm also very humble?

I have traveled the world writing about my experiences in foreign countries such as Iran—very foreign; Thailand—very happy; as well as non-foreign places like New Orleans—very kinky; Orange County, California—very last week; and Lake Chelan, Washington—very old-world lovely.

I am married, have four children who blessed me with nine grandchildren (a compensation, I like to think, for growing old.) I spend my writer's life between Eastern Washington's Beautiful Lake Chelan and Southern California's balmy Palm Desert.

I've amassed numerous awards for my writing and poetry, among them the prestigious Southern California Writer's Conference First Place Award for "Best Nonfiction" for A Broad Abroad, as well as First Place in their Inaugural Poetry Award. I am a prize-winning author, snagging first and second place prizes in literary contests. I attended Cerritos College Creative Writing Program, College of the Desert Journalism and Magazine Writing programs, plus I own a clothes hamper full of writing accolades, certificates, degrees and rejection slips.

My articles have appeared in the Palm Desert Sun, the Seattle Post Intelligencer and as a guest columnist for the Lake Chelan Mirror in Washington State, as well as The Monterey Bay Parents Magazine and The University of Texas Literary Magazine, RiverSedge. I'm also a contributing editor to the Palm Springs Writers Guild Newsletter, and a member of The National League of American Pen Women.

An excerpt from Abroad  now appears in Talesmag, an Expat E-Zine (registration required).