As I am descended from librarians on one side of the family and newspaper men on the other, my love of words may be encoded into my DNA. Books and stories have been my anchor since I checked my first book out of the library at age 4 (The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle).  I’ve been writing journals, character sketches, and stories since high school. Years later, that habit culminated in a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing, Fiction.

While I spent many years in traditional professional environments with job titles such as Communications Analyst and Technical Writer, my leanings have always drifted toward the arts. While I continue to write, with my blog, www.artfulmistakes.com, my interests have expanded to the visual arts. I’ve taken up painting, and while no awards will be forthcoming, I continue to find the process of art transformative, be it writing a novel or painting a portrait.

That interest in transformation extends into a hobby interest in brain science.  From neuroplasticity, neurogenesis to neurotransmitters to recovery from traumas such as strokes and PTSD, the infinitely complex workings of the human brain fascinate me.

Aside from my well-documented interest in the English language, I have a long-standing interest in foreign languages. I have studied Spanish, French, Farsi (Persian) and, long ago, a little Russian, although I speak none of those with any fluency.

Travel remains one of my favorite hobbies, generally long road trips in the U.S. I have been in 48 of 50 states (missing Alaska and Hawaii), often with my surprisingly mellow cats glaring at me from the backseat. Internationally, I’m far less well-traveled, but still have managed to sneak in trips to Japan (Tokyo), Australia (Sydney and the Blue Mountains), France (Paris), Spain (Madrid and Barcelona areas) and England (London, Bath, and Cambridge).

I’m also somewhat of a health nut. I spent many years involved with yoga studios in DC, Minneapolis, and Miami, including completing two teacher trainings. Since I was on the cross-country team in high school, I’ve always circled back to my love of running. I’ve completed two marathons, and while I swore both times as I crossed the finish line that I will not run another one, I suspect I might. Among many other benefits, it offsets the damage from my ice cream habit.

I believe that life is an adventure.  It’s not always easy – seldom is it ever so organized and simple – but I believe there is so much we can do if we just take the next steps and start to pull our dreams into our real daily lives.

I understand the choice to put your work out into the world is bold and personal step, and I’m here to support that endeavor. I’d love to talk with you about how I might help you bring your talents and dreams to reality. Email me today at cynthia.daffron@gmail.com to schedule your free 20-minute consultation.