I've started a web page where people can send soliders and veterans a wildlife greeting card of mine, with a letter, which I'll forward to an organization that does this.  One more way to try and spread the word.  I also joined Facebook (never thought I would) and am enjoying hooking up with like-minded people.   It's amazing how many people you can touch so quickly.  Also, it's an eye-opener as to what goes on out there.  My goal for 2012 is to get a car!  It's because I don't have a car that I can't get around and actually get to places to find a job, sell my work, or even photograph new things.  I'd be happy with a little clunker that will get me around.

The greatest and latest news is that on July 22, 2010, I became an American citizen.  What an emotionally charged day, but one of joy and relief.  Relief that I now feel as though I belong somewhere.  Armed with a certificate to prove I am a naturalized American citizen, I face the world with a different view.  Having achieved this, I know I can achieve other great things in my life.  I took my first overseas trip as an American citizen this October, new passport in hand, to a family reunion in England.

I've had my website for over eight years now, so here is a little about me.  I hail from Cape Town, South Africa, but now live in Colorado.  At a very early age I lived in Zambia for nine years before returning to South Africa and continuing my education.  I’ve always loved to travel but found it much too expensive to get to anywhere from where I was, so it was rather limited.  Working for a large magazine and newspaper publishing company in the '80s and '90s, I was transferred to their London office where I spent four years as an editorial assistant before being sent to New York where I spent a year.  Living abroad, and having easy access to the continent and the continental U.S.A., my lust for travel was really unleashed and I went to France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Austria, Madeira, Sicily, Capri, Panteleria, Corfu (I love islands!) in Europe, and all over the U.S.A.  However, it wasn’t until I recently moved to America that I found myself hopping on Amtrak trains and taking road trips and gadding about the country, taking notes of my travels as I went along.  This led to my writing and publishing my first book, A Marmac Guide to Las Vegas in November 2005.  I chose Las Vegas because I had first been there as a tourist back in 1989, fell in love with it, and couldn’t wait to go back.  Being an avid amateur photographer also helped, as I took all my own pictures for the book as well as for my website.

I published my second book, this one on common sense, in October 2007.
I self-published my own book Backyard Snapshots of wildlife photographs in August 2009 and sell it via my website.

Employment here hasn’t been a bed of roses and I’ve had to make do with what I can find as a freelancer.  I designed and maintain my own non-fiction book review and travel websites, and I edit a prestigious wedding and event design company’s website whenever they need me.  I also offer a website design service.  Among other writing and creative tasks I’ve put my hand to, I've compiled crossword puzzles (specializing in celebrity crosswords which I printed up myself and sold through my website), I've written children’s stories, poetry, screenplays (I am working on a re-write), am writing a book on manners, two cookbooks, and have three new book projects from which I plan to donate a portion of the proceeds to children’s, animal, and other worthy charities.  I have strong views and opinions on how badly children (and women) are treated, and also animals, and would like to be able to help out.  Starting my own series of travel guidebooks is another goal I am working towards.  However, any and all job offers will gladly be entertained.

Naturally I read a lot for my book review website, and predominantly autobiographies and memoirs, but I have expanded to include travel, cooking, self-help, crafts, fashion and health, and humor, and I get great feedback from authors.  My photography needs brushing up as I hope to illustrate the children’s book I've written.  I love the digital age as it’s so much fun being able to see your pictures instantly and edit them yourself.

I don’t have a car and get around locally on a bicycle, which keeps me fit, but I have fallen prey to the wonderful American food and have put on a few pounds which I am slowly taking off – a book on this is in the offing, maybe!  I have made a few good friends since moving to this part of the world and plan to do a little more local traveling as soon as I am able.  There is so much to see in this country I now call home, and I am eager to get out there and do some more discovering.  My various road and train trips are featured on my website.  I love America so much and will report on my travels in the future.  I am working on becoming a travel companion to older women who don't like traveling alone, and I have a website with lots of travel ideas and my information (www.travelwithapal.info).

People I'd love to meet: Oprah, Billy Joel, Garth Brooks, Cher, Betty White, Ellen De Generes, Maya Angelou, Sylvia Browne, Sharon Osbourne, Bill Cosby, Shirley MacLaine, and Madhur Jaffrey, for the moment.

Thanks for visiting my website and keep coming back as there’ll always be new books and hopefully, more travels.  And, I have more expansion plans for my website in the imminent future, so keep an eye out.
Adrienne  January 2012