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DREAMING IN THE SLUMS

12/12/2018

Once upon a time, while I was a grad student in Florida, I worked an odd mix of jobs. I sorted trays of sand with tweezers for a professor, a mindless task made better by the company of other sorters. I sold my art in local stores.

And I worked as the night desk/security person in the marine science building, near the end of a jetty. After locking up I walked out alone, beneath the stars, surrounded by the sea. Perfect.

I shared a cheap, run-down apartment with another student. It had no heating or air conditioning; living here felt a bit like camping out with solid walls and a roof over my head.

But the roof needed work. One night, during a hard rain, I woke as the ceiling fell in on top of me. I was drenched with stinky, filthy gray water and covered with old insulation.

This place was not perfect. Some might call it a slum. But comfort is relative; I met people who were homeless.

I left my old car unlocked at night, with blankets inside. People stayed in my car from time to time, especially when it was rainy or cold.
Sometimes a visitor left me a gift of an unsmoked cigarette. I don’t smoke, but it's the thought that counts.

I became friends with other tenants and realized that dreams are another kind of wealth. Some need help.

I was able to follow my dream and study marine science. Soon I could take a blank world map and, from memory, draw every major ocean current, even many minor ones. I better understood the connections between sea and sky, weather patterns and climate change.

Years later, the working title for my first novel became “Sea and Sky”, with connections between friends from
different worlds.

Everything I owned fit into my old car, except for the saltwater fish tank. I caught small fish and crabs for the tank, studied them, and returned them to the sea.

When I eventually moved away for my new job as a marine scientist, I gave this tank to a friend.

Vorm, one of my characters, is a wanderer of the sea. “We live free in the water. We are not burdened with things. Our experiences . . . our memories . . . all that
we truly own is in our mind."
~ "The Dragon Dreamer"

I was rich. I owned the gold and diamonds reflected off the sea, and the ruby sunsets. I owned the sound of the waves and the smell of the salty air.

All this is inside me, and sometimes in my Dragon Dreamer books.

“Arak lived with the taste of sea spray, the
rhythmic sound of waves, and the remarkable colors.
Afternoon waves shimmered like hammered gold in the
slanting sunlight.” ~ The Dragon Dreamer

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I Lost a Friend to Depression. Here's What I Learned.

11/30/2018

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I lost a friend to depression.
Since then I’ve recognized depression in other friends. It’s been described as a deep, dark, lonely place.

I’ve read every paper I could find and hunted for helpful treatments for friends with depression. It's hard to lose a friend and hard for those who live with depression.

This is what I’ve learned:

**A hug or caring word can sometimes make a huge difference.

**https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-Programs# is a program that may help.

**Visit your healthcare practitioner. If you benefit from a prescription, take it. The mind is part of the body. Get the help you need. You are worth it.

**L-Theanine is a natural tea extract that’s often very effective at relaxing people who are super stressed. Kal brand (online and in natural food stores) makes a 25 mg pill that dissolves in the mouth. Some take this each evening to help them sleep and also to cope with the following day. Many start with one 25 mg tablet and gradually increase to 75 mg or 100 mg taken each evening.

**St. John's Wort (herb) is available online and in health food stores. This is the #1 prescription by doctors in Europe for mild to moderate depression. It's sold online and in natural food stores.

**Zinc: Most people are deficient in Zinc. Taking 30 mg Zinc twice a day with food can make a big difference. Zinc also boosts the immune system (very useful in flu season) and helps the body make hormones.

**Taking B Vitamins can make a huge difference.

**Sunshine and Vitamin D3 (take with Vitamin K2) are helpful. Again, most people are deficient in this. Vitacost.com has a low-cost company brand that includes both in the correct ratio as melt tablets.

**Iodine helps the thyroid which helps with depression. Most people are deficient in Iodine. This also helps strengthen the immune system.

**DEPRESSION IS REAL. A suicide attempt may seem selfish. How can they do this to their friends and family? But they may truly believe that everyone will be better off without them. Or they just can't face another day. Depression may hurt so much that it's physically painful. The pain can be so deep it's hard to escape or even imagine it will ever get better.

I try to listen deeply, to hear what is not said, to be aware when a friend is in trouble. They probably won't tell us. It's our place to be aware and reach out.

My character Scree says, "What will be, will be. And then I'll fix it."
People who suffer from depression may need help immediately.

More phone numbers for help:
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
Veterans Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255
Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

Wishing you all a safe, happy holiday season!
May your dreams come true.

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My First Research Cruise. And They Didn't Want Me.

10/27/2018

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My first ocean cruise!
And they didn’t want me.
Have you ever seen the face of the last person chosen for a school team? Glad to be finally chosen, sad to be last?

Well, my major professor and his colleague were literally asking people on the street with no science background whatsoever in a desperate attempt to fill the crew positions before I found out about the deep sea science research cruise. They did not want me at all.

Wow. As his student, I should have been asked first. Why didn’t they want me?

I had the science courses. I was a certified
scuba diver, I could sail, and I even had my
captain’s license. I was a slender young person but fit; I ran daily and worked out with weights. I got along well with everyone.
But there was one problem. I am female.

There were persistent myths about women on ships. Women brought bad luck. Women were more likely than men to become seasick. (Not true. This is an equal opportunity affliction.)

But, as far as I could tell,
the real problem was that I would be
the only woman
on a ship with about 20 men.

And they were afraid of me.

I might have laughed if this research
cruise wasn’t so important to me.

I grew up landlocked. When I was eight I saw a short film on the sea and was hooked. I decided to become a marine biologist and work on a ship.

I didn’t share my goals, just set about doing whatever I could to achieve them. Science and math courses seemed obvious choices. Writing skills are important for research papers. I pursued art just because I love it, never dreaming this skill would someday help me achieve my goals.

My certification scuba dive was in a murky northern lake in winter with almost zero visibility. I wore a loose, poor-fitting wetsuit borrowed from a large man. I thought I would freeze to death.

I had been working toward this sea research goal since I was a child. This was my dream. I was not about to give up now.

I found my major professor in his office and asked to join the research cruise. His response? “I was afraid you’d find out.”

He confirmed my fears. The one person who should be in my corner was not. We talked for a while and I was grudgingly allowed to join.
Because I was such a dangerous person, I was isolated in a lonely room two decks above everyone else. Here I had the opportunity to experience the full arc of the ship as it heaved from side to side. I was against the winch room with its eternal grinding serenade. And it was cold.

It was summer and my room controlled the temperature of the other rooms. For my crewmates to have comfortable air conditioning, I turned blue with cold. During my sleeping shift I wore layers of clothing, socks, my raincoat, and every blanket I could find. I shivered myself to sleep and didn’t complain.

I was thrilled to finally be here!

I watched the circles form as we left shore. I learned to walk with the sea, keeping my knees slightly bent to accept random motions. I found the curious center of moment where the ship stood still. The evening sun melted into the sea. These experiences became part of me and my Dragon Dreamer books:

“Arak tore through the sky, flying above the vast sea.

When the dragon shore disappeared, sea and sky met in a perfect circle. As he flew, Arak remained in the center; the circle moved with him. He was alone in a private world. There was no fixed shore to judge the distance he’d flown, and no trees with lengthening shadows to mark the march of time.

Above an endless sea, beyond the touch of time, Arak flew further and further from home.” ~ "The Dragon Dreamer" by J.S. Burke

The scientist crew was divided into two groups with opposite shifts. We worked 8 hours on, 8 off, 8 on. We were always out of sync with our circadian rhythm, but saw the sea at all hours. One early dawn a pod of dolphins played in the bow waves, jumping just beyond the ship. Once, we dip-netted a clump of sargassum seaweed from the sea, examined the matching life within, and released it.

The cook set out plates of fruit, sliced cheese, and dangerously delicious homemade rolls. This helped with our odd meal times but it was easy to overeat. So we skipped rope on deck, competing to see who skipped the most without stopping. It was never me. The ship tilted beneath us as we jumped, so it wasn’t possible to truly jump in place.

Some of us brought a paperback or two, often science fiction, and this became an informal library. I read "Watership Down" and revisited the deserts of "Dune" while surrounded by sea.

Many of my co-workers neglected to don their flotation vests at night and in rough seas. They felt an unfortunate need to appear macho. But any person who fell overboard without a vest would die before we found them. So I rounded up the vests and distributed one to each person, reminding them of their loved ones on shore. Soon everyone wore a vest automatically. My crew-mates seemed grateful that I pushed the issue.

Regarding the seasickness myth? I learned that there were bets placed on me. So, of course, I was determined that no matter how rough the seas were, I would never succumb to nausea. And I never did.

And the person my professor nearly shanghaied from the street, hoping to fill all the positions and keep me off the ship? “John” was useless. Instead of helping he worked out with his elastic bands, seeking to maintain his perfect Adonis body. But he neglected to improve his mind or manners. “John” was the only person who tried to enter my igloo, certain that no woman could resist him. I shoved him out the door faster than a whirling snowstorm. “John” left wearing a stunned expression.

Women were on trial. I figured this type of interaction was what the professors feared most. No worries here. I never mentioned “John” to my ship-mates and he never bothered me again.

I believed then and now that positive change occurs best through positive interactions. It was my place to show these men an example of a safe, reliable, competent woman so that other women would not need to work quite so hard for a chance at their dreams. And the next research cruise? They invited me along! As my character Scree says, "What will be, will be. And then I'll fix it."

I Love The Sea. I also love art, and this helped me land my marine science job. The man who would one day hire me bought my best scrimshaw piece as a gift for his wife. Many of the job applicants had the requested skills. My boss thought that being able to illustrate my own research papers would be a bonus.

Now I also write and illustrate the Dragon Dreamer series: science fantasy adventure with dragons and the sea, for young adults 9 to 99.

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I was hopelessly lost. How did this lead to a book?

8/13/2018

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I flunked the test. I was hopelessly lost.
How did this lead to a book about dragons and octopuses?

Once upon a time, in college, I wanted a particular Statistics class that was rarely offered. This could be useful for a scientist.

I had not yet taken Probability, a prerequisite, but the textbook used very little. So I asked the instructor to let me take his course.

The first two weeks were a “quick review” of Probability. I was hopelessly lost.

I’m an intuitive thinker. My mind can jump to the right answer without knowing how. So I answered questions correctly but without understanding.

I took the test and flunked. I expected this, and now I was cheerfully ready to tackle statistics. I'd learn probability some other time.

But that was not to be. The professor took me aside after class and handed me a hefty textbook. “Learn this. In four weeks I’ll give you another test and I expect you to pass.”

Yikes! I worked a job in addition to being a full-time student. At least it was a well-written textbook.

I passed and he added this grade to my other grades. He did NOT replace my flunking grade. What I found interesting was his attitude toward teaching. He EXPECTED his students to learn. Even when I would have been quite content not to.

Later, he offered me a job as a tutor for the Math department.

I made simple tests to find important holes in understanding and drew pictures to illustrate concepts. Soon, chemistry students found their way to my office so I helped them, too.

I love that “Ah ha!” moment when someone truly understands! I taught chemistry and math, which sparked new ideas in my mind. These ideas became my first books.

I drew pictures and cartoons for my Crystal books. I connected math and chemistry with rocks: the angles of the crystals are the angles of the chemical bonds. I used shark tooth ratios. I learned a new way to write.

Chemistry and Math have a universal language that transcends countries and worlds. Understanding helps us appreciate the interconnected life on our planet, and the dangers of plastics and other pollution.

Crystal Geometry” and “Crystal Colors” were created to help people understand and appreciate science and math. They're now used in schools and homes.

Then, one day, I was admiring one of my many rocks. This was a roundish sort that, on a whim, I set in the middle of my blue ceramic bowl. BAM! Suddenly I knew it was a dragon’s egg in a dragon’s nest.

My mind was hijacked.

I knew dragon customs and legends I’d never heard of. Dragon Arak and Octopus Scree were born.

My math class led to tutoring which led to my Crystal books. This led to the Dragon Dreamer series.

I taught diverse minds. Now I wrote from unique perspectives. I wrote, edited, and rewrote. I painted my dragons and drew the art they make.

Earth octopuses are at least as intelligent as human beings, while dragons are forever fascinating. Dragon Dreamer dragons and octopuses are quite civilized with unique legends, art, and music.

How could an octopus heal a dragon? And why? Writing as an octopus and then as a dragon is fun; I love the range of abilities and diversity of minds. Their unique friendship develops an appreciation of differences.

“The Dragon Dreamer” and “Dragon Lightning” are my first two novels. This Science Fantasy Adventure series is for young adults 9 to 99.

"The Dragon Dreamer" e-books: www.books2read.com/u/bWZOoq
"Dragon Lightning" e-books: www.books2read.com/u/3k0nOn

QUOTES FROM READERS
“This is not a typical dragon fantasy story, and is very different to things I've read before. Certainly suited to younger readers, but I - as an adult - very happily drank it in from cover to cover.” ~ Amazon Review

“Who would have thought about story of a friendship between a dragon and an octopus would be so incredibly interesting? Well, obviously, the author did, because she did a fantastic job of weaving a fanciful story with actual facts about octopi and other marine life.
I adored all the characters.” ~ Goodreads Review

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DRAGONS LOVE CRYSTALS!

11/7/2017

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I wanted kids to love math and science as much as I do, so I wrote the Crystal series. I used rocks, shells, fossil shark's teeth, etc.

Crystal Geometry and Crystal Colors are the first books I wrote and illustrated. The crystal / shell kits are used for educational and artistic activities.

These are some of my favorite questions:
"Why does this pyrite crystal grow as a cube?"
Me: "Because of chemistry. The crystal angles are the angles of the chemical bonds."
We measure all 24 angles. Then we build models.

"How does oxygen get into this quartz crystal?"
Me: "Because it breathes! JUST JOKING!
Oxygen and Silicon combine as the crystal grows."

My Crystal activity series is used in school systems. The book/kits are also in science museum gift shops.

The activities promote deep, connected learning that sticks.

The third book, Crystal Clouds, is underway.

It's no surprise that my
DRAGONS LOVE CRYSTALS!

Golden dragons need copper supplements to survive. They carve a trance-stone globe to meditate and communicate.

Ice dragons use magnetic lodestones for their ice game Slam and to make lightning sculptures.

Octopuses grow black pearls to trade with dragons.

I had the colored calcite in the crystal kits analyzed. The blue calcite is blue for the same reason as the Hope Diamond: a trace amount of boron. This is as close as I'll ever come to HOLDING THE HOPE DIAMOND!

I love collecting crystals, rocks, and fossils. The Dragon Dreamer books began because this ceramic bowl with my odd rock seemed like a dragon's nest.

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Diversity in Books

10/21/2017

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Science Fiction and Fantasy are genres that can be overlooked when seeking stories with diversity.

Spock mind-melds with a silicon-based life form to understand and protect her. The Doctors of Doctor Who defend aliens around the universe.

The wookie from Star Wars, Spock of Star Trek, and Hagrid of Harry Potter are iconic. Hobbits, dwarves, elves, and humans work together in Lord of the Rings.

Science Fiction books often have remarkable diversity, beyond human differences, with stories that promote communication and understanding.

The Dragon Dreamer series is Science Fantasy
Adventure with dragons and an undersea world, layered for readers 9 to 99+. When dragon misfit Arak crashes at sea, Scree heals him.

Gradually the worlds of sea and sky become
intertwined; dragons and octopuses
benefit from their differences.

The Dragon Dreamer by J.S. Burke won the
IAN Award for Best First Novel; it was also a IAN Finalist for Best Fantasy, Best Science Fiction, and Best Children's Book.

Dragon Lightning won the IAN Award for Best Science Fiction; it was also a IAN Finalist for Best Fantasy and Best Children's Book. Dragon Lightning also won the PINNACLE Award for Best Science Fantasy.

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Dragon Dreamer Updates & a Scree Pearl Necklace!

10/16/2017

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Dragon Dreamer jewelry:

I used a carved wood octopus with

Orm's blue-green "abalone pearls"

to make a "Scree" necklace.

What would you make?

  DRAGON LIGHTNING by J.S. Burke
  won the IAN Award for
   Best SCIENCE FICTION!

THE DRAGON DREAMER by J.S. Burke
won the IAN Award for
Best FIRST NOVEL!

DRAGON LIGHTNING by J.S. Burke
won the PINNACLE Award for
Best SCIENCE FANTASY!

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TOTAL ECLIPSE: Science & Magic

8/30/2017

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I Experienced Totality! It was a looong day, but worth it for a two-minute naked eye view of the black-and-silver space flower! The moon’s size and distance from Earth are in perfect balance to permit a total eclipse of the sun. Astronomers know exactly where and when to see an eclipse. The reasons are scientific, but the experience is magical. (NASA)

I was part of an immense, peaceful gathering. We joined a mass migration of people who left their homes and work to experience the total eclipse of the sun. We journeyed to the path that was correctly predicted years ago, down to the second. Some traveled hundreds of miles just to witness Totality. (NASA)

And it is beautiful . . . the eclipse, the science, the harmony of people coming together to appreciate something rare and truly universal.

I watch through Eclipse glasses as the moon slides slowly across the sun, a perfect black circle. Wispy, curly shadows appear on the ground beneath trees. Crickets grow silent. (NASA)

I feel the power of the sun. The moon can not contain its light. Even when 98% of the sun is covered, there is light. It merely seems like a cloudy day. Next comes the brief moment before Totality, with a thin white diamond ring of light around the onyx moon.

Then . . . Totality! We take off our glasses and watch with our naked eyes. The change from 99% to 100% eclipse is incredible! The sun becomes a space flower with a black center and long, thin, silvery petals against a dark sky.

I am so focused that the two minutes of Totality seem much longer. Time stretches. How do I feel? I am delighted, amazed, and at peace with the world. Earth is part of a beautiful universe. And if so many people choose to experience this together, peacefully, there is hope.

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Climate Change on the Blue Planet

6/26/2017

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I've worked as a marine biologist for years, conducting field and laboratory research. My first published work is in scientific journals. I've served as a state expert at hearings, which is a very interesting experience.

I love science. I wish everyone loved science, to better understand our planet. Earth is special, and we all need the blue planet.

Earth is in the sweet spot, in an orbit the right distance from a young star, with the water and carbon necessary for life. The climate has changed before; there have been ice ages and sweat houses in the past.

But the current climate change is directly tied to us. The human population exploded after farming and then the industrial revolution, growing from millions to the current 7.5 billion people. (Photo by NASA)

This graph by EDF.org shows carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide gas concentrations across time; these are “greenhouse” gases that trap heat and warm the planet. There is an amazing increase in these gases just when the human population exploded.

The increase in average world temperatures corresponds perfectly with the increasing human population and our increasing use of fossil fuels.

We live in interesting times. This photo shows the shrinking ice caps. Glaciers and ice caps are melting even faster than predicted, which is raising the sea level.
Florida has been underwater in the past, which is why you can find terrific fossil shark teeth far inland.

China is negotiating for use of sea lanes in the Bering Sea, which are opening up as the arctic ice disappears. The increasing temperature provides greater energy for more powerful hurricanes and tornadoes. New areas will have drought and floods.

We’ll plant different food crops when the temperature and rainfall change; England has experimented with this for years, preparing for expected changes. Homes will become more energy efficient, with double-pane windows and better insulation. Wind and solar energy will help. (Glacier photo by ILTS SCIENCE – EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE; solar panel photo by MIT.)

We can still make a difference and slow climate change to give us more time to adapt.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
We can reduce our carbon footprint by ride-sharing, keeping our homes warmer in the summer, using ceiling fans, bringing our own bags to stores, and buying less to reduce industrial waste.
Call to stop receiving unwanted paper catalogs. Reduce the immense packaging waste of frozen meals by fixing food from scratch; these meals are often much healthier and cheaper. Freeze part for later meals. Buy locally whenever possible. Plant suitable trees or cacti, since roots help hold water and reduce erosion. (Photo by J.S. Burke)

The heat pollution from global warming is a major stressor on coral reefs. When coral animals die, the rock-like coral reef wears away and a very important habitat is lost. Since heat is hard to stop, we must control other coral stressors such as chemical pollution (pesticides, fertilizers, oil spills, industrial waste) and silt (from logging). We might still save reefs.
Watch the excellent documentary Food Inc. (in some libraries) to learn the many consequences of mass production of food, including mass pollution. Eating organic is a vote for our health and the health of our planet.

Fracking involves the injection of undisclosed pollutants deep into the Earth to extract oil. This can permanently pollute an aquifer, making water resources toxic.
We want oil, but we need water.

The Dragon Dreamer series by J. S. Burke is science fantasy adventure layered for ages 9 to 99.

There's an undersea world, an improbable friendship, a dangerous quest, and a "connectedness" theme. Glide across coral reefs and fly with dragons. Visit the deep abyss and toss colored lightning in the clouds.

“Everything is truly connected. Change one thing and you change the world.” ~ Scree. She's a natural shape-shifter, an octopus, and she speaks for the sea.
Available here: Amazon US Amazon UK NOOK ITUNES KOBO

DREAMING IN THE SLUMS

I Lost a Friend to Depression. Here's What I Learned.

My First Research Cruise. And They Didn't Want Me.

I was hopelessly lost. How did this lead to a book?

DRAGONS LOVE CRYSTALS!

Diversity in Books

Dragon Dreamer Updates & a Scree Pearl Necklace!

TOTAL ECLIPSE: Science & Magic

Climate Change on the Blue Planet

May 31st, 2017

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