More about Yvonne

Yvonne Watterson is a Northern Irish-born writer and educator, now based near Guadalajara, Mexico. Her career in public education spans 30 years, during which she led school reform initiatives featured in national outlets including The New York Times and Education Week. Her work as a high school principal in Arizona focused on equity, inclusion, and student advocacy, earning both local and national attention. Yvonne's writing life began in November 2011, after an invasive breast cancer diagnosis sent her searching for answers online. What began as survival grew into a practice of storytelling, with her work appearing beyond this blog in The Irish Times, Irish Central, Reading Ireland, and other outlets. Yvonne's essays and reflections explore themes ranging from The Troubles in Northern Ireland and the poetry of Seamus Heaney to personal experiences of illness, loss, and resilience after being widowed in 2013. She compiled and edited Documented Dreams, a bilingual collection of letters documenting her advocacy with young immigrant students, and she contributed to Bravados: An Anthology, featuring 21 personal narratives by expats living in the Lake Chapala region. Most recently, she collaborated with Stephen Travers on The Bass Player – Surviving the Miami Showband Massacre. Yvonne’s social justice advocacy has earned her numerous honors, including the City of Phoenix Martin Luther King “Living the Dream” Award and the YWCA Tribute to Women Social Justice Leader Award. She is also a musician, performing with her partner, Scott Henrich, in The Old Souls Band, a six-piece Americana ensemble based in Ajijic, Mexico and she plays violin in the Lake Chapala Community Orchestra. Her daughter, Sophie, also a writer, lives in Arizona. “If you have the words, there's always a chance that you'll find the way.” ― Seamus Heaney

saturday shot

July 14, 2012 / 4 Comments

Shot early this morning, a sign reminding me of what Nick Cave says about the duty of an artist. The duty of us all, I think . . .

. . . to stay open-minded and in a state where he can receive information and inspiration. You always have to be ready for that little artistic Epiphany.

4 Comments

Jan Baird Hasak

July 15, 2012 at 3:58 PM Reply

Love it. Thanks for the neon inspiration open to all kinds of possibilities. xx
- Yvonne
  
  July 15, 2012 at 7:00 PM Reply
  
  Thank you, Jan! Inspiration hides in all kinds of places 😉
Liz

July 17, 2012 at 6:29 AM Reply

So glad to know that you’re a fan of ‘our’ Nick – and thanks for passing on this great quote!
- Yvonne
  
  July 17, 2012 at 8:54 AM Reply
  
  Hey Liz … yeah, he’s a keeper 🙂