by Holly Morris
Huge thanks go out to the early believers who got us off the ground: Andy Meyer, Jack Slevin, Ken and Cindy McBride, Johnny Morris, Bill Wheeler, Tina Slevin, Carolyn Broquet, Steve Marts, Warren Franklin, Matt Bien and Paul Goldberg of Pure Audio, Michael Gross, Kate Thompson, and my longtime dear friend Laura Slevin.
To those who stoked the furnace at Divas HQ, much credit is due: Stacy Lewis and Jen Senkler were integral at launch time; a heartfelt spin of Sky Prancer to Rena Bussinger, Heather Reilly, and Susannah Fotopulos for their smarts and commitment; Jill Hodges made our web presence read, rumble, and dance; and, as mentioned above, essential creatives Michael Gross and Kate Thompson came early and stayed late.
The road and post folks offered up much appreciated humor (and sometimes Cipro and coffee), along with their considerable talent: Thanks to Simon and Val Griffith, Jan McKinley, Susan Thomas, Steve Cammarano, Cathia Geller, Jim Wilson, Sophia Zubiria, Jen Brown, Lois Shelton, Paul Mailman, Pamela Yates, Maryam Kia, John Chater, Parviz Abnar, Doug Dunderdale, Liza Bambenek, Dan Davis, Orlando Stuart, Felicity Oram, Ellen Forney, Michael Cozzi, and Carrie Akre. Flying Spot postproduction and DataWeb also deserve thanks.
Special thanks to Julie Costanzo, Persheng Vaziri, Catherine Murphy, Cheryl Dunn, Nassim Assefi, Pramila Jayapal, and Vanessa Boeye, who not only made it happen on the road, but also helped me recount it on the page.
Countless others contributed, among them Lara Kidoguchi, Katie Dreke, Nick Boorman, Denise Olivier, Neide Cooley, Kathleen Gasperini, Karen Wetherall Davis, David Geller of Whatcounts, Knoll Lowney, Laura Puckett, Joe Bolden, Mark Van S., Firouzeh Nourzad, Sholeh Seydali, Babak Khiavchi, Yasmine Rafii, Parisa Sadeghi, Puja Vohra, Teri Hein, Mike Frankfurter, Jim Dow, and Paige Meili. Also, hats off to the many interns, and to the contributers to www.adventuredivas.com.
PBS provided invaluable exposure and creative freedom. Enough cannot be said for Mary Jane McKinven, the brilliant, committed executive without whom Adventure Divas might never have hit the airwaves. Big thanks are also due to PBS’s John Wilson and Sandy Heberer for their ongoing support.
REI and its CEO, Sally Jewell, provided essential underwriting; and thanks go out to the executives at National Geographic with whom we worked while on the road, especially Jacques Grenier and Mark Nelson. That loveable Australian, Ian Cross of Pilot Productions, brings the world into our homes every day, and I feel lucky to be a part of his operation.
Hang-ten to the one and only David Fox: who wouldn’t be grateful to have a smart and loyal barrister who always has my back and lets me in on the best surf breaks? Thanks, too, to my agent Alan Berger of CAA, for his integrity and support through the thicket of the television industry.
This book began after the cameras clicked off, and it, too, has been informed by many people.
Respect and gratitude to my literary agent, Leigh Feldman of Darhansoff, Verrill, Feldman: the word diva could have been invented for this excellent advocate, who knows exactly when to soothe and advise—and when to deliver a full-court press—all with absolute charm and intelligence.
At Random House/Villard Books, Bruce Tracy and Katie Zug kicked off this venture and my fabulous editor Stephanie Higgs deserves a magnum of Mumm for her tenacious work in the face of ever pushed deadlines, for hammering away at my mixed metaphors, and for valiantly shepherding this book through the publishing process. Thanks, too, to Beth Pearson and all the talented production staff at Random House, as well as Robin Desser of Knopf for her early encouragement.
Editorial wisdom came from far and wide: Andrea Chapin, Blase Reardon, and Howard Chaffey gave valuable input; and very special thanks to Jennie Goode and Lindsay Knisely, kindred grrrl spirits who, time and again, kept me on point.
To those who fed and walked me at all the right times throughout the writing process: Sunny Speidel, Betsy Whittaker, Inga Muscio, Johanna Striar, Evelyn C. White, Ewen Thomson, Jenny Leah, Sarah Stimson, Scott Friskics, my ever-supportive siblings—and the late, great Boo Radley, who left so many gifts.
TV relishes image and chaos, but writing requires quiet and space. In Brazil, a big obrigada to Monica and Rich Drennan, for use of their tropical getaway, and to expat John McGlocklin, for his advice and companionship in South America and beyond.
The Cottages at Hedgebrook writer’s residency in Washington State provides incredible space and facilitates creativity. Co-founders Sheryl Feldman and Nancy Skinner Nordhoff deserve huge credit for their visionary action that now makes it possible for so many other women to realize their own creative and political visions.
I am indebted to valued friends and former colleagues from Seal Press, Faith Conlon and Ingrid Emerick, who gave the Niger prose its first airing, and to editors Susan Fox Rogers and Maria Finn Dominguez, each of whom published early material from the Cuba chapter.
Giant appreciation to my dad, Johnny Morris, whose support and go-for-the-gold approach informs many endeavors in this book and my life.
A sloppy French kiss to Michael Kovnat, whose brainy curiosity, patience, and zealous fact-checking brought home the final chapters in this book, and with whom I look forward to sharing all of the chapters and adventures to come.
And last, a galaxy of gratitude and love to Jeannie Morris, my mom. She has been a partner, co-conspirator, and invaluable positive spirit, in all things Adventure Divas, from day one. And she hardly ever told me to comb my hair. Yo Jeannie, we did it.
RESOURCES
Visit www.adventuredivas.com for more information about the women featured in this book, to purchase videos or DVDs of the documentary series, and for travel resources and assorted divagear.
Below is a listing of the books, films, and other media created by the profiled divas. When available, a specific distributor, retailer, or website is listed. Some general sources for rare, out-of-print, and foreign language materials include: Alibris (www.alibris.com), BookFinder (www.bookfinder.com), Powell’s Books (www.powells.com), Biblio (www.biblio.com), Amazon (www.amazon.com)/Bibliofind (www.bibliofind.com), and eBay (www.ebay.com).
CUBA
CARILDA OLIVER LABRA
SELECTED BOOKS OF POETRY
Se Me ha Perdido un Hombre (I Have Lost a Man), 1993
Dust Disappears (selected poems translated into English), 1991
Memoria de la Fiebre (Feverish Memory), 1958
Canto a Matanzas (Song to Matanzas), 1956
Canto a Marti (Song to Marti), 1953
Canto a la Bandera (Song to the Flag), 1950
Al Sur De Mi Garganta (At the South of My Throat), 1949
Preludio Lirico (Lyric Prelude), 1943
WEB
Selected poems published online (in Spanish) at
www.palabravirtual.com
INSTINTO
ALBUM
Cuban Hip Hop All-Stars, Vol. 1, 2001
FILM
Cuban Hip Hop All-Stars, 2004
WEB
www.papayarecords.com
GLORIA ROLANDO
FILMS
Los Marqueses de Atarés, 2001
Raices de Mi Córazon (Roots of My Heart), 2000
El Alacrán, 1999
Eyes of the Rainbow, 1998
My Footsteps in Baragua, 1996
Oggún: The Eternal Present, 1992
WEB
www.afrocubaweb.com/gloriarolando.htm
ASSATA SHAKUR
BOOK
Assata: An Autobiography, 1987
WEB
www.assatashakur.org
LIZETTE VILA
SELECTED FILMS
Otra Mujer sin Rostro (Another Woman Without Face), 2004
Voces . . . Sueños, Amor, y Paz (Voices . . . Dreams, Love and Peace), 2003
Romanza de un Ulma (Romance of a Soul), 2003
Contra el Silencio: Una Mujer (Against Silence: A Woman), 2002
Mujer Alma de Maravillas (Woman, Soul of Wonders), 2002
Una Mujer sin Rostro (Woman Without Face), 2001
Yo No Soy un Santo (I Am Not a
Saint), 1999
Gracias a la Vida (Thanks for the Life), 1998
Cambiando Vidas (Changing Lives), 1993
INDIA
KIRAN BEDI
BOOKS BY
As I See It . . . , 2003
What Went Wrong?, 2001
Government.net, 2001
It’s Always Possible, 1999
BOOKS ABOUT
Kiran Bedi: The Kindly Baton by Dr. Meenakshi Saksena, 2000
“I Dare!” Kiran Bedi: A Biography by Parmesh Dangwal, 1995
WEB
www.kiranbedi.com
PHOOLAN DEVI AKA “THE BANDIT QUEEN”
BOOKS
India’s Bandit Queen: The True Story of Phoolan Devi by Mala Sen, 1991
FILM
Bandit Queen (directed by Shekhar Kapur), 1995
RUCHIRA GUPTA
DOCUMENTARY
The Selling of Innocents, 1997
Available for noncommercial use from:
Ruchira Gupta, Executive Director
Apne Aap Women Worldwide
22 Ballgunge Park Road
Kolkata-17, India
E-mail: [email protected]
For broadcast use contact:
Associated Producers
110 Spadina Avenue, Suite 1001
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Phone: 1416-4800453
ORGANIZATION
Apne Aap (Women Worldwide), an initiative to end sex trafficking, founded by Ruchira Gupta.
WEB
www.apneaap.org
ALICE GARG
ORGANIZATION
Bal Rashmi Society
A 48 Shanti Path
Tilak Nagar, Jaipur, 302 004
Rajasthan, India
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 0141-2620861
0141-2651523
ANURADHA PAL
ALBUMS
Shanti (Spiritual Essence of India)
Stree Shakti (all-female percussion ensemble, led by Anuradha Pal, that performs traditional and innovative music)
Anu: A Tabla Solo
WEB
www.anuradhapal.com
IRAN
FOROUGH FARROKHZAD
SELECTED POEMS
Tavallodi Digar (Another Birth), 1964
Esian (Rebellion), 1958
Divar (The Wall), 1956
Asir (The Captive), 1955
FILM
The House Is Black, 1962 (available from www.iranianmovies.com)
WEB
www.forughfarrokhzad.org
POORAN FARROKHZAD
SELECTED WORKS
Encyclopedia of Women Culture Makers in Iran and in the World
The Eternal Women
Zane Shabane Mo Ood
Atash O Bad
Dar Entehaye Atashe Ayeene
WEB
www.ketab.com
MOKARRAMEH GHANBARI
DOCUMENTARY
Mokarrameh, Memories and Dreams, directed by Ebrahim Mokhtari. Available from:
First Run Icarus Films
32 Court St., 21st Fl.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: 718 488-8900
E-mail: [email protected]
WEB
www.mokarrameh.com
ZAHRA RAHNAVARD
SELECTED WORKS
The Beauty of Concealment and the Concealment of Beauty (Translated text online at www.al-islam.org)
Imperialist Roots of the Abolition of Hejab
The Revolt of Moses
The Hijrah [Emigration] of Joseph
Tempests and the Tulips of Shahrivar
The Stories of Ali and Mash Medina
Philosophy of Islamic Art
Strongholds Behind the Front Line
Mourning at Hira
The Social Strata from Qur’anic Point of View
The Rise of Moslem Women
A Hero from the Qur’anic Viewpoint
Insight into the Qur’anic Verses
Islamic Government
SHAHLA SHERKAT
MAGAZINE
Zanan (Women), Shahla Sherkat, Editor
E-mail: [email protected]
WEB
www.zanan.co.ir
PARI ZANGANEH
ALBUMS
Shah Pari
Goleh Ghessehaa
Gozashtehaayeh Noh (Reviving the Past)
NEW ZEALAND
KERI HULME
SELECTED BOOKS
Strands (poems), 1992
Te Kihau (The Windeater), 1986
The Bone People, 1985
HINEWEHI MOHI
ALBUMS
Oceania II, 2002
Oceania, 2000
WEB
www.maorimusic.com
GAYLENE PRESTON
FILMS
Perfect Strangers, 2003
Titless Wonders, 2001 (available from www.gpprods.com)
Punitive Damage, 1999
War Stories Our Mothers Never Told Us, 1995
Bread and Roses, 1993
Ruby and Rata, 1990
Kai Purakau (documentary about Keri Hulme), 1987
Mr. Wrong (aka Dark of Night in U.S.), 1985
WEB
www.filmarchive.org.nz
www.gaylenepreston.co.nz
MARILYN WARING
BOOKS
Three Masquerades, 1996
If Women Counted: A New Feminist Economics
(original title: Counting for Nothing), 1988
DOCUMENTARY
Who’s Counting? (produced by the National Film Board of Canada), 1995
WEB
www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/who.htm
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HOLLY MORRIS is the founder of Adventure Divas, Inc., a multimedia production company, and is executive producer and writer/director of the award-winning primetime PBS documentary series Adventure Divas. She is the former editorial director of Seal Press and the editor of two fishing anthologies, A Different Angle and Uncommon Waters. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, Ms., Outside, and numerous anthologies and on abcnews.com. When she’s not writing or producing television documentaries, Morris is a correspondent for television series such as Lonely Planet Treks in America, Treks in a Wild World, Globe Trekker, and Outdoor Investigations. She can be reached at www.adventuredivas.com.
Copyright © 2005 by Holly Morris
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Villard Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
VILLARD and “V” CIRCLED Design are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
“Cud, Sweat, and Fears” was previously published, in slightly different form, in A Woman Alone: Travel Tales from Around the Globe, ed. by Faith Conlon et al. (Seattle: Seal Press, 2001). Excerpts from “Paradox Found” were previously published, in slightly different form, in Two in the Wild: Tales of Adventure from Friends, Mothers, and Daughters, ed. by Susan Fox Rogers (NY: Vintage, 1999).
Grateful acknowledgment is made to the following for permission to reprint previously published material:
Adventure Divas, Inc.: “when my grandmother came . . .” by Carilda Oliver Labra. Recited for camera. Reprinted by permission of Adventure Divas, Inc. Copyright © Carilda Oliver Labra.
Adventure Divas, Inc.: Instinto rap lyrics (performed for camera) reprinted by permission of Adventure Divas, Inc. Copyright © Instinto.
Cross Cultural Communications: “Declaration of Love” from Dust Disappears by Carilda Oliver Labra, translated by Enildo A. García and Daniela Gioseffi. Copyright © 1988, 1995 by Enildo A. García and Daniela Gioseffi. Latin American Writers, Chapbook 1. Reprinted by permission of the publisher on behalf of the author and the translators.
Pooran Farrokhzad: “Another Birth” by Forough Farrokhzad from Az Past O Bolande. Reprinted by permission of Pooran Farrokhzad.
Photograph and Illustration Credits:
Adventure Divas, Inc.; Barbara Bachman; the collection of Mark and Carolyn Blackburn, Kamuela, Hawaii; Julie Costanzo; Cheryl Dunn; Ellen Forney; Michael Gross; Tim Knight; Holly Morris; Rusty Scott
www.villard.com
eISBN: 978-1-58836-184-4
v3.0