Design College

CARYL THORNTON SHERPA abqohr@r.postjobfree.com

http://carylsherpa.com

Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work, with mastery.

From The Dhammapada: The Sayings of the Buddha

Caryl writes non-fiction, poetry, and essays, with a focus on memoir about her cross-cultural

relationship with a Sherpa from Nepal, which gives her an insider s perspective. Through their

trekking company, Himalayan Discovery Inc. (1995-2000), Caryl and Nima lead treks and cultural

tours to Nepal and Tibet. Since 1998, Caryl has been active with Richard Hugo House, a literary arts

organization in Seattle, Washington, and recently served as President of the Board of Directors.

Her memoir, I TASTE FIRE, EARTH, RAIN: Elements of a Life with a Sherpa was released by Studio S

Press in June 2011. Her next book about spirituality and healing, MY BODY IS A RENTED HOUSE, is

expected to be complete in 2013.

EDUCATION

1998 Present RICHARD HUGO HOUSE

Classes with Kathleen Alcal, Rebecca Brown, Jen Graves, Priscilla Long,

Philip Lopate, Fionn Meade, Dickey Nesenger, Barbara Sjoholm, David

Wagoner, Deborah Woodward, others

2004 LEGACY: A TRIBUTE TO JAMES WELCH

Community producer working with staff, community, visiting writers

2002 CREATIVE NON-FICTION WORKSHOP

Goucher College, Baltimore with Lee Gutkind, Dinty Moore, Frank Skloot

2001 INVOLUNTARY EXILE WRITING WORKSHOP

Moab, Utah with Terry Tempest Williams, Sam Hamill, others

1995 1998 UCLA

Classes on non-fiction and memoir with Bernard Cooper, others

1976 - 1998 UCLA, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, MSU, SEMINARS:

Art, Architecture, Buddhism, History, Music, Photography, World Cultures

1973 1975 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

B.A. Design, Summa Cum Laude

1970 1972 ALBION COLLEGE

Art/French, Univ. of Grenoble, France & Art/Spanish, Guadalajara, Mexico

RELATED TRAVEL & TEACHINGS

1992 2010 Numerous treks to Nepal, Bhutan, and two pilgrimages to Tibet

1991 Around the world independent journey

1992 2010 Teachings by the Dalai Lama in LA, Ann Arbor, Sun Valley, Seattle

AWARDS

2012 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Award (BOTYA)

Gold Award in Travel Essays

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Richard Hugo House, Seattle, 1998 2011

Northwest Sherpa Association, 2000 2011

Nalanda West, Seattle, 2008 2011

Kengar Sponsor, Pema Choling Monastery, Khumbu, Nepal 2005

American-Nepal Society, Los Angeles, 1992 1998

Contact this candidate