POLSON, Willow A.

PERSONAL:

Born in San Francisco, CA; father's name Richard (a machinist); mother's name Susan (a printer); married, September, 1993; husband's name Craig (a software test engineer); children: Cian Forest. Education: Diablo Valley College, A.A.; also attendedSan Francisco State University. Religion: "Pagan." Hobbies and other interests: Fiber arts, organic gardening, living history.

ADDRESSES:

Agent—c/o Author Mail, Kensington Publishing, 850 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, Martinez, CA, graphic artist, 1987-90; EGW International, Inc. (magazine publisher), Concord, CA, began as graphic artist, became assistant editor, department editor, and managing editor, 1990-2000; writer, 2000—.

MEMBER:

Embroiderers' Guild of America.

WRITINGS:

Witch Crafts: 101 Projects for Creative Pagans, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2001.

Sabbat Entertaining: Celebrating the Wiccan Holidays, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2002.

The Veil's Edge: Exploring the Boundaries of Magic, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), 2003.

Contributor to periodicals. Cocreator of the magazine Veggie Life; cocreator, editor, and publisher of Recreating History.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

Treasury of Pagan Rituals, for Kensington Publishing (New York, NY); research on craft ideas and techniques for More Witch Crafts, Kensington Publishing (New York, NY), publication expected c. 2005.

SIDELIGHTS:

Willow A. Polson told CA: "I have always loved writing and art ever since I was little. My major in college was art, with an eye toward being a high school art teacher, but then fate stepped in before I could get my degree and credential. After my junior year at San Francisco State University, I ran out of funding at the same time that a graphic arts job opened up at a magazine publishing company. I jumped at the opportunity and spent the next ten years moving from a position as a graphic artist to assistant editor to department editor to managing editor.

"The winds of fate shifted again, and when my department and the publishing company was phased out, I had a fortuitous phone conversation with the head of Kensington Publishing, who was very enthusiastic about an idea I had for a Pagan craft book. Witch Crafts: 101 Projects for Creative Pagans was published, and two more books have followed the success of the first.

"I'm blessed to be able to work on my computer at home so that I'm there for my young son, who started kindergarten this year. I'm doubly blessed that I can do something I truly enjoy and excel at. I'm further blessed that I can write books and bring other people happiness and inspiration.

"My father always said, 'The world is your oyster. Go for it!' I truly take his advice to heart and always strive to learn new things and never give up. I also have a saying: 'Do what you love and the money will follow.' I believe that if you devote enough positive energy toward your goal, whether through hard work, willpower, dreams, tenacity, love, or any combination of these things, the cosmic tumblers will fall into place and you will be able to achieve your goals."