Dodie Cross

Dodie is the author of: "A Broad Abroad in Thailand: An Expat's Misadventures in the Land of Smiles," and

"A Broad Abroad in Iran: An Expat's Misadventures in the Land of Male Dominance." Both are memoirs of the time the author lived in the two counties; the good, the bad and the really ugly!

From the Author

If you've read my two books, you'll see I've had an interesting/unusual and busy life. I write with a sense of humor because in retrospect, that's what I see. There's an old saying: "A man who can laugh at himself will always be amused." I can relate to that because I'm constantly getting myself into ridiculous situations. When I'm caught with my knickers down (metaphorically) I am compelled to laugh at my blunders. We should all try that.

Age? Well, I'm not supposed to reveal that, but a sure sign I'm on the downhill slope is that lately I've been hearing my favorite songs played in elevators. I'm a Virgo-compromised female, very disciplined and have a strict regimen that I adhere to: I write four hours a day, play golf four hours a day, quilt for a couple hours, and watch Seinfeld reruns; these tasks are accomplished whenever the urge hits me. Sleep comes in 5 or 6 hour spurts but I'm rarin' to go by 5 a.m. I'm a hopeless romantic, love and devour memoirs--the funnier the better. I fantasize about Dave Barry, Bill Bryson--The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid--and me, a literary ménage a trios, on an island in the Caribbean, writing and laughing at each other's hilarious humor. Did I mention I'm also very humble?

Dodie Cross is a freelance writer and author of the memoir: A Broad Abroad in Thailand: An Expats Misadventures in the Land of Smiles. "After living in that beautiful land for one year, it took me a few years to capture everything that happened to me (and write about it) as a hapless expatriate in culture shock!"

Dodie's book, A Broad Abroad in Thailand took FIRST PLACE in the National Indie Excellence Book Awards in the Memoir category, and Finalist in the Humor category, as well as SILVER in ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award, and GOLD in the Solas Awards for the Funny Travel Category.

She has received numerous awards for her writing and poetry, among them the prestigious Southern California Writer's Conference FIRST PLACE Award for Best Nonfiction for Abroad, as well as FIRST PLACE in their inaugural Poetry Award. Her online articles, which range from soup to nuts, can be found by Googling "Dodie Cross" or on her website at www.dodiecross.com

Her articles have appeared in the The Desert Sun, the Seattle Post Intelligencer, and as a guest columnist for the Lake Chelan Mirror in Washington State. Her essays have been published in the Monterey Bay Parents Magazine, the University of Texas Literary Magazine, RiverSedge, Expat e-zines: TalesMag.com and Escapeartists.com. Many of her articles have been syndicated on writing websites on the internet. She is a member of the National League of American Pen Women, The National Writers Union, and currently is a columnist for the Palm Springs Writers Guild and Desert Sun Newspaper.

Her second book, A Broad Abroad in Iran: An Expat's Misadventures in the Land of Male Dominance, was just released and is receiving 5-Star rave reviews. The book takes you on her journey to prepare for this huge life- changing move, then plunks you down in the middle of the country and its archaic, sometimes terrifying, culture. "It's about the 18 months I lived in Iran; the culture shock, the good times, the truly scary times, and the hasty exit from the country. "