Ieda J. Herman

Íeda Jónasdóttir Herman was born 1925 in Reykjavik, Iceland. At age nineteen she married an American serviceman, Del Herman. After WWII ended they made their home in Illinois. Over the years they raised 10 children whom Íeda entertained with folktales of her homeland. Ieda graduated from the Chicago School of Interior Design and later the Institute of Children's Literature, in Connecticut. She has written numerous articles for newspaper and magazines, and has conducted community college adult education seminars. Her natural enthusiasm has energized seminars participants at libraries, schools, women's clubs, and community groups. After retiring in 2009, and with her family grown, Íeda wrote her memoirs, and has since continued to write and share stories about Iceland.

For her 88th birthday, she celebrated by going paragliding in Utah, realizing the dream of flying like a bird she had held onto since childhood. She related in her memoirs, at the age ten, she tried to fly like a seagull by tying a flour-sack onto her back and preparing to jump from a shed roof to a nearby building, but an earth tremor spoiled the attempt. At the time, her sister was convinced Íeda had angered the trolls and the tremor was their angry footsteps coming their way!