Our Creative Legacy: Authors

• Elizabeth Blethen
• Rasjad Hopkins
• Illaine Lennard
• Mardiyah A. Tarantino
• Emmanuel Williams

Elizabeth Blethen

Bio: Elizabeth Blethen,  writer and editor. Already published “The Vacation Wolf and Other Stories.” Wrote a number of comic pieces for presentation at Menucha with considerable success. Currently editing a book professionally  that will become an E-book and editing my mother’s stories of of life growing up on a homestead in the Pacific North West, working title “Stories My Mother Told Me.” which includes archival photographs of the period. The Washington State Historical Society has expressed an interest in publishing them as the homestead was near Centralia.

Current working on two anthropology based mysteries (my BA was in Honors Anthropology).

I’ve also worked as a marketing writer first at Macy’s and S.Klein on the Square in New York and then for Weidenfeld and Nicolson, publishers, in London, England.

My BA is from Western Washington University where I did an Honors Degree and helped transcribed learned witness for my honors professor concerning  for the Boldt Decision which affected tribal fishing rights in this area.

(Updated February 2014)

Rasjad Hopkins

August 6, 1934 – November 4, 2023

Born on August 6^th, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois, Rasjad spent his spent his formative years in Chicago, Seattle, and San Francisco. His multifaceted life embraced roles as an Artist —both sculptor and painter—Publisher, Author, Gallery Director, and former Owner of influential art galleries in the United States, father, and Subud helper.

After serving in the army in Europe I began my career as an artist in Seattle in the early 60’s. After winning an award for a watercolor in the state fair I was motivated to study fine art seriously at the University of Washington and a few years later graduated with two degrees, first a BA in Fine Art and then an MFA.

 I was fortunate to find success early while still a student. My sculpture, “Mt. Rainier” was selected by I.M. Pei to be exhibited in his Science building for the World’s Fair where it was subsequently purchased by the Seattle Art Museum. It is currently on loan to the Pacific Science Center where it is being exhibited.

 Those were exciting years and I continued to exhibit my paintings and sculpture in a number of galleries in the Pacific Northwest. After graduation I worked part time as a cook and taught children’s art while supporting my then wife’s university studies. After she graduated with an MFA in ceramics we decided to try living in San Francisco where we might better pursue our careers as artists.

 In San Francisco we found a place to live on Potrero Hill suitable for both our work in art. I got some sculpture commissions and began exhibiting in the Vorpal gallery, but with a wife soon to give birth to a little girl there was not quite enough money and a part time job in an art gallery led to a new and unexpected career. I did manage to find some time to do my own artwork, but now these many years later after starting a lithographic workshop and owning or partnering in more than eleven galleries in seven cities, here I am, finally able to spend full time, painting, sculpting, writing, and traveling.

 I hope that in my work I have been able to capture some of the essence of what I have seen and felt and to share in the joy of discovery of beautiful and interesting places. I want to project in my work a sense of the respect and gratitude I feel for what we have been given in this world.

– Rasjad Hopkins

Illaine Lennard

I was born in London in 1933. I married Lawrence Lennard and we had 2 children. We were opened in Subud in 1961. We spent 18 years in N. Ireland, where I created an enterprise making patchwork by machine. Then we returned to England and lived near Anugraha. When Bapak died I began an international newsletter, SUBUD VOICE, and worked on it for 14 years. I now compile extracts from Subud articles (see below) not only because they are such a good read, but also to provide background for young or new Subud members. And I have just finished an anthology from Bapak’s Talks which contain some of his fascinating insights into the nature of our Universe.

 (Updated February 2014) 

Mardiyah A. Tarantino

Alice at the Home Front, by Mardiyah A. Tarantino

Excerpt:

A strong-willed, patriotic young girl growing up during WWII dreams of being a war heroine in Tarantino’s heartwarming tale…The story is unique in that it approaches this time period through a child’s eyes, while the dialogue and inner monologue are spot-on…a story for children and adults, full of historical details and humorous anecdotes. ~ KIRKUS Reviews.

Books:

• Alice at the Home Front
• Life at the Cafe Berlitz: A Memoir of Paris
• Marvellous Stories From the Life of Muhammad
• Prince Harjo and the Sacred Stream

Emmanuel Williams

Author’s website: Emmanuelriddlemaker.com

Bio: My poems and articles have been published in English and American magazines including Snowy Egret, Pennwood Review, The Countryman, Sacred Fire, Staple, Red Fez, Kindred Spirit, Toyon, Penthouse, Penumbra, and A Local Habitation. My riddles have been featured on the National Public Radio program Puzzle Puzzle, and in children’s and teacher’s magazines such as Kidz Own, and Scholastic Magazine UK. They’re published in card pack form by Pomegranate Publications and have sold over 30,000.