The Books
In The Shadow of World History
My upcoming autobiographical memoir, “In the Shadow of World History,” offers a story-based recounting of how my first-hand experiences of major political events, as well as accidental encounters during my lifetime, shaped my understanding of the world. The book will incorporate real life stories and photographic documentation from my travel. Mixing current events with cultural and historical research, I offer a timely reflection on how history continues to inform the present.
Revolution Revisited: Behind the Scenes in East Germany, 1989
This book takes you straight into 1989 Leipzig, where a small group of young activists ignited a peaceful revolution. They stood up against the East German regime, demanding fair elections, free speech, and assembly. Revolution Revisited follows their movement as it grows into mass protests that ultimately led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Their courage changed the course of history. This title reflects years of firsthand research, on-the-ground interviews, and a deep understanding of the Cold War's closing chapters.
After the Wall: Eastern Germany Since 1989
This book explores complex and often overlooked struggles East Germans after reunification. Topics range from political restructuring and economic shifts to cultural adaptation and social transformation. After the Wall is one of the few English-language works to focus specifically on eastern Germany’s post-1989 evolution. It provides vital insight into how a country rebuilds from the inside out, through institutions, media, religion, and international policy.
Democratizing East Germany: Ideas, Emerging Political Groups, and the Dynamics of Change
My 1995 dissertation, “Democratizing East Germany: Ideas, Emerging Political Groups, and the Dynamics of Change,” centers on East Germany in the pivotal year of 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell. This work offers a unique perspective on the importance of ideas and diverse networks connecting disparate groups. The opposition in East Germany wasn’t obvious to the outside world, as there was no centralized visible leader or spokesperson, and most groups numbered less than ten. Based on interviews conducted with sixty members of key East German groups, the book highlights various movements, including peace, environmental, and justice and human rights. Although the fall of the Berlin Wall took the world by surprise, my research ties together many of the movements and activities leading up to that event.
See How She Runs: Effective Political Techniques
The authors of the book, Patricia J. Smith, Melissa Thompson, and DeEtta V. Thomsen, were sponsored by The League of Women Voters, the National Organization for Women, and the Washington State Women’s Political Caucus. This groundbreaking guide, published in 1975, was the first manual in the United States providing practical techniques for women running for political office. Its publication led to the first major workshop focused on women running for office, attended by 350 women in the Seattle area in 1975.