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Author |
Yancey, Shirl A. |
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Birth Date |
06-17-1947 |
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Birth Place |
Washington, D.C. |
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Current Residence |
Edmond, Oklahoma |
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Genre(s) |
Nonfiction
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Pseudonym(s) |
vehoae |
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Biographical Information |
I am a native of Washington, D.C., and a graduate of Surrattsville High School (Clinton, Maryland). I attended
Northeastem Junior College (Villanova, Pennsylvania), after which I traveled and performed in the music
industry.
Returning to D.C., I went to work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 1981, I transferred with USDA-RDA
to Arkansas. where I completed the last fifteen years of my career and honed my skills as a writer,
speaker, and organizer.
Upon retirement, I moved to Edmond, Oklahoma ( 1997). Since then, I've become active with several
organizations and activities. some of which include the Town and Country Kennel Club, Bichon Frise Group of
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State Genealogical Society, three writing and critique groups, and Oklahoma Writers Federation. |
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Education |
Graduated from Surrattsville Senior High School, Clinton, Maryland; attended Northeastern
Junior College, Villanova, Pennsylvannia. |
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Occupations |
Federal Government Employee (RDA); Author |
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Oklahoma Connection |
All four sides in my family are native Oklahomans. Shortly before the
United States entered World War II, my parents moved to Washington, D.C. I was born and raised there, along
with my siblings.
While employed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I transferred from D.C. to Arkansas in 1976.
Following retirement, I moved to Edmond, Oklahoma (1997).
Since that time, I have become involved in a number of activities and organizations, making many new friends
and acquaintances along the way. Some of my current activities include: Oklahoma Writers Federation, three
writing and critique groups, Oklahoma State Genealogical Society, Town & Country Kennel Club, and working with the Iowa Nation. |
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Published Works |
Conscience: Breaching Social Amnesia. Edmond, OK: 4RV Publishing, LLC, 2011.
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Primary Audience(s) |
Adult
Young Adult
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In the Authors Words |
"As a teen, I discovered two authors who, as the years went by, became very dear to my heart. Although never
meeting them in person, we met, in spirit, and in our mutual respect and love for North America's indigenous
people. By the time she was 57 years old, Mari Sandoz's tremendous history-based novel, Cheyenne Autumn,
was finally published, then made into a movie by John Ford. A heart rending tribute to the Northern Cheyenne,
Mari's work made an indelible imprint on my heart and mind.
Another author who had a definitive impact on my perspectives and goals was Helen Hunt Jackson. Like me,
she was born and raised in the northeastern part of the United States, but her heart developed like a true
westerner. Helen's stunning revelation about the condition and horrific experiences of various tribes, A Century
of Dishonor: A Sketch of the United States Government's Dealings with Some of the Indian Tribes, was released
in 1882. Her selfless life ethics and dedication to bringing the truth forward provided me with invaluable
motivation ... and with the opening quote for my first book: "There is but one hope of righting this wrong. It
lies in appeal to the heart and the conscience of the American people." (Helen H. Jackson, A Century of
Dishonor: A Sketch of the United States Government's Dealings with Some of the Indian Tribes, c. 1885)
Following the lead of these outstanding women, I began serious study about The Nations while in my 30's, My
goal was to begin putting research findings from primary documents into manuscript form as soon as possible
after leaving the federal government. Little did I realize, at the outset, how much stunning information would
surface from the documents - more than enough for just one manuscript. The first book, Conscience: Breaching
Social Amnesia, was published in 2011; and research is well underway for the next in my Conscience series.
Research sources are much more plentiful now than when Mari and Helen worked on their manuscripts.
Libraries, historical societies, federal depository libraries, automation, and digital scanning of documents have
exponentially enhanced the potential for "original elbow grease research." Given today's research tools and an
infinite amount of primary documents, I am able to address history in an original and non-revisionist manner.
The value which I place on this type of research and findings is evident throughout my writing, both for books
and articles. In Conscience: Breaching Social Amnesia, I emphasized this value in the Epilogue: "I will not
stand by while the past is rewritten for the sake of pleasant re-memories. "(Source: Jim Caviezel as " Fletcher"
in The Final Cut, 2004)
As you can see, canines have a beloved place in my life. Victoria Diane and I have been together since she was
born ( 1997). After her early years of training and competition, we began (and still continue) visiting with
invalids, senior citizens, and children, thrilling to their laughter, smiles, and touch. How often I've looked up
from my papers and books to find her smiling at me with chin resting on her hands, patient and loving. We also
work together at the Iowa Nation, south of Perkins, helping the tribal librarian and young children. Victoria
Diane has been my perfectly-matched companion and co-writer." |
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Contact Information |
vehoae at yahoo.com |
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Author Website |
http://consciencebreachingsocialamnesia.com/; http://vehoae.wordpress.com/ |
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Available for author visits |
Yes, Adult. |
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Notes |
Shirl Yancey contributes book reviews to websites and blogs. She participates in local and national author and Native American literary and cultural events. |
