Women behind the books

BARBARA DIAMOND

Writers do not always make the best speakers.

Not true of the authors who spoke at the annual Literary Luncheon

held Saturday at the Surf and Sand.

Maryam Qudrat Aseel, Lynette Brasfield, Donna Hilbert and Michele

R. Sicard talked eloquently of the life experiences that went into

their books.

It may have been the best roster of speakers in the 17 years of

luncheons presented by the Laguna Beach Chapter of the American Assn.

of University Women.

Aseel is an activist in Muslim-American relations. She is the

daughter of Afghan immigrants. In her book, “Torn Between Two

Worlds,” Aseel described how she reconciled her traditional Afghan

heritage with her contemporary American upbringing.

“I lived a hyphenated life,” she said. “I was sad for the Twin

Tower victims and I was sad for the victims of bombs in Afghanistan.

“The problems can’t be solved with might. They can only be solved

with communication.”

“Nature’s Lesson” author Brasfield said she panics when anyone

asks her what her book is about.

“It’s hard to describe in two sentences,” she said.

But she gave it a go.

“It is about a girl growing up under apartheid in South Africa --

in 1961, I was reading ‘Winnie the Pooh’ while thousands were being

shot -- a purple hippopotamus and a different perspective,” said

Brasfield, who moved to the United States in 1985. “It veers from

profound to fun.”

Her personal world collapsed in 1964 when her parents divorced and

her father died, leaving mother and daughter poverty-stricken.

“My mother blamed the government,” Brasfield said. “When I said,

‘That’s not true,’ my mother just smiled and said, ‘Poor poppet, they

have so messed with your thought processes.’”

Brasfield’s book weaves the story of daughter struggling to cope

with a puzzling world that includes the changing politics of a

racially divided country.

Hilbert let her poetry speak for her.

“Traveler in Paradise” is a collection of her poems that

illustrates in words her growth from childhood to maturity.

In her paradise, there are no bad hair days. She wears white

Armani cashmere, eats chocolate truffles and every Camel she smokes

makes her breath smell sweeter.

Despite a soft voice and French accent, Sicard’s message of

admiration for the United States came through loud and clear. Her

book, “My Ride to a New Life” tells the story of her search for

herself via a bicycle trip through America, starting with Alaska.

All four authors signed books at the luncheon sold by Bette

McIntire of Latitude 33 Bookshop.

A fifth author, Barbara Howard, was in Georgia where her book,

“Letters to Seabiscuit,” was being used as a fundraiser for a new

cancer center and unable to attend.

Aseel, Brasfield and Hilbert are represented by Javier Perez of

Page-Turner Publicity in Laguna Beach. He learned the trade working

for three years with Anita Halston, who still owns a home here, but

spends most of her time in Northern California.

“She was great mentor,” Perez said. “I am trying to fill the void

she left when she moved to San Francisco.” Proceeds from the luncheon

will benefit local groups, as well as the national association

education foundation.

“I wondered if you would pay $55 (an increase) and you did,” said

Carol Reynolds, past branch president. “Your support today enables us

to support charitable programs in our community.”

The chapter sponsors and funds the El Morro Elementary School

after-school tutoring, scholarships for graduating girls from Laguna

Beach High School, the Women of Achievement annual dinner, Laguna

Beach Live concerts and the American Association of University Women

Tech Trek Summer Science Camp for Thurston Middle School girls.

This year, Hayley Birebaum, Dylan Conroy and Jordan Freund will

camp.

In addition, luncheon proceeds will be used to buy Community Pools

swim cards for five Laguna Beach kids and make donations to Even

Start and the Community Clinic Teenage Support Group in town. Outside

of town, the chapter will donate $35,000 for graduate school

scholarships and funds for a school in Afghanistan.

“We have this power as women,” Reynolds said. “Sticking together

is what makes us successful.”

The chapter was chartered in 1967. Katie Haven and Jean Brotheron

were founding members.

“We had about 65 members, including Leisure World, which later

split off,” Brotheron said.

Mary Fegraus joined when she moved to Laguna Beach 31 years ago.

Johanna Felder has been a member for about 15 years. Elin Henderson

ever since she became a professor 35 years ago.

Reynolds complimented vigilant Surf and Sand banquet captain Chip

Lydick on the food and service. He has ties to the branch, she said.

“We honored his mother, Martha Lydick, as president of the Laguna

Beach Friends of the Library a couple of years ago at the Women of

Achievement Dinner,” Reynolds said. “Now, she is President of the

Repub -- taxpayers association -- same difference.”

THE NIGHT BEFORE

While Chip Lydick was supervising the set-up Friday night for the

luncheon Saturday, his mother was in the audience for the No Square

Theatre presentation of “Philadelphia Story” at the Festival Forum

Theater.

No Square Theatre has restored community theater to Laguna Beach,

adding immeasurably to the breadth of arts in Laguna Beach and

providing a stage for amateur, albeit gifted actors. “We need this so

badly,” said financial supporter Nancy Kreder.

* Our Laguna is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.