Mary Trimble: Nothing like that. We both quit perfectly good jobs, sold our home, bought a sailboat and realized Bruce's dream of sailing to the South Pacific. It wasn't always smooth sailing, but it was an exciting adventure. One of the roughest passages was along our own West Coast from Seattle to San Diego.

The longest leg of our journey, sailing from San Diego to The Marquess in French Polynesia was 35 looong days. Most of that time we didn't see another living soul and the sea was ours alone. We manned our Bristol-40 ourselves which meant shifts of 4-hours-on, 4-hours-off around the clock. Oh, but the joy of reaching land The Marquess, Tahiti, Bora Bora, American Samoa, The Kingdom of Tonga (our favorite, hands down), and Hawaii. We sometimes spent as long as six weeks in one country, sailing round to small islands, soaking up the local culture and swimming in the warm, tropical sea and diving among colorful fish and rainbow-colored coral.

Crescent Blues: It sounds wonderful, but since you obviously didn't stay in the tropics, what did you do next?

Mary Trimble: Upon returning from the South Pacific, I began to write. I had the usual magazine rejection slips but then one month three different publications featured my submissions, two sailing magazines and a RV magazine. I was on my way. Today I've had over 350 articles published and just this past year, my first book, Rosemount, was published as an ebook by Crossroads Publishing.

Crescent Blues: For someone as adventurous as you, I can't imagine you sitting in front of a computer and doing nothing but write. Did you find something to do that was both adventurous and, at the same time, a service to the world around you?

Mary Trimble: Well, I don't know about the service to the world part, but my husband and I did find a new interest, one that involved us totally.

Crescent Blues: Which was?

Mary Trimble: I am a staunch believer in the Red Cross and its mission to help people suffering from disasters. To begin with, Bruce and I joined because we live on an island that would be quite isolated in the event of a disaster. We were among the first to join Red Cross on Camano Island, Washington, nearly ten years ago. We do have a bridge to the mainland but all experts say that it could be the first thing to go in an earthquake. In any event, all neighborhoods should be prepared and capable of handling an emergency on their own for at least 72 hours. Hear, hear.

Crescent Blues: You just joined? I mean, there must be more to it than that. What did you actually do?

Mary Trimble: We began to take classes and participate in local events, such as floods, house fires, etc. I was soon eligible to apply for National Red Cross. Bruce works full time so his participation is limited to local work. He is, however, very supportive of me when I go on national jobs and "handles the home front," including my writing business.

Crescent Blues: What do you mean "when I go on national jobs?"

Mary Trimble: There are many functions within the Red Cross, and it is impressive that almost before the dust settles Red Cross is there, attending to victims of hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, airplane crashes, etc. My normal function is with Family Service as a coordinator, which means that we help bridge the gap between when the disaster occurs and when we can get families back to living as normally and safely as possible either in their own home or into new quarters.

To do this we often issue vouchers to them to buy whatever it takes: new clothing, food, basic furniture (beds, bedding, dressers, table and chairs, etc.), vital work equipment that they've lost so that they can return to work (special boots, uniforms, etc.) Sometimes victims are housed in shelters for large disasters; other times we put them up in motels until they can find suitable housing.

Crescent Blues: How much time to get ready do the volunteers have before the Red Cross sends them to a disaster?

Mary Trimble: Normally, the way volunteers respond is that we get a call asking if we are available. If so, we usually leave within 24 hours of our assignment. Red Cross pays basic expenses.

Crescent Blues: So, what kind of disasters have you been assigned to, and where have you had to go?

Mary Trimble: I've responded to hurricanes, tornadoes, major fires, floods (lots of floods) in several states: Louisiana, West Virginia, Kansas, California, Washington and Tennessee. I worked with the Kosovo refugees at Fort Dix, NJ. Also, I've gone to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico for disasters there.

Interviewer's aside to the reader: Imagine a long interval here as our intrepid interviewee rushed off to a new disaster. You guessed it -- the one right in her own backyard: the 2001 Seattle earthquake.

My first fear was that the bridge to her island had been damaged. It hadn't. Mary emailed to tell me she was all right and that she would get back to me as soon as possible. That left me with new questions.

Crescent Blues: Mary, would you please tell me, in your own words, how you felt, what tasks you had to accomplish, and what are the major dangers, besides aftershocks, following an earthquake?

Mary Trimble: While the Seattle earthquake seemed a tiny rumble to most of us, for some people it was serious business. I first became aware of that fact when Red Cross called and asked if I could help coordinate relief efforts for King County. I thought I would probably be there just a few days but two full weeks later, we were just beginning to wrap things up.

A group of homes sitting high on a cliff in the southern part of the county tumbled over, destroying those homes and threatening the homes below. Many streets became impassable and/or utilities were turned off, forcing people from their homes. Sewer and septic lines were damaged, and in some cases, wells were disrupted, cutting off water supplies. Many homes suffered chimney damage causing unsafe heating systems. In other instances, many older apartment houses were red or yellow tagged, and tenants were evicted. In all these cases, Red Cross helped people with temporary housing needs and offered them help to begin the road to recovery.

Next time, tiny rumble or big, I'll know to begin packing. It was strange, being in a "home" disaster. Although it was too far to commute after putting in 12-hour days, I had to keep reminding myself that I was in Seattle, just 50 miles from my home. I've worked hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and fires, but earthquakes are the most deceptive. The damage may not at first be obvious so extra caution must be taken before the heating system is run, before relying on the well for safe drinking water, and even before taking an elevator in an older building

Crescent Blues: Now that the excitement is over for the moment, I would like to talk some more about your book Rosemount. I was impressed with the book's simplicity, its universality, and the sensitive handling of the protagonist Leslie Cahill and her painful maturation process. Although I know it was meant for younger readers, I've recommended it both to young friends and their parents. Can we expect to see more of Leslie's adventures, or are you going to turn her loose and go on to other writing?

Mary Trimble: I've finished the first draft of McClennan's Bluff, a sequel to Rosemount. I've had fun watching Leslie Cahill mature -- but growing up isn't easy and now she has gotten herself into another mess! I'm reading the book, chapter by chapter, to my critique group, and then will look for a professional reader to give it a final nod before sending it to Crossroads.

Crescent Blues: That's great. I'll be watching for it. How about other writings? Have you had any time for that?

Mary Trimble: I've also resumed my article writing. I found I missed the instant gratification I've experienced seeing my articles print-published. Also, it's something that my husband Bruce and I do together, which is fun. This summer we're going to the Yukon, which should yield three or four magazine articles. I don't think I mentioned it, but Bruce does all the photography for my articles, which really helps sell them.

Crescent Blues: Your first novel was electronically published -- and given your background in computers that isn't an unexpected way for you to go. Still you must have some thoughts about that medium. What do you see in the future?

Mary Trimble: What I seem to be focusing on right now is seeing e-publishing come into its own. I have a feeling of being on the verge of something very big, but not quite knowing just how to get my arms around it. When I'm not on assignment with the Red Cross, I'm at my computer several hours every day working on promotion, but I'm hoping that one day soon e-authors will have definite avenues to follow to get the word out.

Crescent Blues: What do you think other authors can do to best polish and refine their own works? Or what have you done for yourself in that area?

Mary Trimble: What I'd like to say to other authors: I think the most important thing I have done for myself was to help form a critique group. Our group of 10 members meets three times a month to share our work. We've refined our by-laws and procedures to ensure that our group meets our needs. Our most important rule is that we critique on how the piece is written, not the subject matter chosen. There's nothing like reading work aloud to a group of peers to realize the impact -- or the lack of it -- your work has on a group who has your best interests at heart.

Patricia Lucas White

Patricia Lucas White's latest historical novel, To Last a Lifetime, was an Eppie finalist for 2003. To Last a Lifetime and two of her fantasy romances, the Sapphire Award-winning A Wizard Scorned and The Godmother Sanction, can be ordered through Hard Shell Word Factory. Her recent contemporary, PS, I've Taken a Lover, is available from Lionhearted Books.

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