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Okay, I know I'm biased,
but I believe
my husband, Alec, is a fantastic writer and artist.
Alec has written six novels:
Return to Freedom
(which is a sequel to Backside) Reunion at the Wetside, The Backside of Nowhere, The Wives of Marty Winters, Imprudent Zeal, and Until the Dawn.
He published his books through our indepedent company,
ClaytonWorks Publishing. If you are an agent or publisher
interested in working with him,
contact him. I think
his novels would make terrific movies!
Alec writes for
two publications in Tacoma (between Olympia and Seattle): an art column called Visual Edge for The Weekly Volcano, a theater review for
The News Tribune.
After they are
printed he publishes all his reviews and information and more in
his blog
South Sound Arts etc.
He also writes articles for
ThurstonTalk. Alec doesn't
paint anymore, but he does show his paintings occasionally and
by appointment. His art is contemporary/abstract.
His book about art is As If Art Matters.
You can see
more about his writing
and
his art on
Alec Clayton: Art and Writing.
Our son Noel lives in Seattle. He's the Master Stage
Carpenter at the Leo Kreielsheimer
Theatre at Seattle
Repertory Theatre and a Journeyman Member of
IATSE Local #15, the
labor
union representing the crafts of stage and projection
in Western Washington: "the best technical talent in the Puget Sound".
He was secretary of the Local for six years ending in early
2012. He has a degree in Acting from Western Washington University in Bellingham. He's been a vegetarian since high school and a marathon runner since 2007. Noel is a very special young man with a warm heart and a wonderful sense of humor. Do I sound like a proud mom? You bet I am!
This is Noel...
is an old photo collage I did of him
many years ago.
Noel married Liz in August 2011!
We
adore her and are very happy that she is a part of our family
now. Liz is a
stage manager for
StoryBook
Theater and
Studio East
Training for the Performing Arts.
She is originally from Speedway, Indiana. She's a graduate of
University of Notre Dame and has a Master of Fine Arts in
Drama/Theatre for the Young from Eastern Michigan University.
Our son
Bill was openly bisexual. In April of 1995, he was assaulted in a
hate crime here in Olympia, WA (USA). On May 8, 1995 Bill committed
suicide, despite loving support from his family, friends and many
wonderful people in our community. Bill was 17 years old. He was a
bright, warm and creative young man. He is greatly missed. Please
remember him, and speak out to end discrimination, hate speech and
violence against people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender -- and against anyone for any reason. I published Bill's
story on a
website I created after his death that focuses mostly on GLBTQ issues and
resources, but it is all connected. We are all connected. And silence is
where the hate grows. 
If you would like to know more about what happened
to Bill, please read
Bill's Story -- Portrait of a Son's Suicide.
Thank you to
Youth Guardian
Services
for
hosting that website for me.
Catherine Dawdy
is very much a part of our family. She was one of the very first people
we met on the evening of our first day in Olympia in 1988. She was our housemate for several years, and she
was and is second mom to our sons. She is a great massage therapist, and
she has a gorgeous garden!
I also have a great sister,
Mimi,
and brother Michael in Northern California. If you want to know more, check
out the essay I wrote about my family,
Encircled By My Heritage.
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That's
Steve Schalchlin
hugging me!
Steve is also family for me. I created
The Steve Schalchlin Fan Club
(his name is pronounced Shack-lin) A wee bit of silliness meant to
seriously celebrate this man who very seriously honored Bill and me.
This amazing friend of mine is a songwriter and is the composer of the
powerful musicals
The Last Session
(1996) and
The Big Voice: God or Merman?
(2002) which he wrote and performs with his wonderful partner
Jim Brochu.
His website site features a wonderful online diary,
Living in the Bonus Round
and then he is the person who inspired me to begin a blog with his
Living In The Bonus Round: Where time speeds up
and the prizes are better. Steve
released a CD The Bonus Round Sessions in May 2000. Included on
it is Will It Always Be Like This , about which Steve wrote:
"Inspired by the true story of our friend Gabi Clayton and her son
Bill." The lyrics of that song are
here. In August
2002 Steve released a new CD "Beyond the Light" which has another
version of the song about Bill on it. His songs are fabulous. In October
2002 he released the original cast recording of The Big Voice: God or
Merman? For more information, to hear MP3 clips and to order a CD
and more, go to
http://www.youth-guard.org/cd.
Part of the proceeds from the sale of Steve's CDs benefit
Youth
Guardian Services.
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