Personal
Stirling Davenport
All my life I’ve been a writer. From creative writing in high school to English literature in college, I felt an ecstatic union with Walt Whitman, Simone de Beauvoir and William Faulkner, and later with Frank Herbert, Ursula LeGuin, and Isaac Asimov.
I've written in the middle of classes, in bars on napkins, and in my dorm room when I was supposed to be doing homework. I spent years working in various day jobs and doing art in my spare time.
In 2005-2006, I volunteered in Northern India doing art therapy with Tibetan refugee children.
These days, you can still find me in a cafe, train station or airport. I'm that lady sketching or scribbling in the corner.
Art is Life
I began sending out short stories for publication in 1997, and many of these have been accepted in anthologies, which appear on the Books page. When I had too many short stories to send out, I collected some of them into a book called AMPHIBIOUS DREAMERS.
I wrote an epic fantasy adventure called THE NIGHTWING'S QUEST on my lunch hours at a venture capital firm. This was published by Jigsaw Press in 2008.
In 1989, I joined a writing group called The Six Foot Ferrets, and gained valuable feedback and connections. Though we are now spread all over the country, we're still in touch. One of their favorites was my YA fantasy novel THE SILVER REINDEER, which I self-published under my imprint Noth Press in 2012.
I have belonged to several writing groups since then, and am currently an active member of Shoreline Writers, Shut Up & Write, and Pitch to Published.
I come from a family of artists. My son is also following in my footsteps, though he surpasses me, as I hoped he would. I helped him assemble and publish his illustrated children's book TOO MANY FRIENDS. All of these are featured on my Books pages.
The Promise
Acrylic on canvas, 1973
Stirling Davenport
Miles Ballew (My Son)
"Painting is a vehicle for me to narrate the physicality of my internal themes and birth them into physical space. I believe writing is more my indirect monologue - it is my inner song. The creations comprise such a long and enriching story that they cannot merely be told in one epic masterpiece. I prefer to write in smaller segments and vignettes. I believe when encapsulated in a smaller format, stories are generally more stable.
My struggle has always been to ponder the dynamic between my inspirations and their narrations. My jamboed artsy ideas become convoluted and inarticulate at times. I create - I draw - so I can vent. I find significance in my work and share the gifts I've been granted. I hope that one day I can leave a legacy as a great artist and storyteller for my daughter, my greatest creation."
As Stirling says, Miles has painted, drawn, and told stories every single day of his life.
Art is Life
Je Suis Perdu
Oil on canvas, 1995
Miles Ballew