Natasha resides in East Tennessee where she works as a freelance writer and technical editor, and landlady. She writes about health care, education, gender issues, and the arts. She's on staff as a technical editor at the East Tennessee Technology Park, a former Manhattan Project site that is currently undergoing environmental cleanup by the U.S. Department of Energy. Since 2000, Natasha has been helping to create self-development programs for women.
She grew up in New York City, Central Park her playground and the Metropolitan Museum, a place for art lessons. Her family then moved to Reston, a new "planned" community, in northern Virginia. During this time, she further developed her creativity in the performing arts, which led to an intensive 3-year stint in a private dance academy in DC, combining dance and academic studies. Her upper high school years in France brought a shift from a performing arts education into academia, focusing on philosophy and literature. She completed her accelerated studies in French literature at Bennington College, Vermont, with a minor in theater and videography.
Following a brief stint working in a cable TV startup, she attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts to study interactive telecommunications. Through her internships at the United Nations and Bellevue Hospital, she learned about media's potential uses to expose the human condition in a real way. She videotaped physician-facilitated discussions between AIDS patients and their families at NYU Hospital, when the disease was first becoming known. Her senior thesis was to create interactive video tools for children with learning disabilities and their families. Subsequent jobs included market research analysis at LINK/IDC, medical writing at Bristol-Myers Squibb, financial administration at Electric Boat/General Dynamics, and records management at Pfizer Central Research (in Groton, CT).
In addition to working in medical communications, she has been freelance writing about the arts, antiques, health care, and various topics of human and educational interest since 1997. Her work has been published in local newspapers (Mystic River Press, Westchester County Times) trade journals (Style Century Magazine, Antique Trader, Antique Week, Busybee Trader, The Journal of the National Medical Association) and organizations (EFA, Something Good in the World, National Medical Association). Natasha also organizes and facilitates workshops in writing and self-development for adults, young and seasoned.
She's currently at work on the second edition of her book--Global Issues: Women's Rights--originally published by Facts on File (New York City) in July 2007. It can be found in most library reference sections around the globe.
Natasha has taken time off from freelance article writing to develop a YA manuscript using research from her books in a more dynamic context: as a historical fiction/fantasy novel for young adults. She is a member of the Knoxville Writers Guild, where she is developing her work within Laura Ayo's "Write4Kids" group.
She's also a board member of Something Good in the World (Westchester County, New York), provider of innovative educational programs for children and teens (after school, home schooled, and inner city), promoting life-long sustainable living and natural learning.
As a playwright, her interest in the human story and natural mysteries has taken on theatrical form in experimental one-act plays that, once a decade, merit staged readings and performances. Time-permitting, she participates "behind the scenes" in theater productions as a stage manager and to participate in play readings. Although tempted to direct, that has yet to happen.
An avid line dancer, she is part of a club in East Tennessee. Other activities include photography, yoga, cooking, and, when the gas is affordable, traveling.
Last updated March 2011.
