Dear Minnesota 99s Committee Members:
I am married with two young children (son, 6, and daughter, 21 months). I enjoy outdoor activities of all kinds (skiing, rafting, kayaking, etc.) and have been a "biker chick" for over 20 years (currently riding a Kawasaki Vulcan 900).
Some of my interests include alternative energy (solar/wind), environmental issues and animal rescue. I occasionally sing back-up vocals for a local band (Mark Cameron, “Life of Illusion”). I enjoy poking around old mining (ghost) towns and watching stock-car racing. On weekends you may find me spending time with my family (often outdoors) or working with my Taiko drumming team.
I spend my days managing our family business, Leader Motorcycle Accessories (see www.LeaderMotorcycle.com), and many of my evenings writing. My first novel, Last Chance Rescue, was published in 2008 (see www.LastChanceRescueBook.com).
Last Chance Rescue (like much of my writing) is heavily influenced by the time I spent in the Army National Guard, which trained me as an EMT and paramedic. It was also the U.S. Army that first exposed me to the helicopter. Boy, was I smitten! It was then (at the grand old age of 20) that I set a goal for myself: I would learn to fly a helicopter before I turned 30 -- and I would find a way to do it myself, since I had no intention of staying in the military!
One month before my 31st birthday, I achieved that goal. Unfortunately, the events of 9/11 (and its aftermath), combined with pregnancy/starting a family -- and of course, the ever-constant considerations of time and money -- all conspired to keep me out of the air since that time (with a few very notable exceptions as passenger with a medevac team and in support of search-and-rescue -- my most meaningful flying experiences since my own instruction).
I miss flying and would like to get back into it, but the helicopter is just too expensive (and not readily accessible). I have contemplated getting a fixed-wing rating since 2002, and even took two lessons in an Ultralight. I would eventually like to be involved with a volunteer organization that ferries sick/disabled people (or possibly animals) and/or search-and-rescue. And I would definitely like to share it with my children!
I enjoy working being part of a team working toward a common goal. A scholarship from the Minnesota 99s would get me on my way, and meeting other women pilots in my area would certainly be a major motivation!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
"Last Chance" Review in HomeFront Magazine
Based on the author's personal experiences and inspired by the self-help book "For Women Only: What You Need to Know about the Inner Lives of Men," by Shaunti Feldhahn, "Last Chance Rescue," is Tracey Cramer-Kelly's first novel and tells the story of a man whose life is changed when he meets a former high school classmate and female Iraq war veteran.
"As a military veteran and former paramedic who is now a mother of two, I wanted to put into words the experiences military personnel have lived through but find hard to explain in the context of everyday life," Cramer said, adding that while "Last Chance Rescue" is fiction, it is in many ways the story of military veterans and their families around the world. Brad Sievers, the speaker in "Last Chance Rescue," is reunited with Jessie Van Dyke, a former classmate and active-duty Army paramedic who served in the Iraq war. Both characters are troubled by events that occurred in their past -- experiences in Iraq, trust and intimacy issues -- but something is awakened when the two begin working together as part of a search-and-rescue team in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado.
"The story is really about the transformation of Brad and Jessie because she has a lot of baggage from her time in Iraq -- what she experienced, what she saw, the friends she lost -- and she's dealing with a fear of intimacy. And Brad has regrets about life experiences. They learn to trust each other in this search-and-rescue team environment," Cramer said.
Cramer was inspired to write "Last Chance Rescue" from a male perspective after reading Shaunti Feldhahn's "For Women Only: What You Need to Know about the Inner Lives of Men." "I read it at the right time when I was kind of thinking how I would write the story," Cramer said, adding that the gender barrier was not a challenge since she has always naturally gravitated toward male friends. "When I was in the military I had a lot of male co-workers and I naturally gravitated toward male friends and part of it was because I'm not the 'tea-and-gab session' kind of gal. I like to bond like men do, playing basketball or something physical."
Released last year, "Last Chance Rescue" has been lauded on the book's Web site by readers and critics for its intense, true-to-life rescue scenes and intimate portrayal of life as a military veteran.
- By Iuliana Petre
"As a military veteran and former paramedic who is now a mother of two, I wanted to put into words the experiences military personnel have lived through but find hard to explain in the context of everyday life," Cramer said, adding that while "Last Chance Rescue" is fiction, it is in many ways the story of military veterans and their families around the world. Brad Sievers, the speaker in "Last Chance Rescue," is reunited with Jessie Van Dyke, a former classmate and active-duty Army paramedic who served in the Iraq war. Both characters are troubled by events that occurred in their past -- experiences in Iraq, trust and intimacy issues -- but something is awakened when the two begin working together as part of a search-and-rescue team in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado.
"The story is really about the transformation of Brad and Jessie because she has a lot of baggage from her time in Iraq -- what she experienced, what she saw, the friends she lost -- and she's dealing with a fear of intimacy. And Brad has regrets about life experiences. They learn to trust each other in this search-and-rescue team environment," Cramer said.
Cramer was inspired to write "Last Chance Rescue" from a male perspective after reading Shaunti Feldhahn's "For Women Only: What You Need to Know about the Inner Lives of Men." "I read it at the right time when I was kind of thinking how I would write the story," Cramer said, adding that the gender barrier was not a challenge since she has always naturally gravitated toward male friends. "When I was in the military I had a lot of male co-workers and I naturally gravitated toward male friends and part of it was because I'm not the 'tea-and-gab session' kind of gal. I like to bond like men do, playing basketball or something physical."
Released last year, "Last Chance Rescue" has been lauded on the book's Web site by readers and critics for its intense, true-to-life rescue scenes and intimate portrayal of life as a military veteran.
- By Iuliana Petre
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Helicopter Organization for Women
If you've read my bio, you know that I have a helicopter pilot license (and you probably also know that a helicopter plays a part in "Last Chance Rescue"). Although I'm not actively flying now, I still maintain my membership in several aviation organizations. One of my favorites is the Whirly-Girls.
Whirly-Girls is a non-profit organization of women helicopter pilots, and they are some of the most amazing, interesting women I've ever had the pleasure of being associated with. My only regret is not having the time to get to know each member!
Every year the Whirly-Girls hold their annual "hovering" (conference) in February. Although I have not been able to attend, this year the group invited me to place my Last Chance Rescue sales cards, etc., in their booth. I also donated a copy of the book for the silent auction (I'm told that a gentleman from Eurocopters was the high bidder). The proceeds of the auction go toward the scholarships that the organization makes available each and every year. It's a small gesture, but I'm honored that I can be a tiny part of more women doing more flying ... and maybe someday I'll be after one of those scholarships myself!
For more information about this wonderful organization, visit http://www.whirlygirls.org!
Whirly-Girls is a non-profit organization of women helicopter pilots, and they are some of the most amazing, interesting women I've ever had the pleasure of being associated with. My only regret is not having the time to get to know each member!
Every year the Whirly-Girls hold their annual "hovering" (conference) in February. Although I have not been able to attend, this year the group invited me to place my Last Chance Rescue sales cards, etc., in their booth. I also donated a copy of the book for the silent auction (I'm told that a gentleman from Eurocopters was the high bidder). The proceeds of the auction go toward the scholarships that the organization makes available each and every year. It's a small gesture, but I'm honored that I can be a tiny part of more women doing more flying ... and maybe someday I'll be after one of those scholarships myself!
For more information about this wonderful organization, visit http://www.whirlygirls.org!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Midwest Book Review
Last Chance Rescue has been reviewed by the Midwest Book Review!
The reviewer starts off with "Put it off for too long, and it may be too late." After a brief synopsis of the book, the reviewer wraps it up with "Last Chance Rescue is an attractive novel that will be well enjoyed by many a reader."
To read the complete review,
click here.
The reviewer starts off with "Put it off for too long, and it may be too late." After a brief synopsis of the book, the reviewer wraps it up with "Last Chance Rescue is an attractive novel that will be well enjoyed by many a reader."
To read the complete review,
click here.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Always Mix Pleasure with Business
Wow, it's been over THREE WEEKS since I posted! I'm supposed to be doing this three times a week! In my defense, I was out of town for eight days. For fun! I spent a blissful (child-free!) week in Reno, NV. I did a little business (for Leader Motorcycle) but I also did some skiing at Lake Tahoe and hung out with the locals at the kayak park in the center of the city (neat!). Always mix pleasure with business, I say! (But now it's back to business-as-usual. Time to re-focus. Time to figure out how to sell this book!)
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