On Thursday, August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces overran Kuwait. I was living and working in Kuwait and heard two tremendous explosions–shots heard around the world one might say–at 530 a.m. I begin this blog on the 20th anniversary of this date, an event whose consequences are with us, both Americans and many other nationalities, still.
I have written and revised this manuscript repeatedly since I left Iraq in December 1990 after 125 days of captivity. My intention is to upload parts of my existing manuscript in serial form from now until December. If you enjoy the story please tell me and forward the link to friends you think might also enjoy it. I will be deeply grateful for any feedback on the writing and/or on my choices, whether this feedback be supportive or critical.
The text is copyrighted but in flux. If you are or know an agent or publisher interested in working with me, please contact me.
The header image is adapted from the photo “Refinery” by arbyreed on Flickr and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
my babylonian captivity: 
Your story is fascinating! Peace Corp, living in the Middle East, the whole lifestyle are enough to make me want to read more. I don’t mean to sound excited by the fact that you were abducted, because it is obviously not entertainment, but it is an amazingly powerful story so far and I cannot wait to read more.
ah! she sails!!! congratulations, you have embarked! good voyages, good luck, good adventures and thank you for taking us with you!!!
Kristen’s more generous than me: so, thanks for being abducted. Thx to your abductors for letting you come back.
I’m so glad you are back with us. You add to many of our days, and though I hate that you were abducted, I know it changed you in ways we cannot imagine. Thanks for posting this mss….no matter how you feel.
Yes, I’ve put a link to it up on my Postcards blog. I will mention you and these new words on my Open Diary blog tomorrow. Thank you for taking us along.
of course the experience changed me in ways i can sometimes speculate about, but the healing happened fast and finished long ago. i’m quite alright with telling the story. traumatic events tear and break, but then after all is made right, it’s like mended bones: they grow back stronger than they were to begin with. i’m very excited to tell this story.
Thank you so much for sharing this story with the world. An riveting tale of a very incredulous and catastrophic time in your life. I do hope this telling is cathartic in some way, a release of all that was endured. It takes a great deal of guts to share this intimate portrait so honestly. I hope a publisher picks this up right away. It deserves recognition.
Looking forward to reading this!
I am captivated and terrified all at once. SO glad you are sharing the story. So sorry that you had the experience! I will share your site on my blog, and introduce you in my coming post. Thanks to Maggie for getting me here!