Wendy E. Shepard and John J. (Jeff) Brash established the San Juan Valley Press in 2012 to publish Lucky to be Alive: A Love Story, written by Wendy and illustrated by Jeff. They had the privilege of knowing and caring for Lucky for the last ten years of his life.
Wendy worked in the arts for over 30 years in New York and Los Angeles, then moved to rural San Juan Island in the Pacific Northwest to write. Her plays have appeared in juried festivals and her articles in a variety of publications. Lucky to be Alive: A Love Story is her first book, a narrative poem. As founder of Wedding Scribe NW, she helps couples to create their own ceremonies and vows. A graduate of Radcliffe College and the Bank Street College of Education (M.S.), she was formerly the vice president of Bard College in New York and California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).
Jeff is a marine engineer and visual artist. The founder of Valley Steel & Stone, his work has included metal fabrication and design, oil painting, metal sculptures, and stone sculptures, including fountains. His charcoal drawing of Lucky is featured both on the book’s cover and inside the book itself. He is a graduate of the California Maritime Academy and sailed as Chief Engineer on passenger and container ships for the U.S. Merchant Marine.