Edward Saugstad / 'Sir Ed Word'

Writer/Artist/Musician/Carpenter

edwardsaugstad.com

goldenganeshart.com

I was born into a large family on the West Coast of Canada. Back then - in the late fifties - the world had not yet come to rely on computers and mobile-phones to communicate. We lived in a society that still used the pen and pencil.

My creative talents came to light at an early age. In elementary school I was awarded with high marks for my writing and art projects, and at home I practiced classical piano, finishing eight grades in just three-and-a-half years. Although most of us eight kids and our parents were musical, I was the only one to enjoy expression through writing and art as well. Then the 1970s and the teenage years came my way, and although I spent a lot of time getting popular with my bongo drums at parties, I was distracted away from expression through my other talents.

As many writers and artists end up wandering wide of their heartfelt goal of practicing full-time in their special fields, I too have traveled many of life's paths far around that end. After many years of traveling, involvement in spiritual pursuits (38 year expert in Sahaja Yoga meditation), and enjoying carpentry work, I decided to take time to illustrate and publish two children's stories I had written for our young son in the mid nineties. The results are Oakee Doakee and the Hate Wave (also available in German), and Oakee Doakee and the Ego Bomb (both published in 2008), which have been received with growing interest in several countries.

In 2009 I helped organize the two 'Elephants For Peace, Go Ganesha Go' international exhibitions in Cyprus. My films of these events, as well as that from a third cultural event in Italy, are broadcast on YouTube.

I recently released my first novel for young readers, Oakee Doakee and the Timeless Machine: the Ramayana, an exciting retelling of the asian epic, with 36 original color illustrations.

My next projects include an exciting auto-biography, a collection of poems, a spiritual thriller for young adults, more short films, and recordings of my HandSonic sessions (see video on this page). My 'Self-Help' blog has been visited over 140,000 times, and I've created other successful websites, including two that share the beautiful ceramic art of my wife.

Most people look forward to retirement from work at my age, but I feel I'm just getting enthusiastically rolling! The possibilities are unlimited ...