Ex-Yugoslavia / Balkans
- “How to Reconstruct an Olympic Bobsled Track,” (working title) Hidden Compass, forthcoming in February 2023
- Remembering Yugoslavia – podcast and website, 2017 to present
- “Saving Europe’s Blue Heart,” Earth Island Journal, December 2020 [pdf of print version]
- “Roses of Sarajevo,” Compass Cultura, Issue #5, December 15, 2014 [archived original website / pdf of original website ]
- “Tváre Belehradu” (Slovak original) [ “In a foreign city: Belgrade” (English translation) ], Týždeň, 45/2013, November 4, 2013 [jpg]
- “Len futbal tu spája” (Slovak original) [ “In a foreign city: Sarajevo”(English translation) ], Týždeň, 39/2013, September 23, 2013 [jpg]
- The Collapse of Federations: Elite Political Mobilization in the Dissolutions of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, Saarbrücken: VDM Verlag, 2008
- Review of Michael E. Brown (ed.), The International Dimensions of Internal Conflict, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1996, in: Southeast European Politics, Vol. V, No. 1, June 2004, pp. 103-105 [PDF]
- “Images of Yugoslavia: Past and Present,”The Global Review of Ethnopolitics, Vol. 3, no. 3-4, March/June 2004, pp. 82-87 [PDF]
- Review of Jasna Dragović-Soso, “Saviours of the Nation”: Serbia’s Intellectual Opposition and the Revival of Nationalism, London: Hurst & Company, 2002, and Ivan Čolović, The Politics of Symbol in Serbia: Essays in Political Anthropology, translated from the Serbian by Celia Hawkesworth, London: Hurst & Company, London, 2002, in: The Global Review of Ethnopolitics, Vol. 3, no. 2, January 2004, pp. 95-97 [PDF]
Creative Nonfiction
Awards
2014
- 1st place, 15th Annual Oregon Quarterly Northwest Perspectives Essay Contest for “A Demolition”
Published Works
2017
- “A Path from Pilsners to Oregon IPAs,” Travel Oregon, July 2017
2015
- “Husák’s Children,” Star 82 Review, Issue #3.3, September 2015
- “The Land of Lost Time,” Cargo Literary, Issue #3, August 2015 [pdf]
- “A Visit,” Gravel, May 2015
2014
- “Roses of Sarajevo,” Compass Cultura, Issue #5, December 15, 2014 [original website / pdf of original website / pdf of current website]
- “Walking Portland’s Great Divide,” Narratively, November 14, 2014
- “The Strange and Twisted Dream of Twin Peaks Nostalgia,” Twin Peaks Project, October 21, 2014 • With an introduction by Shya Scanlon, “Twin Peaks for Transplants”
- “A Demolition,” Oregon Quarterly, Summer 2014, pp. 26-29
- “Where Are You From?” Extract(s), April 3, 2014 (Discontinued) [ pdf ]
Freelance Works
2020
- “Saving Europe’s Blue Heart,” Earth Island Journal, December 2020 [pdf of print version]
- The Astorian (select pieces; other stories include restaurant/business news and event previews)
- “The coast, beyond the grave,” October 26, 2022
- “Crossing the Columbia: Runners ascend across Astoria Bridge,” October 5, 2022
- “Weekend Break: The Tale Lives On,” September 30, 2022
- “Steward a mile of coast,” September 14, 2022
- “Weekend Break: A Night at the Opera,” July 29, 2022
- “Exploring the craft beer route,” July 20, 2022
- “Weekend Break: From the Adriatic to the Pacific,” July 8, 2022
- “Astoria resident remodels a cinema icon,” May 4, 2022
- “Former Astoria English teacher on a mission to create 100 Post-it portraits,” December 15, 2021
- “A new exhibit sheds light on Astoria’s history of racism and segregation,” December 22, 2021
2015
- Oregon Beer Growler:
- “Sampling Summer’s Hike-Inspired Beers,” November 2015, p. 5
- “A Beer Walk in the Woods,” August 2015, p. 6 (cover story)
- “Something Is Brewing at Portland Food Carts,” June 2015, p. 6
- “Pints and Poses: Yoga in Breweries Brings New Clientele,” January 2015, p. 13 (cover story)
2014
- “Bratislava Off the Beaten Path,” Mapping Megan, June 23, 2014
- “Going to the Quiet Side: Three Restful Beaches in Southern Thailand,” Nomad Is Beautiful, February 10, 2014
2013
- “In Slovakia, a Citizen’s Effort To Build a Holocaust Memorial to His City’s Missing Jews,” Tablet, October 16, 2013
- Týždeň:
- “Tváre Belehradu” (Slovak original) [ “In a foreign city: Belgrade” (English translation)], 45/2013, November 4, 2013 [jpg]
- “Len futbal tu spája” (Slovak original) [ “In a foreign city: Sarajevo”(English translation)], 39/2013, September 23, 2013 [jpg]
- “V cudzom meste” (Slovak original) [ “In a foreign city – Prague” (English translation)], 33/2013, August 12, 2013 [jpg]
- “Living and breathing jazz,” Oregon Jewish Life, February 2013, p. 49 [pdf]
- “S.E. Food Project engages Inner Southeast neighbors,” The Bee, February 2013 [pdf]
2012
- The Bee:
- “Relish Gastropub to open in Westmoreland,” December 2012 [pdf]
- “Westmoreland’s Keana’s Candyland continues to fight for survival,” December 2012 [pdf]
- “Westmoreland residents to lead city’s Russian Old New Year celebration,” December 2012 [pdf]
- “Sellwood PTA Christmas project benefits families in need,” December 2012 [pdf]
- “Westmoreland coffee shop changes hands…and atmosphere,” November 2012, p. 19 [pdf]
- “Oaks Park hosts Fresh Hop Beer Fest,” November 2012, p. 13 [pdf]
- “Bike Commute Challenge sends SE riders on the road,” October 2012, p. 14 [pdf]
- “Two-time Grammy winner appears in Brooklyn recital,” October 2012, p. 31 [pdf]
- “‘Westmoreland Brewfest’ cultivates new tradition,” September 2012 [pdf]
- “Restaurant next to Moreland Theater reopens with new name and ‘family brewpub’,” September 2012 [pdf]
- Oregon Jewish Life:
- “Diversity in nursing,” November 2012, p. 17 [pdf]
- “Mussar dinner emphasizes ethics, friendship,” October 2012, pp. 46-47 [pdf]
- “Elder advocates for environment, good causes,” Oregon Jewish Life, September 2012, pp. 38-40 [pdf]
- “Cedar Sinai Park honors the Fifth Commandment with comprehensive care,” August 2012, pp. 63-64 [pdf]
- “Bottoms Up at Chervona’s Xmas Song Video Shoot Set,” reprinted in Oregon Music News with an introduction by Stephanie Salvey, January 9, 2012 [pdf]
2011
- “Praha My Prague: A Micro-Memoir,” Czechmate Diary, November 25, 2011
2009-2010
- April 22, 2010 – 40th Earth Day, in: the3six5: 365 days, 365 points of view, [pdf]
- “Use crowdsourcing for social and environmental sustainability,” Sustainable Business Oregon, May 21, 2010
- “Circling Back to the Market” and “Keynote Sticks and Stings”, Springboard Innovation Blog, April 2010
- 12 guest posts on sustainable marketing, 3BL Media, 2009-2010
- “Measuring the Environmental Impact of Marketing Communications,” Sustainable Brands, February 3, 2010; “Positioning from the Systems Thinking Perspective,” Sustainable Brands, December, 7, 2009; “Why Authentic Marketing is Hard (and How to Make it Easier),” Sustainable Brands, September 23, 2009
- “How to Find the Right Sustainable Builder or Remodeler,” Edmiston Design Build Blog, September 15, 2009
- “Why Jacquie Ottman’s ‘Green Marketing’ Remains Relevant,” Jacquie Ottman’s Green Marketing Blog, September 8, 2009
- “Knitting a Brand in 3 Steps,” Drew’s Marketing Minute, February 20, 2009
- Sustainable Marketing Blog (offline)
2004
- Review of Michael E. Brown (ed.), The International Dimensions of Internal Conflict, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1996, in: Southeast European Politics, Vol. V, No. 1, June 2004, pp. 103-105 [pdf]
- “Images of Yugoslavia: Past and Present,”The Global Review of Ethnopolitics, Vol. 3, no. 3-4, March/June 2004, pp. 82-87 [pdf]
- Review of Jasna Dragović-Soso, “Saviours of the Nation”: Serbia’s Intellectual Opposition and the Revival of Nationalism, London: Hurst & Company, 2002, and Ivan Čolović, The Politics of Symbol in Serbia: Essays in Political Anthropology, translated from the Serbian by Celia Hawkesworth, London: Hurst & Company, London, 2002, in: The Global Review of Ethnopolitics, Vol. 3, no. 2, January 2004, pp. 95-97 [pdf]
Books
As Author
Guerrilla Yardwork: The First-Time Home Owner’s Handbook
Part manifesto, part field manual, the book rethinks draws upon the tenets of guerrilla warfare outlined by Sun Tzu, Che Guevara, and others, to introduce guerrilla yardwork as both a yardvolutionary philosophy and an effective practice for every first-time home owner strapped for cash and pressed for time.
Guerrilla yardwork utilizes the element of surprise to launch small, repetitive attacks at unpredictable times and locations around the yard to weaken Bad Nature and promote Good Nature in Her stead. Offensive, highly mobile, and fluid in character, guerrilla yardwork is marked by swift action of short duration, followed by rapid withdrawal.
The yard won’t know what hit it.
- Published in 2013 by American Robotnik Publishing in Portland, Oregon
- Samples
- BUY NOW
- Learn more →
The Collapse of Federations: Elite Political Mobilization in the Dissolutions of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia
Why did seemingly stable East European federations, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, break up after the collapse of state socialism? Modernization under state socialism, which aimed to equalize economic development levels between regions in the two federations, caused the respective ethnic elites to elevate their aspiration levels, claim relative deprivation, and mobilize in pursuit of resources. Ethnic elites of the economically inferior groups mobilized to demand more resources and concessions from and within their respective federations; the economically dominant groups mobilized defensively to protect their status. In the complex pattern of interacting and mutually reinforcing mobilizations, enabled by a considerable external shock in the international political arena, the defensive, resource-driven mobilization of political elites of the economically dominant ethnic groups resulted in the dissolution of the two federations.
- Published in 2008 by VDM Verlag in Saarbrücken, Germany
- Sample: Introduction and Conclusion
- BUY NOW
As Editor
The Portland Bottom Line: Practices for Your Small Business from America’s Hotbed of Sustainability
The Portland Bottom Line is a collaborative exploration of sustainable practices for small businesses. Organized into 12 sections along the triple bottom line of People, Planet, and Prosperity, the book explores how small businesses can effectively and efficiently shift toward sustainability and thrive. In their short essays 51 small-business people from the City of Roses share their experiences with sustainability in their companies and offer actionable ideas, valuable practices, and practical tips that any small business can implement tomorrow. The Portland Bottom Line demonstrates how small businesses can innovate to put people before profit, help restore the ecosystem, and prosper.
Contributors collectively chose MercyCorps NW to receive 100% of net profit from the sales of The Portland Bottom Line
- Published in 2010 by GoodBookery in Portland, Oregon
- Introduction and Conclusion
- BUY NOW
As Contributor
- “Conversation as a Driver of Social Sustainability,” in: Gavin Heaton and Drew McLellan, eds., Age of Conversation 3: It’s Time to Get Busy!, Chanel V Books, 2010 — BUY NOW
- “We the People: Social Media and Sustainability,” in: Jeff Caswell, ed., Connect: Marketing in the Social Media Era, Blurb, 2009 (Out of print)
Other Blogs & Websites
Active
- Remembering Yugoslavia – A passion project exploring the memory of a country that no longer exists.
Dormant / On Hiatus
- Where Is Your Toothbrush? – A travel website exploring how to feel at home anywhere in the world through food and drink.
- American Robotnik – A blog where I explored (2011-2015) the experience of immigration to the United States from Central Europe.
- I ♥ Slovakia – A travel website highlighting the best of my homeland for visitor and travelers alike.