Enamored with Place: As Woman + As Architect

2013 Paris Book Festival Runner-up / Biography

This is the personal and professional memoir of an architect who tells how her identity and life as woman are inseparable from her adventures in the profession of architecture. She reflects in the epilogue about how what she knows now could influence the way our culture goes about the making of place.

– Full color, hardcover
– 388 pages with 100 snapshots
– ISBN 978-0-9837834-6-6

Memoir / Social History / Architecture

Copies are available on this site. Price: $35

Click on arrow in center of above image to see book trailer 

To see more videos  click on words  in pink to link to my YouTube page

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THANKS to www.1stmindentertainment.com for video design and production _____________________________________________________________
Also available at
Bookstores
William Stout Books at 1605 Solano, North Berkeley
William Stout Architectural Books at 804 Montgomery, San Francisco
Phoenix Books at 3957 24th Street, San Francisco
MADE BY Us at 127 “M” Street, Crescent City
Jefferson State Books at 299 “I” Street, Crescent City
Northtown Books, 957 H Street Arcata
Florey’s Book Co., 2120 Palmetto Ave., Pacifica
Harbor Books, 270 Capistrano Road,Princeton
Bay Book Company, 80 Cabrillo Highway North  Half Moon Bay
Coastside Books, 432 Main Street, Half Moon Bay
The Green Arcade, 1680 Market, San Francisco
Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley

Libraries
*Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, University Libraries, Blacksburg, Virginia (location for the International Archive of Women Archives)
*San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch, San Francisco, California
*College of Environmental Design Library, University of California, Berkeley
*Mechanics Institute Library (private library) at 57 Post Street, San Francisco
*Humboldt State University Library, Arcata, California
*Del Norte County Library, Crescent City, California
*San Mateo County Library, San Mateo, California
*Half Moon Bay Library 620 Correas Street, Half Moon Bay, California
*Coast Community Library, Pt. Arena, California
*Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley, California


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Testimonials
Presenting your book (at The Green Arcade Bookstore) and describing it made me visualize your book almost like a blueprint.  You laid it out with the supports at either end- Preface, Introduction____ Epilogue. and 36 compartments within.  It was so illuminating to me. I am now on Chapter 7 in my reading and I have been so struck by your memory,  the descriptions of outfits, the moods, the first impressions etc.  just amaze me.
     The intriguing discussion could have gone in so many directions. I loved your clarity of purpose. The way you detailed your process of choosing the title. The importance of holding Place in the space of being a Woman and additionally holding Place from the space of being an Architect. It solidified into something geometric for me.
Describing the words and wefts of your rugs was one of those thoughts that I look forward to mulling over when I get back to my loom.
—Nancy Germano, professional weaver now living in San Francisco

It was wonderful having you visit last Friday and all of us were so impressed with your book, presentation, and the professional way you got the job done.  As one of the Wednesday Writers said yesterday, “Wendy knows how to execute!” The book is a beautiful work of art and shows the love and care you took with it.
—Elizabeth Fishel, co-author of When Will My Grown-Up Kid Grow Up? and leader of the Wednesday Writers’ groups in Oakland
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Just wanted to congratulate you on your book. A nice true life story well presented, well written, nicely laid out and on good quality paper. I enjoyed reading your story about your world travels and your fight for equality in the work place.  Sorry you had to fight a lot for woman’s rights but that’s the way it was then, you were a true pioneer at that time and i’m sure you still are today. I think today thanks to you and others like you that the situation is much better, perhaps not there yet, but much better than it was that’s for sure. I remember when i worked for some of the larger engineering company’s in the bay area that the number of woman engineer’s was about 1%, that covered all dep’t of engineering, so you were not a lone.
—Pete Holland, retired from engineering, now living in France

Thanks you so much for inviting me to your presentation at the SF Main Library March 5, 2013. It was lively successful event and I’m glad I was able to be a part of it. I thought the way you got everyone to contribute in the conversation at the end was great because each person had something to offer in the way of new perspectives and ideas.  And I even sold a copy of my biography of Margaret Fuller: An Uncommon Woman. Thanks
—Adele Fasick, blogger and author of women’s history, San Francisco

Gee I knew your mother but didn’t ever know so much about you. I couldn’t put it down. Thanks for writing this book. It was so much fun to read with all the colorful graphics and photos and I didn’t have to look up many words. You were a champion of women in architecture.  I feel like a feminist too.
—Jacqueline Schouten, retired teacher and long time librarian, San Diego, California
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Bertrand’s engaging style draws the reader into her interesting life.  Beginning with her childhood move into the family’s garage, Bertrand always created her own place–whether as the only woman in her architecture class or pushing the boundaries of her career as an architect for the Navy.  Doing this while a single mother, building her own living spaces, and traveling, makes her story an intriguing read.  Especially recommended for memoir readers, students of the second wave of feminism, and those who want to explore what is social architecture.
 —Candace Watson, MLS, BA Women’s Studies, From Maine, now living in San Francicso

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As a single mother, going back to college at the age of 27, I am super excited to read your experiences and hope that it will inspire me continue pursuing a career in Landscape Architecture. I’m currently taking an English class and one assignment is to read a memoir. I wanted to find a memoir that would motivate me on my career path. Lucky enough, I googled architect, single mom and memoir and your book popped up. I cant wait to start reading.
—Maureen Moscoso, Bound for Landscape Architecture, Laguna Niguel, California
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I am so pleased that Lea, my sister, showed me your book about life, places, and architecture when I visited her in Oregon.  I was hopping chapters because I knew I wouldn’t have time to read the entire book, but here a few comments:

“Everyone took his/her shoes off before stepping onto the white wall-to-wall carpet in the nondescript magazine interior of the elegant house.”  We have that same ideal in Finland, without personality!
The China year made me see and feel the atmosphere in the environment as well as in the marriage.
When one reads a good storyteller, it seems so simple! You also wrap everything up nicely in the ends of the chapters
Liked the story about the cup p.145, an object we all use.
Did not have time to read the whole thing in ten days – but what I read was certainly enjoyable!
—Helen Elde, Theater actor, Helsinki, Finland
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I finished your book today. You’re an excellent writer, and I enjoyed the reading. Yet when I read the introduction, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go on. For me, the somewhat general and abstract nature of the introduction wasn’t very interesting. But then I got into your life story and the other specifics, and I was hooked.

Because we’re contemporaries, I was able to compare what I was doing with the times/places you described. You were much more brave and adventurous than I was.

I’m a wanna-be architect. So I was interested to learn all about your schooling and day-to-activities as a working architect, especially for the Navy. Regarding two of my heroes–Buckminster Fuller and Frank Lloyd Wright–I have a couple of comments.

Did you know that Bucky referred to architects as “exterior decorators”? Here’s his reasoning: a banker tells a developer how many units are required to make a property/project profitable enough to get financing; the developer hires an engineer to create the structure required to build that many units (mainly applies to commercial); then an architect is hired to make the structure attractive. Bucky was also always asking architects: “Do you know how much your building weighs? If you don’t, how can you judge its performance? Shipbuilders and airframe builders know exactly what their structures weigh.”

Fuller also said that development was “one real estate exploitation piled on top of another–orchards and ranches to subdivisions; subdivisions to commercial development; commercial buildings to high-rise.”

Compared with my book, yours is beautiful and extremely well-produced. And though I thought the cover type treatment was a bit too fussy, I overall think the typesetting was excellent. Still, I found a few typos and omissions, but not as many as I’ve already found in my much-shorter book.
— Pete J. Chasar, aritist and writer, Brookings, Oregon
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Stunning cover! Nice to see the hatched texture in the word “place.” Nice the way the designer carries through the design on the jacket flaps. I like the list of places on the end pages in your architectural printing hand.  The small size of photos sprinkled throughout is effective —the one of your artist grandmother is a little treasure.
—Britta Brice, Artist, La Jolla, California, 2012
______________________________________________________________4.0 out of 5 stars A great story of life

ENAMORED WITH PLACE is more than a memoir–it’s a wonderful account of an extraordinary woman’s journey to become an architect and to work in that profession for many years. Wendy worked in “a man’s world” for many years. In this book, she tells us about the special ways she approached working and living, both professionally and personally.
— Lorri Ungaretti,  an Amazon Review, 2012
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You know how to keep a reader interested with just the right pace and amount of time spent relaying a particular story.  What I came away with mostly was how much a person can accomplish through work, family and adventures in a life if one desires to.  I can’t help but think some people who haven’t really “lived” that read it will experience a wake up call or have feelings of regret that they have spent too much of their life going to work, running a household and getting caught up in the day to day routines.
Guy and I have an adventurous spirit and have traveled a fair bit, take in the theatre, arts, car shows, collecting, hiking, kayaking, etc and I think “Wow I need to ramp up my life” after reading your book.  It is certainly inspirational!!
Something that is no surprise and disappointing is how far we (women) have not come.  Your work challenges of the 70-80 decades are still too common today.  Good for you to persevere and stand your ground on so many occasions.  You had and still have, I’m sure , the Finnish sisu. Thank you for sharing your story!!
— Tuula Perault, Interior Designer, B.C. Canada, 2012
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“Wow, what a whirlwind trip I have been through with your tales! Your journey is a real life rendition of Dr Seuss’ famous book, ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go’.

Your stories – both personal and professional – echoed some of my own hopes, trepidations and challenges going forward as a young professional woman, and it was so refreshing to read how you dealt with each of your challenges, and moved upwards and onwards with no regrets and your integrity in tact. Sometimes your words sound like an advice my mother would give me, and the description of your interactions with your daughter gave me some insight into emotions my mother would have gone through with me at points.

On the professional front, I noted with interest and potential elements for further expansion:
- your penchant for inserting graphic components into assignments
- the ‘fake it til you make it’ attitude
- questioning what is ‘good enough’ for the public (200): I go through similar dilemmas in projects that are of pro bono nature – just because it’s free, doesn’t mean that it needs to be low-quality- discussion on the role of architecture
- development as a speculation rather than appropriate
- your thoughts on community organizing, “could leadership and planning influence the visual impact of development?”

I would like to propose that we pull something together for Architecture + Women New Zealand group – they’re open to new publications and submissions by members, both local and from overseas.”
— Alexandra JaYeun Lee, BAS, B.Arch, PhD Candidate, School of Architecture and  Planning, University of Aukland, New Zealand, 2012
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“I thoroughly enjoyed your comments, observations and adventures.  Your have a great writing style and I am impressed with the journey that your life is taking you on.  I am sure that there are many others in the Humbug Guild that will enjoy reading your book.  It will be placed in our Library for selection.”
—Eileen Davis-Diaz, Newsletter editor of the Humbug Spinners and Weavers Guild, retired teacher, Bandon, Oregon, 2012
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“I admire your courage to write this book, to tell and share your struggles and accomplishments personally and professionally.”
— Hourig Ayanyan, Intern Architect, Concord, California,  2012
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“We love it so far, C fights me to get it when I put it down. We both agree you are such a good writer.”        “My (C) first impression is that you are certainly a lucky person as people only dream of all the different places you have been able to experience.  I know I have. You have led a very charmed life. Your style of writing makes it so easy to get totally immersed in the story and not wanting to put it down.   Your descriptions of places and people are certainly a talent and I enjoyed the photos scattered throughout.Lately, on either radio or television or on the Internet; there have been stories about how women struggle in the workplace.  I know I am just more aware of it because I have read your story. I knew it was a reality but not maybe how prevalent it still is. ”

— Cynthia Eakin, Real Estate agent and Ruffy Eakin, Custom furniture maker, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachuetts,  2012

“Glad you wrote this book and a very good first paragraph, we always like the author to read the first paragraph of the body of the text when we get it.”
— Lucia Bogatay, Architect and Tom Wickens, Mathematician. San Francisco, California, 2012

“Great to see your book is out. Awesome photo cover by Cha. I enjoyed skimming the sample pages and reading about you.”
— Dana Sakamoto, Environmental Engineer, San Diego, California, 2012

“Congratulations on your new book, ‘Enamored with Place’, a great title! Many of us think about writing a book or doing something dramatic—but we seldom do— so congratulations again. P.S. Outstanding cover design.”
— Dick Lareau, Architect, San Diego, California, 2012

“The book arrived……………. and it’s beautiful!!!  Wonderfully designed….”
— Ellen Perry Berkeley, Architectural Journalist, Vermont, 2012

“Your book is outstanding. I can’t believe how much I am enjoying it. Can’t put it down in the evening, and can’t wait to pick it up the next day…. also the layout of the book is unique and attractive- different color paper for the Preface and Epilogue, colored page numbers, artistic curves on some of the pages, pictures that enhance the narrative, small red circles dividing paragraphs, and the paper feels good.”
— Paul Thrash, former Navy engineer, Oakland, California, 2012

…that feels so nice and solid in the hand, would you like us to review it?
— Sharon Miller, Library Director of Mechanic’s Institute, San Francisco, California, 2012

“Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…I am turning the pages of your book with excitement and pleasure.  It is hard to put down!”
— Annie Drager, poet, activist and community gardener, Phoenix, Oregon, 2012