At least my acting headshots didn’t go to waste. Photo by Emily La Marque

Hi, I’m Erica Golden, a freelance writer and graphic designer based in Southern Oregon…

After two years of college and concurrent Meisner training — with one of Sanford Meisner’s disciples at private LA studio, I decided to defect to The Neighborhood Playhouse in NYC. Upon hearing this dream, my mother promptly crushed it with threats to strong arm my father (despite their divorce) into cutting me off. Permanently. Unless of course, I remained in college to complete my degree — which she never did.

So, while under protest, I majored in Comparative Literature (out of convenience) and graduated with honors in just over three years from California State University, Long Beach. Once finished, I was free to resume the pursuit of acting in New York City… but first, Europe! I spent the next year teaching ESL in both Slovakia and the Czech Republic. During my time there I wrote my family copious, lengthy emails recounting my many adventures upsetting people in multiple countries due to my oversized luggage and inability to speak the language.

“Your stories are so funny! You should be a writer.” My family’s proclamations fell on deaf ears. Sadly, at the time I chose earplugs and denial when it came to listening to, caring about opinions of, and following advice from my family. Long story short. Ten years later. I conceded, they were right. I’ve been writing pen pals, love notes, and in journals since before email existed…and now I get paid to do it!