Sarah Paris:  Writer, Editor, Poet

Sarah Paris is a Swiss-American writer, editor, poet and former journalist. Born and raised in Switzerland, she has been living in California half her life. Her current focus is her work as communications manager and principal editor for the UCSF School of Medicine.

Sarah writes haiku poetry in the tradition of her teacher, the late Fr. Thomas Hand, SJ, who spent 29 years in Japan before teaching meditation and haiku at Mercy Center in Burlingame, California. She and Mark also serve on the steering committee of the East West meditation group at Mercy Center. (Read more about the haiku path as taught by Fr. Hand.)

Sarah's German novel Ahnenbeschwörung, the product of six years of research and work, received critical praise in Swiss publications.The first chapters are also available in English.

Sarah has written several works of short fiction in English (read Pure as New York Snow) and has contributed to the anthologies Cupid's Wild Arrows and Ticking Along Free. Both books are available and can be ordered from the publisher, Bergli Books, Basel, an English-language publisher specializing in intercultural subjects.

For ten years, Sarah reported regularly for Switzerland's largest newspaper, the Tages-Anzeiger and other Swiss and European publications on subjects ranging from American culture to politics, social justice and science (see Sarah's articles in German.)

Before moving to San Francisco in 1994, Sarah lived in Los Angeles and worked in the entertainment industry. She created scripts and treatments for films and attractions in the Showscan® process. She also served as a personal assistant to performer Michael Feinstein.

Prison reform and abolition of the death penalty are important concerns for Sarah and Mark. Their friend Jarvis Masters, author of the acclaimed book Finding Freedom, lives on San Quentin's death row. A website created by his supporters contains information about his case, samples of his writings, and links to justice, prison reform and victim reconciliation sites.

Sarah can be contacted at sarah AT pariswerlin.com