Sandy Kleven is an extraordinary woman whose open and honest nature has enhanced the life of Alaskans everywhere. Editor of Cirque, a Literary Journal, she is also author of the short film "To the Moon," an homage to poet Theodore Roethke and poetry collections Defiance Street and Holy Land. Her writings have been published in Alaska Quarterly Review, Oklahoma Review, F Magazine, Stoneboat and in the anthology, Cold Flashes (U of AK Press) Raised in Seattle, Washington, Sandy Kleven spent much of the last 33 years working in Alaska’s village communities. Her early writing focused on the prevention of child sexual abuse throughout Alaska and led to her two children’s books The Right Touch and Talk about Touch. "The way to approach such a talk without sounding arrogant is to speak of struggles and failures as well as the long, slow breakthroughs to some kind of success. And you can also talk about your companions; the ones who made a difference" Sandy Kleven works as a clinical social worker. In 2011, she earned an MFA in Creative Writing from UAA. In 2015, she was inducted to the Northshore School District Wall of Honor for her contributions to the community and the world.