James Dunn dances on the balance point between liberal and conservative values. He writes from a flexible, moderate perspective while disrupting teachings on love, relationships, sex education, divorce counseling and mediation.
This multi-media project aims to be sage and savvy, bright and bold, funny and fresh. Dunn brings kindness and delight to readers from every corner of life. He respects people of every color, cultural background, sexual orientation, religion and political viewpoint. He sculpts with music and serious writing a voice that rings with clarity and a rich, light truth.
Trained as a change agent, Dunn holds a master’s degree in psychology, focused on organizations, leadership, maximizing human potential and democratic workplaces. His undergraduate degree centered around writing, with many courses in psychology, philosophy and math. He also took dance – modern and jazz. The guy loves to learn almost everything.
Post-master’s, Dunn went on to college studies in classical voice: semesters in French, Italian, German and British art songs, concert choir. He did voiceover on radio commercials for nearly a decade.
The author worked for the State Bar Court in California, coordinating a statewide arbitration program. Dunn trained as a mediator then went on to train and coach other mediators. Conflict resolution as an art form relies on sensitive listening, respect, emotional intelligence and a keen sense of humor. In romantic connection, conflict can be managed well or poorly. The outcome of a partnership depends on whether these skills appear in both people.
As editor of a business magazine for a decade, Dunn wrote columns drizzled in humor. Song parodies in the audio version of this book reflect such humor, which may promote faster change than serious study. Fun, play and whimsicality dance together to create insight.
Dunn led a think tank of readers and held seminars on ethics and other topics of value to organization leaders. He published hundreds of stories about technology, biotechnology, banking, finance, law, engineering, manufacturing, medicine and the food industry. He interviewed and wrote about innovators and entrepreneurs, some of whom had earned hefty fortunes. He taught interviewing skills to university journalism students, and volunteered as a panelist on televised debates by League of Women Voters. He reported on wildfires that raged through Northern California in 2017, covering suffering and displacement they caused. Dunn has written about spirituality, sports and dozens of other topics.
Throughout his time on the planet, Dunn had great fortune to enjoy good health and be athletic in climbing, running, backpacking, cycling, yoga and dancing. Climbing and dance teach grace, balance and willingness to take risks. He appreciates wildlands as well as wilderness in people. Dunn cycled throughout Colorado and Wyoming, as well as in Normandy, France, and along Pyrenees mountains in Spain.
Dunn has spent most of his adult life in romantic relationships. He values every person’s quest for love and connection, as well as their time alone.
He was married for some 15 years, and partner in a romance that lasted five+ years with a woman who previously identified as lesbian. Other loves spanned from three years to a few months, some shorter. Because a relationship fails does not mean it did not flower in some ways or for some time.
Each attraction and breakup had its distinct pattern; each connection taught lessons. Where aspects of personal relations were drawn on for this media, names have changed to honor privacy. The author is grateful to every woman with whom he shared intimacy. This is the heart of life.
His parents, now deceased, were married some 40 years. His mother had unusually keen emotional and intuitive intelligence. She was warm, funny and usually lighthearted.
Dunn’s father was exceptionally gifted in math and science, but less so with emotions. For decades during the Cold War, he worked on top-secret engineering projects for the federal government. He could not talk about his work even with his wife. The author learned how to be a loving person largely from his mom, and acquired emotional sensibility traditionally found more among women than men.
His dad began to study emotion and relationships late in life during 15 years after losing his wife, the author’s mother. These years were a revelation and a chance to grow in his senior years. As his dad’s best friend during those years, the author had the privilege to observe and respect his father’s newfound insights even after the love of his life had passed.
The name Dunn is shared by people of African, Asian as well as European ancestry. The author is a member of this sprawling Black-White-Asian family. His great-grandfather was a minister.
This media project was fun to write and sing. The author is deeply grateful for the gift of creation.
