You'd think it would be second nature to write a blog, wouldn't you? I type on my computer all the time. Seems it's not, as I feel quite ungainly at the moment. Anyhow, this isn't really about me. It's about the 30 women who shared their individual or collaborative efforts in the theatre with me. These women use theatre to express not only feelings but ideas. They are willing to use their voices to help others feel connected, challenged, supported, even loved. They do it in places and circumstances that many people can't even imagine. When I started writing this book, I know Shauna, an American woman who was working in NYC, Europe and the Middle East. Once I heard about her processes bringing actors and technicians together in Israel and Palestine I knew that other people would want to hear how and why she did it. Every Warrior I reached out to made me feel like I was lucky to hear what made them tick. When I talked to Zahra and Monirah about life as an actress in war-torn Afghanistan I felt guilty for thinking it's a bother to get up and go to work, or sit down to write, grade papers. They risked their reputations and then their lives to be women of substance. Zahra risked her life to get up onstage as an actress and facilitator because she knew she had a right to be there.

For me, the exciting thing about all of this is that people all over the world are about to meet these women. You're about to hear their wild stories of offices set on fire, audience members shouting for them to get off stage, a riot in Israel over a flag onstage. You see strong, intelligent women who aren't afraid to laugh, cry, fail, succeed or put all of their props on a donkey and walk when no cars are let through checkpoints. You *have* to meet these women. They really are Stage Warriors.