SYVILA WEATHERFORD

Syvila Weatherford makes her debut as a novel writer; a third career for her. In her first career she worked for 25 years as a systems/computer engineer and consultant, and for a second career she worked ten years in patent law. Born in Los Angeles, California, she attended grade schools in the Compton Unified School District and thereafter achieved computer science/engineering degrees, a J.D., was admitted to the California Bar and passed the federal patent bar exam. She has worked for major aerospace and network systems corporations across the U.S. and in London, as well as for the federal government.

Her Awards and recognitions include receiving the “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award from the Los Angeles Urban Bankers in 1985 in recognition of publishing WORKS magazine, and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Patent Law in 2002. Among leadership positions she has held are Vice President of USC Black Alumni, 1980- 1983, President of the Los Angeles Black Professional Engineers, 1980-1982, and Chairperson of the National Council of Black Professional Engineers, 1982-1989.

For a period, she was active as an educational counselor/recruiter for M.I.T., her undergraduate alma mater, and she is most proud of having developed a low-income housing project as part of the Watts/Willowbrook Community Development Project 1991- 1994.

Her writing puts front and center the frailties and sensitivities of the human experience, and is vividly expressed in Blessings from the Four Winds. When asked about the book, she characterizes the story as similar to the movie Dances with Wolves because of its tender and respectful patronage of Native American culture, and the original Lonesome Dove mini-series because it brings the reader along on the rugged trail of a cattle drive, witnessing drovers toiling sun-up to sun-down, followed by the interplay of their personalities around the campfire after a long day’s work.

Her objective with this book is to tell a story inspired by the life of her great-grand father, shedding light on what he experienced to elevate himself from the servant class, his courtships, and how he coped in Black skin during the late 1800’s. Also relatable are the life experiences of many of the story’s characters, which she hopes fuel positive insight and entertainment for all readers, regardless of ethnicity or economic status.