Dee Schalk Like a modern day nomad, Dee can be found exploring the cultural progression of cities all over the world. Currently residing in New Orleans, she spends most of her free time riding her bike while listening to hip hop music with a beer in hand. When Dee isn’t exploring the sights and smells of the environment around her, she is writing about them. A self proclaimed “thriving disaster”, Dee dropped out of college in 2014 and frequently refers to herself as “the best looking dropout you’ll ever meet.” In her first book, Dee focuses on the time spent abroad after high school and the effects of taking a less beaten path to get to where she needs to go.
Hailing from Chicago, she picked up the pen at a young age. “I always knew writing would be my profession. It came easy to me.” It wasn’t until after high school that she remembers the enjoyment writing brought her when it came from a natural place and was not homework. “I don’t do homework and loathe the idea of busy work.” Upon moving to New Orleans after leaving the University of Pittsburgh at age 22, her decision to pursue writing was made when suddenly the sheer attainability of being an artist was presented on and off the streets of New Orleans. As a result, she was stimulated to write again during what she describes as “my 21st century renaissance”.