Patricia L. Walsh grew up the eighth of fifteen children in a poor Minnesota farm family, working her way through nursing school and anesthesia training. In 1967, she volunteered to go to Vietnam as a civilian to care for Vietnamese caught in the crossfire. She injured her back in the Tet Offensive and returned home in denial of severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). CEMETERY PICNICS is a novel about trying to fit back in with American culture.