WATSONVILLE—Author Lisa Algee says that she has always considered herself a logical, “left-brain” thinker.
After growing up in Southern California, Algee moved up the coast, attending Cal Poly University to major in biology before landing in Santa Cruz. She eventually received a doctorate in science from UC Santa Cruz and began teaching in schools across the county, including in the Pajaro Valley.
But something happened to Algee when pursuing these goals—something that changed her outlook on life, and made her realize what was really important: Algee met someone. A man, who Algee described as being her “twin flame.”
Algee’s first memoir, “Twin Flame: The good, the bad, and the beautiful” documents her experience of meeting and getting to know this person, and all of the “unusual, hard-to-explain” coincidences that occurred during their time together.
“I wrote this because I was trying to make sense of my experience,” she said. “I had taken notes, made a record… almost like a mosaic, putting the pieces together. I knew I had to write it all down.”
A “twin flame” is a term that describes two people who are “of the same spirit… [as if] they were split into different bodies but share the same soul.”
Algee says that it doesn’t have to be romantic, either.
“A lot of people have said to me, ‘But you didn’t end up with him!’ I would say, that’s not the point. It’s more about the experience… of finding someone who you connect with and relate to so much that it changes the course of your life,” she said.
Algee has been writing for her whole life but says she had put her own creativity on the back burner for years—that is, until her “twin flame” experience. After years of rigorous academia, she began to focus more on things that made her happy.
Algee is currently a teacher at Orchard Elementary School and volunteers at Pregnant Mare Rescue with her READ (Reading Equine Art Duo) program, which aims to support students who struggle with reading in traditional school settings.
“Twin Flame” is Algee’s second publication, the first being a children’s book called “You’re Still With Me,” which chronicles the experience of losing a pet and how to deal with the grieving process. She has two more children’s books in the works.
As for “Twin Flame,” Algee hopes the book inspires people to share their own “twin flame” experiences, and also reflect on their lives.
“I want readers to ask themselves, what do I want to accomplish? What do I really want to do that will contribute positively to my life and society at large?” Algee said. “I hope this book brings inspiration, hope and proaction.”
“Twin Flame: The good, the bad, and the beautiful” and “You’re Still With Me” can be purchased at Kelly’s Books, 1838 Main St., Watsonville. E-book versions are available for Amazon Kindle.
