Patricia Rykiel Author

The primary author, Robert H. Dodd (1936-1987), spent his early years as a Geordie in South Shields, England, living in poverty on a working class street. World War II broke out when he was three - making him witness to the forceful German bombing campaign overhead. At nine he emigrated to America with his mother. After high school, Robert signed up for three years in the US Navy, closely followed by Cornell University to join the undergraduate 'Aggies' studying Biological & Agricultural Science. After graduation, he began his career as a County Agricultural Agent in Upstate New York. From 1966 to 1987, he worked as an International Agricultural Advisor and Consultant. He received the USAID's Meritorious Honour Award for outstanding contributions to the Accelerated Rice Production Programme and the USA Medal of Civilian Service in Vietnam. ---- The late author wrote the manuscript for Don't Break My Rice Bowl in the 1980s. The storyline is set in the late 1960s South Vietnam. Robert's life as an American agricultural expert inspires the story. ---- There are three Don't Break My Rice Bowl collaborators. With Patricia and Justine Rykiel in the UK and Beth Jackson in the USA, they worked together across the miles - and time zones - to bring this forgotten manuscript to life. See the co-author profiles, Patricia Rykiel and Beth Jackson, and the Illustrator profile, Justine Rykiel to learn more.