Patricia Aakhus facts for kids

Patricia "Patty" Aakhus (born May 17, 1952 – died May 16, 2012) was an American writer. She was also known as Patricia McDowell. She worked as a director of International Studies at the University of Southern Indiana. Patricia Aakhus loved writing about Irish stories and legends. She won important awards for her book, The Voyage of Mael Duin's Curragh.

About Patricia Aakhus

Patricia McDowell was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1952. Her parents were Lowell and Betsy McDowell. She had a brother named Mark.

She went to college and earned two degrees. She got a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Later, she earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Norwich University.

Her Writing Career

Patricia Aakhus wrote several books and stories. Her first novel was The Voyage of Mael Duin's Curragh. This book retells an old Irish legend called The Voyage of Máel Dúin.

She also wrote other works. These include a book about magic called Astral Magic in the Renaissance. She also wrote a short story titled The Spy.

As a Teacher and Director

Patricia Aakhus was more than just a writer. She was also a director and teacher at the University of Southern Indiana. She led the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies. She also directed the International Studies program.

She taught many interesting classes. These included lessons on world mythology and the history of magic. She also taught classes about international studies.

Her Later Life

Patricia Aakhus passed away on May 16, 2012. She died from cancer in Evansville, Indiana. This was just one day before her 60th birthday.

She was working on a new book when she died. This book was a modern novel called Dogtown. She is remembered by her husband, two children, and other family members.