>> TONIGHT ON "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

>> TO SELL THE LAND TO A DEVELOPER WOULD BE LIKE A PARENT SELLING ONE OF THEIR CHILDREN.

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY A MINIATURE REPLICA OF WHAT YOU DID FOR THE QUEEN?

>> YES.

>> TELL ME WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN SHE WALKED UP AND SAW YOUR ARTWORK.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR REACTION, BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE LOVED IT.

SO THAT MADE ME FEEL SO HAPPY.

AND YOU COULD JUST SEE HER EYES, SHE WAS REALLY TAKEN WITH IT.

WHEN THE PROTAGONIST OF A WELL-WRITTEN NOVEL IS AFRAID, YOUR HEART IS BEATING FASTER, RIGHT?

WHEN THE PROTAGONIST HAS SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENED TO THEM, YOU ARE CRYING.

♪ HOST: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

HOST: I AM PAMELA WATTS.

WE BEGIN WITH A STORY ABOUT ANOTHER TOUGHEST JOBS IN THE COUNTRY, REFORMING.

FARMERS ARE UP BEFORE THE SUN RISES AND OFTEN WORK UNTIL SUNSET.

MICHELLE: IN BETWEEN THERE ARE FENCES TO BE FIXED, AND FIELDWORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

MANY FARMERS PUTTING THE HARD WORK DESPITE NOT RIPPING A PROFIT.

BUT AS WE FOUND IN OUR CONTINUING SERIES, A LOVE FOR THEIR CARDS AND THE LAND IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAID -- TO STEM THE TIDE OF DISAPPEARING DEITIES.

>> I LOVE WHAT I DO.

I DON'T PARTICULARLY LOVE DOING THE SAME THING EVERY DAY, BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY, TWICE A DAY, IS MILK, BUT I LOVE THIS LAND.

MICHELLE: A SELF-DESCRIBED CITY GIRL, JANE ESCOBAR SAYS SHE LONG DREAMED OF WORKING ON A FARM.

>> THAT YOU KNOW YOU ARE ON CAMERA?

MICHELLE: LIFE IN THE COUNTRY BECAME A REALITY WHEN SHE MET HER HUSBAND, LOUIS ESCOBAR.

THE TWO MARRIED IN 1980 SIX AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON HIS FAMILY FARM IN PORTSMOUTH EVER SINCE.

>> I WAS BORN ON A DAIRY FARM, ONE OF SIX CHILDREN, AND I HAD A LOT OF IT, WITH THE CATTLE AND WITH A DAIRY FARM IS ALL ABOUT.

I HAVE LIVED MY LIFE'S DREAM TO HAVE MY OWN AND TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE FAMILY FARM IN EXISTENCE.

IN MY LIFETIME.

MICHELLE: AND 2015, WHO WAS INVOLVED IN A TRACTOR ACCIDENT ON THE FARM THAT LEFT HIM SERIOUSLY INJURED.

STILL, HE REMAINS ACTIVE.

JANE SAYS HER HUSBAND CALLS THE SHOTS FROM HIS WHEELCHAIR.

>> HE IS IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING .

I DO WHAT I AM TOLD, FOR THE MOST PART.

[LAUGHS] MICHELLE: LOUIS ESCOBAR'S FATHER ABOUT THE FARM DURING THE DEPRESSION.

OVER THE YEARS IT HAS GROWN TO 98 ACRES.

WAS IT HARDER THAN YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE TO KEEP IT RUNNING?

>> IT HAS BECOME MORE DIFFICULT EVERY YEAR, AND IT IS GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

MICHELLE: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> MORE CHALLENGES.

WHERE PEOPLE DRINK LESS MILK.

MICHELLE: FLUID MILK CONSUMPTION IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN ON THE DECLINE FOR MORE THAN 70 YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

IT HAS MADE IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR THE ESCOBARS TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

THEY ARE ONE OF 10 REMAINING.

FARMS IN RHODE ISLAND.

>> I CAN REMEMBER ONE YEAR WE WERE LOSING ABOUT $7,000 A MONTH, AND WE WERE GETTING TO, HERE AND WORK 12 AND 13 AND 14 HOURS A DAY, AND LOSING $7,000 A MONTH.

MICHELLE: MICHELLE: ARE YOU STILL LOSING MONEY?

>> WE ARE STILL LOSING MONEY.

YES.

>> THE DAIRY FARMER DOES NOT GENERALLY CONTROL THE END PRICE OF THE MILK, IT IS CONTROLLED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THAT IS FAR DIFFERENT THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER CROP THAT IS GROWN, AND THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE DIVISION.

MICHELLE: HE IS CHIEF OF THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT.

>> RHODE ISLAND OVER THE PAST 40 TO 50 YEARS, SAW A SHARP INCLINE AND THE NUMBER OF FARMS IN THE STATE DRIVEN BY A NUMBER OF REASONS.

IT IS INCREDIBLY INTENSE.

AVERAGE COST OF A FARM IN RHODE ISLAND IS THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY AS MEASURED BY THE USDA.

MICHELLE: ON AVERAGE, AN ACRE OF FARMLAND IN RHODE ISLAND IS WORTH 17 $500.

NOT ONLY IS THE LAND EXPENSIVE, IT IS ALSO HARD TO FIND.

>> LAND ACCESS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO FARMING HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

MICHELLE: ANDREW MORLEY AND HIS WIFE LAURA HAVILAND RUN A SMALL DAIRY.

THEY SAY THEIR BIGGEST STROKE OF LUCK CAME WHEN THEY SPEND TIME WITH THE FAMILY THAT OWNS THE LAND, WHICH WAS ONCE A DAIRY FARM.

>> IT TOOK MAYBE A YEAR AND HALF OF DRIVING TO RHODE ISLAND AND MEETING WITH THEM TO TALK ABOUT OUR VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE, WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO WITH OUR LIVES AS DO REFORMERS FOR THEM TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF RELEASING THEIR FAMILIES DAIRY FARM TO US, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THEM FOR THAT.

MICHELLE: IT'S A LIFE THEY DREAMT OF WHERE LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY.

LAURA WORKED IN MARKETING.

ANDREW, IN FINANCE.

IN 2011, THEY DECIDED TO MOVE TO RHODE ISLAND AND PURSUE A LIFE OF GREENER PASTURES.

MICHELLE: YOU BOTH ARE LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY, WORKING COMFORTABLE JOBS IN NEW YORK CITY?

WILEY THAT BIND TO BECOME DAIRY FARMERS?

>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

[LAUGHTER] >> BOTH OF US KNEW THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO SIT BEHIND A DESK FOR OUR WHOLE LIVES.

WE WERE JUST DRAWN TO DOING SOMETHING MORE ACTIVE AND WE WERE BOTH ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN FOOD, FROM AN EATING PERSPECTIVE MOSTLY.

MICHELLE: AT SWEET AND SALTY FARM, THE HUSBAND-AND-WIFE TEAM IS RAISING A HERD OF GRASS-FED JERSEY COWS.

THEY HAVE A CREAMERY WHERE THEY PROCESS THEIR MILK.

>>.

>> INTO YOGURT AND CHEESE WE SAW THERE WAS A DIFFERENT WAVE OF PEOPLE'S INTERESTS IN HANDMADE, ARTISAN FOODS, AND THAT THE AMERICAN CHEESEMAKING SCENE WAS STARTING TO EXPLODE, BUT THERE REALLY WASN'T MUCH GOING ON IN RHODE ISLAND YET.

THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF GREAT FARMS IN NEW ENGLAND, BUT RHODE ISLAND IN PARTICULAR DID NOT HAVE ANYBODY DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.

MICHELLE: LAURA OVERSEES THE YOUR GOOD PRODUCTION.

SHE WORKS WITH A SMALL TEAM THAT MAKES THE FARM'S MAIN WHOLE MILK YOGURT.

AND ANDREW CREATES A VARIETY OF CHEESES SO THAT FARMERS MARKETS AND TO RESTAURANTS IN THE REGION.

>> BOTH OF US REALLY LOVE HAVING THE CONNECTION TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND SEEING THEM.

ENJOY OUR CHEESE AND YOGURT AND HEARING ABOUT THAT.

>> IT IS A LOT OF HARD WORK, BUT IT IS A LIST SATISFYING WHEN IT GOES WELL.

WHEN CUSTOMERS APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR PRODUCTS, IT MAKES IT ALL SEEMED NEGATIVE IS PRETTY EASY.

MICHELLE: THEY SAY ONE REASON FOR THEIR SUCCESS IS AVOIDING COMMODITY PRICING BY NOT SELLING MILK.

>> WE WOULD STAND NO CHANCE OF HAVING A VIABLE BUSINESS IF WE WERE FARMING, SELLING FLUID MILK.

WE DIDN'T GROW UP ON FARMS, WE'RE NOT MULTIGENERATIONAL KNOWLEDGE RECIPIENTS.

THE FOLKS THAT ARE STILL DAIRY FARMING IN RHODE ISLAND HAVE A TON OF OUR RESPECT IS WHAT THEY DO IS REALLY DIFFICULT AND WE WOULD BE HUGE FAILURES AT THAT.

MICHELLE: KEN SAYS THE FUTURE OF DAIRY FARMING IN THE STATE LOOKS SIMILAR TO WHAT SWEET AND SALTY FARM IS DOING.

NATIONWIDE, CHEESE AND YOGURT CONSUMPTION IS ON THE RISE.

>> I DON'T SEE FLUID MILK BEING THE BASIS OF THE SURVIVAL OF DAIRY FARMING IN THE STATE.

IT WOULD BE PART OF IT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP DAIRY FARMS IN ITSELF WITHOUT A LOT OF DIVERSIFICATION OF PRODUCTS.

MICHELLE: THE ESCOBARS SAY DIVERSIFICATION IS THE REASON THERE FARM IS STILL IN BUSINESS.

ACCORDING MAZE EVERY FALL RINGS IN MUCH-NEEDED REVENUE.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOUR FARM HAS MANAGED TO SURVIVE WHEN OTHERS HAVE NOT.

>> I WAS SO DETERMINED THAT EVEN IN THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES, THAT WE WOULD SURVIVE, AND MANY OTHER FORMS CHOOSE TO GIVE IT UP IN TREMENDOUS PRESSURE.

TO SELL THE LAND TO A DEVELOPER WOULD BE LIKE A PARENT SELLING ONE OF THEIR CHILDREN, THAT IS HOW CLOSE THEY FEEL TO THIS FARMLAND.

MICHELLE: BUT CERTAINLY, YOU HAVE HAD THOSE OFFERS?

>> MANY TIMES.

MICHELLE: BEFORE MUCH OF THEIR PROPERTY BECAME PROTECTED FARMLAND, THEY SAY THEY WERE OFFERED MORE THAN $10 MILLION.

>> SO I NOW HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS THAT HAVE PRESERVED IT FOR PRO 2-2-2 -- FOR PERPETUITY.

SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DONE.

BUT ANY OTHER FORM OF AGRICULTURE OR ANYTHING, IT IS OPEN SPACE.

I AM HAPPY I HAVE DONE THAT.

MICHELLE: LOUIS ESCOBAR IS 83 YEARS OLD.

HE DOESN'T DWELL ON HIS AGE, BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGES THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DRAINS OF LIFE ON THE FARM.

HAVE YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH LONGER YOU PLAN TO WORK THE FARM?

>> [LAUGHS] MICHELLE: WHY DO YOU LAUGH?

>> WE BOTH GIVE OUR LAST BREATHS?

>> THAT IS PROBABLY IT.

♪ PAMELA: UP NEXT, WITH THE RECENT CHANGING OF THE GUARD IN ENGLAND, MANY HAVE BEEN PAUSING TO REFLECT ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ELIZABETH SECOND.

TONIGHT IS LOCAL ARTIST RECOUNTS HER OWN MOMENT WITH THE MONARCH WHEN SHE MADE A LASTING CONNECTION TO THE QUEEN.

>> I WOULD NEVER HAVE DREAMED OF IS GOING TO BE AT THE U.N. OR MEET THE QUEEN, IT NEVER CROSSED MY MIND.

PAMELA: QUEEN ELIZABETH HAS BEEN VERY MUCH ON THE MIND OF THIS OCEAN STATE ARTIST, ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE RECENT SERMON FAREWELL TO THE LONG REIGNING MONARCH.

SHE CREATED A BROAD STATUTE DEEMED "FIT FOR A QUEEN," DURING HER GOLDEN JUBILEE IN 2002.

SO THIS IS A MINIATURE REPLICA OF WHAT YOU DID FOR THE QUEEN?

>> YES, PEACE HAD COME AND THEY WERE ALL DANCING AND CELEBRITY THAT PEACE HAD COME.

PAMELA: TELL ME ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN SHE WALKED UP AND SAW YOUR ARTWORK.

>>>> WHILE I LOVED HER REACTION, SHE LEFT THE WORK AND SHE SAID SHE LOVED IT, SO THAT MADE ME FEEL SO HAPPY.

YOU COULD JUST SEE IT IN HER EYES, SHE WAS REALLY TAKEN WITH IT.

AND OF COURSE IT STICKS IN YOUR MIND.

IT WAS A LIFE CHANGER.

PAMELA: IN WHAT WAY?

>> WELL, WHEN YOU MET THE QUEEN, PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE SPECIAL, THAT IS PART IT BASICALLY COMES DOWN TO, AND THEY THINK YOUR WORK IS SPECIAL.

PAMELA: LIKE AN ENDORSEMENT FROM ROYALTY?

>> YES.

PAMELA: IT WAS A CROWNING MOMENT, WHO SAYS SHE WANTED TO BE AN ARTIST FROM THE TIME SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL.

>> I USED TO THINK IF I COULD ONLY BE AN ARTIST, I WOULD BE SO HAPPY.

I WANTED TO BE AN ARTIST, I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE HIGHEST THING.

PAMELA: THAT HIGH CALLING BECAME REALITY.

YOU MAY HAVE WALKED PAST HER CREATIONS WHEN YOU STROLLED PAST THE WALL AT NARRAGANSETT BEACH.

THE EXUBERANT FINGERS SEEMED CAUGHT UP IN THE OCEAN BREEZE.

HE ALSO -- SHE ALSO SCULPTED THE SALUTE TO WOMEN IN THE MILITARY AT THE CEMETERY IN EXETER.

>> I AM NAMING.

TODAY WE WILL PAINT THE INCREDIBLE COLORS OF SUNRAYS.

LET'S GET STARTED.

PAMELA: YOU MAY ALSO REMEMBER HER FROM HER SERIES ON "RHODE ISLAND PBS, LOVE TO PAINT WITH MIMI."

>> THEY CREATE SHADES, COLOR>>, PAMELA: SAMMMIS SAYS AS A YOUNG ARTIST, SHE FEARED HER WORK WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

>> A DECIDED IT WAS MUCH BETTER TO GO FOR IT AND NOT DO IT RIGHT OR FAIL, BUT YOU NEVER FAIL IF YOU KEEP DOING IT.

YOU KNOW THAT STORY ABOUT, IT TOOK THOMAS EDISON 10,000 TRIES TO MAKE THE LABEL.

HE WOULDN'T SAY HE HAD DONE 9999 MISTAKES, YOU SAY HE IS MOVING CLOSER TO SUCCESS.

PAMELA: SAMMIS SOON FOUND THE SUCCESS SHE WAS SEEKING.

A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN HER CAREER CAME IN 1979 WHEN HER HUSBAND DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT.

SHE GRIEVED BY LEARNING TO SCULPT AT A SCHOOL IN MEXICO.

>> THE CREATIVE ARTS ARE AN INCREDIBLE WAY TO HEAL, AND I WAS ACTUALLY RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS DESK BECAUSE I COULD NOT -- FROM HIS DEATH BECAUSE I COULD NOT PROCESS IT.

SO I WANTED TO GO TO MEXICO BECAUSE NORD WOULD KNOW ME THERE AND WOULD KNOW OF HIS DEATH, THEN I STARTED SCULPTING DOWN THERE.

I STARTED SCULPTING THESE ANGELS.

PAMELA: AND THE BRONZE ANGELS TOOK WING.

THEY FILLED HER STUDIO AND A KEEPER COMPANY AS SHE MOVES FIGURES.

SAMMIS SCULPTS THEM IN HEATED WAX.

LATER, THEY WILL BE CAST IN BRONZE.

SEEMS>> SO DIVINE, BECAUSE I RAN INTO THIS WOMAN WHO WAS A FRIEND OF MINE -- SHE WAS A FRIEND OF MY SON'S.

SHE WORKED AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

SHE SAW MY WORK AND SHE SAID IT NEEDS TO BE AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

IT WAS LIKE A DOOR OPENED UP.

AND I HAD THAT SHOW WITHIN NINE MONTHS.

PAMELA: SHE SAYS HER SCULPTURES FOR THE U.N. EXHIBITION WERE INSPIRED IN PART BY THE RHYTHMIC WAVES ALONG THE COVE OUTSIDE HER STUDIO IN NARRAGANSETT.

>> YOU SEE THAT THERE IS A WHOLE PATTERN WITH THE OCEAN AND THE TIDES GOING UP AND DOWN.

ALMOST LIKE A BREATH WHEN THESE WAVES ARE COMING IN.

YOU CAN CONNECT THESE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL ENERGY.

IT GIVES YOU PEACE.

PAMELA: THAT FIT THE THEME OF HER EXHIBITION AT THE U.N.

IN 19 ANY NINE, "1000 YEARS OF."

>> IT'S PART OF THE SAINT FRANCIS PRAYER, IT SAYS "MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF YOUR PEACE."

SO MANY THINGS CAN GO BEHIND PEACE, IT COULD BE LOVED OR IT COULD BE FORGIVENESS OR TRUTH.

PAMELA: THE SHOW AT THE U.N.

CAUGHT THE EYE OF THAT THEN AT BISHOP OF CANTERBURY.

>> HE WAS THERE, AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NICHE IN LAMBETH PALACE, WHICH IS THE SEAT OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN LONDON.

WE HAVE A SPOT TO PUT A PIECE OF SCULPTURE.

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED?

HE WANTED A GLOBE WITH A HAND OF THE CREATOR UNDER THE GLOBE AND DANCING FIGURES ON THE TOP.

PAMELA: THE ARCHBISHOP COMMISSIONED THE WORK AND WAS DEDICATING IT TO QUEEN ELIZABETH AS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

IT WAS THE>> DAY THE CHURCH WAS HONORING HER THAT MY SCULPTURE WAS PRESENTED TO HER.

IT WAS A GARDEN PARTY.

[LAUGHS] IT WAS REALLY LOVELY.

SHE WAS SO LOVELY.

PAMELA: IS THAT MOMENT FROZEN IN TIME FOR YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MICHELLE: DID YOU DISCUSS THE TOPIC OF HOW HE?

>> HAS GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HAND?

>>?

>> I DID.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

PAMELA: WHAT DID SHE SAY?

>> SHE SAID I REALLY LIKE THE SCULPTURE.

I LIKE WHAT IT STANDS FOR.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I MOSTLY REMEMBER HER PRESENCE, AND OF COURSE, SHE WAS SUCH A LOVELY WOMAN.

SHE WAS VERY, VERY ATTENTIVE, VERY SMART, BUT MOST OF ALL, SHE WAS VERY COMPASSIONATE.

SOMEONE TOLD ME SHE HAD VERY FEW DAYS OFF RECENTLY, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THREE DAYS A YEAR THAT SHE DIDN'T DO WORK.

SO SHE WAS COMMITTED.

PAMELA: IT IS THAT TYPE OF COMMITMENT SAMMIS SAYS SHE TRIES TO CREATE IN HER OWN WORK, AND THE SCULPTURES THAT ARE PROPERTY CERTAINLY REFLECT HER CELEBRATION OF LIFE.

THERE ARE FREE SPIRITS DANCING IN THE BREEZE, A TOWER OF HOPE LOOKING OUT TO SEA AND SKY.

EVEN HER FIVE GRANDCHILDREN, LARGER-THAN-LIFE, DANCING ON THE ROCKS.

>> SO MANY OF MY SCULPTURES HAVE THESE OUTSTRETCHED ARMS, ALSO -- ALMOST AS IF THEY'RE GOING TO ANOTHER DIRECTION.

THINK OF OLYMPICS WHEN THEY WIN THE GOLD MEDAL.

THEY ARE ALL LIKE THIS.

IT IS REALLY AN OPENING.

I THINK IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING WHEN PEOPLE OPEN UP TO SOMETHING POSITIVE.

♪ MICHELLE: AND NOW, AND ADAGE MANY OTHERS SUBSCRIBE TO, WRITE THE BOOK YOU WANT TO READ.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT RINGS TRUE FOR A RHODE ISLAND-BASED AND INDIAN AMERICAN WRITER.

WHILE HE DREAMED OF BECOMING AN AUTHOR, SHE TOOK A DETAIL OF SORTS, SAILING THE SEAS AS AN OCEANOGRAPHER.

BUT WRITING WAS NEVER FAR FROM TO SHARE WHAT SHE DESCRIBES AS THE SEA OF STORIES WITHIN HER.

>> I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO WRITE BOOKS THAT COULD BE ACCESSED BY YOUNG PEOPLE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY, MAYBE BECAUSE I HAVE THIS PASSION AND I THINK WE HAVE MESSED UP THE WORLD KIND OF A BIT AND IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FIX IT, IT'LL BE THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

MICHELLE: AUTHOR PADMA HAS BEEN WRITING YOUNG ADULT FICTION FOR A DECADE.

HER FIVE NOVELS TRANSPORT READERS TO INDIA, WHERE SHE SHINES A LIGHT ON MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

>> FOR A WHILE YOU ARE IN SOMEONE'S BODY BECAUSE WHEN THE PROTAGONIST OF A WELL-WRITTEN NOVEL IS AFRAID, YOUR HEART IS BEATING FASTER.

WHEN THE PROTAGONIST HAS SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENED TO THEM, YOU ARE CARRYING.

THAT FOR ME IS EMPATHY AND COMPASSION, AND THOSE ARE THE TWO HIGHEST THINGS, I THINK, THAT A HUMAN BEING CAN ACHIEVE IN THEIR LIVES.

MICHELLE: VENKATRAMAN SAYS SHE LIKED THOSE QUALITIES WHEN GROWING UP IN INDIA.

WHEN SHE WAS EIGHT, HER PARENTS SEPARATED, AN EVENT THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF HER LIFE.

>> MY MOTHER WENT TO BEING THIS WEALTHY PERSON TO BE ACCIDENTALLY THE WOMAN WHO HAD TO WORK VERY HARD TO KEEP HOUSE AND HOME TOGETHER.

MICHELLE: THEN VENKATRAMAN MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES WHEN SHE WAS 20 FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL.

.

IT WAS AN ISOLATED EXPERIENCE FOR VENKATRAMAN WHO CAME TO THE UNITED STATES ALONE.

>>>> I COULDN'T EVEN SPEAK TO MY MOTHER FOR MORE THAN THREE MINUTES ONCE A MONTH.

IT WAS THREE MINUTES ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS.

WHEN YOUR MOTHER IS HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD AND SHE SAYS ARE YOU OK, YOU SAY YES.

BECAUSE WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO SAY, RIGHT?

MICHELLE: SHE HAS CALLED RHODE ISLAND HOME FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

VENKATRAMAN LIVES IN NARRAGANSETT, BUT HER NATIVE INDIA IS NEVER FAR FROM HER MIND.

HER MOST RECENT BOOK, "BORN BEHIND BARS," HIGHLIGHTS THE COUNTRY'S PRISON CONDITIONS.

I CAME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS WAS INSPIRED BY A TRUE SORY.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THAT STORY AND HOW YOU CAME ACROSS IT?

>> I SAW A BBC NEWS REPORT ABOUT ONE CHILD WHO HAD BEEN BORN IN JAIL IN INDIA.

THIS WOMAN WHO THEY HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT HAD BEEN IN JAIL FOR SO LONG, THAT SHE HAD HAD A SON IN JAIL, AND I THOUGHT, THAT IS SHOCKING AND HORRIFYING.

WHEN I SAW THE IMAGE OF THIS LITTLE BOY, HE BECAME A CHARACTER IN MY MIND AND I SAW THIS LITTLE KID SITTING IN THIS DIRTY, DINGY JAIL CELL.

MICHELLE: "BORN BEHIND BARS" TELLS THE STORY OF A BOY WHO IS RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER SPENDING HIS WHOLE LIFE THERE WITH HIS MOM.

>> PADMA IS THE AUTHOR OF MANY WONDERFUL BOOKS.

>> MICHELLE: VENKATRAMAN RECENTLY RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE BOSTON AUTHORS' CLUB FOR THE NOVEL.

>> I COULD HEAR HIS VOICE THROUGH THE BARS OF THAT JAIL CELL AND LEAVING THROUGH THE GAPS, AND REACHING THE SKY AND THE STARS, BECAUSE THAT BOY COULD SING, AND HE COULD IMPRISON HIS BODY, BUT THEY COULD NOT IMPRISON HIS MIND, THEY COULDN'T IMPRISON HIS SPIRIT.

MICHELLE: YOU GAVE A VERY IMPASSIONED SPEECH THAT DAY AT THE CEREMONY.

WHERE DOES THAT EMOTION COME FROM?

>> WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, I CAME ALONE, BY MY PLAY -- BY MYSELF.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY FROM MILES AROUND, AND I THINK GOING FROM THERE TO BEING A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY, WHENEVER I GET AN AWARD, ANY KIND OF RECOGNITION THAT SAYS "WE LOVE YOUR WORK" AND WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE ONE OF US, THAT IS AMAZING.

I LOVE THE OCEAN, I GREW UP IN A CITY NEAR THE OCEAN IN INDIA, AND I FEEL REALLY BLESSED AND SO LUCKY THAT I LIVE IN THE OCEAN STATE NOW.

MICHELLE: VENKATRAMAN'S LOVE FOR THE OCEANIC PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND WHERE SHE TAUGHT OCEANOGRAPHY, AND DIRECTED DIVERSITY EFFORTS.

HER CAREER HAS TAKEN HER AROUND THE WORLD, FROM SERVING AS THE CHIEF SCIENTIST AND RESEARCH CRUISES IN GERMANY, TO WORKING IN LABORATORIES IN INDIA.

EVEN THOUGH VENKATRAMAN ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A WRITER, SHE SAYS PURSUING OCEANOGRAPHY ALLOWED HER TO BE FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT.

WAS OCEANOGRAPHY MOREOVER SAFETY NET FINANCIALLY, IS THAT WHY YOU CHOSE TO EXPLORE THAT?

>> YES, ALTHOUGH IT IS AN ODD CHOICE FOR SAFETY NET.

PART OF THE REASON I DID THAT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS ALSO MY PASSION.

I DECIDED I WANTED TO SOMETHING NO ONE MY FAMILY HAD EVER HEARD OF, I WAS A BIT OF A REBEL.

EVERYBODY SAID, WHAT IS OCEANOGRAPHY IN INDIA?

MY FAMILY THOUGHT I WAS A BIT BONKERS, AND I WAS, I GUESS.

SO I DECIDED TO DO THAT.

MICHELLE: THAT REBELLIOUS STREAK, VENKATRAMAN SHE SAYS, CAME FROM BEING BULLIED AS A CHILD AFTER HER PARENTS SEPARATED.

>> AS A CHILD I HAD SO MUCH WEALTH AND PRIVILEGE AND INSULTINGLY -- SATURDAY TO LOSE ALL OF THAT AS A CHILD WAS SOMETHING THAT IMPACTED ME IN A VERY DEEP WAY.

MICHELLE: VENKATRAMAN'S BOOKS ARE GEARED TO CHILDREN, BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP HER FROM EXPLORING SERIOUS SUBJECTS.

HER NOVEL "THE BRIDGE WHOM," CHRONICLED THE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN INDIA, WERE TOUCHING ON ISSUES SUCH AS ALCOHOLISM AND ABUSE.

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THESE ARE TOPICS THAT YOUNG ADULTS WANT TO READ ABOUT?

>> FOR ONE THING, I THINK I EXPERIENCED A LOT OF VERY TRAUMATIC THINGS AS WHEN I WAS YOUNG, AND TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THAT IN AN HONEST WAY BUT NOT A GRAPHIC WAY, IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

MICHELLE: AS A YOUNG GIRL, VENKATRAMAN SAYS SHE NEVER FOUND A BOOK THAT MIRRORED HER OWN LIFE.

WHEN SHE MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES, SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH HER COUNTRY'S PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, AND SHE FEELS GRATEFUL TO SEE HER WORK THERE.

>> THE FACT THAT A BOOK OR SOMETHING THAT YOU WRITE CAN TOUCH SOMEONE'S LIFE AND CHANGE IT, THAT IS SOMETHING YOU NEVER GET USED TO.

MICHELLE: SHE SAYS, BEING AN INDIAN AMERICAN AUTHOR ALLOWS HER TO BRING A UNIQUE VOICE TO THE WORLD OF YOUNG ADULTS FICTION.

IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU ARE WRITING THE BOOKS THAT YOU REALLY WANTED TO READ AS A YOUNG GIRL.

>> YES.

I DEFINITELY THINK THAT IS TRUE.

I ALSO THINK I AM WRITING THE BOOKS STILL THAT I WANT MY DAUGHTER TO BE ABLE TO READ, FOR MY DAUGHTER'S GENERATION TO BE ABLE TO READ, AND HOPEFULLY FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.

MICHELLE: ONE OF THE THINGS SHE LOVES MOST ABOUT HER WORK IS CONNECTING TO READERS.

WHAT IS THE RESPONSE YOU GET FROM READERS AS YOU ARE TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD, SPECIFICALLY IN YOUR NATIVE INDIA, WHAT DO THE READERS SAY TO YOU ABOUT HOW YOUR WORK HAS AFFECTED THEM?

>> I THINK SEEING YOUR STORY ON THE PAGE CAN BE VERY, VERY EMOTIONALLY EMPOWERING, AND I THINK A LOT OF CHILDREN ARE EMPOWERED BY THAT.

AND I KNOW CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED THAT THEN REACHED OUT TO AN ADULT AND WENT TO A SAFER PLACE BECAUSE THEY READ "THE HOME", RIGHT?

THAT IS NOT EVEN A GIFT, THAT IS BEYOND ANYTHING YOU COULD EVEN DREAM OR HOPE FOR.

THE FACT THAT YOU COULD TOUCH SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE THAT IN A POSITIVE WAY.

EVERY TIME THAT HAPPENS, AND THAT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, THAT IS HUGE.

MICHELLE: WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?

>> I HOPE I WILL BE WRITING BOOKS IN EVEN GREATER NUMBERS, AND EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE, BRING THOSE WHO ARE NOT SAFE INTO SAFER SITUATIONS.

THAT WOULD BE WHERE I HOPE I END UP.

>> THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

PAMELA: I AM PAMELA WATTS.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

UNTIL THEN, VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES ON OUR WEBSITE, OR RIPBS.ORG/WEEKLY, OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST AVAILABLE ON ALL OF , YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU.

GOOD NIGHT.

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