Although I'd always been an on-again, off-again journal writer, I never envisioned actually writing a book. However, when I was forty-five, a Writing Muse grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and would not let me go no matter how much I resisted. And resist I did! To no avail... My first book, The Courage To Be Yourself, seemed to have a mind of its own and would not let me rest until I had completely committed to writing it. By the time the original book was published, a passion for writing had taken root in my heart. Having had a private psychotherapy practice for many years, writing about issues similar to those with which my clients and I grappled felt natural. With the invaluable help of my husband, Gene, I've been incredibly blessed by writing and the relationships and experiences that have come from it. Each of us plays many roles, and works in different arenas, during a lifetime. Below are a few roles I've played and some of the work I've done. ROLES I'VE HAD: Wife, divorcee, wife again ... still "wife again" Mom, single mom, stepmom ... once a mom of any kind, always a mom Grandmother, mentor ... love these roles Myriad acting roles in community theater WORK I'VE DONE: Author Psychotherapist Public/keynote speaker Seminar/group/retreat Leader Hospice chaplain, trainer and counselor Director of a counseling center High school and adult education teacher Please see: www.suepattonthoele.com for more information.