Having gone through the experience of the poor health leading to the death of two husbands, as well as the deaths of my father, mother, aunts, and uncles as well as many friends, I have much experience in the grieving process, and I have learned to face life with love, optimism, and joy. I have kept journals and written to express myself most of my life. This led me to a career of teaching writing and writing books. So, after my second husband died, I naturally turned to writing to help deal with my grief. Then I discovered that I could use writing to help friends deal with grief, too. My new book, Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief: A Comprehensive Guide to Reclaiming and Cultivating Joy and Carrying on in the Face of Loss, will provide guidance for navigating the downs and ups of that unfamiliar territory. I retired on the beautiful island of Maui after a rich and varied career in owning and operating businesses ranging from an ambulance company, to a live theatre, to a school of arts, to an art gallery, to a café and catering company. I also worked as a nurse and in Human Resources and Quality Assurance. I taught writing and composition at the university level for many years being a pioneer in online education. My passions are ceramics, acting, directing, designing, weaving, quilting, and cooking, especially vegan, and I am a certified vegan Chef. I have been active in The American Association of University Women, the Editorial Board for The Bakersfield Californian, the Ethics Committee of Kern Medical Center, the board of Bakersfield Community Theatre, and the Potter’s Guild of Ventura County. I spend my time now writing and teaching others to write to deal with all kinds of grieving. And when I am not writing, I am enjoying the beauty of Maui.