Born in Ireland, the author works part-time as a psychiatric nurse and volunteers in disaster relief for the American Red Cross. Throughout her global travels, she hears the incredible stories of survival and struggles with mental illness, wars, and natural disasters and the power of faith and the human spirit. She holds several degrees in nursing, including an MSN-Ed, and loves to research and teaching. She and her Chinese husband are both qualified fine artists and live in Maui, Hawaii. Hobbies include swimming in the ocean, painting, knitting, gardening and travel. Their three children live abroad in Canada.