I discovered the Joy of Memoir after I retired and turned my fingers to writing my own story rather than business topics. I'm a wife, mother of three, grandmother of six, and I'm passionate about all forms of life writing, especially memoir and journaling. I teach a series of teleclasses on Description, Dialogue, and Wordcraft through the National Association of Memoir Writers (NAMW). My book, The Heart and Craft of Lifestory Writing has helped thousands create a written legacy of their lives. My second big passion is libraries. I'm a member of our local library board, and urge everyone everywhere to use your library or lose it. Funding depends on usage, even remote usage like checking the catalog over the Internet.

Find me on the web: http://heartandcraft.blogspot.com

How did you get to where you are now?

By writing -- word by word. By learning to listen to my inner guidance system. And by traveing the world enough to fully realize the extent to which it is shrinking and to which we are all kindred spirits under our various skins.

How do you see yourself differently now than you did 10 years ago?

Ten years ago I was just beginning my adventure with writing and teaching memoir. I was feeling my way along, leaning heavily on the work of others. Today I own the concepts I teach. I have learned the joy of empowering others in ways I was never able to do in earlier years. I am more confident, more creative, and passionate about life and its possibilities.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Still writing. Still loving life. World conditions and technology are changing so quickly that it's hard to imagine exactly what life will be like in ten years. Perhaps it will be quite similar to what we have today, but maybe not. I no longer try to predict or worry about things like that. Live for today, and the future will take care of itself. Since my concept of full days doesn't involve squandering resources, that's a responsible credo as well as a liberating one.

Sweetie Pie, relax. Everything is going to be okay. You will have everything you are dreaming of and way more. But not today and not all at once. You have to get here one step at a time. Have faith that everything you are going through today is helping you uncover who you are and find the deepest desires of your heart.

Joan Lunney, Doris Kennedy, Kathleen Flannagan