Life's Challenge's Writers Page

Sue Augustine is an internationally-known conference speaker, corporate trainer, and frequent guest on national TV and radio programs. She is the author of several books including the recent best-seller, When Your Past is Hurting Your Present, and a contributing author to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Her newest book, Turn Your Dreams into Realities will be released January 2007. To engage Sue, order signed books, or for more information, visit www.sueaugustine.com or email wings@vaxxine.com

Luleta Brown resides north of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband, Karlheinz. All Angels Have Wings is her first published work, which came about in an unforeseen way.

In December 2003 as she and her husband lovingly awaited the highly anticipated arrival of their son, they were hit by a tragedy: four days before the official due date, he died from what appeared to be strangulation by the umbilical cord. He had been a healthy baby. This was purported to be a “vague” mishap.

Luleta calls this tragedy her “big one” that surpassed all other tragedies she had experienced. After she overcame the initial shock of her loss, the subsequent grieving led Luleta on a sabbatical journey for a year as she tried to come to terms with, and find some meaning from, the loss. The result: poems based on the events that took place from the first seconds of being informed of the death of her son through to her return to work in January 2005. Together the poems weave Luleta’s story as they track her grief.

Stillborn deaths are life’s realities that many in our society do not know how to handle. We often do not speak about such tragedies. Luleta believes that background and culture play a role in how we deal with grief from life’s tragedies. Luleta was born and raised in the island of Jamaica. In this country, grief is an accepted life reality; people truly allow themselves to show their grief without feeling restrained by societal taboos. It is perfectly acceptable for you to “bawl” your heart out over the death of a loved one if that is what your emotions direct you to do; this is seen as a positive thing. People channel other emotions the same way: when they laugh they truly allow themselves to feel their laughter in an unfettered way.

The poems in All Angels Have Wings explore the gamut of emotions that Luleta experienced and struggled with. It was truly a journey through grief to hope and to finally embracing life again in a real way.

Bob Koehler is an international speaker who helps to motivate people and maximize their performance at work and in their personal life. Bob presents at conferences,quarterly meetings, and special events.

If you would like to bring Bob’s energy, inspiration, and message into your organization, you can email him at bob@bobkoehler.com or visit his website for more information on the topics of his presentations at www.bobkoehler.com/keynotetopics.asp.

Connie Manning

Connie lives in beautiful Sarnia, Ontario. She has been married to John for 24 years. She and John have a son Scott who is 19 and a 17 year old daughter Bailey. Connie has worked in health care since she was 18 years old. She has worked on a Palliative / Hospice Care Unit for many years. Presently Connie works for VON Sarnia-Lambton as Coordinator of the Kids' Circle Program offering illness and bereavement support to children 4 to 18 years old. Connie also continues to travel presenting her seminar Children:the Forgotten Mourners. You may contact Connie anytime at 519-542-5186.

Tom Easthope, F.D., C.D.E., CT. is a grief counsellor and the author of two powerful books entitled “Teach Me How To Lose” and “Seasons of the Heart.” Tom is an ADEC DeathEducator Certified in Thanatology, Grief Counsellor and is currently the Director of the Durham Grief Resource Centre. Tom conducts one-on-one bereavement counselling at the Resource Centre as well as group counselling for the Namaste Grief Support Group for the Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre in Oshawa. Over the years Tom has presented many workshops for our Rainbows program in Durham. He hosted his own radio show and has appeared on many television programs dealing with loss and grief.

Dorinda is the Executive Director of Bereaved Families of Ontario – Midwestern Region. Dorinda came to BFO as a member following Kathleen’s death in 1997. She has also experienced the death of her brother, Darryl in 1970, her high school best friend, David in 1983 & her father, Douglas in 2002. Dorinda lives with her husband Mark, their daughter Lauren & the family’s two cats Sarah & George.

Melanie is a kind, compassionate and lively individual, who presently works for

Durham Mental Health Services as a Residential Counsellor. She is an active volunteer with Distress Centre Durham, and is passionate about educating her community on suicide. Melanie has volunteered with many different organizations over the years, from crisis lines to victim services, including volunteering as a camp counsellor for bereaved children at Camp Zone in Virginia. Melanie has said that working with the bereaved has been some of the most rewarding work she has ever done. Melanie received her BA in Philosophy from the University of Windsor, and is currently studying psychology through Athabasca University. She has certifications in Death, Dying, Palliative Care and Bereavement Education, Crisis De-escalation, and two different Suicide Intervention Certificates. (one through Distress Centre Durham where she now is part of the training team, and the other ASIST "Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training" certificate through Living Works.

Tom Dow is a teacher who lives near Peterborough Ontario with his wife and four children. His life was changed forever in 2002 when he suffered a brain injury as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Though the road to recovery is challenging, Mr. Dow and his family "know for sure" that they are grateful for their many blessings.

Laurie M. Martin is a Grief / Trauma Specialist and Educator, and one of only a handful of Certified Trauma Specialists in Canada. Through her company, Laurie Martin & Associates, she designs and facilitates seminars, workshops, training programs, organizational plans and keynote speeches for corporations and community groups, as well as offering one-on-one support. Laurie has been supportive in several high profile tragedies, including the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the National Hurricane Disaster Committee for the Cayman Island Government, the Manitoba floods of 1997, Ice Storm '98, the Walkerton Water Crisis, and the September 11th terrorist attacks. Her expertise has proved invaluable in the production of several international award-winning videos and workplace training programs. Laurie has written articles for a variety of publications and has been featured on several radio talk shows.

Jane Galbraith, BScN, R.N., is the author of "Baby Boomers Face Grief -SurvivalandRecovery". Her work in the community health field included dealing with palliative clients and their bereaved families and has also assisted facilitating grief support groups. She speaks to many organizations including the Bereavement Ontario Network annual meeting and the Canadian Palliative Care and Hospice Conference in the fall of 2007 and conducts workshops..

Her book is available through the author directly at jane.galbraith@sympatico.ca or www.traford.com/05-2319 or www.amazon.ca. More information about the book can be found at www.boomergrief.blogspot.com or www.trafford.com/05-2319