Cathy-Lyn Austin

I was born in 1964 in Ottawa, Canada and grew up in the city’s west end. In school I struggled with Attention Deficit Disorder, combined with a mild case of dysgraphia (difficulty writing).

As a result I dropped out of school at age 15, though I later went back to a trade school. I was married at this time, and had four children; but separated from my husband when they were teenagers, and raised them myself as a single mom. They are all now grown and independent, and live around the Ottawa area. I live with my new husband (and a Staffordshire bull terrier) in a quaint house on the St. Lawrence River waterfront in Canada.

The idea for this book came to me during the breakup of my first marriage. Over a three-week period, I created a rough handwritten first draft. But lacking confidence in my ability as a writer, I put the book away in the back of a drawer ... where it stayed for sixteen years. During this time I worked as an aesthetician and as a restaurant server, and I also helped my new husband with his construction company.

Four years ago I rediscovered this manuscript, and decided it was time to share with the world the gift that God had given me. I began to retool my vision, refining the story and tweaking the details. For the past year, I’ve worked with a talented editor who has helped me to truly bring my story to life.

I am definitely not your typical author. Not only have my writing difficulties dogged me all my life, I’ve also battled severe anxiety, and panic disorder. But I strongly believe that even if we struggle in some areas of our lives, we may be able to overcome our obstacles by persevering. We all have something to offer others. My message of hope to all my readers is this: never give up on your dreams.