Phyllis McElwain was born and raised in Kentucky. She has a Masters Degree in Education and taught in the public schools for a number of years. She also has a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling Family and Marriage and a PhD in Behavioral Health. She worked for many years as Director of Out-Patient Psychiatric Services and Substance Abuse Services, a Group Home for adolescent males, and Director for an EAP program for a large hospital. She is presently in private practice. Phyllis wrote this book because of her personal experience with death and her subsequent work in the field of bereavement therapy.