About the Author

(aka ) was born in the small town of Hearst Ontario. She is the oldest of ten children. "You can't imagine the pressure," she says,laughing. "Anything I did wrong - and I did plenty - was sure to lead my siblings into a life of sin. I therefore accept the blame for any wrongdoings by all member of my family. "When she was twenty years old she moved to Montreal, where she became a successful model, winning the prestigious Modeling Association of American Contest and continuing on to an international career. During this time, she worked with many top photographers and graced many designer runways. "Modeling was a wonderful career," she says. "I met so many interesting and talented people. I travelled all over the world. After ten years of facing cameras and audiences, I became very comfortable with the public. I had no idea at the time, just how much this ability would serve me later in life. "At the age of thirty, Monique retired from modeling and founded Beauties Modeling Agency in Montreal. Through her tutelage, many Canadian models gained international renown. "I wanted to accept my age rather than try desperately to look young for an unforgiving camera. That was the main reason I retired from modeling on my thirtieth birthday. "Following a difficult divorce and some health issues some years later, Monique sold her agency and turned her focus on the investment business. "The divorce had left me financially and emotionally bereft - by my own doing, I might add - because I just walked away from the financial fighting. It was just easier to sign on the dotted line and walk away than to prolong a painful fight. Even though it made the next few years difficult financially, I never regretted my decision, which propelled me to the next phase of my professional life.At the age of forty two, Monique, by then a financial advisor with one of Canada's largest investment firms, was picked to host her own television show, Her Money, a weekly financial-advice show aimed to a female audience. "Her Money, aired nationally for four years on The Women's Network , and to this day, I still hear from women who tell me that my message, 'you, and only you, are responsible for your financial security', helped change their lives."During all these careers, Monique's real passion was always writing. "I used to get up at 5:30 in the morning and write until I went to work. If I'd been alone, I would probably have put my energies into writing. But as a single mother, I had to provide for my children."Nowadays, Monique lives with her physician husband and their three dogs. They divide their time between their homes in Canada and La Jolla. "I got lucky. I met the love of my life at the age of fifty. The best advice I can give other women is, don't settle for second best. I was alone for twenty years until Ed came along. If I'd decided that a mediocr

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