About the Author

Linda Sebastian has been writing for many years, first in the professional nursing literature with over twenty publications. In 1998, a non-fiction book, Overcoming Postpartum Depression and Anxiety was published by Addicus Books. Reluctant Miracle is her first work of fiction, but she hopes to write many more.

"I have lots of ideas about stories and I look forward to getting them on paper," Linda says. "Writing is a creative process that is exhilarating to me."

Linda grew up in Western Kansas, the daughter of farmers. "We had wheat fields just like on the cover of the book every July just before harvest. Waving gold, we called it."

Linda went to nursing school at Wesley School of Nursing in Wichita, Kansas, then decided to continue her education at Kansas University, where she eventually received her master's degree in psychiatric nursing and became a psychiatric nurse practitioner. She worked for the Menninger Clinic, a private psychiatric hospital in Topeka, Kansas for fourteen years. Her positions ranged from middle-manager for a long term unit to associate director of nursing administration. Her last position was Director of the Women's Program, in which she developed the pregnancy and post-partum psychiatric services. Her book on postpartum depression grew out of patient education materials she wrote, and a patient told her one day, "You ought to write a book." So Linda did write the book mentioned above, which is now in its second edition.

Most recently Linda provided psychotherapy and medication management for adults in a psychiatric practice in Naples, Florida. She is currently an adjunct faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University in the School of Nursing.

Linda is married to Guy Almeling, a financial planner and investment advisor. Linda and Guy live in Bonita Springs, Florida. They have two children. Their daughter is a graduate student in Los Angeles and is married to an artist. Their son is an attorney in San Francisco.