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Thank you Esther for answering a few questions for us! Please tell us about your latest project.

I am a psychotherapist and author of 3 self-help books- the latest is for women who want to end struggling with food and body image called, "It's Not About the Food: A Woman's Guide to Making Peace with Food and Our Bodies" (itsnotaboutthefood.net).
 
For tv and radio clips, go to: itsnotaboutthefood.net/press.htm

Have you received any awards for your work?

Yes. A couple of years ago, I won Vancouver Island's Top 40 Under 40 award in the Health Category for my work as a psychotherapist and author.

Do you also do speaking engagements, or seminars?

Yes I do- I travel across North America doing talks and workshops for lay people and professionals aimed at helping girls and women improve their emotional health and well-being.

How has your education, profession or background helped you in your writing career? Or conversely, how has you writing success helped you in your  profession?

All of my writing comes from my personal experience of being a practising psychotherapist. Without this base to work from, I would have nothing to write about. I write from personal and professional experience and this is why people find my books so helpful (I've been told ;)

What kind of other works (books, scripts, poems etc.) have you had published?
 
Here are the 2 other books I've written along with some reviews:
 
1)  What Your Mama Can't or Won't Teach You: Grown Women's Stories of Their Teen Years by Esther Kane, MSW  http://www.guidebooktowomanhood.com
 
"LETS FACE IT - being a teen can really suck", as quoted by Esther Kane, in her newest book, "What Your Mama Can't or Won't Teach You". This is one issue that you will read about in regards to what our female teens are being challenged with every day through their experiences during adolescence.

The idea of this book was generated by the similarity of results gathered from interviews and counseling sessions by Esther through her work as a counselor.

The stories you will read are written by women of different ages, backgrounds and cultures so that the author could grasp a variety of true life experiences and views. "Adolescence sure isn't an easy ride and I am amazed that most of us survived it in one piece", again another quote from the author Esther Kane. As you read through the stories, you will find yourself relating to one or more of them. These stories share different experiences of adolescence, heartbreak through relationships, and all a variety of positives and negatives we as women experience through growing up.

"What Your Mama Can't or Won't Teach You" is a well written, easy read that will reach out to women of all ages. The information shared in these stories is meant to give what we all have wished formore than one time in our lives and that is, "HIND SITE". The type of hind site that will answer questions about your body image, choosing friends, relationships, understanding one's sexuality, dealing with peer pressure, the seriousness of an education and even how to be a good money saver.

Womensselfesteem.com highly recommends ”What Your Mama Can't or Won't Teach You” as a very good resource for our young teen girls to use to help them grow in a balanced way and teaches them an understanding of their own self-acceptance and self-esteem!

 - Dorothy Lafrinere, Founder of www.WomensSelfesteem.com
 
This book is an invaluable resource for today's young woman, and a powerful tool for the benefit of girls who may be desperately trying to "find themselves" in the midst of some pretty conflicted societal messages. Its strength lies in its matter-of-fact revealing of life lessons by regular women from all walks of life. These regular, real role models share their personal stories and portray a mulitude of examples of how they have found their paths, and individually come of age. This book effectively educates and empowers young women to see that they have choices, and provide information that may not be available from parents, peers or community.

 - Jennifer Pickford, Filmmaker and Producer, Pickford Productions Ltd.
 
What Your Mama Can't or Won't Teach You is a well-timed reminder that the women surrounding us each day have a story about their 'coming of age' that is rich and textured with moments of joy, pain, excitement, embarrassment and confusion. Reading it made me feel less alone in the remnants of my teenage angst that still surface from time to time. Esther's book is a testament that women of all ages have something to teach each other, and that our stories need to be heard to provide road maps not only for the generations to come, but for those of us that have paths yet to discover.

 - M.C., MA Counselling, Feminist Psychotherapist

 
2)  Dump That Chump: A Ten-Step Plan for Ending Bad Relationships and Attracting the Fabulous Partner You Deserve (www.dumpthatchump.com)

Dump That Chump is a book written as a 10-step plan to teach you, the reader, how to not end up in a bad relationship but also how to attract a positive one through your own presentation of a much more positive you!

This is a well written and easy to follow guide for all women that struggle to find that perfect match for a lifetime relationship. The information you will gain from this book will help strengthen your understanding in how very important positive self-talk is. Positive self-talk will strengthen your ability to not repeat wrong decisions in regards to relationship choices.

Dump That Chump will also show you how that phrase, "settling", is not and should not be acceptable to you. You will learn that settling for someone or something eventually drowns your own ideas of what you deserve in life as far as a partner is concerned. People choose to settle because it is safer, more predictable, easier to control and a lot less challenging than actually striving for more.

The author uses this very powerful phrase to help you look at the core of your bad decisions, "What You Expect Is What You Get". If you expect nothing then you will get nothing. It is a fairly simple thought when you actually stop and think about it. The information in this book will also teach you how to retrain your mind so that you can get to know yourself through positive self-acceptance. To know and understand who you are is a definite key in helping you to make the correct choice in relationships. Lets face it, no one wants to be stuck in a bad relationship.

Womensselfesteem.com highly recommends, Dump That Chump as a very good source book in opening your eyes to the many reasons that we end up in failed relationships!

 - Dorothy Lafrinere, Founder of www.WomensSelfesteem.com

Dump That Chump is an outstanding resource for women who are keen to take a good hard look at why they are staying in less than ideal relationships with less than ideal partners. DTC offers excellent suggestions and insights on how to ask yourself the tough questions about why you're not with a person who truly is your best possible mate... because believe it or not, that person does exist. Based on her own extensive personal and professional experience, Esther offers practical tools that not only got me reflecting on past and present decisions in relationships, but also gave me hope for a positive future...enough so that I made my checklist for an ideal mate!

 - Maryanne Pope; Writer, CEO of Pink Gazelle Productions Inc.

Is there any aspect to your profession that gets you in touch with your readers directly?

(Being a therapist! My clients use my books as an adjunct to therapy so I get to know many of my readers very well and I love that about my work.  I also send out a free monthly e-zine (sign up at: www.estherkane.com) with thousands of subscribers who often buy my books and send me feedback via e-mail.

What will your next project be?
 
I'm revamping my website and will be adding a blog so that I can share more with my readers and share their comments and start conversations about the topics covered in my books.

Who inspires you on a personal or business level?

My mother- she is a successful food writer/media-savvy food expert here in Canada.  She taught me to believe in my abilities and to share what I know and love with others.

What type of work is the most rewarding or satisfying for you?

While I love writing, my favourite thing in the world is interacting with people, whether I'm doing therapy or conducting workshops.  There's nothing like the energy created amongst human beings- it's simply magical.

What can you recommend for writers who are just getting started and are trying to make a name for themselves?

Remember that if you have something to say, there's somebody out there who needs to hear it.  Don't give up when the going gets tough. Be persistant. Don't do it for the money but for the love of writing and sharing your gifts with others.

How did you get started as a writer?

My mother is a journalist and I learned to write at a very early age and learned about the awesome power of the printed word. I've always been fascinated by communicating ideas through writing and knew that someday I'd be doing that, just like my mother.

Which is your favorite book/work published? Is there a favorite?

Very hard to say because I read so much and from so many different genres. I'm a very open-minded reader and enjoy everything from fluffy chick-lit to classics.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

I exercise every morning, see clients all day (until evening), and write in between appointments.  I actually reserve one day a week to write because it's hard to get much writing in when I'm seeing clients.

Have you ever had a mentor, or someone who sparked your passion for writing?

Yes- that would have to be my mother again ;) She loves to write more than anything else in the world- it's like breathing to her and it's a real inspiration.

Who is your favorite writer/author?

That's a tough one, but I'd probably say Rohinton Mistry who wrote A Fine Balance and Family Matters. His writing is beautiful.

Finally, a most important question: what was the last song you sang out loud when you were by yourself?  :)

"Womankind" by Annie Lennox- she is a Diva.

Thank you Esther! We wish you great success with your books and your new blog!