I'm thrilled to share that Lisa Genova, the New York Times Bestselling Author of Still Alice, is today’s guest.  When I learned of Lisa’s work and life mission I knew I had to have her on the show.  She epitomizes what is possible when you listen to your internal voice and have the courage to pursue what’s in your heart.  Lisa will tell you that she is doing her “soul’s work” and living a life of purpose by bringing empathy and understanding to neurological disorders people don't like to think about.  Her book “Still Alice” became a New York Times best-seller and was turned into a major motion picture.  However, before finding her purpose, Lisa was on a very different path.  A Harvard trained Ph.D. in neuroscience, Lisa found herself at a crossroads when her first marriage ended in divorce.  It was in this moment of uncertainty that she found the courage to leave the familiar for a life as a writer.  If you are a writer or want to be one, would like to find your purpose, and/or enjoy stories of how dreams become reality, then you will love today’s episode. We discuss: Why Lisa left her life as a Harvard trained PhD in Neuroscience to become a fiction writer, with no prior writing experience Why her grandmother having alzheimer's triggered her desire to write How & why she became an "empathy warrior" for people with neurological disorders How acting classes helped her become a better writer We dig into her creative process – how she crafts her books Why all of her books cover a neurological disorder and how they connect to life themes How she kept up her motivation when her future was uncertain.  Her book was originally rejected by 100 agents yet she was determined to get her book out in the world and it paid off. How her self-published book eventually secured her an agent and ended up on the New York Times Best-sellers list for 59 weeks! How she trusted that fiction was the way to tell her stories to create empathy with the reader. Why she loves the concept of duality and how our decisions create the reality we are living today vs the path not taken. How her book "Still Alice" became a major motion picture starring Julianne Moore and Alec Baldwin.   We go into how it felt to be at the Oscar's and seeing her work on the big screen. Why her latest book, "Every Note Played" deals with ALS. Lisa shares the questions we need to ask ourselves to discover our own life purpose Why you should never make decisions out of fear The books she used to learn the craft of writing 3 key tips for all women out there who want to pursue their dreams....and so much more... Show Resources: https://www.lisagenova.com Lisa Genova's Bestselling Books: Still Alice  Inside the O'Briens: A Novel Left Neglected Love Anthony Every Note Played Other books referenced: On Pluto by Greg O'Brien  Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott On Writing by Stephen King The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Ted Talks: What You Can Do To Prevent Alzheimer's Inbound Talk: "If You Could Do Anything You Wanted" Michele's New Book, Design A Life You Love: A Woman's Guide to Living a Happier and More Fulfilled Life Thank you for listening to the show. I hope you enjoyed it and would love to hear what your key takeaway was from this episode.  Please be sure to share it with your friends who would benefit from this information.  Also be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, would you take a minute to review it on iTunes?  Your review helps me better understand what topics you most enjoyed.  It also helps others find this podcast so that they too can learn this helpful information.  This community is all about women supporting women!