She used this style when co-authoring the NY Times Best Seller In an Instant with her husband Bob Woodruff. That book reflected the story of the horrible day that she got the call that her husband Bob, an ABC News co-anchor, on assignment in Iraq, had been seriously injured by the explosion of a roadside bomb. At the time of the call it was unknown if he was going to make it, and if he did he might have serious permanent brain impairment. As Lee traveled to his side and aided his recovery, the book seamlessly danced between the story of their romance that played in her mind; the concern for his current well being and that of their children; and the realization that her life may have been forever changed. She instantly entered the role of Caregiver to someone with a serious brain injury…which eventually caused her to become a speaker for Veterans with brain injuries. It was in that capacity that I heard her speak at a National Caregivers Conference.  I liked her as a speaker and then bought In an Instant – and that was when I realized that she speaks like she writes – with vulnerable honesty and gentle strength born of experience.

She brings that strength to the characters in her first novel, Those We Love Most. For Margaret, the first character that we meet in the story, and the heroine of sorts, the journey also begins with a phone call. A call telling her that her grandson has been hit by a car. And then, one by one Woodruff introduces us to the other members of Margaret’s family, who are all touched by this tragedy, and in addition we meet the young teenage driver of the car, who somehow seems to be drawn to them by fate. But the grief and anguish they are going through seems overshadowed by the secrets that each of them is hiding. The characters are real – flawed – torn by guilt and anger – and very human. As you learn the secrets of each one’s life, you find yourself wanting to be able to judge them – but being unable to do so, because you can empathize with them as well. It is at that point that you find yourself rooting for them to rise above this tragedy and re-discover who they once were.

Woodruff firmly establishes herself as a novelist with Those We Love Most. Her characters are three-dimensional and you are emotionally drawn into the story within the first three pages – and I dare you to put it down after that! It is a timeless story of the human condition and how we rise above the difficult challenges that life throws our way.

Those We Love Most, Voice/Hyperion Books, Hard Cover and e-book, 305 pages.

Reiki (pronounced “ray-key”) is a therapy tracing back more than 2,500 years to ancient India and Tibet, and there are some who believe it has its roots in the healing arts of the Egyptians. Reiki was handed down by a lineage of practitioners until it was rediscovered in Japan in the early 1900s by Dr. Mikao Usui. It is used to complement traditional medical treatment and in the alternative healing arts.

Reiki uses “chi”—also known as “ki” or “pranna”—in other cultures, the natural life force that is found in all living things.

The concept of chi is best known in the martial arts, where it is called upon to do things that might otherwise seem impossible, like breaking through concrete blocks with bare hands.

With Reiki, an individual can harness that same power but for profound healing purposes, both physically and emotionally. In knowing how to tap into the universal life force, Reiki practitioners maintain that they can not only improve their own personal health and well-being but help others as well. Reiki masters are handed down techniques to teach people how to tune in to the powerful healing forces of chi through a process called “attunement.” This is how you start down the path to a career in Reiki.

Beginning Reiki students start by taking a first-degree Reiki certification program. The cost generally ranges from $125 to $250 for a one- or two-day program. During that time, students receive up to four attunements from the teacher to open them up to receiving the frequency of Reiki energy. Following that class, students will be able to perform Reiki on themselves as well as family or friends, but it is not advised that they begin to do it professionally.

To work professionally, students need to take the second-degree Reiki certification course. This is generally a weekend-long program that provides all of the basics for a career in Reiki as well as several additional attunements. This course certifies the student as an Advanced Reiki Practitioner.

Reiki is one of the few alternative energy healing techniques that can be self-administered as well as performed on others—it can even be used on pets.

The majority of professional Reiki practitioners start their careers part-time while they are still employed in their current positions. Reiki practitioners are generally paid per session, with most sessions lasting about one hour and ranging in price from $45 to $75. The practitioner’s earning potential is therefore dependent upon the number of hours he can devote to the practice.

Reiki is currently used in the complementary medicine departments of many tristate hospitals and as a palliative care technique at many hospices. It is even taught at some accredited secondary colleges, such as New York College for Health Professions. For more information, visit www.reiki.org.