Ruth    Thompson’s    books    are    imbued    with    her value    for    community,    supportive    relationships, holistic health, and spiritual growth. From   an   early   age,   Thompson read     avidly,     coming     home from   the   local   public   library every    week    with    a    stack    of novels.   She   espouses   lifelong learning   and   has   joked   that   if it    paid    well,    she    would    just stay   in   school.   Education   has been    a    big    part    of    her    life, having     completed     a     BA     in psychology,    a    Master    of    Social    Work,    and    a diploma   in   natural   nutrition.   In   private   practice as   a   holistic   nutritionist   since   2004,   she   spent   the previous    twenty-five    years    as    a    social    worker specializing     in     community     development     and social planning. Thompson’s    passion    for    learning    inevitably    led her    to    writing.    She    was    also    inspired    by    her mother,   who   spent   the   last   twenty   years   of   her   life writing memoirs and essays. Thompson   has   poured   into   her   books   a   wealth   of experience    with    health    care    from    her    personal and    professional    life.    She    wrote    her    first    book, You Can Be Well ,   to   help   readers   be   proactive about   their   health,   knowing   that   many   will   not consult   with   a   holistic   health   practitioner   but   will read a self-help book. To   further   inspire   readers   to   take   charge   of   their health,     Thompson     took     on     the     challenge     of writing    a    novel,    the    first    fictional    work    with    a heroine   who   is   an   alternative   health   practitioner. With    A Heart for Healing , her readers will find a relatable heroine who, while embroiled in family drama, perseveres in a profession that is often discredited, even vilified .   She   is   currently working on a sequel. As   to   Thompson’s   reading   preferences,   they   span fiction    and    non-fiction    authors,    including    Jodi Picoult,     Lisa     Genova,     Mitch     Albom,     Barbara Kingsolver,   Richard   Paul   Evans,   Miriam   Toews, Louise Hay, and Marianne Williamson.