I was motivated to write I'm Not OK, You're Not OK, But That's OK With God, due to the desire to greatly reduce the shame and blame of seeking treatment for emotional disorders. And I oughta know. I've had a few myself, as has my husband, for a combined total of seven. But no one really wants to hear about my pain, so I turned this self-help book on its head and added some laughs along the way. If I were to run for president (or VP if Sarah Palin asks me to serve), my slogan would be: "Let's put the fun back in dys-fun-ction!" Who inspired me to write? I'd have to say my grandmother was the first. I have a letter she wrote in 1966, where she encouraged me with these words: "Shelley, unless you do some writing, short stories, book or something, people will never have the opportunity to really know you. Your hidden talents, mainly wit, should be released for people to enjoy. You are a NUT and I love you."  Others included my sixth grade teacher, and my dad--also a writer.    

One of the hardest things I ever did, if you don't include the 35 1/2 hours it took to deliver my first child, was writing and publishing I'm Not OK, You're Not OK, But That's OK With God.