Valerie Allen, psychologist, author, and speaker, was born in New York and grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She graduated with advanced degrees in education and mental health and has taught students from elementary school through graduate level. She has been in private practice, offering mental health services for over 25 years. She is board certified by the National Association of School Psychologists and specializes in working with children and teens. She is an active member of the National League of American Pen Women, Cape Canaveral Branch and the Space Coast Writers Guild. She is a founding member of Authors for Authors, which creates marketing venues for writers. Her novels include, "Suffer the Little Children", "Sins of the Father", "Amazing Grace" and "The Prodigal Son." Books in this series of psychological thrillers focus on children in peril and contemporary social issues related to women and families.She has written two children's chapter books, "Summer School for Smarties" and "Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends" for grades three to six. She has also published a book for authors, "Write, Publish, Sell!" 2nd edition, which she uses during her marketing workshops. She has written a motivational, psychological self-help book, "Beyond the Inkblots: Confusion to Harmony."She has published, "'Tis Herself: Short Story Collection, Volume One." These stories, some humorous, some poignant, explore the small, and the not so small, events in the lives of ordinary people. Her articles on parenting and child development have been published nationwide in educational and parenting magazines. She is a popular speaker at author workshops, writing conferences, and book talks. She can be reached at VAllenWriter@cs.com. For more information, visit her web site www.ValerieAllenWriter.com