When I asked my daughter Meredith to help me get started writing a book called The Seven Women back in 2000 I thought it was going to be a breeze. Actually, I thought that Meredith, being a Notre Dame graduate, and the news editor of ND’s daily paper, The Observer, was the perfect person to help with getting my thoughts down and get the ball rolling . The book was going to be about the seven fashion personalities of women. (Join our Facebook Fan Page)

As the project unfolded Meredith’s real job, technology consulting, took her far from Houston. She would check in with me periodically, talking very little about the book and fashion and more about her life’s challenges and work demands. At the same time my new career in business speaking was putting me in front of women who were facing similar work/life situation. Although we were generations apart in age, we were both going down the same path and the new book, The Seven Women Project, emerged.

Embracing the diversity of women, The Seven Women Project gives practical, insightful and at times playful advice on how to manage the challenges that face today’s woman, at work at home and at play. By introducing seven female prototypes, we give readers a template to identify their own strengths, talents, and complexities.

Beverly Denver, Editor & Publisher, Houston Woman Magazine, says:

"The Seven Women Project takes the reader on a delightful journey of nurturing self-discovery – to find her voice, her soul and her spirit.   Along the way, she comes face-to-face with the charming, yet incongruous, parts of herself and learns to appreciate the unique and complex woman she has become. She is introduced to all of the strengths she has and learns when and how best to draw upon on each and every one of them! The Seven Women Project gives her permission to boldly embrace her own authenticity with new-found joy and freedom. Truly, a beautiful sight to behold!"

As the title suggests, writing the book was a project implying a collaborative undertaking that involved research leading to an end product – both Meredith and I spent several years gathering data and interviewing women across the country. Friends have added to who they think each woman is. Family members have chimed in.  Women attending Karen’s programs have provided input. Near strangers on the street have stopped us to share stories of their own experiences.

This book is “playfully serious.” One chapter dedicated to each female archetypes; Classic Kate, Zenful Zoe, Dramatic Donna, Hanging-out Hanna, Trendy Trudy, Girlie-girl Gwen and Super Sophia.

Each chapter explores our seven women in more detail and shares key information about each of them – who they are, what they like and how they dress. Every chapter contains a checklist for your convenience.  If you are looking for your core woman, use the quiz as a start in order to see who you most authentically relate to; but be sure to introduce yourself to all of the women. If you score high on more than one women, congratulations!  You are tapping into your female power.  In addition, each chapter contains the following components:

• The story of each woman
• A look at each woman’s core values
• A comparison of each woman at her best … and her not-so-best, or shadow side (in case you haven't noticed, nobody’s perfect)
• When you might want to give this woman more of a role in your own life
• Top tips in each of the women’s specialty areas
• A peek into each woman’s closet
• Fun lists of each woman’s favorite books, movies and other items
• Famous women who may secretly have one of our women at her core

The Seven Women Project was born out of personal observation, interaction and a whole lot of creative fun. We do not pretend to be psychologists or personality experts.  We are a mother-daughter team. Together we run the gamut as: a motivational speaker and a government consultant; a business owner and an international volunteer; a jazzercise fanatic and a yoga instructor.  We are a dog-walker and a marathon runner; fashionista and feminista; the cool kid and the pop-culture nerd; a Baby Boomer and a Gen X'er… And the mere fact that we have completed this 10-year project without killing each other is a feat unto itself.

Pre-Order Your Copy Today

The Seven Women Project: Your Personal Guides to Success in Work, Play and Dress, will be available May 5, 2010 on Amazon.com or you can pre-order your autographed copy from the publisher . The site features products and blogs and more information about each of the Seven Women.

Order yours today