When they say that characters in books take on a life of their own, they are telling the truth. Or in the case of Bertha, it was before she was even supposed to be a character in a book. She was just supposed to be a joke.

Anyway, Bertha is the persona that I gave to my inner being or inner voice or whatever you want to call it. As soon as I named her and gave her big red hair, some lime-green spandex capris and a pair of high-heeled sandals, well, she just took off!

And so did my writing and my style. You see, what I figured out, with Bertha's help, was that the reason I didn't like the first books was because I was trying to do someone else's style. I was trying to write all academic-like, or high-fa looting, as Bertha would call it. Anyway, my style is simple and laid back. It's funny, maybe even silly but it carries a punch. I like to call it personal growth for women who prefer laughter to lectures.

Anyway, the point is, it works for me. It allows me to get across the messages that I want to share, in a way that is comfortable to me. And I'm happy about that...99% of the time.

Then there's the other 1%. That's when I start to think that I should write more serious stuff. Instead of Bertha-Size Your Life! with stories named The Killing, In Bed With the Cat and Lottery...

I should have written something more esoteric (not a word Bertha would use) like, Keys to Creating a Life That Works with chapters titled, Making Peace With Your Inner Critic, Overcoming Fear and Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone.

Now, there's nothing wrong with those titles. There would be nothing wrong with that book. But it just isn't me. It's not what I'm comfortable with. And thankfully, Bertha knows that.

So when I got in one of those moods this week...she took me straight to the one person who could straighten me out...MAMA...

Now interestingly, Mama didn't know I was in my 1% mood. She didn't have to, she's just always had the knack of saying what I need to hear...exactly when I need to hear it. Yesterday was no exception.

Mama simply related some advice she'd once given my niece which included, "Whatever you do in life...always be true to yourself...be who you are."

So, okay, I'm not a hard-hitter like Dr. Phil or Dr. Laura or even Dr. Ruth. I'm just a woman who loves to encourage other women, who loves to make them smile and even laugh out loud and gives them something to think about in the process. Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. And I make a much better Jane than I would a Dr. Phil impersonator! And honestly...I like who I am...and so does Mama!