I recently had the opportunity to meet and work with Marie Bookman. She's taken an incredible leap of faith publishing her second collection of poetry in "Straight From My Heart".

Like me, Marie lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. No one can really describe what that feels like. After the storm, one of the popular things to ask a person soon into the conversation was, "How did you make out?"

We all knew what it meant. And sometimes there was the fear that you didn't do as bad as the person you were talking to, thus creating survivor guilt.

Marie shares this experience in her first collection of poems in "Breach Of My Heart." I have not read it yet, but intend to soon.

Her new collection, "Straight From My Heart" promises to be something more nurturing, loving, compassionate, and hopeful about the present. This book seems to pick up where Marie left off. With healing and a commitment to staying in the present, I think "Straight From My Heart" became a healing balm for Marie and will be for us all.

In addition to being a poet and author, Marie maintains a busy law practice and an actual judgeship in New Orleans. Truly, she's got her hands full. For Marie, who never intended on publishing her work, I sense it's a labor of love.

Keep on keepin on Marie Bookman.