Authors Luncheon

May 5, 2007
Authors Luncheon

More than 150 people attended the Burlingame Library Foundations inaugural Authors Luncheon featuring local politician and Hillsborough resident Jackie Speier and co-authors, Michealene Cristini Risley.  Together they discussed their recently published book, ’This is not the Life I ordered’. 

The book is about overcoming obstacles and disappointments in life.  Written by four women whom destiny threw together more than a decade ago. Collectively, they have experienced the extreme joys and deep sorrows that life offers up. From mundane moments to the dramatic and surreal, they have a history of six marriages, ten children, four stepchildren, six dogs, two miscarriages, two cats, twelve koi fish, a failed adoption, widowhood, and foster parenthood. They have built companies, lost companies, and sold companies. One of them was shot and left for dead on a tarmac in South America, and two of them have lived through the deaths of spouses.

Some say they are role models, they say they are survivors, and they have tried to share their most hilarious, engaging, and inspirational stories. Having worked through the worst -- and the best -- they have been dealt, they are sure to warm up your life with the compassion and understanding of true friends.