Biography of Beverly Kirkhart

A breast cancer survivor since 1993, Beverly Kirkhart is the author of the new book, My Healing Companion, and the co-author of the revised edition of Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul: 101 Healing Stories About Those Who Have Survived Cancer.

Published early this summer (2002), My Healing Companion has already sold over 75,000 copies. Designed to serve as a self-guided journal for anyone facing cancer (or any disease or disability), the book shares Ms. Kirkhart's experiences coping, adjusting and turning her cancer experience into a positive force in her life. There's also helpful healing exercises and ample space for readers to record their own journey of self-realization and empowerment, while finding serenity on their road to survival.

On behalf of Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul: 101 Healing Stories About Those Who Have Survived Cancer - one of the most successful books in the acclaimed series by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, with over 600,000 copies in print - Beverly has traveled the country as the book's official spokesperson, and teamed up with Canfield to present two-day multimedia seminars about creating self-esteem and peak performance in the work place.

After conquering cancer, Beverly made the decision to devote her life to helping other cancer victims take control of their lives. In 1996, she co-founded the highly-regarded Breast Resource Center of Santa Barbara with surgeon and best-selling author Dr. Susan Love and several other concerned survivors, and last year served as the non-profit organization's board president.

Filling a much-needed gap for information and emotional support, the center sponsors a lending library, computer access to medical databases, a survivor mentoring program, and support groups, among other services.

During the last few years, Ms. Kirkhart has visited 24 states and 50 cities as a keynote speaker and workshop leader, including for such organizations as the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the Oncology Nurses Society, the Southern California Society of Radiation Therapists, and the Scripps Foundation, among other cancer research, non-profit groups, and medical centers.

Her popular "How to Turn Setbacks into Comebacks" inspirational workshops include strategy-packed sessions on "My Healing Companion" (journal writing), "How to Turn Setbacks into Comebacks" (five steps to survive and thrive after life challenging situations), "Healing the Soul After Cancer" (five ways survivors can reclaim their life), and "Caregivers with Compassion…Healers with Heart" (loving and compassionate ways to combine medical science with supportive therapies), and "New Purpose…New Passion" (a personal transformation and goal-setting session to energize cancer patients).

A resident of Santa Barbara, California, Beverly Kirkhart formerly built the nationally-acclaimed Villa Rosa hotel, opened in 1982, and managed it for over a decade.