Of what significance are role models in <i>The Healing</i>? How important is it for children to see a reflection of themselves in the powerful and successful people around them? How important have role models been in your life?

The role models in the healing are powerful women who can heal or do harm. They speak out and are unafraid. Polly Shine is the most compelling example of this. In my life, role models were extraordinarily important and helped to make me the person I am today.

Polly was a role model to Granada just as Granada then is a role model to Violet. Role models were terribly important to me when I was young. I grew up in an area where education was not emphasized and self-ambition a rarity. But my mother pushed me to study hard and one teacher in particular became my role model. She always told me I could do anything I set my mind to. Because of those two women I was able to persevere and do quite well for myself.