Interview with Janine Turner: Author of
Holding Her Head High

Janine Turner has taken on many roles throughout her lifetime—actress, producer, director, single mom, and most recently author. From her beloved role as Maggie O'Connell in the Emmy Award-winning CBS series Northern Exposure to her current role in the Lifetime Television film Primal Doubt, Janine has continued to entertain audiences. She also appeared in Lifetime's hit television series, Strong Medicine and recently produced and directed the short film, Trip in a Summer Dress, which starred her young daughter, Juliette.

Janine Turner talks about her new book Holding Her Head High.

Her movie credits include Cliffhanger, in which she played a starring role opposite Sylvester Stallone, Curse of the Inferno, Leave It To Beaver, and Robert Altman's feature film, Dr. T and the Women. Her made-for-TV movies include CBS's Stolen Women, Circle of Deceit for ABC, and Barbara Taylor Bradford's A Secret Affair, among others.

A single mother since her daughter was born, Janine inspires single mothers everywhere with her recently published book, Holding Her Head High.The book recounts the stories of 12 women throughout history who found ways to change their fates to represent God's destiny for their lives.

Janine recently spoke with LoveToKnow Baby about her book and her hope that single mothers will be inspired from the stories the book features.

I was inspired to write my book, Holding Her Head High - 12 Single Mothers Who Championed Their Children and Changed History, because I am a single mother. As I researched, I was fascinated by the realization that single motherhood is not a modern day phenomenon. I was also intrigued by the fact that the definition of single motherhood is broad: divorced, widowed, abandoned, wartime and some by choice. However, I do not believe that that many young girls daydream, "When I grow up, I want to be a single mother!" or "When I grow up, I want to be divorced and raise three kids all on my own!".

I hope that after one reads my book, she will be inspired and enriched by the 12 remarkable women in the book. They were the "go girls" of their centuries. They were brave, women of faith and stewards of their wounds. They were also the "firsts" in their fields. I have one Roman woman, two Medieval women, five American Revolutionary women, two slave women, a pioneer woman and the first woman to officially run for President, Belva Lockwood. I was so inspired by them I turned to my daughter and said, "Let's move to NYC!"

My daughter is my greatest blessing. I find there are challenges such as trying to be both the bread winner and the earth mother. However, I have great faith in God and believe He always shows us the way and takes care of us. I pepper the book with my philosophies, and one is that I must be patient and realize that God sees eternity in perspective.

I believe that working single mothers, and working mothers, feel the guilt and stress of trying to juggle all the elements. But what I realized through my book and the 12 women in the book, is that women have been doing it for centuries. This isn't anything new. They were shining examples of fortitude through difficult times such as no antibiotics, no rights to vote, no rights to education, no means to work, no rights to their children, dreadful means of communication, etc. And yet their children turned out to be good human beings, solid citizens and some even heroes and saints.

I hope you enjoy reading Holding Her Head High and the journey of the amazing women in it. They did it, and we can do it too! You may visit my website to learn more at janineturner.com.

By Susie McGee

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