"On My Own looks at the joy, pain, and necessity of living solo in a society that still views unattached women as spinsters and old maids... An engaging read, [it] empowers more than it prescribes... the ideas here are important and Falk presents them with a comforting combination of analysis and empathy"

—Body & Soul Q: Why do you think women are afraid of being on their own?

A: As a society, we still have an unspoken but omnipresent belief that a woman alone is an outcast, inherently flawed in some way. I wanted to dispel the fear, doubt, confusion, and helplessness that beset many women who are either alone or considering being alone. Most of all, I want to expose the shame and fear that beset women and keep them from realizing their true potential.

Q: What does the subject matter of being On My Own have to do with married women?

A: Married women are women first of all, and every woman needs time and space to be alone. Just as certainly, she needs to know how to best use that time so that she can discover the riches of creative self-expression that solitude offers. Then, too, over the course of her adult life, a married woman may find herself alone—whether because she finds herself in a loveless, isolating relationship, or through divorce or widowhood—and feel at a loss as to how to handle it. On My Own can become her lifelong companion: a guide to self-discovery and self-mastery that teaches her how to become vital and self-governing, with or without a man.     (2 of 8)