Lobenstine, Margaret 1943-

PERSONAL:

Born 1943, in New York, NY; married, 1965; children: twin daughters. Education: Swarthmore College, M.A. (with honors).

ADDRESSES:

Home—442 Warren Wright Rd., Belchertown, MA 01007-9364.E-mail—mlobenstine@togetunstuck.com.

CAREER:

Alternative Approaches (coaching and consulting business), founder. Proprietor of a bed-and-breakfast and founder of an apprentice program for aspiring bed-and-breakfast owners; resident expert, specializing in questions related to human resources, for the Staples Business Web site; speaker and leader of workshops; book reviewer for publishing houses; facilitator for University of Massachusetts Family Business Center, and instructor at Lifeworks, Goal-works, and Self-Mentoring courses, Amherst, MA.

WRITINGS:

The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One (nonfiction), Broadway Books (New York, NY), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS:

Margaret Lobenstines The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One is a book intended to foster understanding of people with personality types that seem to keep them from settling into solid careers. According to the author, these people may have many positive aspects to their personalities. They have many interests, love to learn new things and take on new challenges, and do not fear making fresh starts. Lobenstine calls such people "Renaissance souls," and she offers advice on ways that people with this personality type can hone in on their chief interests, learn to manage their time well, and generally integrate their unique approach into a well-rounded and satisfying life. She suggests, for example, that people choose four key interests to focus on at any given time, with the stipulation that they can be exchanged for others later on if so desired. A Publishers Weekly writer recommended the authors advice as "sensible, concrete and do-able." According to Lucille M. Boone in Library Journal, The Renaissance Soul"will inspire anyone trying to juggle multiple passions and interests." The Renaissance Soul was also positively reviewed by Marie D. Jones in Curled Up with a Good Book, where she noted the books empowering message that having many passions and interest is not a failing, but rather "something to be proud of and to celebrate."

Lobenstine told CA: "While I have loved writing fiction since I was a child, I had never thought about writing nonfiction. However, so many of my life design coaching clients and workshop participants felt seen and respected for the first time when they learned about "Renaissance souls," I felt compelled to put the information out there more fully. I never expected to have my first book published in my sixties, but hopefully this means the information will still be available even after Im gone."