A dazzling array of remarkably successful women from the worlds of entertainment, the arts, business, sports, medicine, science, politics, religion and academia have written inspirational letters for the next generations of success seekers. DEAR SUCCESS SEEKER: Wisdom from Outstanding Women (Atria Books; $14.00; April 2009; ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-7079-9) has been assembled by Success Expert Michele R. Wright, an extraordinary woman who has overcome many challenges in her own life to become successful. These challenges include an extensive learning disability and severe speech impediment, which resulted in her inability to speak until the age of five. Dr. Wright and the other eighty-three contributors have achieved a high level of success that is to be admired. In the spirit of success, Dr. Wright uses DEAR SUCCESS SEEKER as a template for helping others to achieve a unique success model that will help individuals discover unique advice, a unique career, and a unique life.

DEAR SUCCESS SEEKER features a foreword by producer, educator and philanthropist Camille O. Cosby, Ed.D., as well as Dr. Wright's exclusive interview with television and radio personality Gayle King, editor-at-large of O, the Oprah Magazine.

Representing many areas of professional and personal expertise - from actress and activist Ruby Dee, tennis legend Billie Jean King, dance and choreographic pioneer Katherine Dunham, to TV's Sesame Street creator Joan Ganz Cooney - DEAR SUCCESS SEEKER assembles the thoughts and words of women who dug deep and found their path. These accomplished and inspiring women encourage, advise and inform the next generations of success seekers. These are the words from a few of the contributors:

• Billie Jean King, 20-time Wimbledon tennis champion - "Life is full of experiences, and experience is priceless. Use your life's experience to give back and positively impact the lives of others. Use your talents to win, not only for yourself, but generations to come. Then, and only then, can you achieve true success."
• Patti Labelle, Grammy and American Music Award-winning entertainer - "Don't evaluate yourself based on other people's standards. I'm successful to my standards, and it's because I'm doing my best - by being myself."
• Mary L. Landrieu, U.S. Senator - "I grew up in a politically active family. My father was the mayor of New Orleans, and I watched him work as a public servant, making decisions every day that helped people and influenced their lives. For me this is part of my definition of success: helping to shape the laws and policies that will make a positive difference in the world around me."
• Rosa Parks, Mother of the modern day Civil Rights Movement - "Success is knowing that we are all leaders of something in life. Each young person should be assured they are a leader."
• Susan L. Taylor, Editor Emerita of Essence Magazine - "Do what you love, and prosperity will follow. And money is just part of it. The greater part is the clarity you'll feel about why you are here and where you are headed. Your life will have greater depth, breadth, and richness than ever before."
• M. Jocelyn Elders, MD and the first African American and second woman to serve as US Surgeon General - "You should ask for help when you need it; your teachers and mentors are there to help you and guide you through your decision-making process."

The range of contributors to DEAR SUCCESS SEEKER is diverse in age, ethnicity, and professions and includes restaurant entrepreneur Leeann Chin; venture capitalist Esperanza Guerrero-Anderson; Cherokee nation Chief Wilma Mankiller; actresses Della Reese and Shirley Jones; former Congresswoman Patricia S. Schroeder; founder of the Children's Defense Fund Marian Wright Edelman, J.D. and authors, university presidents, religious leaders, business executives, and perhaps most importantly, a mother, Edith Vinginiabell Atchison, who counsels, "As a child growing up, my parents taught me the importance of being nice." With an engaging premise and a warm package, this book is a great gift for any success seeker.

Author, speaker and success expert Michele R. Wright, Ph.D., a native of Tuskegee, Alabama, is a top-performing national and international multiple award-winning corporate leader. She has worked with Fortune 500 organizations including Genentech Biotech Company, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, The Pillsbury Company, The Procter and Gamble Company, Honeywell, and Martin Marietta Corporation. She has a successful track record in education; engineering; and food, pharmaceutical and biotechnology sales. She is a success guru in project, team, and total quality management.

Michele holds a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Tuskegee University (graduating with High Honors and as "Electrical Engineering Student of the Year"); a M.S. degree in industrial engineering/engineering management from the University of Tennessee Space Institute (becoming UTSI's first full-time African-American student to earn a Master of Science degree in engineering management), and a Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (double specialization in health and leadership policy).

Dr. Wright's extensive research of some of America's most outstanding women achievers served as inspiration for this book and has allowed her to create a groundbreaking success model that she plans to implement in corporations, organizations and educational facilities around the world. She lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband Terry G. Wright.

               
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