Veronica Strachan was born to working class parents in Melbourne's northern suburbs. The birth of her second daughter who had a severe brain injury changed the direction of Veronica's life forever. The lessons she learned from Jacqueline Bree's life and death are now her touchstone for living a whole, vibrant and remarkable life. From her early career as a nurse and midwife, through evolutions as a project and change manager, CEO and consultant, Veronica now divides her time between writing and coaching remarkable women leaders who want to make a powerful and compassionate impact on the world. "Breathing While Drowning" was her first book. Now Veronica and her daughter Cassi have teamed up for "The Adventures of Chickabella": "Chickabella and the Rainbow Magic", "Chickabella Counts to Ten, and Chickabella Shapes Up." Chickabella is dedicated to the memory of her sister, Mary who told the best stories. She is currently completing, Soul Staff: Book Two of The Opal Dreaming Chronicles, which is due for release in late 2021. Ochre Dragon: Book One of The Opal Dreaming Chronicles was released in February 2019 under the pen name V.E. Patton.