Valerie Gaer Sandler is a writer, poet, motivational speaker, educator, graphic designer and music composer. She holds a Master's degree in Music Education from New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, a Bachelor's degree in Expressive Therapies with a focus on Music Therapy from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA and an Associates degree from New York School of Interior Design, NY. She is the former owner of Habite' Design Associates, Inc, a commercial interior design and space planning firm located in Westtown, NY. She is married, has two children, six step children and 12 grandchildren. Living between sight and blindness, she is only one of a few carrier females who is losing her sight from choroideremia. Currently writing her memoir, she lives in Huntersville, NC with her husband, Michael, her guide dog, Sam, her retired guide, Quentin and a wheaton terrier named Mistie.