Tamara Pelosi earned her Doctorate in Education in 2007, but it was the ‘school of life’ that was her principal teacher. Pennies From An Angel-Innocent Lives Behind a Crime was born out of her own experience and motivated her to come forward and reveal her personal life for the sole purpose of helping other women. She has received a number of specialty awards attesting to her charitable character and her dedication to family life. In 2005 Tamara was inducted into the Long Island Volunteers Hall of Fame for the amount of hours she generously donated; in 2004 she was presented with ‘The Women of the Year’ award for creating a variety of programs that serviced the youth and family of the local community; in 1998 Tamara was awarded “Suffolk County Volunteer Award” for outstanding service to the youth of Suffolk County, New York. Throughout the years, Tamara has created numerous parenting workshops, developed programs specifically for teachers, and facilitates support groups that help empower women to gain their independence. Ms. Pelosi was Co-founder and Director of a youth and family center for twelve years and is currently working on her next book, Recipe for Empowering Your Life. She lives on the eastern end of Long Island with her children.

      Susan Semerade, Tamara’s mother, co-authored Pennies From an Angel from first hand experience. Blessed with a unique loving relationship, Ms. Semerade states, “a daughter’s pain is your pain; a daughter’s glory is your glory.” Ms. Semerade has been in the health and healing field for over twenty years. As a seasoned yoga instructor and Certified Ayurvedic Health Consultant she writes articles on nutrition and well-being for health related magazines. Co-authoring with her daughter was as healing for Susan as it was Tami.