How does a classy, middle-aged New York City therapist-with a history as grim as any of her clients'-jump into the fires of her soul? She can't. Not alone, anyway. The Goddess of 5th Avenue is at once witty and heartbreaking, entertaining and inspirational, as it celebrates life's beauty-music, poetry, the divine-and explores its darkness-sexual abuse, betrayal, and the grittiness of New York street life. Author Carol Simone uses her remarkable gifts to temper this story of childhood trauma with a healthy dose of ironic humor, and she shows us that magic and mysticism lie just beyond the veil of everyday life in our material world. "The Goddess of 5th Avenue is at once funny and sad, amusing and inspirational as it jumps for joy in celebrating life's beauty." -The Palo Alto Daily News "Billie Bartholomew's odyssey races across the pages of this book with fire and grace." -Lynn V. Andrews, author of the Medicine Woman book series "Carol Simone has the wonderful ability to describe the passion that is realized when other dimensions interact with our own plane of existence. You will recognize aspects of the book's characters in your friends, in yourself, and in your dreams." -Grace Slick, singer and artist "I feel powerless to truly express how grateful I am for the impact this experience of reading The Goddess of 5th Avenue has had on me. This novel is like a diamond with hundreds of facets, each facet catching the light and illuminating some part of me." -Beverly Chang, author of Brave and Awake, 2010 Firefighter of the Year "This poignant, poetic novel engages the heart from the first paragraph. The contemporary heroine travels from darkness to light, from pain to healing, integrating the sacred Ancient into the tapestry of her everyday life. Carol Simone's story is a compelling call to practice compassion whenever we can." -Andrea Smith, beloved Hawaiian painter for peace.