Starved differs from other “dysfunctional childhood” memoirs in its theme of “filling an empty heart,” by providing a unique viewpoint on how the author turned early adversity into a strength and set of skills that would later help her deal with the demands of medical training and practice.

Memoir, including childhood memoir, remains a very popular genre. Nielsen BookScan reported unit sales increases of twelve percent in 2014 for biography/autobiography/memoir.

A frequent speaker and presenter, Dr. McTiernan will include Starved in presentations at conferences in the United States and internationally.

Dr. McTiernan is regularly contacted by the media for her expert opinion on nutrition, weight loss, exercise, cancer, and women’s health. She has appeared on the Today, MSNBC News Show, ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, and ABC News with Peter Jennings, as well as numerous radio programs, to talk about the effect of nutrition and exercise on cancer and on health in general.

Starved is written in strong, authentic scenes that keep the action moving forward. It also includes subtle humor in many places, in orderto lessen the burden of reading about abuse and to show that the protagonist realizes her own flaws and need for change.