Beautiful Buttons: A Memoir of Survival and Triumph

by Cathrine Ann

Unwanted and neglected as a child, abused by neighborhood perverts beginning at six years old, and then by loser boyfriends during her adolescence and beyond, Cathrine Ann became pregnant at fifteen, was pimped out by her rich uncle at seventeen, was jailed at eighteen, and lived as a prostitute in her thirties.

But today she is the founder and president of a multi-million-dollar company. How did that happen? Beautiful Buttons is a rough, raw, candid, and surprisingly funny testament to the resilience of the human spirit -- an inspiring and empowering self-portrait of a life lived and redeemed.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 9, 2011

About the author

Cathrine Ann's credentials include quitting school after completing grade eight when she was fifteen and pregnant, along with having more jobs than she can remember; the majority of which, she was fired from.

After enduring a childhood of poverty and neglect and being raised by alcoholic parents, she overcame more challenges and obstacles in her life than might seem humanly possible or fair.
Being a young mother without a formal education or positive role model and suffering from ADD and a learning disability, she eventually found herself in jail, on probation, and doing whatever she could to survive and as she puts it, "continually trying to even the odds" for what she didn't get or have growing up, including an education.

Through all her highs and mostly lows, she even tried to become a Medical Doctor. Forging University transcripts helped get her into a prestigious Medical College, but when it was discovered that she had "embellished" her transcripts, she did what she always did when in trouble: she fled: right into the arms of the mob and a street life, that was just about as ruthless and low as a human being could possibly go.

When she turned 40, Cathrine met a man who was the first person in her life to ever believe in her and her dreams of doing better - even starting her own business. It was then that she went from living a life of despair, to having a life that she could only otherwise dream of living.

Cathrine credits her many struggles and challenges, with her eventual success in becoming a multi-award winning entrepreneur and celebrated Canadian business leader.

As the President of Consumer Connection Inc., she helps clients increase revenue and market share, by specially designing programs that work to meet or surpass their customer service objectives (Mystery Shopping, Employee Incentive Programs, Employee Training Programs, Competitive Analysis and Customer Service Seminars.)

As a much-in-demand inspirational speaker, and now an author, Cathrine's one in a million true rags to riches story, will continue to deeply touch the lives and hearts of audiences and readers from all walks of life, and her message couldn't come at a better time.

Cathrine's mantra is: Dream it. Believe it. Be it.

Beautiful Buttons is a rough, raw, remarkably candid and often surprisingly funny portrait of a life lived and redeemed. Cathrine went from being homeless, broke and unemployed (and worse) into a multi-business award winning entrepreneur and business leader. Cathrine’s story is about believing in yourself and your own abilities.