Apart from being an arbitrator, judge, lawyer, and television presenter, Toler is also a writer. Toler has authored and published four books, which include: My Mother’s Rules: A Practical Guide to Becoming an Emotional Genius, Put It in Writing!: Creating Agreements Between Family and Friends (which she co-authored with Deborah Hutchison), Dear Sonali, Letters to the Daughter I Never Had, and Making Marriage Work: New Rules for an Old Institution.

Her first book, My Mother’s Rules, was quite a success, selling out during its first printing. The book is an autobiography that details Toler’s upbringing and her mother’s influence on her life. The book also chronicles the struggles of growing up with a father who suffered from mental illness and alcoholism. In an interview with Mother of Color blog, Toler spoke about the book’s impact on readers.

“People are touched by mental illness: many can’t say it or talk about it, but the fact that I did makes them feel not so alone, and relieved because gave them an opportunity to speak about it, which unburdens them. I think I’ve helped enough people, just by speaking on it, that whatever concerns I had about betraying my father’s secrecy about his issues have been overwhelmed.”

lynn toler

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