'Simple Abundance' Author Loses All, Finds Peace in Money Memoir
How did a New York Times bestselling author lose a fortune?
March 2, 2011— -- In the 90s, Sarah Ban Breathnach was the toast of the town.
A New York Times best-selling author sharing the simple wisdom of gratitude that even talk show queen Oprah Winfrey could co-sign. After 25 years of freelancing, Ban Breathnach found her calling: inspiring women to express their gratitude.
But, that was years ago.
"I lost my heart, I lost my home, I lost my bearings, and I lost my way," Sarah Ban Breathnach, the author of "Simple Abundance" said in an interview with ABCNews.com.
Despite talk show appearances and heaps of financial success, the author who once received 40,000 letters from women inspired by her book of essays, was broke when she was inspired to write a memoir detailing how she finally learned to become comfortable with money.
"I was a darling millionaire. I thought I could solve everybody's problems, and my own, by writing a check," says Ban Breathnach, borrowing from a popular Dorothy Parker quote.
At the height of her success, the author says she assisted more than 100 nonprofits and gave away more than $1 million. Instead of seeking outside investors, the author took her newfound fortune and developed an online magazine based on the book.
But, the dot.com bubble burst and the author says she lost around $1 million on her venture.
Then there were the splurges like the chapel she had to have after a British newspaper called the 63-year-old author "the Isaac Newton of the simplicity movement."
During a visit to England for an assignment, Breathnach purchased the 900-year-old, two-room chapel once owned by the 17th century mathematician on the spot.
"I developed a crush on Sir Isaac Newton. I was in the airport and there was a newspaper that said his private chapel was for sale," Ban Breathnach said.
Those were the days when the author flew the Concorde and wore fancy footwear.
"I had a wonderful Manolo Blahnik collection, but I have learned no woman can wear more than 12 pairs of shoes," Ban Breathnach said.
