Pattiejean Brown is the author of What On Earth Am I Doing? Leadership Lessons for Clergy Spouses published by Guardian Books, 2009.

She is the Shepherdess Director for the Bermuda Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Together with her husband Dr. Jeffrey Brown, they have authored The Total Marriage and A Guide to Parenting, but this is her first book as the sole author.

Pattiejean hails from Southampton, Bermuda, from the Darrell family of Riviera Estate.

She currently works as the Family Ministries Assistant and Shepherdess Director for Clergy Spouses at the Bermuda Conference of Seventh-day Adventists here in Bermuda.

Pattiejean holds two degrees: behavioural science and liberal arts.

When asked why she wrote this book, Pattiejean replies: "While studying for my bachelor's degree, I had to do a presentation, and this is the subject I chose. People really enjoyed it and recommended that I turn it into a book!"

She adds that she wanted to show the challenges and sacrifices that the wives of clergy have to face, no matter how different they are.

In 2009, two great and very different pastors' wives passed away. Sandra Holland-Pearson (1945-2009) was the wife of evangelist Walter Pearson, speaker/director of Breath of Life since 1998.

She was outgoing, trendy, and employed at the church headquarters.

Anne Koleada-Melashenko (1919-2009) was the wife of evangelist Joe Melashenko and mother of the Melashenko singers, including Lonnie Melashenko, speaker/director of the Voice of Prophecy, 1993-2008.

She was a quiet, supportive, behind-the-scenes homemaker. "I wanted to show that pastors' spouses are different yes, but dissimilar no," Pattiejean explains.

While Pattiejean hopes that the book will help wives of clergy understand what challenges they face and how to overcome them, she stresses that there is not "cookie-cutter" pastor's wife.

"Pastors' spouses are not homogeneous. There is no one-size-fits-all. Some are conservative, some are not. Some are traditional, some are not.

"Some are quiet, some are not. But all face similar challenges. All make similar sacrifices. All experience similar joys."

Being a minister's wife can be challenging because you have to face people's expectations, be an example (to a lot of people) and live under scrutiny. But there are also tremendous joys.

"There are unprecedented opportunities for spiritual growth as we realise that we too are called to minister in our own right," Pattiejean explains.

This book will inspire pastors and their spouses of all denominations, seminarians and their spouses, church members and the general public to a deeper respect for a corps of faithful servants who receive few thanks, but who lovingly inspire a global army of godly pastors.

The book retails for only $9.99 and is available in Bermuda at the Adventist Book Centre on King Street in Hamilton or online at AdventSource.org.