Ron L. Deal, MMFT, is the founder of Successful Stepfamilies.com and an expert in remarriage and stepfamily relationships and therapy. He is author of the Amazon.com bestselling book The Smart Stepfamily, The Smart Stepmom (coauthored with Laura Petherbridge), and the groundbreaking book The Remarriage Checkup: Tools to Make Your Marriage Last a Lifetime (coauthored with David H. Olson). Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed professional counselor who frequently appears in the national media. He is a popular conference speaker and his video series The Smart Stepfamily DVD is used in communities, churches, and homes throughout the world. He is a member of the Stepfamily Expert Council for the National Stepfamily Resource Center. Ron and his wife, Nan, and their sons live in Texas. Visit www.SuccessfulStepfamilies.com