Who is Clarissa Pinkola Estes from Women Who Run with the Wolves and what is their importance?

Clarissa Pinkola Estes is the book's author. She describes herself as a Latina with a mixed heritage. She happily claims to have a rather worldly outlook, which was strongly encouraged by her upbringing. She is formally educated, with not only a doctoral degree but holds a certificate with respect to her specially-formulated, post-doctoral work.