Melinda French Gates has been through some "painful changes" since her divorce from Bill Gates

She told People: "Over the last few years, I've experienced a lot of change - some of it exciting, some of it painful - so I've done a lot of thinking and learning about transitions. I decided to start writing this while I was still in the middle of this season of change, rather than safely on the other side.

"We've all had days that change our lives forever.

"This book is about what we do the next day, when one phase of our life has come to an end, but the next phase hasn't quite yet begun. I've learned that if you can find the courage to linger in that liminal space, it has a lot to teach you."

Melinda - who has Rory and Phoebe, 28, Rory, 25, and 22-year-old Phoebe with the tech billionaire - insisted that she wouldn't have reached her sixth decade without having to navigate "all kinds of transitions" in life and is hoping that readers can take inspiration from that.

She said: "You don't get to be my age without navigating all kinds of transitions. Some you embraced and some you never expected. Some you hoped for and some you fought as hard as you could.

"Change is universal. It's something everyone experiences," she adds. "And yet, when you're in the middle of a life change, especially one you didn't ask for, it can also feel really lonely. I certainly don't have all the answers in my book, but my hope is that by sharing some of the things that have helped me in my life, there will be something in there that's useful to others who are navigating transitions of their own."

The former couple called time on their marriage three years ago and announced their decision to the world with a joint statement.

It read: "After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage. Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives.

"We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue to work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives. We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life."