Actress Throughout her life, Shaffer has appeared in numerous
soap operas, including
Search for Tomorrow,
Hidden Faces (1968–1969),
and Where the Heart Is. From 1975 to 1976, she he played split personality Serena Faraday/Josie on
The Edge of Night. From 1977 to 1984, Shaffer played journalism magnate
Rae Woodard on ''
Ryan's Hope'' and then reprised the role for the show's finale in 1989. In the summer of 1987, she was brought onto
All My Children, playing Erica's evil stepmother, Goldie Kane. After several years as a script writer on various soaps, she had brief roles on
Guiding Light as Lewis oil client Mrs. Humphreys (1993), and a stint as the judge in the Peter Lewis custody battle (1994). She was nominated for two
Daytime Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Rae Woodard on ''Ryan's Hope
; she won the award in 1983. In addition to her daytime roles, Shaffer also had a role on the short-lived Norman Lear serialized sitcom All That Glitters''.
Author Shaffer began writing for soap operas instead of acting on them. Since the late 1980s, she has written for ''
Ryan's Hope, Loving, General Hospital, and As the World Turns''. In addition to scriptwriting, Shaffer has written numerous books. ==Personal life==