I've often heard of writers exploring a subject on their blog which they later turned into a book. However, I've decided to do this in reverse.
Five years after my cancer treatment ended, I wrote a book with the working title, Victory Over Cancer, or as those close to me knew it as: V.O.C. I knew that first books are often not published. I was also aware that V.O.C. could be mainly therapeutic from my side, however I wrote it, and rewrote it. I edited and re-edited. I've rewritten or edited it eight times. I've also renamed it. It's now Above All Odds.
This morning I realised it would make an ideal series for this blog. There is much in this book that will be helpful to those facing cancer, either as patients or as those close to someone with cancer. It will take you through a year of cancer treatment, although I imagine it will take way more than a year. I will break it into mini-chapters, with each one covering one thought or incident. I'll also edit it (again) to make it more applicable to this format. Sometimes a story will have to be spread over a few posts, like a serial.
Oh yes and it'll be posted each Friday, to allow me to post other material on this blog on Tuesdays.
So here's the premise of the book you're about to start:
With one harsh sentence, a healthy, bubbly fifty-year-old becomes a Cancer Victim.
As a registered nurse (RN) Shirley held the hands of patients when they received a diagnosis of cancer. As a minister's wife, she came alongside members of the congregation after they heard the dreadful news. She thought she understood what they were going through. The day the news was directed at her, she realized she had no idea.
Above all Odds will take the reader through a year of treatment for breast cancer, including the many battles involved as the patient faces surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. It concludes as the Cancer Victim moves into a new life as a Cancer Survivor. She recognizes that, where she had no option in the diagnosis, she does have a choice on how she handles the disease. Life will never be the same again. It can be better.
See you Friday for the start of the story, Above All Odds. (And no, I haven't forgotten. The promised recipe, Lime-Lemon Ginger Ale will be up as promised on Friday.)
Do leave a comment and let me know how you feel about this idea.
