Debbie Cohen's Blog
March 5, 2024
Why Spring Makes Me Happy
In the spring, anything seems possible ...
With spring just around the corner, I am especially excited to have joined a cohort of children/young adult novelists accepted into a new Author's Guild Launchpad Pilot Program for Book Marketing and Publicity!
My new book, a Young Adult Contemporary, will be out by the summer, and learning how to reach more readers couldn't have come at a better time.
Spring is for renewal. And learning new things. And reading!
I will soon be getting an advanced reader copy (ARC) of my novel from my publisher, and looking for advanced reviews from other authors, book bloggers, and reviewers.
Stay tuned for more details! :)
With spring just around the corner, I am especially excited to have joined a cohort of children/young adult novelists accepted into a new Author's Guild Launchpad Pilot Program for Book Marketing and Publicity!
My new book, a Young Adult Contemporary, will be out by the summer, and learning how to reach more readers couldn't have come at a better time.
Spring is for renewal. And learning new things. And reading!
I will soon be getting an advanced reader copy (ARC) of my novel from my publisher, and looking for advanced reviews from other authors, book bloggers, and reviewers.
Stay tuned for more details! :)
August 26, 2022
Why I'm On Cloud Nine!
Thrilled to announce that I have found a home for my recently completed second book ...
I will be publishing my new book, a YA/NA contemporary novel, with TouchPointPress!
Super excited to bring this story to life and work with a great publisher … Stay tuned for more details!
I will be publishing my new book, a YA/NA contemporary novel, with TouchPointPress!
Super excited to bring this story to life and work with a great publisher … Stay tuned for more details!
January 2, 2022
Why I'm Excited About 2022!
Happy New Year!
It's been a long time since I have written a blog post ... To celebrate ushering in a new, and hopefully better year ahead, I'm giving away my book Keeper of the Scale for free for several days.
*You can get it here:
https://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Scale-c...
And during the pandemic I worked on a second novel, a YA book this time around -- more details on that to be coming soon!
Best wishes to all my friends and readers for a healthy and happy 2022.
It's been a long time since I have written a blog post ... To celebrate ushering in a new, and hopefully better year ahead, I'm giving away my book Keeper of the Scale for free for several days.
*You can get it here:
https://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Scale-c...
And during the pandemic I worked on a second novel, a YA book this time around -- more details on that to be coming soon!
Best wishes to all my friends and readers for a healthy and happy 2022.
August 1, 2018
Why I’m Calming Down About Being a Writer
I used to think there was nothing more important than becoming a writer.
At first, I was a literary kind of gal: poetry, creative writing, Shakespeare. Then I got a taste of the newsroom. Nothing compared to the thrill of going after a good story or covering features.
Until I discovered the world of magazine writing. Which led to starting up a freelance writing business and—most recently—to becoming an Indie author.
Yes, for the past two decades my life has revolved around being a Writer (with a capital W).
When I joined a writer’s group several years ago it was with the goal of honing my craft. But somehow, somewhere along the way, I realized I was looking forward to my group meetings for something more than feedback about my writing.
I had become unexpectedly enamored with my little group of writers, all of whom were mostly women, much older than me, and had lived interesting, colorful lives—I loved gathering together, listening to their stories, reading their words over coffee and cake, or tea and cookies. These weren’t, however, “sweet little old ladies” – they were outspoken, into politics, cracking dirty jokes, and intent on living life to the fullest. One had been married five times and had plenty of stories to tell. I was riveted by them all!
Sadly, one of the women, in her sixties, came down with early Alzheimer’s disease. I watched as this smart and incredible person became confused and unable to function, eventually needing to leave the group altogether after being placed in a residential home. Another woman, a talented playwright, passed away from cancer after a valiant fight, never once complaining. Yet another moved away. Soon after that the group disbanded—it just didn’t feel the same without the missing members.
And that’s when I realized that the best part of writing is not simply going after goals, checking writing accomplishments off like some “to do” or bucket list. What makes it all worthwhile is connecting with other writers and readers. Connecting with people who love the written word as much as you do. Bookworms. Word Nerds, whatever you want to call them… People who cannot imagine a world without writing or reading.
I may have joined my writing group to polish up my manuscript, but that’s not what I miss most about it. It’s the people I sat around tables with, laughing and sharing stories that I fondly remember. Some of my favorite sessions occurred when we got so off track that we forgot to get down to business and spent half our time joking around.
Yes, a writer writes. But a writer also has to have a life to write about. Sometimes you must put the book you’re reading or story you’re writing aside—and simply exist in this world. So now I have calmed down about checking off all my writerly boxes and am learning to enjoy the journey and interesting folks I meet along the way.
Because, for a writer, there never really is “the end”... there is only the next project. And projects come and go, but the people you connect with while working on them are the real gems of the craft.
#writers #readers #amwriting #amreading
Debbie Cohen
At first, I was a literary kind of gal: poetry, creative writing, Shakespeare. Then I got a taste of the newsroom. Nothing compared to the thrill of going after a good story or covering features.
Until I discovered the world of magazine writing. Which led to starting up a freelance writing business and—most recently—to becoming an Indie author.
Yes, for the past two decades my life has revolved around being a Writer (with a capital W).
When I joined a writer’s group several years ago it was with the goal of honing my craft. But somehow, somewhere along the way, I realized I was looking forward to my group meetings for something more than feedback about my writing.
I had become unexpectedly enamored with my little group of writers, all of whom were mostly women, much older than me, and had lived interesting, colorful lives—I loved gathering together, listening to their stories, reading their words over coffee and cake, or tea and cookies. These weren’t, however, “sweet little old ladies” – they were outspoken, into politics, cracking dirty jokes, and intent on living life to the fullest. One had been married five times and had plenty of stories to tell. I was riveted by them all!
Sadly, one of the women, in her sixties, came down with early Alzheimer’s disease. I watched as this smart and incredible person became confused and unable to function, eventually needing to leave the group altogether after being placed in a residential home. Another woman, a talented playwright, passed away from cancer after a valiant fight, never once complaining. Yet another moved away. Soon after that the group disbanded—it just didn’t feel the same without the missing members.
And that’s when I realized that the best part of writing is not simply going after goals, checking writing accomplishments off like some “to do” or bucket list. What makes it all worthwhile is connecting with other writers and readers. Connecting with people who love the written word as much as you do. Bookworms. Word Nerds, whatever you want to call them… People who cannot imagine a world without writing or reading.
I may have joined my writing group to polish up my manuscript, but that’s not what I miss most about it. It’s the people I sat around tables with, laughing and sharing stories that I fondly remember. Some of my favorite sessions occurred when we got so off track that we forgot to get down to business and spent half our time joking around.
Yes, a writer writes. But a writer also has to have a life to write about. Sometimes you must put the book you’re reading or story you’re writing aside—and simply exist in this world. So now I have calmed down about checking off all my writerly boxes and am learning to enjoy the journey and interesting folks I meet along the way.
Because, for a writer, there never really is “the end”... there is only the next project. And projects come and go, but the people you connect with while working on them are the real gems of the craft.
#writers #readers #amwriting #amreading
Debbie Cohen
April 13, 2018
Why I'm Not Worried About Women's Fiction
Women's fiction is alive and well!
I recently (when I should have been sleeping instead of surfing the web) came across an excellent article that not only explained exactly what women's fiction is (and is not), but also assured readers that it is here to stay.
With most of today's book buyers being women, I was not surprised. Nonetheless, I was glad to see it spelled out in print!
I love women's fiction. Love reading it; love writing it. I don't even care if there's a happy ending.
The other day, when I was out walking, I stumbled upon a "Little Free Library" with an old copy of "Girl, Interrupted." I had always wanted to read it. I took it home and from the very first sentence was hooked.
Author Susanna Kaysen's 1993 memoir about her 18-month stay at a mental institution (later made into a movie) was written way before the term "chick lit" was even invented.
Which brings me back to that important point: women's fiction is not dead. Labels of sub-genres aside (chick-lit, young adult, new adult, mom-lit, diet-lit, friendship stories, love stories, etc.), as long as there are women buying books primarily intended for women/about women, it is here to stay.
If author Dorothy Parker were alive and starting her career today, she'd probably be downgraded to some sort of label.
Forget the labels. Forget putting women's fiction into neat and tidy little boxes. Because, women's fiction -- like women themselves -- cannot be so superficially boxed in.
Above all else, I believe what good women's fiction is... is fiction. Just like books written primarily for men/about men. And, just like in real life, one is not better than the other.
#women writers #women's fiction
I recently (when I should have been sleeping instead of surfing the web) came across an excellent article that not only explained exactly what women's fiction is (and is not), but also assured readers that it is here to stay.
With most of today's book buyers being women, I was not surprised. Nonetheless, I was glad to see it spelled out in print!
I love women's fiction. Love reading it; love writing it. I don't even care if there's a happy ending.
The other day, when I was out walking, I stumbled upon a "Little Free Library" with an old copy of "Girl, Interrupted." I had always wanted to read it. I took it home and from the very first sentence was hooked.
Author Susanna Kaysen's 1993 memoir about her 18-month stay at a mental institution (later made into a movie) was written way before the term "chick lit" was even invented.
Which brings me back to that important point: women's fiction is not dead. Labels of sub-genres aside (chick-lit, young adult, new adult, mom-lit, diet-lit, friendship stories, love stories, etc.), as long as there are women buying books primarily intended for women/about women, it is here to stay.
If author Dorothy Parker were alive and starting her career today, she'd probably be downgraded to some sort of label.
Forget the labels. Forget putting women's fiction into neat and tidy little boxes. Because, women's fiction -- like women themselves -- cannot be so superficially boxed in.
Above all else, I believe what good women's fiction is... is fiction. Just like books written primarily for men/about men. And, just like in real life, one is not better than the other.
#women writers #women's fiction
January 16, 2018
Why I’m Writing About Nora Roberts
Happy 2018! As promised, I’m kicking off my first blog post of the new year with an excerpt featuring New York Times bestselling women’s fiction author Nora Roberts.
Recently, as I was cleaning out some files, I stumbled across an old magazine article I had written many, many years ago on Nora. The piece never got published. As often happens in the publishing industry, editors leave, assignments get nixed, magazine content directions change…
I had retained the rights to the story, and had always meant to pitch it to another publication. But I was a young, working mom, and life somehow, as it does for so many women, got away from me. The article sat in my files for years. Looking at it again, it felt dated, it was written so long ago… and yet the sidebar, where Nora shared advice for working moms, still applies.
So, although I no longer have young kids, and Nora has gone on to become even more famous and accomplished than she was back then, I’m sharing just her tips here, instead of the full piece. Many articles have been written about Nora Roberts over the years. Yet, somehow, this sidebar still takes me back to my former life; doing phone interviews on headset while breastfeeding, writing frantically while my kids napped, always scrambling for time.
Thank you to Nora, for what I still fondly recall as a wonderful interview, and to Goodreads (which didn’t even exist back when I did the story) for giving me the perfect place to share it. And to all you writer moms out there—keep writing, even if your writing time is confined to your kid’s naptimes, or while waiting in line at the grocery store, or sitting in the carpool lane at school pick-ups, or on your lunch hour at work, or in the wee hours of the night, the only time you can seem to get to it. This one’s for you:
Keeping it all Together—Nora’s Tips for Working Moms
On the secret of her success:
"It takes a lot of juggling. Some of the balls are glass, some are rubber. The idea is to recognize which are glass—your kids’ first school play—and which are rubber—your neighbor’s Tupperware party. You don’t want to drop the glass balls, you’ll never get them back. If you drop the rubber ones they’ll bounce back sooner or later."
On ways to not only stay sane, but to excel:
"Back to the glass and rubber balls. It’s all priorities. Moms who work outside the home have to juggle faster and more skillfully than others. And we can spread ourselves too thin trying to keep them all in the air. So, you let a few go, because if you don’t take care of the juggler, there’s no show."
On not sweating the small stuff:
"Sometimes, when you’re in the middle of that three-ring circus—deadlines looming, kids yelling, and the dog just piddled on the rug—it helps to step back, take a look and remember, it really is your show. And that’s an amazing thing. Your deadlines, your kids, your dog. What would you do without them?"
Recently, as I was cleaning out some files, I stumbled across an old magazine article I had written many, many years ago on Nora. The piece never got published. As often happens in the publishing industry, editors leave, assignments get nixed, magazine content directions change…
I had retained the rights to the story, and had always meant to pitch it to another publication. But I was a young, working mom, and life somehow, as it does for so many women, got away from me. The article sat in my files for years. Looking at it again, it felt dated, it was written so long ago… and yet the sidebar, where Nora shared advice for working moms, still applies.
So, although I no longer have young kids, and Nora has gone on to become even more famous and accomplished than she was back then, I’m sharing just her tips here, instead of the full piece. Many articles have been written about Nora Roberts over the years. Yet, somehow, this sidebar still takes me back to my former life; doing phone interviews on headset while breastfeeding, writing frantically while my kids napped, always scrambling for time.
Thank you to Nora, for what I still fondly recall as a wonderful interview, and to Goodreads (which didn’t even exist back when I did the story) for giving me the perfect place to share it. And to all you writer moms out there—keep writing, even if your writing time is confined to your kid’s naptimes, or while waiting in line at the grocery store, or sitting in the carpool lane at school pick-ups, or on your lunch hour at work, or in the wee hours of the night, the only time you can seem to get to it. This one’s for you:
Keeping it all Together—Nora’s Tips for Working Moms
On the secret of her success:
"It takes a lot of juggling. Some of the balls are glass, some are rubber. The idea is to recognize which are glass—your kids’ first school play—and which are rubber—your neighbor’s Tupperware party. You don’t want to drop the glass balls, you’ll never get them back. If you drop the rubber ones they’ll bounce back sooner or later."
On ways to not only stay sane, but to excel:
"Back to the glass and rubber balls. It’s all priorities. Moms who work outside the home have to juggle faster and more skillfully than others. And we can spread ourselves too thin trying to keep them all in the air. So, you let a few go, because if you don’t take care of the juggler, there’s no show."
On not sweating the small stuff:
"Sometimes, when you’re in the middle of that three-ring circus—deadlines looming, kids yelling, and the dog just piddled on the rug—it helps to step back, take a look and remember, it really is your show. And that’s an amazing thing. Your deadlines, your kids, your dog. What would you do without them?"
July 6, 2017
Why Life Can't be Measured According to a Number on a Scale
Have you ever felt like throwing your scale across the room?
With summer now upon us, along with fears of fitting into last year's bathing suit, scales that may have been hidden during colder months are suddenly being dusted off and carefully monitored.
In my book, Keeper of the Scale, three friends and diet buddies relegate their "weigh-ins" to once a week. Between their weekly check-in they are not allowed to step on a scale. (Or see one another--but that's another story!)
In real life, I think scale usage should be even less. Otherwise we can drive ourselves crazy, allowing a number on a scale to dictate how we feel. I once vowed never to step on a scale again, but have come to realize that that isn't realistic either. We can step on a scale, but it's not worth obsessing over the number it reveals.
A writer friend of mine once pointed out that he thought the three main characters in my book were really all one in the same, just at different stages of their lives. The one thing they all had in common, at every age, was a driving ambition to lose weight. Thinking that being thin would make their life perfect. Would make all their problems go away.
Because women of all life stages feel the societal pressure to be thin, it is ageless. When my friend shared his thoughts about my characters being one and the same, I instantly went into denial mode. Of course they are different people, I insisted.
On later reflection, I realized that I had written short stories about each of the women at different stages of my own life, long before I decided to tie them together in a novel. I still think of them as three unique individuals, but they do represent distinct life stages.
And they fit into different book categories as well, from mom-lit, to new adult, to middle age-lit (OK, the first two women's fiction categories are real, the middle age one I made up, but, hey, there should be more contemporary fiction about middle aged women!)
Dieting is the thing that initially binds these three unlikely pals, women of different ages and life stages, and drew them to one another. So, in that respect, for them at least, the scale wasn't all bad.
But for most of us, I believe, taking a break from the scale every now and then wouldn't be such a bad thing. Because life cant be measured according to a number on a scale...
With summer now upon us, along with fears of fitting into last year's bathing suit, scales that may have been hidden during colder months are suddenly being dusted off and carefully monitored.
In my book, Keeper of the Scale, three friends and diet buddies relegate their "weigh-ins" to once a week. Between their weekly check-in they are not allowed to step on a scale. (Or see one another--but that's another story!)
In real life, I think scale usage should be even less. Otherwise we can drive ourselves crazy, allowing a number on a scale to dictate how we feel. I once vowed never to step on a scale again, but have come to realize that that isn't realistic either. We can step on a scale, but it's not worth obsessing over the number it reveals.
A writer friend of mine once pointed out that he thought the three main characters in my book were really all one in the same, just at different stages of their lives. The one thing they all had in common, at every age, was a driving ambition to lose weight. Thinking that being thin would make their life perfect. Would make all their problems go away.
Because women of all life stages feel the societal pressure to be thin, it is ageless. When my friend shared his thoughts about my characters being one and the same, I instantly went into denial mode. Of course they are different people, I insisted.
On later reflection, I realized that I had written short stories about each of the women at different stages of my own life, long before I decided to tie them together in a novel. I still think of them as three unique individuals, but they do represent distinct life stages.
And they fit into different book categories as well, from mom-lit, to new adult, to middle age-lit (OK, the first two women's fiction categories are real, the middle age one I made up, but, hey, there should be more contemporary fiction about middle aged women!)
Dieting is the thing that initially binds these three unlikely pals, women of different ages and life stages, and drew them to one another. So, in that respect, for them at least, the scale wasn't all bad.
But for most of us, I believe, taking a break from the scale every now and then wouldn't be such a bad thing. Because life cant be measured according to a number on a scale...
June 21, 2015
Why Goodreads Giveaways are a Win Win
My first Goodread's Giveaway has ended, the books to winners are off in the mail! I had not expected getting the books out to feel so, well, personal.
I wondered who the ten women were who would soon receive my book, and what they were like. Seven live in the States, one in Canada, and two in Great Britain.
Actually, I thought, what an interesting premise for a novel that might be -- a story revolving around the lives of ten different women receiving the same book in different parts of the world. Hmmm... Filing that for a future story!
At any rate, I am now a huge fan of the giveaways. Here's why: it really is a "win win" for both authors and readers.
When I put the print version of my book, Keeper of the Scale, up for a giveaway I was guessing maybe a couple hundred people would sign up. Instead, some 891 requested it, which caused me to really take notice of how important the giveaways are, to both authors and readers.
Through the giveaways readers are able to discover new authors, and authors are able to connect directly with readers.
Indie authors rely heavily on reader reviews and ratings to help get the word out about their books. We don't have publishers, marketing teams, or publicists behind us: but what we do have is readers. And Goodreads!
In these incredibly fast changing times in publishing, the reviews that matter most nowadays come not only from book critics, but from readers.
Now, more than ever, it is readers who play a crucial role in spreading the word about their latest discoveries. And what better place to do so than on a site dedicated to books, readers and writers.
I plan to do another giveaway in the future. In the meanwhile, summer is the perfect time to catch up on some reading. And I hope to, one day, hear back from one of my giveaway winners and learn what the contest, and aftermath, was like from a reader's perspective.
Because without readers, a writer's job is meaningless...
I wondered who the ten women were who would soon receive my book, and what they were like. Seven live in the States, one in Canada, and two in Great Britain.
Actually, I thought, what an interesting premise for a novel that might be -- a story revolving around the lives of ten different women receiving the same book in different parts of the world. Hmmm... Filing that for a future story!
At any rate, I am now a huge fan of the giveaways. Here's why: it really is a "win win" for both authors and readers.
When I put the print version of my book, Keeper of the Scale, up for a giveaway I was guessing maybe a couple hundred people would sign up. Instead, some 891 requested it, which caused me to really take notice of how important the giveaways are, to both authors and readers.
Through the giveaways readers are able to discover new authors, and authors are able to connect directly with readers.
Indie authors rely heavily on reader reviews and ratings to help get the word out about their books. We don't have publishers, marketing teams, or publicists behind us: but what we do have is readers. And Goodreads!
In these incredibly fast changing times in publishing, the reviews that matter most nowadays come not only from book critics, but from readers.
Now, more than ever, it is readers who play a crucial role in spreading the word about their latest discoveries. And what better place to do so than on a site dedicated to books, readers and writers.
I plan to do another giveaway in the future. In the meanwhile, summer is the perfect time to catch up on some reading. And I hope to, one day, hear back from one of my giveaway winners and learn what the contest, and aftermath, was like from a reader's perspective.
Because without readers, a writer's job is meaningless...
May 4, 2015
Why We Need More Books and Advocacy On Behalf of Male Caregivers
*With special guest author and veteran journalist, Woody Weingarten
When a woman is diagnosed with a serious illness she typically receives an outpouring of support from family and friends. Yet, what sometimes slips through the cracks is her male partner’s concurrent need for assurance in his new role as her primary caregiver.
Being suddenly thrust into the position of caregiver, and expected to be a pillar of strength, can be a frightening experience for many men. To help ease that fear, veteran journalist Woody Weingarten has written an important book titled Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner’s breast cancer.
According to Weingarten, there have been just over a dozen other books by and about male caregivers in the past 15 years, many of which are out of date. And he should know. Learning to survive being a man on the “rollercoaster ride” of caring for a loved one is exactly the type of book that Weingarten could have used himself: he lost his first wife to breast cancer and is a survivor of his second wife Nancy Fox’s battle with breast cancer.
"Rollercoaster” is described by Weingarten as a memoir-chronicle, a love story, and an up-to-the-minute guide to research, meds, and where to get help. It tracks his bumpy yet ultimately uplifting journey from the depths of his wife’s diagnosis to the heights of their climbing the Great Wall of China together.
The American Cancer Society notes that 13 percent of American women (one in every eight) will get breast cancer at some point, with three-quarters of them having no risk factors except that they are female.
“Almost 250,000 new breast cancer cases are diagnosed annually. Male caregivers (husbands, boyfriends, fathers, sons and brothers) typically become a forgotten part of the equation. Yet they, too, need support,” reported Weingarten, a prize-winning journalist of 50 years who has led a male partners caregiving group for two decades.
Although the book's focus is on breast cancer, any caregivers, particularly those who are there for patients with AIDs, Alzheimers or, indeed, any life-threatening or altering disease, would benefit from it.
Weingarten is the group facilitator of Marin Man to Man, a drop-in, dues-free support group open to any male whose partner has, or has had, breast cancer or another illness. The group also welcomes any man who has had breast cancer. (Marin Man to Man currently has one male breast cancer survivor who attends regularly). The group marked its 20th year back in 2013 and meets weekly in a restaurant in Northern California.
“I joined Marin Man to Man shortly after my wife was diagnosed with cancer. I became its ‘point man’ a short time later, at the request of the founder, when he moved out of state. Subsequently, I was officially elected chair,” recalled Weingarten.
The response to Weingarten’s book has been incredibly positive — by caregivers, patients, medical personnel, and book-sellers. “I’d love to have every hospital and library in the country buy one, and have oncologists and radiologists make it available in their offices,” he added.
About Woody Weingarten
Many years ago, as a young journalist and publicist working in San Francisco, I was fortunate to have had Woody Weingarten as an editor and mentor. He has won numerous writing awards and, in collaboration with his wife (now free of breast cancer for 20 years) he’s completed an original musical revue, “Touching Up the Gray,” for which the couple is currently seeking a producer. He has published both weekly and monthly newspapers and written a national column for “Audio” magazine.
A graduate of Colgate University, he has also owned a public relations/ad agency, directed a congressional primary campaign, served as media liaison for a psychiatric hospital, managed an advertising publication, and worked as a legislative aide. The father of two and grandfather of three, he’s lived in San Anselmo, California, for 28 years.
To find out more about Rollercoaster, visit the following sites:
Weingarten’s web page: http://www.vitalitypress.com/
The book on Amazon:
http://goo.gl/c3GDzA
Weingarten’s Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...
A 90-second KCBS radio interview about the book: http://goo.gl/xH1Mwf
A 30-minute live podcast about the book: http://goo.gl/cnQm2a
When a woman is diagnosed with a serious illness she typically receives an outpouring of support from family and friends. Yet, what sometimes slips through the cracks is her male partner’s concurrent need for assurance in his new role as her primary caregiver.
Being suddenly thrust into the position of caregiver, and expected to be a pillar of strength, can be a frightening experience for many men. To help ease that fear, veteran journalist Woody Weingarten has written an important book titled Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner’s breast cancer.
According to Weingarten, there have been just over a dozen other books by and about male caregivers in the past 15 years, many of which are out of date. And he should know. Learning to survive being a man on the “rollercoaster ride” of caring for a loved one is exactly the type of book that Weingarten could have used himself: he lost his first wife to breast cancer and is a survivor of his second wife Nancy Fox’s battle with breast cancer.
"Rollercoaster” is described by Weingarten as a memoir-chronicle, a love story, and an up-to-the-minute guide to research, meds, and where to get help. It tracks his bumpy yet ultimately uplifting journey from the depths of his wife’s diagnosis to the heights of their climbing the Great Wall of China together.
The American Cancer Society notes that 13 percent of American women (one in every eight) will get breast cancer at some point, with three-quarters of them having no risk factors except that they are female.
“Almost 250,000 new breast cancer cases are diagnosed annually. Male caregivers (husbands, boyfriends, fathers, sons and brothers) typically become a forgotten part of the equation. Yet they, too, need support,” reported Weingarten, a prize-winning journalist of 50 years who has led a male partners caregiving group for two decades.
Although the book's focus is on breast cancer, any caregivers, particularly those who are there for patients with AIDs, Alzheimers or, indeed, any life-threatening or altering disease, would benefit from it.
Weingarten is the group facilitator of Marin Man to Man, a drop-in, dues-free support group open to any male whose partner has, or has had, breast cancer or another illness. The group also welcomes any man who has had breast cancer. (Marin Man to Man currently has one male breast cancer survivor who attends regularly). The group marked its 20th year back in 2013 and meets weekly in a restaurant in Northern California.
“I joined Marin Man to Man shortly after my wife was diagnosed with cancer. I became its ‘point man’ a short time later, at the request of the founder, when he moved out of state. Subsequently, I was officially elected chair,” recalled Weingarten.
The response to Weingarten’s book has been incredibly positive — by caregivers, patients, medical personnel, and book-sellers. “I’d love to have every hospital and library in the country buy one, and have oncologists and radiologists make it available in their offices,” he added.
About Woody WeingartenMany years ago, as a young journalist and publicist working in San Francisco, I was fortunate to have had Woody Weingarten as an editor and mentor. He has won numerous writing awards and, in collaboration with his wife (now free of breast cancer for 20 years) he’s completed an original musical revue, “Touching Up the Gray,” for which the couple is currently seeking a producer. He has published both weekly and monthly newspapers and written a national column for “Audio” magazine.
A graduate of Colgate University, he has also owned a public relations/ad agency, directed a congressional primary campaign, served as media liaison for a psychiatric hospital, managed an advertising publication, and worked as a legislative aide. The father of two and grandfather of three, he’s lived in San Anselmo, California, for 28 years.
To find out more about Rollercoaster, visit the following sites:
Weingarten’s web page: http://www.vitalitypress.com/
The book on Amazon:
http://goo.gl/c3GDzA
Weingarten’s Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...
A 90-second KCBS radio interview about the book: http://goo.gl/xH1Mwf
A 30-minute live podcast about the book: http://goo.gl/cnQm2a
November 13, 2014
Why I Decided to Publish a "Real" Book
I'm so excited to announce that I have just released the print version of Keeper of the Scale as a trade paperback. It is now available on Amazon as both an e-book and a print-on-demand paperback, and on Barnes and Noble as a print-on-demand paperback. It is also available through numerous online bookstores.
Why did I decide to take the plunge and publish a "real" book?
I had been thinking of doing it for some time, and recently was asked to speak at a local book fair on a panel with other first time women novelists. Knowing I would need a physical book for that event gave me a firm deadline.
The event was a wonderful experience, and following that I was asked to appear on a local TV show, again to speak about my experience as an Indie author. So, I was thrilled to have a "real" book to show at the taping.
In the end, though, I think that the main thing is to get people reading, on whatever form they prefer. Some prefer to hold a book in their hands, others love the convenience of reading on a device. How lucky we are to live in such changing times in publishing where both are possible! Hurray for reading!
Please check out my paperback version at the links below.
And stay tuned for my next blog post on authors Jennifer Weiner and Anne Patchett, both of whom I had the pleasure of hearing speak recently.
Also, November is national novel writing month, so remember, if you are an aspiring author, now's a great time to get started!
http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Scale-Di...
http://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/keeper-...
Why did I decide to take the plunge and publish a "real" book?
I had been thinking of doing it for some time, and recently was asked to speak at a local book fair on a panel with other first time women novelists. Knowing I would need a physical book for that event gave me a firm deadline.
The event was a wonderful experience, and following that I was asked to appear on a local TV show, again to speak about my experience as an Indie author. So, I was thrilled to have a "real" book to show at the taping.
In the end, though, I think that the main thing is to get people reading, on whatever form they prefer. Some prefer to hold a book in their hands, others love the convenience of reading on a device. How lucky we are to live in such changing times in publishing where both are possible! Hurray for reading!
Please check out my paperback version at the links below.
And stay tuned for my next blog post on authors Jennifer Weiner and Anne Patchett, both of whom I had the pleasure of hearing speak recently.
Also, November is national novel writing month, so remember, if you are an aspiring author, now's a great time to get started!
http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Scale-Di...http://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/keeper-...
