I’d be a fool not to have the fear niggling in the back of my mind despite all the reassurances about the odds.
Sunrise at Sugar Hill
Atypical cells are not cancer. Not yet, maybe never. I could get run over by a bus and not have to worry at all. I have to laugh at myself. I had a dear friend who required a double mastectomy and kept her good spirits and joy of life through the whole process. She’s a sweet woman who is a survivor. How can I obsess over my own problem? I guess because they are mine.
My lumpectomy is scheduled for next Tuesday and I will be so glad to have it over. I am anxious. This date was the next available when I called and I thought two weeks was a hellishly long time to wait.
I had to have a physical by my doctor and my cardiologist and the breast surgeon. If it’s not a big deal why do I need all this extra fuss? I needed more blood-work and to stop taking any herbals, aspirin, etc two weeks before the date. Cut that one close.
Christmas Creche
On top of that, my new book, Journey of the Magi, A Christmas romance, is being released on Monday. I’ve been scurrying around scheduling blog visits, planning tweets and posts for Facebook and trying to work on my next book.
I feel like I’m on a roller coaster. Up one minute, down the next.
The breast surgeon has a wonderful bedside manner. I had a list of questions and she sat down and answered them all before I could ask. I guess everyone has the same worries. She did add that the chance of my atypical cells being cancer is one in one hundred. I breathed a big sigh of relief. Then my very active brain injected that I buy a lottery ticket with odds worse than that and expect to win. Geez.
So I going to admit that I am worried and afraid. There. I said it. I don’t have to put on a happy face to share this with you. Every woman knows what I feel. And offers support. I do thank all of my friends, those who commented and my family. Without you and what you’ve shared, I would be a wreck. The prayers have wrapped me in comfort. Thanks
Greetings and a huge THANK YOU to my dear friend Barbara Edwards for hosting me!! Yay! I’m so excited to be here to celebrate the release of my latest contemporary romance, She’s Got Dibs! Whoo Hoo!
I know you’ve all probably heard comments like this before, but this story holds a special place in my heart. Yeah, yeah, you’re saying, every author gets all gushy whenever one of their stories get published. *yawn* Been there, done that. But I do have a specific reason for my fixation. From concept to publication, She’s Got Dibs took five loooong years to complete. Yep. Think about that for a second. That’s longer than high school, people. Longer than college…longer than it took me to birth two kids. No surprise having this story finally appear on the web, not to mention being able to hold a copy in my hands, has me left me giddier than my ten year old daughter at an arts and crafts fair.
I’m not going to bore you with the gory details of this story’s path to publication. Suffice to say when I first sent it to a publisher, thankfully the manuscript landed in the hands of an editor who saw the potential in my prose despite the run-on sentences, my obsessive use of “as” phrasing and my pervading tendency to over-explain everything. I mention these five years because, for me, to now see She’s Got Dibs garner some attention has been…epic. And quite honestly a huge relief. Thank goodness I can say all those years in rewrites and production were worth it—something no author knows for certain until those first reviews come in.
But something else has also happened. Something I didn’t really expect.
It’s my hero, Dibs. As an author of romance, it’s pretty standard I always try to craft a hero that is swoon-worthy. I mean, this comes with the territory, right? We write (or try to write) men whom women love to fall in love with. But this attention Dibs has been getting has really sorta left me scratching my head. Don’t get me wrong. It’s wonderful to receive reviews that say “Dibs is my favorite hero of all time!” or “I call dibs on Dibs!”, but there’s one piece of this puzzle I haven’t admitted yet.
The entire story—from start to finish—is written in the heroine’s POV. (O.O) I’m not kidding. At no time during the story is the reader in Dibs’s head.
If you’re anything like me, right about now you’re asking yourself, “Wait…how’s that work?” How could so many reviewers comment on how great Dibs is…admit they’ve fallen in love with him…without ever getting a single thought from his character?
Truth is, I’m not entirely sure. What I do know is that from the onset of She’s Got Dibs, I knew it would be paramount to make sure the reader clearly “saw” Dibs through Tessa’s eyes—because she, alone, tells the story. During every scene, I had to be certain whatever Dibs was thinking or feeling was shown to the reader…so they would be left no doubts about what was going on internally with him. Apparently, whatever I did worked. I just ever anticipated it would work that well. I mean, geesh, the guy has his own little fan club. Sorta makes me jealous. 🙂
Regardless, this hub-bub surrounding my hero has been a wonderful bonus in seeing this story come to life. One I would love to share with one commenter by offering to give away a copy of She’s Got Dibs!
If you’d like to see what everyone is talking about, just leave me a comment and Dibs is yours!
Thank you, Barbara for hosting me!
She’s got Dibs
Blurb:
True love does not exist…or so event planner Tessa Adams learns the day she gets jilted—twenty-four hours prior to walking down the aisle. One-night stands are much easier, and with sexy philanthropists like David Brenner, how can she resist? Now if she could just get rid of him. Had she known the biggest event of her career would be working for David’s father, she would have cut and run. Instead, she’s unwittingly become a part of his parents’ plan to destroy his life-long dreams. Will sacrificing her love protect him or be the ultimate betrayal?
Wealthy and gorgeous, David Brenner seemingly holds the world in the palm of his hand—his generous heart and infectious smile are just two in an endless stream of attractive qualities. But the one thing he wants, he can’t have—a repeat of the passionate night he spent in the arms of a skittish Tessa Adams. His family’s far-reaching power threatens to crush their dreams. To prove his love, he would risk everything…but will the return of her ex-fiancé be their final undoing? Excerpt:
“Dibs.” He extended his hand. Frowning, she accepted his greeting. “Dibs on what” “No.” He chuckled. “That’s my name. Or well, actually, my nickname. Either way, it’s what everyone calls me.” “O-o-okay…” The guy definitely had the smolder covered…and those incredible ice-blue eyes. Yikes! “And you are?” “Oh, Tessa Adams.” She laughed. “And everyone calls you…?” Her frown returned. “Tessa.” “Oh.” He scanned her face. “No nickname, huh?” “Not that I recall at the moment.” He pressed his full lips together as if restraining a smile, eyes twinkling with merriment, and handed her the notepad. “Here’s your confirmation number. The room’s at the Waldorf Towers over on Park.” Two suites at the Waldorf? In this mess? What was he, a wizard? “Wow, great. Thanks so much for the help.” “Glad to be of service.” He retrieved his briefcase and started down the corridor, abruptly stopped, and peered at her over the perfect slant of his shoulder. “And don’t worry, Tessa, I’ll think of a good nickname for you.” She offered him a blank stare. “Hey, knock yourself out.” Mischief danced along his lips before a grin broke free and he continued down the hallway. “What a whack job,” she muttered.
Author links, webpages, fan pages, and book trailers.
She’s Got Dibs, won 1st Place in the Contemporary Category, Heartland Romance Authors, Show Me the Spark! Contest, 2010.
We’re going to Alaska. My husband and I love to travel and have talked about traveling to Alaska several times. Last year when he had his stent put in was another reason to postpone it. Then the price of fuel went through the ceiling. Then I have my health issues. Yikes.
Fifth wheel camper
We are making plans anyway. Dreaming about the trip of a lifetime has become planning the trip.
Since fuel costs so much, we’ll consolidate. Our fifth wheel is 30 feet long and we get 12 miles to the gallon hauling it. A lot more than other campers but still a too much for thousands of miles. So we decided the best option is a truck camper. I figured it’s one of those think about, plan for it, take your time and maybe, kind of discussions.
Instead, my husband said we’re going to look at a truck camper. The camper was parked in the owner’s barn. Dust and spider webs showed it had really been five years since it was moved. I opened the door and noticed his wife had strewn the inside with dryer sheets. Aha, someone cares. For those of you who don’t know, dryer sheets keep away the creepy-crawlies like mice and bugs.
The camper isn’t brand-new, but that’s an advantage. Everything works, the furnace, the hot water heater, the stove and the tiny shower. We discussed price and when my husband mentioned we’d need to install an air conditioner, the seller dropped the price that amount. To my shock, my husband bought it on the spot.
To get it home we had to install the right tie-down brackets on the undersides of our truck. We ordered them online and my handy hubby put them on himself.
Then we brought our newest toy home. Our parking place isn’t small, but a truck camper and the fifth wheel take up a big space, so the fifth wheel is in storage until we need it for the regular winter jaunt.
We plan to drive cross-country then take the Alaskan Marine Highway North. Early next spring is our goal. If i sound calm and serene, just listen fro my whoops of excitement echoing on the cyber space air!
Visit my website for a look at my new cover, Journey of the Magi, a September release on Kindle.
After ten days of waiting to see the breast surgeon, I am going to be scheduled for a procedure called left breast needle localized lumpectomy. Sounds pretty official to me. And I’m still anxious.
Since I had the biopsy results I have been worried. Let’s be honest. I listened to all the advice and welcomed the support and prayers. I am still frightened. The doctor is reassuring. Only one procedure in 100 finds cancer. I was relieved for about five minutes, and then my imagination went ‘what if.’
I researched the subject of atypical ductal cells on the web. If there’s something an author is good at its research. I printed out copies since I needed to reread the information several times to understand the terminology.
What did I learn? The atypical ductal cells indicate a possibility of cancer developing. Standard treatment? Do an excision to remove the abnormal cells and test them for cancer.
If they don’t remove all the atypical cells with this lumpectomy or if the tests indicate cancer, then it’s more surgery. One of the commenters on my blog described having this procedure and its success.
I will need anesthesia and be unconscious for the procedure, but it is outpatient. I proceed to radiology where they do a mammogram to find the marker they left after the biopsy in the first step. The area is numbed. Then they insert a needle/wire to pinpoint the spot exactly. I am taken to surgery and they excise an area about the size of a quarter. They take that tissue to the lab to test it. Three days later, yep you heard me, THREE DAYS LATER, they report if its cancer.
And I thought this was a horrendous wait.
Okay, more waiting. I’m waiting for the scheduling nurse to call me with the date. I have to have a pre-op physical with my doctor and possibly with my cardiologist to say I’m fit for surgery.
Journey of the Magi cover
I’m putting my foot down. I need to get back to my writing. No more drifting on the possibility of this or that. This has distracted me from the excitement of my new cover, the release date on September 2 and the new contract for my third paranormal.
I have an appointment with a breast surgeon. That is so scary. Not every day, in fact not a majority of the time. The fear sneaks up on me in my dreams. Or when I’m tired and trying to rest. My brain says to wait for the appointment, but my heart says it’s too long to wait.
I called my sons to give them a head’s up on what is happening.
Did I tell you how wonderful they are?
For the life of me I can’t remember exactly what they said. Not comfort exactly. Just calm, quiet good sense to give me a hand to hold. One got off the phone and immediately researched atypical cells on the web. He called me back and gave me a lecture on what he found, advising me to look it up myself. Which I did.
What is atypical ductal hyperplasia? After reading several sites, I’m still unsure. Does it need surgery? Depends who you ask. Is it cancer or will it become cancer? Well, that depends, too.
I have lots of questions for the surgeon.
The advice seems to imply an excision (surgical cut) of the area surrounding the calcified tissue removed during the biopsy or lumpectomy is needed. The statistics show a small number of the excised tissue samples result in further surgery. The big but is not knowing until the surgery what will be removed.
A lump? A breast?
I thought about that too. Would I mind if I had a breast removed? I don’t think so. I have a thousand reasons to live. My breasts did their work- they provided milk for my babies and made my clothes fit nicely.
I guess I’m mature enough to continue to enjoy life with one removed. Only I truly hope it doesn’t come to that. I need to pray more. For peace and serenity with whatever happens. And I want to be able to focus on my writing, again.
Seven days and counting until I meet the surgeon.
My son is updating my website, so I’d like to have you check it out.
Why write romance? is a great topic. Please welcome my guest author Juli D. Revezzo
Guest author Juli D. Revezzo
Why write about love? It’s the age-old motivation. Love of family, love of friends, love of freedom. Love of lovers. Besides that, it brings a little levity into the profound heroic tales I’d grown up adoring, the Arthurian Tales, the tales of knights facing down the enemy of the little guy, of rescuing the princess from the dragon. Stories of men and women with heroic qualities we ourselves aspire to make for good storytelling. To quote Bob Marley (or mis-quote him) it lights up the darkness. So it seemed natural when I sat down to write Passion’s Sacred Dance, my debut paranormal romance novel for The Wild Rose Press, that I mix the two fascinations.
Love worked into the heroic tales. Lancelot betrayed his king for love of the queen, Tristan and Isolde died for it. These are stories that have stayed with us from the moment they were spoken by traveling minstrels in the fire-lit halls of the Middle Ages. It’s a part of life. We live by love, and some would say for love. What could I do but add a little bit into the stories I write? My lifelong love of heroic tales, of the Celts, tied up in knots in my mind with the current Urban Fantasies and paranormal romances I was reading and out walked a woman in a business suit, with a sword-wielding knight in jeans behind her. “Do we have a romantic story for you!”
Would you like to know how my heroic romance turned out? Here’s a little taste of Passion’s Sacred Dance.
Battling mounting debt, Stacy Macken is determined not to lose her historic art gallery. When Aaron Fielding appears and offers to help, she fights to keep the attraction sizzling between them from clouding her judgment. He may be her savior in disguise–but can she trust him?
Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help–even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.
If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years.
Passion’s Sacred Dance
Stacy and Aaron’s budding love might only complicate things.
Excerpt:
Can you love a man without knowing who or what he is? Can there be love without trust? She wondered.
Been there, done that. Don’t want to do it again.
Good looks, bad temper. She had scars on her body to prove some handsome men couldn’t be trusted. She mentally shook her head to erase the memories flooding back and yet absently scrubbed her left foot against the old wound marring her right calf. “I’ve had some restless nights lately,” she said.
“I understand. Been there myself.” He tapped his temple. “Battles tend to stick, now and then.”
“Yeah. You should see some of the ones I’ve seen.”
Aaron’s brow rose.
She sniffed, but didn’t say more. “Are you ready to explain what that was about, yesterday?”
“I’m not sure to what you’re referring.”
How to put this? “The discussion you had with the lawyer?”
“Actually,” he said, “I rather hoped we could forget that nonsense ever happened.”
“Like I wish I could forget Janeus and Miller are offering for my place.” She waved a hand around the room. “I’m sorry for yelling at you, yesterday. Can you forgive me?”
“Forgive you for what?” Aaron wrapped his empty arm around her shoulders.
She suddenly couldn’t breathe steadily or remember where they were. She blinked and licked her lips, hoping for a kiss. Someone cleared a throat and Aaron pulled away. Stacy glanced at the student watching them.
“Come on,” Aaron said and tugged her toward the stairs. Did she see the student smile?
“Let’s see what your archivist might’ve found,” he urged.
Downstairs, Stacy chose a reading table and set her purse down. She cocked her head, reading the title of Aaron’s book as he set it beside her purse.
“Self-Mastery?” she read. “Don’t you know all about that?”
“It’s an ongoing struggle, no matter how advanced you are.”
“No matter how old?” she teased.
“Or how youthful.” He spun the book so she could get a better look. “Would you like to read it?”
Would you like to read more? If so, Passion’s Sacred Dance is available now at Amazon and coming soon to The Wild Rose Press store and other retailers.
I hope you’ll check it out and enjoy the story I had to tell. Thank you, Barbara, for letting me come talk about the tales I love!
About the Author:
Juli D. Revezzo is a Florida girl, with a love of fantasy, science fiction, and Arthurian legend, so much so she gained a B.A. in English and American Literature. She loves writing stories with fantastical elements whether it be a full-on fantasy, or a story set in this world-slightly askew. She is an author of paranormal fantasy, and has been published in short form in Eternal Haunted Summer, Dark Things II: Cat Crimes (a charity anthology for cat related charities), Luna Station Quarterly, The Scribing Ibis: An Anthology of Pagan Fiction in Honor of Thoth, and Twisted Dreams Magazine. She recently released her debut paranormal romance novel, Passion’s Sacred Dance.
She is a member of the Independent Author Network and the Magic Appreciation Tour. Come learn more about her at http://julidrevezzo.com
I have a guest today talking about writing romance. Please welcome Juli D. Revezzo
Guest author Juli D. Revezzo
Why write about love? It’s the age-old motivation. Love of family, love of friends, love of freedom. Love of lovers. Besides that, it brings a little levity into the profound heroic tales I’d grown up adoring, the Arthurian Tales, the tales of knights facing down the enemy of the little guy, of rescuing the princess from the dragon. Stories of men and women with heroic qualities we ourselves aspire to make for good storytelling. To quote Bob Marley (or mis-quote him) it lights up the darkness. So it seemed natural when I sat down to write Passion’s Sacred Dance, my debut paranormal romance novel for The Wild Rose Press, that I mix the two fascinations.
Love worked into the heroic tales. Lancelot betrayed his king for love of the queen, Tristan and Isolde died for it. These are stories that have stayed with us from the moment they were spoken by traveling minstrels in the fire-lit halls of the Middle Ages. It’s a part of life. We live by love, and some would say for love. What could I do but add a little bit into the stories I write? My lifelong love of heroic tales, of the Celts, tied up in knots in my mind with the current Urban Fantasies and paranormal romances I was reading and out walked a woman in a business suit, with a sword-wielding knight in jeans behind her. “Do we have a romantic story for you!”
Would you like to know how my heroic romance turned out? Here’s a little taste of Passion’s Sacred Dance.
Battling mounting debt, Stacy Macken is determined not to lose her historic art gallery. When Aaron Fielding appears and offers to help, she fights to keep the attraction sizzling between them from clouding her judgment. He may be her savior in disguise–but can she trust him?
Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help–even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.
If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years. Stacy and Aaron’s budding love might only complicate things.
Passion’s Sacred Dance
Excerpt:
Can you love a man without knowing who or what he is? Can there be love without trust? She wondered.
Been there, done that. Don’t want to do it again.
Good looks, bad temper. She had scars on her body to prove some handsome men couldn’t be trusted. She mentally shook her head to erase the memories flooding back and yet absently scrubbed her left foot against the old wound marring her right calf. “I’ve had some restless nights lately,” she said.
“I understand. Been there myself.” He tapped his temple. “Battles tend to stick, now and then.”
“Yeah. You should see some of the ones I’ve seen.”
Aaron’s brow rose.
She sniffed, but didn’t say more. “Are you ready to explain what that was about, yesterday?”
“I’m not sure to what you’re referring.”
How to put this? “The discussion you had with the lawyer?”
“Actually,” he said, “I rather hoped we could forget that nonsense ever happened.”
“Like I wish I could forget Janeus and Miller are offering for my place.” She waved a hand around the room. “I’m sorry for yelling at you, yesterday. Can you forgive me?”
“Forgive you for what?” Aaron wrapped his empty arm around her shoulders.
She suddenly couldn’t breathe steadily or remember where they were. She blinked and licked her lips, hoping for a kiss. Someone cleared a throat and Aaron pulled away. Stacy glanced at the student watching them.
“Come on,” Aaron said and tugged her toward the stairs. Did she see the student smile?
“Let’s see what your archivist might’ve found,” he urged.
Downstairs, Stacy chose a reading table and set her purse down. She cocked her head, reading the title of Aaron’s book as he set it beside her purse.
“Self-Mastery?” she read. “Don’t you know all about that?”
“It’s an ongoing struggle, no matter how advanced you are.”
“No matter how old?” she teased.
“Or how youthful.” He spun the book so she could get a better look. “Would you like to read it?”
Would you like to read more? If so, Passion’s Sacred Dance is available now at Amazon and coming soon to The Wild Rose Press store and other retailers.
I hope you’ll check it out and enjoy the story I had to tell. Thank you, Barbara, for letting me come talk about the tales I love!
About the Author:
Juli D. Revezzo is a Florida girl, with a love of fantasy, science fiction, and Arthurian legend, so much so she gained a B.A. in English and American Literature. She loves writing stories with fantastical elements whether it be a full-on fantasy, or a story set in this world-slightly askew. She is an author of paranormal fantasy, and has been published in short form in Eternal Haunted Summer, Dark Things II: Cat Crimes (a charity anthology for cat related charities), Luna Station Quarterly, The Scribing Ibis: An Anthology of Pagan Fiction in Honor of Thoth, and Twisted Dreams Magazine. She recently released her debut paranormal romance novel, Passion’s Sacred Dance.
She is a member of the Independent Author Network and the Magic Appreciation Tour. Come learn more about her at http://julidrevezzo.com
Barbara Edwards Comments 