I have found over the years that no group with which I am affiliated comes to the aid of their own more quickly or completely than the members of the Romance community. Whether it be illness, death, natural disaster or any of a number of other issues, this group of caring, involved individuals stands ready to step forward, offering aid and comfort to those affected. Today, we once again extend our assistance to one of our own, a courageous and determined woman who is fighting what likely will be one of the most important battles of her life. We here at The Romance Dish offer our thanks to the authors and others behind this book blitz tour and the LAST HERO STANDING box set and our best wishes to Pamela Clare on the journey to what we pray will be her own personal happy - healthy - ever after. In addition to the tour giveaway of a $100 gift card to the winner's online book retailer of choice (Rafflecopter entry at the end of this post), the Dishes are giving away an e-book copy of the LAST HERO STANDING box set to five randomly chosen people who leave a comment on this post before 11:00 pm EST, October 30, 2014.
~PJ
Authors donate to anthology
to raise money for colleague
stricken with breast cancer
Eleven
authors have donated their work to a box set of novellas to raise money for the
medical expenses of a colleague stricken with breast cancer. The LAST HERO
STANDING box set, which is set to release on Oct. 28, features 11 novels and
novellas for only 99 cents, including a bonus short story from New York Times bestseller Dianna
Love. All
the proceeds from sales of the box set will go toward the medical expenses of USA Today bestselling author Pamela
Clare, who
was diagnosed with breast cancer this past April and has been unable to work
since then. Please read Pamela's story, in her own words, as shared October 9, 2014 at USA Today's Happy Ever After Blog.
At each stop on the LAST HERO STANDING Book Blitz Tour, one of the contributing authors will be spotlighted. Today, we shine our spotlight on Joan Swan.
Recently, she left her day job as a sonographer at UCSF Medical Center after 22 years in the field to write full time. The muse must have been paying attention, because shortly after, she hit the New York Times Bestsellers list under my name and again a month later under her psuedonym, Skye Jordan. If you like red-hot contemporary romance, check out her alter ego.
This year will mark her twenty-forth wedding anniversary to her own personal hero, a veteran firefighter. They have two beautiful daughters and live in the heart of wine country on the gorgeous Central Coast of California.
Connect with Joan online: Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads
In need of fast cash to help her brother sneak into the US, Tova Sorenson takes a job as a sexcam operator, sparking an unlikely friendship with her very first customer. When Marcus Lucero's border patrol teammate suggests a sexcam site for female companionship without heartache, Marcus figures he's got nothing to lose.
While danger from Tova's dark side brings them together in the flesh where their chemistry burns hotter than hell, it also exposes their divergent loyalties which could end not only their desires, but their lives.
In need of fast cash to help her brother sneak into the US, Tova Sorenson takes a job as a sexcam operator, sparking an unlikely friendship with her very first customer. When Marcus Lucero's border patrol teammate suggests a sexcam site for female companionship without heartache, Marcus figures he's got nothing to lose.
While danger from Tova's dark side brings them together in the flesh where their chemistry burns hotter than hell, it also exposes their divergent loyalties which could end not only their desires, but their lives.
Joan, how has
cancer touched you personally?
Cancer
touches everyone somehow—we’ve had it ourselves, we’ve lost a loved one to it
or we know someone who’s had it,
My
experience is a little different. As a sonographer for over 20 years, I’ve met
and scanned thousands of people struggling with cancer. I’ve been the
discoverer of cancer and the bearer of bad news. Repeat scans of those fighting
cancer have put me the unique position of following patients through their
fight from discovery to cure and discovery to death.
In this
way I’ve had unique view of how cancer affects bodies, minds, hearts, careers,
families, and finances.
Why did you
participate in the LAST HERO STANDING fundraiser for fellow author Pamela
Clare?
As a
member of the medical community for decades, I’ve seen how medical costs can
devastate not only a family, but a city, a state, and a country. I know the red
tape involved in dealing with insurance companies and medical facilities.
When
someone is battling cancer, they need all their strength to fight the
disease...and sometimes even fight the cure. Financial worries only drain a
person of the strength to heal.
LAST HERO STANDING BOX SET
Enjoy 11 emotional stories - 2000 pages filled
with all types of heroes from small town to international action-adventure who
earn and protect those they love. Over 360 reviews with a 4.5 star rating!!!
PLEASE NOTE: This box set will be available for
ONE MONTH ONLY, and all proceeds go directly to the medical fund for box set
author Pamela Clare, who is in the midst of her own battle with breast cancer.
Everyone who touched this project donated their time and stories. Please help
us help her by treating yourself and your friends to a box set full of great
stories!
Purchase Links:
Amazon Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/nssnfpc
Barnes & Noble Nook: http://tinyurl.com/pfxb6mb
Apple iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/muooxwm
KISS THE ENEMY, a
Slye Temp novel
"It seems
with each book, this series gets better..."
FIRST TASTE OF
DARKNESS, a novella
“Plenty of
passion to fan yourself but also enough love...to make you swoon.” –So Many
Reads
FIRST EXPOSURE,
an Aegis Security prequel novella
“This series is
off to an explosive start.”
SINFUL DECEPTION,
a Renegades novel
"Another
fast-paced, action-packed, sexy Covert Affairs story!"
TAKEN BY THE
ALPHA WOLF, a novella
"Highly
recommend to anyone who likes steamy, sexy novels."
FIRST STRIKE, an
I-Team novella
“If you’re a fan
of romantic suspense, you must read Pamela Clare!”
INVISIBLE FEARS,
an Invisible Recruits novel
“The powerful
descriptive ability this author displays raises the bar for Urban
Fantasy!”
THE EVASION, a
Justifiable Cause Novella
"Adrienne
Giordano delivers everything romantic suspense readers want…"
NIGHTFALL, A
Vampire Romance Novel
"...an edge
of your seat series."
ICE, an Alaska
Heat novel
“ICE delivers
pulse-pounding chills and hot romance!”
LATYMER, a Nexus
novella
"Powerful…and
gripping."
This Rafflecopter giveaway is open internationally.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have you read Pamela Clare's books? Tell us about your favorite.
What lifts your spirits when you're going through a challenging time?
How do you lift the spirits of others who are facing difficulties?
Would you like to leave a message of encouragement for Pamela? Please do so in the comments.
Five randomly chosen people leaving comments will each receive a Kindle copy of the LAST HERO STANDING box set. (Open internationally)
BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE
| 10/26/2014 | TBQ's Book Palace | www.tbqsbookpalace.com |
| 10/26/2014 | Romancing Rakes For The Love of Romance | romancingrakes4theluvofromance.blogspot.com |
| 10/26/2014 | Just Contemporary Romance | www.JustContemporaryRomance.com |
| 10/26/2014 | The Book Review | www.cluereview.blogspot.com |
| 10/27/2014 | Books Make Me Happy | booksmakemehappyreviews.com |
| 10/27/2014 | The Romance Dish | theromancedish.com |
| 10/27/2014 | Bookin' It Reviews | www.bookinitreviews.com |
| 10/27/2014 | Adria's Romance Reviews | adriasromancereviews.blogspot.com |
| 10/28/2014 | Scorching Book Reviews | www.scorching-book-reviews.com |
| 10/28/2014 | The Smutty Kitty | www.thesmuttykitty.com |
| 10/28/2014 | BlithelyBookishReviews | www.blithelybookish.blogspot.com |
| 10/28/2014 | SOS Aloha | sosaloha.blogspot.com |
| 10/29/2014 | Romance at Random | www.RomanceatRandom.com |
| 10/29/2014 | Read-Love-Blog | www.Read-Love-Blog.com |
| 10/29/2014 | The Book Pushers | thebookpushers.com |
| 10/30/2014 | Kindles and Wine | kindlesandwine.com |
| 10/30/2014 | So Many Reads | www.somanyreads.com |
| 10/30/2014 | MsRomanticReads | msromanticreads.com |
| 10/30/2014 | Brooke Blogs | www.brookeblogs.com |
| 10/31/2014 | Romance Reviews Today Blog | romrevtoday.blogspot.com |
| 10/31/2014 | The Reading Frenzy | thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com |
| 10/31/2014 | Bea's Book Nook | beasbooknook.blogspot.com |
| 11/1/2014 | Book Happiness | www.facebook.com/bookhappiness |
| 11/1/2014 | Ramblings From This Chick | www.ramblingsfromthischick.com |
| 11/1/2014 | Smitten By Books | smittenbybooks.com/blog |
| 11/1/2014 | Eclectic Passions | eclecticpassionsbc.blogspot.com |
As a retired RN I can relate to your stories about working with patients who are fighting cancer. The hardest for me was when I was an RN at Milwaukee Children's Hospital. I saw the children with cancer. How unfair life is to these defenseless children.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Pamela Clare's books?
SURRENDER was my first book of hers. I loved Iain and his followers. I learned so much about the 1300's and the French and Indian War. I loved the whole trilogy UNTAMED and DEFIANT. I didn't know that Scotsmen were impressed into the British army and became Rangers. I love the movie BRAVEHEART so this fit into that time period.
What lifts your spirits when you're going through a challenging time?
The support of my family and friends. My faith in GOD and his plan for me.
How do you lift the spirits of others who are facing difficulties?
Unconditional support offering to babysit, do chores, make meals, listen or sit and talk to distract them while they are getting a chemo treatment.
Pamela keep a positive outlook even when you are feeling down and out.
Remember the people you know who have survived
Accept help from people who offer it
Don't be afraid to ask for help
I know several cancer survivors, many who beat the odds. Stay strong and believe!
Laurie, thank you for sharing your experiences and your wisdom with us today. I think your final sentence says it all. Stay strong and believe!
DeleteJust a side note, The French and Indian war took place from 1754 to 1763, not i during the 13oo's.
DeletePamela, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteI also know several cancer survivors. There is always hope.
I think Laura G nailed it regarding ways to offer support. And ask what THEY need or would like and just listen when they want to talk.
patoct
Thanks for stopping by, Patoct!
DeleteI have two people I know going through cancer right now and I give them my love and good vibes by calling them, writing nice letters and cards with words of encouragement. When I am down, nothing like a good book to help me get through the tough times.
ReplyDeletePamela all the good vibes coming through to you...
Good books have seen me through some very tough times as well, Kathleen. Sending prayers and positive energy for your friends who are fighting cancer.
DeleteMy prayers for healing and for strength and grace for the battle are with Pamela and her family.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite by Pamela Clare is Sweet Release, which I recently read. It is set in pre-Revolutionary Virginia and shows the ugly and the good side of life on plantations. And, we all know there is the good and the ugly in life. It often takes the best part of us to fight the ugly and the best part of us to remember the good. I wish Pamela strength in her battle with cancer and she has been in my thoughts and prayers. I've already pre-ordered Last Hero Standing in support.
ReplyDeleteI love stories set in that era. There aren't enough of them!
DeleteThanks for pre-ordering LAST HERO STANDING!
No, I haven't
ReplyDeleteFriends
Support them
Best wishes!
I wish Pamela the very best in battling this disease. The treatment options have come so far that I hope her doctors give her the all-clear sign very soon.
ReplyDeleteWe're all hoping for that, Kim.
DeleteI haven't had the pleasure of reading any of Pamela's work but would love to. I wish there was something I could say that could make it all better but what could I say that would make it all go away? However I do wish the love and support of your family help you get through this. You can do this, hang in there ;)
ReplyDeleteJoanna M
I hope you'll give her books a try, MsAwesome. She has some great stories!
DeleteI had the pleasure of meeting Pamela at RomCon in 2013. She is a most interesting person to talk with. She is an experienced and talented writer of both nonfiction and fiction, as a newspaper reporter. Her background and experiences have been reflected in some of the books she has written. She raised two wonderful sons on her own which is an accomplishment to be proud of.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite of her books is the Mackinnon Rangers series. It takes place in the area where i grew up. The area hasn't changed much in 250 years as far as names and geography are concerned. It was nice to be able to follow and know where events in the book were taking place.
I have several of her I-Team books, but have not yet read them. We lived in Colorado Springs, CO for 3 years, so again I am lucky enough to be familiar with the setting for some of these books. That adds so much to the understanding and enjoyment of the stories.
My husband had a serious bout with cancer. Encouragement and support were the best thing for him. So much depends on the outlook and personality of the person who has cancer. A positive attitude can make a big difference. My husband has reached out to other patients who are facing the type of surgery he had. Talking with them, letting them know what to expect, answering their questions, and more importantly, letting them see that you can live a normal life afterwards is very beneficial. I go along and talk with the families also. They have questions and sometimes what to know the perspective of the caregiver and family. Again, encouragement and understanding, not to mention patience are the best things you can offer them. Don't say you understand what they are going through unless you really have. If you haven't been there, you really don't know what they are experiencing.
I follow Pamela, and ordered this book set as soon as I heard about it. She is a special lady and deserves all the love and encouragement you can send her way. Get well soon, Pamela. Get your health, your spirit, and your muse back. With those, you will be whole.
Bless your husband, and you, for giving back to people who are facing the same challenges you've been through. You said, Don't say you understand what they are going through unless you really have. If you haven't been there, you really don't know what they are experiencing.
DeleteThis is so important! I think most people are trying to show empathy by saying this but you're right, unless they have walked the path, they can't possibly understand. When people said that to me after my husband died I wanted to tell them there was no way they could understand and I hoped that they never would. Of course, I didn't because I knew they were trying to help but it's so much better to say "I'm here for you" or something similar.
We can understand that a person is going through a difficult time, but not what it is like. I have had friends who have lost husbands and children. The heartbreak is more than I can even imagine. You are so right. Make sure they know you are there for them and include them socially so they don't isolate themselves. Everyone comes to terms with what happened differently and we need to be patient to let them heal and morn at their own pace. Don't give up. Keep reminding them you are there when they are ready. I am sorry to hear you lost your husband. I hope the good memories are helping to heal your heart.
DeleteThanks for participating in this event for Pamela.
What lifts my spirits? family and friends, music, reading a good romance novel, laughter, and most of all...prayers and reading the Bible.
ReplyDeleteWishing all of these things in Pamela's life! I will be praying for successful treatments for her.
Thanks, Cheryl!
DeleteThank you all for your support and concern! And thank you for your encouraging comments. The romance community, both authors and readers, is made up of incredible and generous women. I'm so very touched by your kindness.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you to The Romance Dish for hosting this!
As a nurse in 1980, I started my career working on an Oncology Unit. Remember, back then cancer was usually a death sentence and breast cancer was one of the worst. We have come soooo far in treatment. I can remember being heartbroken back then because we lost a young mom with 3 kids under age 5 and her husband asking me what was he going to do. All women who have breast cancer in their lifetimes are Warriors in my eyes. I applaud each and every one of you for your courage, strength and compassion and wish you long, long life ������
ReplyDeleteI have to say I haven't had a chance to read any of Pamela's books yet but that is definitely going to change! Sending out thoughts and prayers to Pamela--hang in there, and get well soon! Cancer has touched so many people's lives and I just try to be there to offer my support in whatever ways I can.
ReplyDelete