Welcome to my friend and
talented author, Mackenzie Crowne. Mac, please tell us a little about yourself.
Hello all. Thanks so much for
allowing me to visit today, Joya. I've been scribbling down the stories
told by the voices in my head for as long as I can remember, but it wasn't
until I was diagnosed with breast cancer that I began to give that mania
the kind of attention it deserved. Since then, I've published three books,
with a forth due out at the end of the year. I write contemporary romance,
for the most part, and was surprised when a rare, fantasy romance gained
me my first contract. Who'da thunk it? I live in Phoenix
Wow, that’s an incredible
story. Congrats on your success as a writer and on being a survivor. What inspired you to write
your newest release, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR NIPPLE?
To
tell you the truth, I didn't start out to write a book for publication. I
simply began a journal, a lifeline to sanity in the midst of chaos. When
all was said and done, I'd documented the frightening details of dealing
with the expected skirmishes in the battle against breast cancer, like
mastectomies, chemotherapy, and radiation, but my journal also included
the surprising, and sometime humorous, sub-skirmishes the breast cancer
fight delivers. I mean, who knew that some of those I love would disappear
from my life, unable to handle the diagnosis, or that I would resemble Dr.
Evil from the Austin Powers series when I lost all my hair? No one can
prepare you for the enormity of this battle, but within the pages of my
journal, a sort of road map emerged, a guide, if you will, pointing out many
of the pitfalls inherent in the fight for survival, and how I managed to
navigate them with humor and hope. How could I not share what I've learned
with others facing their own battle?
Great idea to include
humor! What sort of reaction did you get from family and friends when you
decided to write this book?
As they were during my battle, my loved ones are
incredibly supportive. I may have been alone in the diagnosis, but I fought my
battle surrounded by a huge and loving family and hordes of wonderful friends,
many of whom are there in the pages of "Nipple".
You have a very positive
attitude and it sounds like you were surrounded by positive people, too. What
would you say to someone who recently got a diagnosis of cancer and is feeling
scared and alone?
Honestly,
my first reaction would be to say, "Call me. I'm here, you're not
alone." I wouldn't wish this diagnosis on my worst enemy, and my
heart bleeds for those facing the breast cancer battle. But, since
wrapping my arms around millions of strangers isn't possible, the best
advice I can give is to take a deep breath. Take things one step at a
time. The journey from victim to survivor is a long and difficult road,
but it's doable. There are many resources available to the victims of this
disease, and so many survivors out there who know what you are going
through and want to help. Your doctor can hook you up with a support group
locally, or you can go to Komen.org. Their range of resources is
phenomenal. And don't forget to let God help. His lap is a safe and
comforting refuge.
That’s great advice. You’re
a romance writer as well as a non-fiction writer, so I’m curious…what’s the
most romantic thing anyone has ever done for you?
LOL As a romance writer, I know I should answer
by describing an incredibly lovely evening, full of candlelight and soft music
and the warm caress of a tropical breeze while my husband and I shared a curtained
lounge on the secluded deck of a cruise ship—but… ;-) When I think of the most
romantic thing I've ever experienced, my mind conjures up the words of a male
friend who once told me I had sexy feet. It was an innocent comment, with no
romantic undertones, but the compliment has always stuck with me. And my
friend…Oh, I'm sure he's gone on to melt the hearts of countless women.
LOL. I’ll never think of
feet the same again. Congratulations on the release of WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE
YOUR NIPPLE, Mac, and for writing something that has the potential to help so
many people. Anything else you’d like everyone to know?
Thanks,
Joya. If I can lessen the fear of just one breast cancer victim with the
release of Where Would You Like Your Nipple? I will have achieved my goal.
As for the rest of you, don't forget to check those Ta Tas. Early
detection is the key. You'll be glad you did.
Very well said, Mac! Thanks for stopping by today.
Please check out an excerpt
from WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR NILPPLE by Mackenzie Crowne, and look for her
contact and buy links below.
Cancer.
Though
it’s not a four-letter word, it sure conjures up a lot of them. I won't say the
first word that popped into my mind, and out of my mouth, when I received the
diagnosis of breast cancer — it’s a bad word, my mother would be horrified. I can
tell you it wasn’t Whoopee!
Crap.
That’s like seven letters. My bad.
Many
other four-letter words quickly joined that first, shocked sentiment. Fear,
sick, pain, loss, hell, dead... You get the drift. If you’re reading this
and have received a similar diagnosis, or know someone who has, I don’t want to
scare you. You’re scared enough already, and have probably experienced many of
those words yourself, but, though your fears are justified, I can share
one four-letter word that trumps all others.
Hope.
Okay,
so it took me a little while to get from those nasty words to that one. But I
did eventually get there. I’m no longer the same woman I was when I began my
journey, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sure, I faced some incredibly
crappy stuff, but I also learned a lot about myself in the process. Let me tell
you, living like you’re dying has some unexpected benefits; once you get past
the “holy crap” factor.
To
do that, I needed to get through the first few weeks. They passed in a haze of
doctors’ appointments and terror. Shortly after receiving the diagnosis, I met
the first of many breast cancer survivors. Suddenly, like pink ribbons during Breast
Cancer Awareness Month, survivors were everywhere. They seemed to come out of
the woodwork like members of a secret society, calling to me to enter into the
fold. But I didn’t feel I belonged. I wasn’t anything like those women. They
danced, victorious, on the other side of an abyss, while I staggered under
quiet disbelief.
Their
acceptance of such a devastating reality made no sense to me. Here were women
who had been where I currently stood, and yet, they seemed so confident and
upbeat, almost serene. Honestly, I thought they were nut jobs. I certainly
didn’t feel like a survivor. I felt like a victim.
A
wise person once said, “Life happens. It’s time to pull on your big girl
panties and deal with it.”
Big
girl panties in place, I took those first, staggering steps toward survival.
Somehow, during the last five, life-altering years, I managed to navigate the
abyss to join the survivors waiting for me on the other side. The following
pages are my personal observations of my odyssey.
I
am a survivor. You can be too. Victory is ours.
Buy Link:
Amazon.com
print version coming soon.
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