From Kayelle:

For three days I’m sharing stories by various authors about
how they or a family member faced cancer. Reading their posts is inspiring and
touching. The importance of friends and family, and having a support system is
vital. From what I’ve read, the key to success includes being able to ask for
help — and then being willing to accept it. It’s a lesson I’ve had in my own
life. I don’t accept help well. It’s something I fight
with all the time. I’d like to think “I’ve got this” but sometimes
I don’t have as good a grip as I thought I did. I have a friend who’s dealing
with cancer right now. My business partner’s brother just died from cancer. It
affects all of us. Reading these helps me understand better. I hope I’m even
half as good a friend as those you’ll read about in this series.

I’m presenting these as an opportunity for the authors to
share their real life stories, as well as their fictional ones. Links to follow
the authors and to purchase their books are provided. Today’s authors are Vicki Batman and Ally Shields.

—

Most people know I refer to my husband
as Handsome. What some don’t know is eight years ago, he was diagnosed with throat
cancer.

He had a swollen lymph node that all
doctors thought was allergy or infection-related. The drugs and antibiotics prescribed
didn’t knock it out. He had a needle biopsy which came back clean. His ENT doctor
said she wanted to remove the lymph and when doing so, found the cancer in three
spots.

My son and I had been waiting for
the doc to tell us all was well with the surgery, but she took forever. When she
did say, she asked if we wanted to tell Handsome. I couldn’t. I couldn’t even speak
or hardly look at him. Waiting in the recovery room for her to discuss all

Handsome was shocked too, but he was
very determined. He said, “Something to check off my yellow pad: Fight Cancer.”

He showed none of the classic symptoms
that lead to throat/esophageal cancer. He smoked the rare cigar. Drank an occasional
vodka or wine. Worked out. Not overweight. Little family history. Yet, he had it.

And so the battle strategy was formed
with an oncology doc, an ENT specialist, and the head of radiology. We had our dates,
we had our plans, we were marching forward.

At first, I stuffed him with everything
imaginable, but mostly lots of cheese-related products, milkshakes, and pasta. He
eventually did lose 35 pounds because the radiation scarred his throat and swallowing
became difficult. He worked until fatigued, then worked at home. The only one who
cried was me when he shaved his head. Eight weeks later, the treatment was over.
And every subsequent test and examination has shown him to be clear.

I believe a combination of many things
helped him through: his faith, our hope, family and friends, the skill of the doctors.

And the determination to check off
his yellow pad: Fight Cancer.

—

Temporarily Employed

Genre: romantic comedy, cozy mystery

Release Date: October 17, 2014

Author: Vicki Batman

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

New Job. New Love. And Murder.

Hattie Cook’s dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated.
Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a
temporary job at Buy Rite Insurance Company where she uncovers an embezzling scam
tied to the death of a former employee–the very one she replaced. The last thing
she wants is to clash with By-the-Book Detective Wellborn, no matter how much he
makes her heart pound.

Detective Allan Charles Wellborn has secretly adored Hattie all
his life. When the police determine there’s more to the death of a former Buy Rite
employee, he steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect,
he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before Hattie’s time is up?

The Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5829

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Temporarily-Employed-Vicki-Batman-ebook/dp/B00N4J5FDQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410893535&sr=1-1&keywords=temporarily+employed

Like some of her characters, award-winning author Vicki Batman
has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement
park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative
assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything
gal” at a financial services firm–the list is endless.

Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts,
written essays, and sold many short stories to True Love, True Romance, True Confessions,
Noble Romance Publishing, Long and Short Reviews, Museitup Publishing, and The Wild
Rose Press. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004,
she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA
awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010.

Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking
“What if??”

Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1ipdLkv

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814608.Vicki_Batman

Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=116288777&trk=hb_tab_pro_top

Google+: http://bit.ly/1zUggDF

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/vickibatman

Plotting Princesses: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com

—

The diagnosis of breast cancer came
out the blue. No family history, no warning. I was

But I was scheduled to begin immediate
training at the Federal Law Enforcement Academy for a course on identifying and
rescuing abused children. My friends, my cop partner, and employer encouraged me
to go, and I did. I was determined to live up to their faith in me that my time
there wouldn’t be wasted, and it helped me stay positive. I met an incredible group
of people. When they learned of my diagnosis, they went out of their way to make
sure I stayed positive throughout training.

Upon return to Des Moines, my cancer
doctor recommended a lung biopsy. There was a one in a million chance it was something
else. He thought I might be that one. The biopsy revealed the spots were scars from
an unrelated prior illness. The cancer hadn’t spread after all, and I went into
additional chemotherapy believing I could beat this thing.

Twelve difficult months later-with
friends and family beside me all the way- I was cancer free, and have remained so
for 25 years. Of course the medical team was fantastic, but I credit my recovery
to everyone who was around me at that critical time. The effects of friendship on
our minds and bodies can be a powerful thing, a little touch of human magic.

Ally Shields grew up in the Midwest and currently resides near
Des Moines, Iowa. Writing has always been a part of her life, but in 2009, after
a career in law and juvenile justice, she turned to full-time writing. Her first
urban fantasy novel, Awakening the Fire was published in 2012 and that series continues.
She loves to travel in the US and abroad and incorporates many of those settings
into her books.

Cross Keys, an Elvenrude novel

Genre: urban fantasy/paranormal romance

Conspiracy, murder and magic… A dark elf hunts the streets
of New Orleans.

Etopia Press Bookstore http://www.etopiapress.com/cross-keys/

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Cross-Keys-Ally-Shields-ebook/dp/B00NSR0OT4/

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cross-keys-ally-shields/1120425394

Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/cross-keys

Website: http://allyshields.com

Blog:  http://allyshields.com/blog.html

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShieldsAlly

Facebook: http://facebook.com/AllyShieldsAuthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6527209.Ally_Shields

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Ally-Shields/e/B009AKNDZU

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/100652807699295011703/posts

Newsletter: http://paper.li/ShieldsAlly/1353941420