Dear Abigail and ‘Target Ovarian Cancer’
I’m back at my desk drafting my second blog. Despite the panoramic views from my window – to my left the mountains of Snowdonia, then down the River Conwy past the historic Conwy Castle to the river’s estuary and across the wide bay to Puffin Island and the Isle of Anglesey beyond – I’m not finding it any easier than my first blog, writing to readers I don’t personally know. Speaking of which, I would like it if more of you would write back to me through my email address on this site, for me to know my blogs are still being read, or equally, one or more of my books. Although your views may be negative – even better if they’re positive, especially if you’ve read more than one book and have a favourite – to hear from you would be something to look forward to.
For myself, the one closest to my heart is Dear Abigail, the novelistic book – mentioned in my first blog – I wrote to my little granddaughter as a catharsis for my grief after Richenda and Elisabeth (Rachel and Carys in the book) died of ovarian cancer, telling her all about them, especially her Mummy (Carys) who passed away just a month before her (Abigail’s) second birthday. As I also said, I wrote it for myself – but the good friends I allowed to read it, and told me I should have it published because they were sure it would help other carers in similar situations, were proved to be right. After first testing it on Kindle and KDP, Amazon’s paperback arm, I was astonished at the number of 5-star ratings it received, with readers’ comments such as: “This is a beautiful, honest, funny, gut-wrenching book.” “This book made me laugh and cry. Not many books do that for me.” “Just finished this amazing book, struggling to see the screen through my tears.”
And so, I’m donating all my royalties from it to “Target Ovarian Cancer”, and consequently hoping for greater sales, that may (cross-fingers) lead to it being traditionally published – and even better, worldwide – for that more-than-worthy cause to benefit in its aims to improve early, life-saving diagnosis of this form of cancer and provide greater support for women found to have this “silent disease”. To any of you who buys Dear Abigail, you’ll do so knowing you will be benefitting so many vulnerable women at a time when they’ll need it most, and be receiving their private and heartfelt “thank you”. And from me.