THE OFFICE

As many of you know, I wrote an award-winning book, Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir.  It is about a cancer that can affect any female, no matter her age. Infants, preteens, teenagers, and those in their 20's, 30's, or 40's as well as women post-menopausal have been diagnosed.I invite you to read this post and go to the website https://www.notonmywatch.com/, watch the video featuring myself and three other ovarian cancer survivors. Your support is important and deeply appreciated.NOT ON MY WATCH, THE CALL-TO-ACTIONIn continuing to give information about maintenance drugs and those of us facing recurrent ovarian cancer, I am introducing a special new movement called Not On My Watch.Visit NotonMyWatch.com to view the PSA. Every share of the PSA will trigger a donation of $5 towards patient education and support programs. Follow the movement on Facebook, Twitter (@TwitterHandle), and Instagram (@InstaHandle and share the PSA from those channels as well.This is a new movement developed to inspire and inform women who have ovarian cancer at any stage. The four women presented are of various ages, stages of ovarian cancer, history of various treatments and/or surgeries, and diagnosed at different ages.I was honored to be asked to be a part of the creation of this remarkable movement.       "Disclosure: TESARO paid for my travel expenses to participate in the Not on My Watch PSA. All comments made by me about the campaign or PSA, TESARO, and/or the Not on My Watch program are at my own discretion and based on my own opinion."                      As a note, PSA stands for Public Service Announcement.To give you a little background about me and my journey with ovarian cancer. I am a retired RN who had received no education about any gynecologic cancer in my training. In my 35 years of nursing, I had one patient who was in hospice for ovarian cancer. As her hospice nurse, my intention was to help her make a painless and peaceful transition during the few days she was my patient. Therefore, I did not do any research on her cancer.In 2008, at the age of 67 years, I started having bloating in my abdomen, which I quickly attributed to my age and being post-menopausal. Unfortunately, I had a malignant tumor that was the size of a honeydew melon on my left ovary. I had a hysterectomy and six rounds of chemotherapy.Six years later in 2014, the cancer returned which required more chemotherapy shrinking the tumor to the point that the PET scan showed "No Evidence of Disease." But cancer was not done with me. In 2016, a malignant tumor was found and I was treated with chemotherapy again until the tumor shrunk enough to surgically remove it.In June of 2017, I started maintenance therapy with a PARP inhibitor which I have tolerated quite well.  As of this writing I am glad to say I am NED (No Evidence of Disease).By reading my biography, I am sure you will understand why I am so supportive of the endeavors of TESARO by presenting the Not on My Watch movement.                                       https://www.notonmywatch.com/It is my hope that the information provided through the various links will be helpful. Please help spread the word about ovarian cancer and promote Not on My Watch by sharing this blog with all of your contacts.Thank you.                                  

Time is a precious gift that each of us has for a finite period. Filling each minute with people I love and using each moment to fulfill my dreams are two important goals for each day.Most people have a certain routine they follow each morning. Authors are no exception. For some authors the need and desire to start each day with a routine is critical to their career. There are those that must start the day with a cup or more of coffee or tea. Others require a time of exercise, yoga, or stretching while some start the day with quiet meditation or prayer.My daily schedule usually starts at 4:30 or 5:00 am. I lay in bed and pray, listen to my husband's deep breaths (not snoring) and give thanks that we have another day together. Shortly after I quietly arise and go into my office, sit down in front of the computer, and plan what I will do for the next 2-3 hours.   1. Checking emails is most often the first thing. I do not necessarily read or respond to them, but either delete or mark them to read later.   2. I go to each of my two blogs to either respond to comments or write a new one.   3. Hootsuite is opened and I promote Rave Reviews Book Club authors, myself, and retweet.   4. Since the tasks listed above might take anywhere from one to one and a half hours, I usually then do some writing. I have several pieces I am working on, so I choose the one that seems to be speaking to me. I hope that does not sound too crazy.   5. My time to write depends on when my husband arises, which is between 0700-0800. The writing time is my favorite and it seems to go by so quickly. This is where I often re-evaluate my management of time.   6. I am not a coffee drinker, but I do enjoy cups of hot water with only honey added. I wait until my husband is awake before I make it...too much noise! I try to do frequent neck and shoulder rolls and stretching to keep everything loose.  7. For the rest of the day, I squeeze in writing, responding to and writing emails, and working on a couple of projects for ovarian cancer awareness and fundraising.In closing, here are some quotes to inspire and inform as you start each day:    “The shorter way to do many things is to only do one thing at a time.” – Mozart   “My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.” – Steve Jobs

 "Greetings!  Welcome to the 2nd RRBC “TREAT” Reads Blog Hop!  These members of RRBC have penned and published some really great reads and we’d like to honor and showcase their talent.  Oddly, all of the listed Winners are RWISA members!  Way to go RWISA!We ask that you pick up a copy of the title listed, and after reading it, leave a review.  There will be other books on tour for the next few days, so please visit the "HOP'S" main page to follow along. Also, for every comment that you leave along this tour, including on the "HOP’S" main page, your name will be entered into a drawing for a gift card to be awarded at the end of the tour!" Today we are highlighting two authors.Author, Victoria SaccentiBook: DESTINY'S PLAN - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010361G4O/Book Blurb:One empty bus seat. Two aching hearts. A future written by Fate…When Raquelita Muro’s overbearing mother rips her and her little sister away from their beloved Papa, one tiny, rebellious corner of Raquelita’s heart is grateful that the bus is crowded, and the only seat left is out of Mama’s sight. Next to a handsome young man.Matthew Buchanan’s beautiful traveling companion is more than something pretty to look at before he ships out for Viet Nam. Deep in her sad, whisky-colored eyes he glimpses a new dream to replace the ones he’s leaving behind. It breaks his heart to leave Raquelita in her tyrannical mother’s hands, but she gifts him with a token of love and a tender promise to exchange letters in secret.But their first, shy “hello” has reached the ears of Fate. Fate is in the mood to see how far it can push two lonely hearts—to the brink of temptation, desperation, and despair—before they break. Perhaps beyond any hope of healing…Twitter: @VictoriaSAuthor*******************************************************************************************************Author, Michael Hicks ThompsonBook: THE RECTOR - https://www.amazon.com/dp/098452827XBook Blurb: Thompson’s engaging, high-energy Christian murder mystery is narrated by Martha McRae, a woman living in a small Mississippi town who seeks to solve the mystery of the sudden death of pastor David Baddour. Throughout the novel, readers are introduced to the cast of characters who inhabit the small Delta town in the 1950s. The book gleefully mixes all the elements of a small-town murder mystery—gossip, foul play, backstabbing—and, as more is revealed about Pastor Baddour and the other townspeople, more mysteries, hypocrisies, and dangers add to the intrigue. Thompson’s tale looks intimately at what it means to function in a community—how a population can reveal and obscure the truth. The Rector works as a suspenseful murder mystery, Thompson also incorporates a spiritual and religious undertone to the story. This Christian Murder Mystery successfully intertwines faith in its plot twists with surprising results. This small-town tale, set in the 1950s, delves into religion, spirituality, and murder; and is exceedingly clever and cunning. The small community of Solo, Mississippi, is rocked after the murder of a prominent religious figure. Law officials consider the case closed, much to the dismay of widow Martha McRae. She questions how the young rector could die so unexpectedly. After sharing her suspicion with her bible study leader, Betty Crain, a chain of events is set off in the small southern community. Gossip soon abounds with murmurings of foul play, murder, and loss of faith. In the case of whodunit, Martha soon finds that asking questions has put her own life in peril, as she comes face to face with evil.Twitter: @mhthompsonsr

 "Greetings!  Welcome to the 2nd RRBC “TREAT” Reads Blog Hop!  These members of RRBC have penned and published some really great reads and we’d like to honor and showcase their talent.  Oddly, all of the listed Winners are RWISA members!  Way to go RWISA!We ask that you pick up a copy of the title listed, and after reading it, leave a review.  There will be other books on tour for the next few days, so please visit the "HOP'S" main page to follow along.Also, for every comment that you leave along this tour, including on the "HOP’S" main page, your name will be entered into a drawing for a gift card to be awarded at the end of the tour!"Author: Bernard FoongBook: TURPITUDE - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LQYPU30/Book Blurb:Turpitude is the fourth book to A Harem Boy’s Saga, a provocative story about a young man who was initiated into a clandestine sexual society through his UK boarding school. From there, he was spirited to the Middle East to attend the Bahriji (Oasis) School in The United Arab Emirates in preparation for Harem services for the wealthy elite. It is also a love story between the young man, his ‘Big Brother,’ and his ‘Valet,’ who served as his chaperones and mentors.This book follows the teenagers’ erotic and exotic adventures and experiences at their fourth Arabian Household, the Assalamu Alaikum (Peace Be with You) Harem. There, they became confidants to a sheik, assistants to his numerous international ventures, especially that of a film production: “Kāmasūtra - Lover’s Tale.” The teenagers continue to apprentice and model in a controversial photography project, “Sacred Sex in Sacred Places.”This story is an account oAf the author’s experiences. Through these truths, often demonized by contemporary societies that deem such behaviors inappropriate, the author hopes to dispel condemnation and negativity related to sexuality, love, and personal freedom. Twitter: @bernardfoong

 "Greetings!  Welcome to the 2nd RRBC “TREAT” Reads Blog Hop!  These members of RRBC have penned and published some really great reads and we’d like to honor and showcase their talent.  Oddly, all of the listed Winners are RWISA members!  Way to go RWISA!We ask that you pick up a copy of the title listed, and after reading it, leave a review.  There will be other books on tour for the next few days, so please visit the "HOP'S" main page to follow along.Also, for every comment that you leave along this tour, including on the "HOP’S" main page, your name will be entered into a drawing for a gift card to be awarded at the end of the tour!"Author, Robert Fear Book: EXCLUSIVE PEDIGREE - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HDWF1CY/Book Blurb: John Fear was born into a religious sect known as the Exclusive Brethren. This sheltered him from the outside world as he grew up, but could not hide him from its influences. A struggle began in his mind that led him to leave the Brethren, along with his young family. Rather than reacting as many do and totally abandoning any belief system, John remained true to his convictions and continued a strongly religious way of life. Still serving God he worked in many places throughout the world, rubbing shoulders with famous people such as Billy Graham, Mother Teresa and Cliff Richard.The writing style of this book is dynamic and engaging. John’s personality shines through and he paints an insightful account of his personal life and surrounding historical events. This account is not a sensationalised expose of the Exclusive Brethren. Instead, it follows one man’s life journey and is brought to life through his diary entries and family letters. This beautifully edited book is more than a memoir. It is a delightful mix of history, social customs, travel and belief. An honest, personal and emotive account of how religion can touch and shape a person's life - forever.Twitter: @fredsdiary1981

I am pleased to have Joy Nwosu Lo-Bamijoko on my blog this week. She is an accomplished author, musician, and taught music for over 35 years. She is an active member of Rave Reviews Book Club and Rave Writers International Society of Authors. She has just been named the RWISA "Rising" Writer for the month of September. I have read all three of her books and am pleased to present them to you along with my reviews.MIRROR OF OUR LIVES is centered around the lives of four Nigerian women: Njide, Nneka, Miss Nelly, and Oby. These women make choices that change their lives forever. Each one marries and there are sad and sometimes tragic consequences from these marriages. They are strong women who use their inner strength, fortitude, and faith to reach peace and happiness. This is a moving and powerful story from which every woman around the world can learn that one must never give-up, but have faith and persevere.MY REVIEW:5 stars: An informative and powerful book about four women of Nigeria and their struggles to be women in their own right. The cultural oppression, the control by men, and the abuse of women was hard to read. Thank you, Joy for sharing such touching stories. (Karen Ingalls)PREGNANT FUTURE is a gripping story about one young woman, Justina as she makes her way through life. It is about survival, choices, lessons, and fortitude. Every woman can learn from Justina's journey.MY REVIEW: 5 stars:  A wonderfully heartwarming story about one young Nigerian woman finding her way to womanhood through education. It was interesting to learn about the Nigerian culture, the role of Catholicism, and the educational opportunities. The main character is quite intelligent and musically talented. She struggles in her relationships with men, the loss of a child, and a brutal drug-induced rape.A well written book that is a page turner. I hope the author will write a "Part II" to learn what happens to the main character. (Karen Ingalls) LEGEND OF THE WALKING DEAD is a story based on the Igbomythological beliefs about life and death. There is the legendthat the living and the dead have only a thin line between theirtwo worlds. The line is so thin that the spirits co-exist in the same land. The dead often occupy the body of the living.A young boy, Osondu has disappeared and the mother alsodisappears while searching for him. MY REVIEW:4 stars: The beliefs and myths of the Igboo people of Nigeria is well presented here. You follow Gloria and her son, Osondu as they travel in the afterlife. There is a lot of information and events that take place for these two people and in the second half of the book, I found there was too much detail as to what happened. It is a well-written book and I did appreciate what I learned about this group of people's beliefs. It is NOT about zombies, but about the afterlife that can be beautiful. Thank you, Joy for sharing. (Karen Ingalls)LINKS:Legend of the Walking Dead: https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Walking-Dead-Nwosu-Lo-Bamijoko-ebook/product-reviews/B00W4LI29E/Pregnant Future: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1MEGRS/Mirror of Our Lives: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1450278965/Twitter: @jinlobify

When I hear about someone being in the spotlight, I immediately think of actresses and actors who have achieved some type of recognition. They used to be called movie stars and there is the "Walk of Stars" on Hollywood Boulevard.Here is an interesting tidbit: In the late 1950's I walked down Hollywood Blvd. to get to school at Hollywood High School.I am honored and humbled to be Rave Reviews Book Club Spotlight Author for the month of September. My deepest thanks to those who are responsible for such a recognition.Let me share what it means for me to be in the Spotlight and how important Rave Reviews Book Club is.    I refer you to the previous blog in which I share my journey towards publishing that first book. Like many of us, I dreamed of being the next Great American Author. I have always loved to write and journal. They both open my heart and lift my soul.    My interest and love for writing began when I was a young preteen reading book after book. Though Mother told me to turn off the lights, I would retrieve a flashlight I had hidden away, throw the blanket over my head, and read until my eyes grew heavy. Does this sound familiar?    I began writing my first novel, Novy's Son when I was teenager. I was then living with my father, who I thought was a most unusual person. I loved him, but I did not like him. Writing about him and his various escapades, beliefs, choices, and behaviors was therapeutic. It was not until the 1980's when I read Iron John that I came to a full understanding of him.My favorite book to write was Davida: Model & Mistress of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. I enjoyed writing it, because it required a lot of research, use of my imagination and creativity, and I came to a better understanding about two people who had always been a family secret. This is the book I am highlighting this month.    Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir was my first non-fiction, first published book, and the most rewarding. The rewards are not financial, but the comments from many people who found the book to be helpful and inspirational. It is not just about ovarian cancer, but how a person can learn to "outshine" any challenge whether it is cancer, financial ruin, or divorce to name just a few.    Kathryn Chastain Treat invited me to join Rave Reviews Book Club. I will always be grateful to her. I have received support for my endeavors as an author; information about editing, marketing, books covers, and so much more. The opportunities to promote myself are endless: Rave Waves blog talk radio, contests, anthologies, blogs, Books of the Month, Paying It Forward plus many more.    RRBC has a strong ethical basis to which each member is held accountable. The leadership of Nonnie Jules, the founder and President is kind, firm, and attentive. Those that volunteer their time and energy to help Nonnie are quite incredible. Each event or opportunity is well organized and are easy to participate in.    Participation is the key to any recognition or success one might have as a RRBC member. To receive support one must support others, be involved in the activities, read a minimum number of books by the RRBC authors, and follow the code of conduct. It is a two-way street.    Each of my books will have a discounted rate of 0.99 starting Sept. 9 through Sept. 14. The proceeds from all three books go to ovarian cancer research. Here are the links:For Outshine: http://amzn.to/29IotEO  (US)                     https://amzn.to/2roCe4F  (UK)For Novy's Son: http://amzn.to/25HsWky  (US)                         http://amzn.to/1X8GtMR  (UK)For Davida: http://amzn.to/1LvWOr7  (US)                   https://amzn.to/2I0ihIi  (UK)I invite you to become a follower of my blog: Mind, Pen & Spirit at kareningalls.blogspot.comMy deepest thanks to RRBC for recognizing me as the Spotlight Author for September.   

  It has been an exciting journey to my first published book. I always wanted to have a book published. I was not sure the dream would come true, but due to a cancer diagnosis that is what happened. Sometimes the best things in life can come out of a tragedy or negative event.Here is my journey and I am grateful for the road I have traveled, even the difficult times.  I learned the most from the not-so-happy events.     *Due to my parent's divorce when I was two years old, I grew up not knowing my father very well. I saw him for only a few weeks out of each year. Growing up, I was confused why my family was different. I did not understand why I could not say "mom and dad" together.     *My mother married again to a man, who took advantage of my innocence through abuse. I was scared, ashamed, and was sworn to not tell anyone. I thought I was responsible. Having no one to turn to, I journaled in my locked diary. I wrote poems and short stories all of which helped to release my fears, self-doubt, and guilt.    *At 16 years, I finally told my mother. I was told to move out, which I gladly did.  I went to live with my father. A new home at a distant city, and a different school were my new challenges. Fortunately, my father and I had established a good relationship and I had grown to love and care about him.     *I rarely saw my mother and my sisters were sworn to never mention my name in her house. My fears and self-image did not change despite the move into a loving home. I now felt responsible for the anger and confusion my sisters were experiencing. They did not know why I moved out.    *For the first time I started attending a church. I went there by myself, but I found God!I grew up in a God-less family yet I knew "something" was missing. A blessing from attending a new school was meeting a Christian girl who guided and taught me about God.     *I learned the powerful healing experience of forgiveness. I released my mother and step-father and now found a new life. Fear, self-doubt, and guilt were gone.     *I knew that I had a story to tell that could help others who have been abused. My journaling continued, but my writing became a bigger part. I wrote a novel which I never shared with anyone.     *College, marriage, and motherhood filled my adult years. I talked about the abuse, forgiveness, and the need to have resources available for those abused and retribution for the abusers. I wrote articles and did presentations.     *I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which is a life-threatening disease.I journaled every day. I chose a new purpose in life: to advocate for awareness about ovarian cancer and raise money for research.     *For the first time, I shared with a friend my journaling about the cancer. She encouraged me to get it published. My first book, "Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir" was published in 2012. It has won two awards.       *I continue to journal, I have two blogs, and two published novels. The road to following my dream has not always been an easy one. Yet, my writings point out that health, family, and social issues need to be recognized, understood, and acted upon.                       My writing comes from my heart and soul.                    I hope my story brings encouragement to others.                                        Follow your dream.September is National Ovarian Cancer Month. For the entire month, "Outshine" will be available in paperback format for only $4.99.  Available only through the author. Contact me at kareningalls1941@gmail.com. Amazon is not offering the book at this price.        All proceeds go to ovarian cancer research.

Harriet Hodgson has been a freelance writer for 38 years, award-winning author of several published books, member of Rave Reviews Book Club and Rave Writers International Society of Authors. Her work is cited in Who's Who of American Women and World's Who's Who of Women Contemporary Authors. ethericplanet.com                                        COMPASSION FATIGUEThis is my 21st year as a family caregiver. I’ve learned a lot along the way and one of the most important things I learned is that I need to take care of myself. Although I was familiar with burnout, I wasn’t familiar with compassion fatigue, so I decided to learn more about it.What is it? Compassion fatigue is a form of burnout—spiritual, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion—caused by never-ending caregiving tasks. Compassion fatigue happens to doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, clergy, and others who have service jobs.There’s one big difference between burnout and compassion fatigue and it’s timing. Burnout develops slowly and it can take years to develop, whereas compassion fatigue comes on quickly. Its onset can be so quick it takes you by surprise. “I can’t do this anymore,” is your immediate response.According to the American Institute of Stress, compassion fatigue has a faster recovery time than burnout if it’s recognized and managed early. If you’re a caregiver, be on the lookout for symptoms and keep track of them. The American Institute of Stress says there may be lots of blaming. You may bottle up your emotions and keep them to yourself, process called “stuffing.” You may feel isolated and alone, get complaints from others, and take less care of yourself. People with compassion fatigue may have nightmares and flashbacks. Stomach problems may develop and you may be more susceptible to colds.Stop compassion fatigue before it stops you. I am my disabled husband’s primary caregiver and every day is demanding—catheterization, medication management, leg exercises, healthy eating, and more. Willing as I am to provide loving care, sometimes I feel like I’m earning a nursing degree the hard way.That’s why preventing compassion fatigue is at the top of my To Do list. First, I review how much sleep I’ve had in the past week. I try to go to bed at 10 p.m. every evening and get seven hours of sleep a night. To do this, I start getting my husband ready for bed at 9:15 p.m.I monitor my feelings constantly. What’s more, I take the time to name my feelings. Naming feelings makes it easier to deal with them. At this age and stage of life, I know my creative mind needs projects and I make sure I have plenty of them.Whether it’s with my husband, a family member, or friend, I have one meaningful conversation a day. My husband and I discuss the books we’ve read, news stories we have seen on television, and construction projects in our hometown of Rochester, Minnesota. Our conversations are wonderful and I treasure them all.Self-care is also at the top of my To Do list and I practice it each day. Writing is my preferred form of self-care and I’ve been a writer for 38 years. I’m happiest when I’m writing. Some days I take a nap. Other days I do something just for me, such as repotting a plant.Compassion fatigue happens because people care so much. That’s an admirable trait. Preventing compassion fatigue is admirable too. You can’t care for others unless you care for yourself. Every caregiver—including you—is worthy of self-care and kindness.LINKS:Harriet Hodgson, BS, MAMember, Association of Health Care JournalistsMember, Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)Member, Minnesota Coalition for Death Education and SupportContributing Writer www.opentohope.com, www.thegrieftoolbox.com, www.thecaregiverspace.org/authors/hhodgsonWebsite www.harriethodgson.com