Author Moments II

By Authors Helping Harry authorshelpingharrygmail.com

Harry Moseley, the boy who raised over £650,000 for Cancer Research, is no longer with us - but his legacy lives on.
"Britain's Kindest Kid", Harry was more than a nice kid with a big heart; he was a real life hero. A hero with an inoperable brain tumor who tragically lost his battle with cancer at the much-too-young age of 11.
Harry’s “Help Harry Help Others" campaign continues his fundraising work in hopes that one day soon, there will be a cure for brain tumors. Joining Harry's quest for research funds are an amazing group of romance writers, along with a wonderful cover artist, who have put together an inspiring anthology to raise money for cancer
research, in memory of Harry Moseley.
"Author Moments II" is a collection of essays written by these talented writers. From the New York Times bestselling lists to the writer who is just beginning their quest, you will find this anthology filled with generous writing advice and anecdotes.
It won’t matter where you are on your road to publication or even in your life journey, Author Moments II will fill you with love, laughter and a renewed hope that all things are possible when you care enough to come together and make a difference.
Like real life hero, Harry Moseley.
The Authors Helping Harry invite you to pitch in with them to help find a cure simply by purchasing a copy of this wonderful anthology.

*As a bonus, each author has included an excerpt from one of their current, or upcoming, releases.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Authors Helping Harry authorshelpingharrygmail.com
• Release date: Dec 9, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466092389

Authors Helping Harry authorshelpingharrygmail.com

Authors Helping Harry is a group of writers who have come together to raise money for Cancer Research in memory of Harry Moseley http://www.hhho.co.uk/ (In no particular order) Larissa Ione, Dakota Cassidy, Lissa Matthews, Shayla Black, Karin Tabke AKA Harlow, Liz Kreger, Cathryn Fox, Shiloh Walker, Beth Williamson, Corinne Davies, Mahalia Levey, Heather Long, Virna DePaul, Melissa Schroeder, Edie Ramer, Kris Cook, Elizabeth Silver, Ava Riley, Sophie Oak, Eliza Gayle, Melissa Ecker, Kendra Egert, Heather Rainier - these are the Authors Helping Harry

Book preview

Author Moments II

By Authors Helping Harry

Smashwords Edition

Compilation copyright 2011 by Authors Helping Harry

Discover other titles by Authors Helping Harry at Smashwords.com:

Author Moments

All essays/excerpts by individual authors are copyrighted materials owned by the authors

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Georgie Moseley

Acknowledgements

1.Introduction: What Cancer Did to Me by Liz Kreger

2.The Accidental Author by Dakota Cassidy

3.Edification by Corinne Davies

4.A Gold Medal Life by Virna DePaul

5.The Personal Impact of That Impersonal Rejection Letter by Melissa Ecker

6.Conventions: Food For the Writer’s Soul by Eliza Gayle

7.Square Pegs and Hellhounds by Larissa Ione

8.Letting the Story Tell Itself by Emma Lang

9.What I Wish I’d Known by Mahalia Levey

10.The Green Bra by Heather Long

11.Writing the Book In Twenty Minutes by Lissa Matthews

12.I’m a Writer by Sophie Oak

13.Fighting Back by Edie Ramer

14.Know Your Characters by Ava Riley

15.Wrestling for Inspiration by Elizabeth Silver

16.Do You Dare by Karin Tabke

17.Conclusion: Paying It Forward by Heather Rainier

About the Cover Artist

Foreword

By Georgie Moseley

Harry was incredibly proud of his helpharryhelpothers campaign which he set up in 2009 after he had visited his special friend 'Robert Harley' who was 55 in hospital. Robert had a brain tumour like Harry and was very very sick. Harry left the hospital full of emotion and compassion for his friend and wanted to help raise money to find a cure for brain cancer to get his friend better - even though Harry was poorly with the same illness himself.

Within a day, helpharryhelpothers was born and Harry spent every day, all day making bracelets. Harry’s selfless attitude, determination and love of others saw him create and attend over 80 delivering his own powerpoint presentation at schools and businesses to large audiences and directors. He then started public speaking to audiences of 500 plus. Harry relished every second and was so overwhelmed by everyone that believed in him and his campaign.

Harry was funny, witty, charming, confident and yet so sensitive and compassionate for others - especially those poorly like him. He was my absolute hero, inspiration, best friend and I don’t think I will ever get over losing my precious little boy who inspired and touched the hearts of so many. Our world is a much poorer place without him yet very rich for the time we had him.

~ Georgie Moseley (Harry’s Mum)

Acknowledgements

The Authors Helping Harry project has been a labor of love; enormous thanks go out to every author who has participated, and to Kendra Egert, the amazing cover artist. Harry Moseley was a shining light, and he left an incredible legacy through his Help Harry Help Others campaign (www.hhho.co.uk). By purchasing this anthology, you are joining with hundreds of people who have been inspired by his example to work towards achieving his dream of finding a cure for brain tumors.

Harry realized a truth that most of us never understand - one person can make a difference.

"But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."

*Please Note: the excerpts contained in this anthology are intended for a mature audience.

Introduction

What Cancer Did to Me

By Liz Kreger

Hi, my name is Liz Kreger and I’ve been actively writing for better than ten years. However, first and foremost, I’ve been in the GCB (Great Cancer Battle) for over fifteen years. I guess that makes me qualified to discuss the subject. I’ve been sliced, I’ve been diced, I’ve been radiated and chemoed with inches of my life. I guess you can call me a walking, talking breast cancer expert.

I know a lot of people seem to think that breast cancer is a disease that targets older women. Imagine my surprise when the biopsy came back positive for breast cancer. Me? Cancer? Naw! I was only 35 years old. I led a fairly healthy lifestyle (if you discounted the occasional junk food orgy I indulged in), worked out regularly and there was no family history.

It wasn’t even a lump that I found, but a dimple. Don’t know about you, but I’ve never had a doctor tell me to look for a dimple on your breast. They’ve always touted do your self-examinations and watch for a lump. But a dimple appeared just above my right breast and during a routine checkup I mentioned it to my doctor. She was all over it.

Within weeks I had the biopsy (involving numerous four-letter words on my part), a mastectomy and was scheduled for chemo ... just to be on the safe side.

Fast forward to where I was about to hit my seven year mark of being cancer free ... the holy grail for a cancer survivor. You hit the seven year mark and your home free. Then, out of the blue, my left hip began bugging me, but because I’d just started taking Tae Kwon Do, I figured I did something. By this time I’d been seeing my oncologist on a yearly basis and he immediately ordered a battery of tests. Sonuvabitch! The cancer had metastasized to my hip. This time it was radiation that knocked it out.

I was carefully monitored after that and within two years, the little suckers were back again. Now we’re into heavy duty chemo. Six doses, once every three weeks. This is where I lost my hair (absolutely everywhere), endured a yucky feeling 24/7, lost 15 pounds (which was good), and this is the one and only time I tossed my cookies. Peppermint is great for an upset stomach, by the way. This was followed by weekly infusions of Herceptin in an attempt to keep the cancer off ... but no dice. Came back again and I went through a slightly stronger bout of chemo. Pissed me off, too, because I’d just gotten my hair back. Same deal as far as reactions go.

Now its 2011. I’ve lost count of how many recurrences I’ve had. Hell, I quit counting after fifteen. I’ve been on more types of chemo than I can remember and am still undergoing treatment. This is a regimen I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, much less a little kid like Harry.

I was honored to be asked to write something in memory of Harry. Cancer is hard enough to endure as an adult. Kids? Naw. Should never happen to little kids. I hope that Authors4Harry is a huge success. I’m also part of a project with a group of very talented authors who put together ENTANGLED, A PARANORMAL ANTHOLOGY. All proceeds are going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

It was while I was in remission that I began writing again. I joined Romance Writers of America and completed a half dozen books, two of which are published. Writing has become a part of my life ... just as cancer has. The treatments I undergo cause excessive fatigue so writing sometimes has to take a backseat to rest. I also work full time, so between that, dealing with cancer and a family, making time to write can sometimes be a challenge.

I sincerely believe I’ve learned a lot about life going through the GCB. Compassion for one thing, and patience. You learn to think of others and you learn to laugh. I’ve always said that I have twenty minutes to feel sorry for myself ... then get over it. Life is too short to bemoan your fate. You deal with it, you overcome the obstacles and you go on. I’m a strong believer in a positive attitude.

* * *

Liz Kreger currently has two books published with Samhain Publishing. Forget About Tomorrow and Promise for Tomorrow are romantic space operas. She currently has a contemporary paranormal with her agent and hopefully will see that published soon. The short story she has with ENTANGLED is an offshoot of the contemporary paranormal. You can check out Liz’ website at www.lizkreger.com.

Forget About Tomorrow

BLURB

On the run from an intergalactic mob boss, she kidnaps the earthling security expert who helped her. Her plan? Make him forget about tomorrow.

Larissalyia Ashanti, is hiding out on Earth, a barbarian planet unsanctified by the FOW—Federation of Worlds—and on the run from an intergalactic mob boss who plans to use her as leverage to force her magistrate father to clear his criminal record.

Mac, an earthman, witnesses the evidence of aliens when the mob catches up with Lacey. After he helps her fight them off, she does the only thing she can think of—she kidnaps him and takes him with her as she flees Earth. Mac learns the answer to that age old question of whether there’s life out there…in spades. But not only does he have to convince Lacey that his numerous skills are indispensable, he has to find a way into her heart.

The chase is just beginning…and so are the romance, adventure and danger as they cross the universe in search of safety and answers.

*EXCERPT

Going by the evidence of his eyes, he had a feeling the question of whether mankind was alone in the universe was about to be answered. No way in hell were those scaley things people in costumes. Even Hollywood couldn’t have come up with something so bizarre.

Which left only one explanation.

He cocked one eyebrow upward when she didn’t answer. Let’s start with something real easy, lady. You got a name?

Her chin came up in the same imperial manner he had noticed earlier. That gesture was beginning to irritate him. Her regal attitude tried to regulate him to the status of an underling, but he wasn’t falling for it. The grin he gave her was designed to infuriate. Going by the frown gathering on her brow, he’d succeeded.

Then he was distracted from his amusement when he noticed something else. Her eyes were now the color of dark storm clouds. He was sure she had ice blue eyes. No ... they’d been a pale gray. He shook his head. He was a trained observant and he couldn’t even say for sure what her eye color was. Pitiful, MacNaught.

Yes, I have a name. He again noticed her sing-song manner of speech. It feathered up and down his spine in a very intriguing way. Hell, with that voice, he’d listen to her read from a dictionary. It was steamy and cool at the same time and everything in between. Sexier than hell.

It is Larissalyia Sarisekko Ashanti.

He stared at her for several seconds, dumbfounded. The way she pronounced her name inserted vowels where he wouldn’t have guessed existed. He began to laugh. The movement irritated his back but he ignored it. I couldn’t pronounce that on a bet. I’ll just call you Lacey.

You will do no such thing.

Look, lady. It’s late, I’m hurting and I’m really not in the mood to put up with a prima donna. With slow deliberation, he stalked her, deliberately exuding intimidation. He was pleased to note she refused to back down. She had guts, he had to say that for her. If anything, that stubborn chin came up higher. This close, he saw that her eyes were no longer gray. Even has he watched, they bled into a deep brown with reddish specks emerging.

Shit. No wonder he couldn’t put a color to her eyes. They changed with her moods!

Before today, Mac would have said he didn’t believe in aliens. Tonight’s events proved him wrong.

Watching her closely, he picked out little hints of her otherworldliness. It wasn’t just the eyes — unusual though they were. Her hair color had to be natural ... for her. It certainly didn’t come out of a bottle. Under this lighting the luxurious tresses melted into a whole spectrum of colors which ranged from golden to reddish strands intermixed with the pale of near white blond. Besides being drop dead gorgeous, she had few other indications that she came from another world. Hell, she was probably from a different universe.

I do not know who or what this prima donna is, but I assure you I am not accustomed to being treated this way.

Tough! Get used to it.

I will do no such thing, Earthman ...

The name is MacNaught ... Victor MacNaught, but I won’t answer to anything but Mac.

How about ‘barbarian’? She shot back before she paused to draw a deep breath. The gesture did all sorts of interesting things to the front of that tight sweater. Mac had to concentrate to keep his gaze on her face.

I did not ask for you to help us, she added.

Honey, you wouldn’t have gotten out of that bar without my help.

That shut her up for a second. He took the opportunity to glance around for a mirror. He spotted a large one which took up a good portion of the wall over a long table. Ignoring her, he made his way toward it.

"What