Arabesque & St. Jude: Novels of Hope

First of all, a big 'shout-out' of thanks to Wayne for being moderator for this discussion.  This is my first time taking part in a discussion (Mea Culpa) but I'm very excited about my new book, and my connection to St. Jude which was the genesis for the project.  How it all came about is an interesting story, and one which I'd love to tell everyone about.  So...start asking questions!

Thank you Wayne for the great job you do in moderating this site. As a teacher and a publishing author, I don't know where you get the time. When Linda Gill asked me to write a book for this prohect, I didn't hesitate. Having experienced the devastation of mothering a child who had a ravishing disease, I'll do anything to lighten that burden for other parents and their children. My steps-son had the best of care and survives as a healthy and prosperous adult, but such care is not available to all children. I had long been a supporter of St. Jude, but this project was special.

You'll find that WHAT MATTERS MOST is a very tender, although fiery, love story. It is not about St. Jude, but about the goals and dreams of two people fortunate enough to find each other. They don't need St. Jude for themselves, but for others in their lives.

PLEASE GO TO MY WEB SITE AND ENTER THE CONTEST  FOR THOSE WHO READ THE BOOK. I'm offering five great prizes. www.gwynneforster.com.

Gwynne Forster

Thanks Wayne for encouraging this discussion.  As to who I am...my goodness, let's just say I've been around writing women's fiction and romance for a very long time.  Some of you will know my name and my work.  I'm always been know for writing   'emotional' stories with strong characterizations.  While my books have been known as romance, I'm also known for introducing many social issues into my story lines.  I like to consider myself an observer of our contemporary society, the way it changes, and what it might hold for the future in terms of romance and relationships.  A good example would be THE COLOR OF LOVE, one of my all time best selling novels.

I have been a member of St. Jude's Multicultural Advisory Board for almost six years.  Three years ago I suggested writing a book that was not only a romance, but also used as a forum for talking about the terrific work St. Jude does in research and treatment of childhood diseases and cancers.  The idea was to ultimate use a novel as an outreach tool to readers especially for some diseases that affect the African American community is larger numbers than anywhere else in the national population.  In my novel, FOR ALL WE KNOW, that issue happens to be HIV/AIDS, a subject that traditional has been very difficult to discuss because of the myths and stigma attached to it.  I was fortunate to have St. Jude's enthusiastic endorsement for such a book project, and I was equally fortunate that through Linda Gill, the General Manager of Arabesques and the Kimani Press, that Harlequin immediately came on board with the offer to publish the book.  It was decided to do a two book series; FOR ALL WE KNOW, my novel with a subplot about HIV, was the lead story, and Gwynne Forster's book about Sickle Cell Anemia was the second.

FOR ALL WE KNOW has received several wonderful reviews, including Library Journal, Romantic TImes, and Amazon.com.  If you go to my website you can read more about the history of the project, why I think it's so important, and read about St. Jude's part in getting the word out to the public.  And, if you've read FOR ALL WE KNOW, you should enter my on-line contest!  It's for a good cause.  If you also make a contribution to St. Jude (www.stjude.org/novelsofhope, and click on Sandra Kitt), you get something in return...the possibility of a great prize!

For all of you who live in the Memphis area, you should know that on Wednesday October 22nd, there will be a reception held at St. Jude to announce the publication of FOR ALL WE KNOW.  I will be there, and would love to see as many of you as possible.  Call St. Jude to get detailed information (901) 535-3300.

This Friday the 17th I fly down to Savannah, GA to take part in a women's health initiative where I will spend time talking about St. Jude, and promoting FOR ALL WE KNOW. 

Thanks for your intervention, Shewolf. If you ever have the opportunity to visit the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, jump at the chance. It is such an upbeat organization. From the researchers to the administrative staff, it's all about the love and care of the children. I, too, have supported the organization for years, but until I went there, I didn't realize the importance of my small contribution.

 My novel, What Matters Most, is an upbeat love story, full of tenderness as well as fiery passion. In it, I introduce St. Jude --to those readers who don't know of it and it's wonderful work --by sending one of my main characters there to intern. One of her patients has sickle cell anemia and goes to St. Jude. The child's treatment is cost-free treatment, because her family is poor and cannot afford to pay. However, this is woven into the story and a minor sub plot. You'll enjoy the story, and every woman with warm blood will covet Jack Ferguson.

Gwynne

WAYNE, do you think more will be released in this vein?  If so, I wonder if marketng would offer them in a complete package like they do with the Christmas collections or the continuity series.  I would really like something like that so as not to miss any.

I also appreciate the spotlight.  I love the HMR medicals so these books are right up my alley...and who can resist a book from another displaced Tar Heel?  

I ordered copies of both of them today. I'm looking forward to receinvg them and reading them, espeically since I love everything about St. Jude and what they do there.

I ordered them too.  I think this should be spotlighted a lot more.  It seems to me Sunday is a hot time for people coming to the community, perhaps more than any other day and things have been slow for some reason this week seeing things pop up in "Friend's Activities" this week.  I know my life has been crazy lately (hardly even been on the computer this week) so it was just fortuitous that I saw this thread ---  and am I glad I did.

I hope this thread stays up a while because it takes time to get the books once ordered, then read them and then blog them.  It would be nice, in my opinion, if this thread stayed up a while to give readers a chance to congregate once we have the books and get a chance to read them.   I'd like to hear what other readers think and it would be nice to have a more central place to talk rather than trying to comb individual blogs.  Wayne or Kelley, have you announced this thread on the Harlequin Medical Romance thread?  If not, I bet there are both a lot of readers and Medical authors who would be very interested in these books and this thread.  I think these books would have a lot of appeal to those readers as well as to Kimani readers.

I'd like to hear what inspired the authors to do this project.  From Kelley, I would like to know more about St. Jude's and her thoughts on it. What do they do?  I know the name...a legend, of course, but I'd like to know more.   And from others too.  

how I missed seeing this thread earlier in the week but now I've got books I need to head over and order.  Like Paisley, I love the Medicals and some of these books sound like they might hit on the same sort of sensitive issues I like seeing addressed.

BTW, love the shout-out to South Carolina, my home state!

Thanks for telling me more.  Mine are ordered but it will take a few weeks to get here plus reading time so I would be very happy if this thread kept going,  I'd love to hear from others once we all have the books in our hands and are reading them.  I am showing my age..but I remember Marlo Thomas and Danny Thomas!  I watched them a lot on TV, especially that show THAT GIRL but I even watched Danny Thomas' show too as a kid.  In today'sd times,  it is inspiring to know there are some organizations out there giving medical help to people because they need it.  Very nice covers and also love the write up at the beginning of this thread.

Dear All:

In my last post I promised an update and report on my recent trip to Memphis for what was a) an official launch of the two Novels of Hope written for St. Jude: FOR ALL WE KNOW and WHAT MATTERS MOST, and b) the giving of a donation to St. Jude for the project, by Harlequin.  Linda Gill, General Manager of the Kimani Press, Arabesque imprint represented St. Jude.  I was present, along with Gwynne Forster, and many of the St. Jude staff who worked on the joint venture behind the scenes.  Also present were two St. Jude patients and their parent or guardian.

The weather in Memphis could not have been more perfect, and the hospitality that the south is famous for was present in abundance!  I have to say that I am thrilled and very pleased of the role Harlequin played in making that day possible.  Their donation to St. Jude generous.

Many thanks to those of you who have read FOR ALL WE KNOW and have weighed in with your thoughts and opinions.