Best of
Illness

2014

Abstract Love


Samantha Christy - 2014
    tolerable ... dare I even say ... fun.At twenty-four and facing an uncertain future, I wasn’t looking for this.I wasn’t looking for him.But life never asked me what I wanted.We come from different worlds.He’s an artist. I’m a bartender.I wonder, however, if this horrible bond we share is enough to bridge the gap between us.What happens if we don’t get better?What happens if we do?Get this sweet tale of love and survival now.

Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds


Kelly A. Turner - 2014
    Kelly A. Turner, founder of the Radical Remission Project, uncovers nine factors that can lead to a spontaneous remission from cancer—even after conventional medicine has failed.While getting her Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkley, Dr. Turner, a researcher, lecturer, and counselor in integrative oncology, was shocked to discover that no one was studying episodes of radical (or unexpected) remission—when people recover against all odds without the help of conventional medicine, or after conventional medicine has failed.  She was so fascinated by this kind of remission that she embarked on a ten month trip around the world, traveling to ten different countries to interview fifty holistic healers and twenty radical remission cancer survivors about their healing practices and techniques. Her research continued by interviewing over 100 Radical Remission survivors and studying over 1000 of these cases.  Her evidence presents nine common themes that she believes may help even terminal patients turn their lives around.

Love Always, Kate


D. Nichole King - 2014
    Now, six years later, I want my life back. Only I’m not sure what that is. The test results came back today. 22,000. Which means I’m officially out of remission—again. I have three options: 1) Another round of chemo. 2) A super-new experimental drug. 3) Dump it all— forget the meds and treatments and enjoy the time I have left. I think I know what I want. Then, in walks Damian, changing everything. I mean, everything… He’s got his own set of issues. It binds us together, you know? We understand what it’s like to lose what matters most in seconds. Still, the last thing I need is to have someone else to crush if I can’t fight hard enough. And the last thing he needs is someone else to grieve. Never mind. I’m down to two options now. Somehow I know that whichever one I choose, the result will be the same. With the sand in my hourglass seeping to the bottom, I hope there’s enough left to show Damian that life’s worth living. Worth fighting for. Worth dying for. Love Always, Kate

Positive: A Memoir


Paige Rawl - 2014
    It never prevented her from entering beauty pageants or playing soccer or making the honor role.On an unremarkable day in middle school, while attempting to console a friend, Paige disclosed her HIV-positive status—and within hours the bullying began. She was called "PAIDS," first in whispers, then out in the open. Her soccer coach joked that she was an asset because opposing team members would be too afraid to touch her. Her guidance counselor told her to stop all the “drama,” and her principal said she couldn’t protect her. One night, desperate for escape, Paige swallowed fifteen sleeping pills—one for each year of her life to date. That could have been the end of her story. Instead, it was only the beginning. The gripping first-person account of Paige’s life will pull in even the most reluctant readers of nonfiction, and her call to action to choose compassion over cruelty will stay with them long after they turn the last page.

Within These Walls


J.L. Berg - 2014
    I am not strong. I am just a survivor of circumstance.Isn’t that what we all do? Survive?Each of us has our own set of circumstances to muddle through. Mine are just more…complicated. Born with a severe heart defect, I’ve seen the inside of a hospital room more than my own bedroom. I was drowning, a prisoner to the illness that owned me, until he appeared. He thinks he’s blocked out the world with his tattoos and hard exterior, but I see the real Jude, the one he so desperately wants to forget. But is he the answer to my prayers or will he break my already damaged heart forever?My name is Lailah Buchanan, and this is our story of hope, redemption and sacrificing it all for the one you love.

A Christmas to Love You


Megan Smith - 2014
    They have a strong and healthy relationship along with a beautiful family. Join them and the rest of the Cahill’s this Christmas to hear about their epic love story and catch up with the rest of the crew.

Beneath It All


Tori Madison - 2014
    Neither was my loving husband, family or friends. And none of us were prepared for what life had in store after they were spoken.I should have seen the signs all around me. I should have paid attention to the people who supposedly loved me, the people who I'd always trusted. But I was blind to what was going on. The effects on my flourishing career, passionate marriage and carefree lifestyle would be insurmountable.It was time to take control of my life and the overwhelming chaos. Time to make the choices that were right for me. Right for my future. The future I hadn't planned on. My life didn't stop when I heard those four little words…it was only just beginning.

Strength in Strangers: A true story of heartbreak, hope and courage


Lauren Britton - 2014
    The local medical centre lacked the equipment to keep him alive and there was no plane to a specialist hospital for several days.This is the inspirational and emotional true story of a normal young couple and their life torn apart by a near fatal heart affecting virus and a wife’s struggle to save her husband’s life.An account of the incredible journey to return him home safely, the terrifying wait in hospitals where few spoke English, seven weeks in Bangkok on life support and intensive care, the selfless acts of strangers, and the frightening realisation that previously fit and healthy Andrew would need an urgent heart transplant.This is a story of love, hope and courage against all odds.A story of friends and family, incredible medical staff, the strength found in strangers and the ultimate gift of a second chance.

Unbroken


Emerson Rose - 2014
    But for the rugged, alpha billionaire, whispers from the shadows begin to penetrate the darkness, giving him a sense of light--a sense of hope. All ICU nurse Imani Jefferson wants is to help her patient regain himself, despite the rumors of his controlling and cold reputation. When Marcus finally awakens, he's more than Imani ever realized. More intense, More powerful, More complicated, More intelligent, More successful. And most importantly, more dominant. He has the power and the will to make her dreams come true and destroy her in a second. Apart they are damaged goods. Together they are Unbroken.

Irkadura


Ksenia Anske - 2014
    Outcast as a mute idiot and abused by her mother's boyfriends, she escapes into an alternate reality where true natures show and people are revealed as the beasts they are. Pregnant, homeless, and penniless, Irina has to make a choice — learn to live in this splintered world or descend into madness.

Both Sides Now: A True Story of Love, Loss and Bold Living


Nancy Sharp - 2014
    Both Sides Now hinges on the day when Nancy Sharp delivered premature twins and learned that her husband's cancer had returned after eighteen months in remission. Set in New York City where the couple lived happily until Brett's shocking diagnosis in 1998. The story moves back in time through Nancy and her husband's courtship and marriage and forward through Brett's death, when the twins were two and a half, he was forty, and Nancy thirty seven.

The Meaning of Maggie


Megan Jean Sovern - 2014
    The beginning of everything!For Maggie Mayfield, turning eleven means she's one year closer to college. One year closer to voting. And one year closer to getting a tattoo. It's time for her to pull herself up by her bootstraps (the family motto) and think about more than after school snacks and why her older sisters are too hot for their own good. Because something mysterious is going on with her cool dude Dad, whose legs have permanently fallen asleep, and Maggie is going to find out exactly what the problem is and fix it. After all, nothing's impossible when you're future president of the United States of America, fifth grade science fair champion, and a shareholder in Coca-Cola, right?

A Room Full of Chocolate


Jane Elson - 2014
    Her north London world of sleepovers, tap dancing and playing the clarinet fall apart when she is sent to live with her grumpy old granddad on his farm in Yorkshire while her mother goes into hospital to get better.Grace misses her mother so much it hurts, and doesn't quite understand what is happening to her. And things go from bad to worse when she starts school and becomes the bullies newest target.But Grace is no longer alone when she meets the wild Megan and her pig, Claude - when she's with them she feels as if she can confront anything. At Easter time when Grace misses her mum the most, she knows she must find a way to get to London. With Megan's help, she hatches a plan to run away that involves Claude, chocolate Easter eggs and a risky ID swap. But it's all worth it if it means that she finally gets to see her mum ...A gorgeous story of courage and friendship that will tug at your heart strings.

For Your Safety Please Hold On


Kayla Czaga - 2014
    Her poems are already making waves--several from this collection have received award attention, including: "The Fiddlehead"'s 23rd annual Ralph Gustafson Poetry Prize, "The Malahat Review"'s 2012 Far Horizon's Award for Poetry and an Editor's Choice Award in "ARC Poetry Magazine'"s 2012 Poem of the Year Contest. They have also been shortlisted for "The New Quarterly"'s 2013 Occasional Verse Contest, longlisted for CBC's 2013 Canada Writes Poetry Contest and have appeared in literary publications across North America.The poems in "For Your Safety Please Hold On" move in thematic focus from family, to girlhood, to adulthood, each permeated by Czaga's lively voice and quick-witted, playful language. They test the line between honest humour and bitter reality in a sophisticated, incisive manner that tugs at the gut and feels true.The linguistic hopscotch of Czaga's poems about girlhood is often beautifully juxtaposed with feelings of menace or a first taste of smothering expectations--"She sits. She sips her bright pink fingers. / She slips into smart short haircuts, yes, / she does so, and does herself up just so." While her pin prick meditations on contemporary adulthood suggest a yearning for personal meaning and purpose on a larger scale--"I still wander, sometimes, / my coat closing the world out of my body, with pockets / full of garbage, with my slender steady want. I still / make the bed and at bedtime unmake it."The irrepressible energy of the poems in "For Your Safety Please Hold On," paired with their complex balancing act between light and dark, humour and melancholy, innocence and danger, make this collection an extraordinary first offering.

You're Always in the Last Place You Look


T.N. Gates - 2014
    He has a few friends—okay, one real friend and his roping partner. But being the town pastor’s son isn’t easy. Not to mention he’s sure he was born askew, without the ability to experience life the way others seem to. It is the only explanation he has for why he isn’t like everyone else. However, when he rescues Zane, a misplaced city boy dressed in tattoos and leather, from a killer bumblebee, he experiences more than he expects. Zane shows Gabriel that sometimes the path you’ve chosen isn’t set in stone, and more times than not, you’ll find yourself in the last place you look.

Like There's No Tomorrow


Camille Eide - 2014
    His only hope for freedom is to bring his grannie's sister home from America. But first, he'll have to convince her young companion, Emily Chapman, to let the woman go. Emily devotes herself to foster youth and her beloved Aunt Grace. Caring for others quiets a secret fear she holds close to her heart. But when Ian appears, wanting to whisk Grace off to Scotland, everything Emily holds dear is at risk. Like There’s No Tomorrow is an amusing yet heart-tugging love story about two kind, single caretakers, two quirky old sisters bent on reuniting, and too many agendas. It’s a tale of family, fiery furnaces, faith, and the gift of each new day. If you’d like to travel to Scotland from the comfort of your armchair, “book” your ticket now! A strong Scots hero, enchanting accents, and a sweet romance await you. “I literally read Like There’s No Tomorrow in one sitting. A strong but troubled Scottish hero, an American heroine with a secret, and a cast of dynamic supporting characters all come together in this page-turning romantic debut. Camille Eide writes with abandon, depth, and emotional fortitude. Don’t miss this sublime novel!” —LESLIE GOULD, #1 Best-Selling and Christy Award-Winning Author “Camille Eide writes with such warmth and honesty, it’s nearly impossible to remember that the characters populating this engaging novel aren’t real. Like There’s No Tomorrow offers wisdom, laughter, and lovely, poignant moments from Glasgow, Scotland to Central Oregon, and will steal your heart from the moment you read the first page.” —CINDY KELLEY, Screenwriter, Author of Traces of Mercy “Camille Eide’s writing infuses the reader with honeysuckle from the roads of Oregon to the crofts of Scotland, and with the sweet infusion comes a gentle love, built from heartache and fear, but paved with hope. Ms. Eide’s debut novel is rich with characters who have learned that obstacles don’t mean an end, but a new beginning. Dare yourself to be steeped in tea and wonder when two hurting people learn where true love leads.” —LINDA S. GLAZ, Literary Agent, Author of With Eyes of Love “Tender and heart-wrenching, Camille Eide’s debut novel brings home the eternal truth that no one knows what tomorrow may bring. With characters and dialogue that sparkle, Like There’s No Tomorrow will weave its way into your heart and not let go. Beautiful, and the first of many novels, I hope, from this gifted writer.” —CARLA STEWART, Award-Winning Author of Stardust and The Hatmaker’s Heart “Camille Eide’s Like There’s No Tomorrow will tug your heartstrings as well as tickle your funny bone. The characterization is delicious, and I thought of my own BFF as I fell in love with two elderly Scottish sisters who renewed my faith in a better day ahead.” —SANDRA D. BRICKER, Author of Live-Out-Loud Fiction for the Inspirational Market “This tender love story captured my heart. It’s a perfect blend of drama, humor, and romance topped off with delightful characters that will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. This may be Camille Eide’s debut novel, but she is no novice at storytelling. Like There’s No Tomorrow is one of my favorite reads of the year. And Camille is on my short list of favorite authors.

A Breast Cancer Alphabet


Madhulika Sikka - 2014
    A definitive and approachable guide to life during, and after, breast cancer The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is simply being a woman.  Madhulika Sikka's A Breast Cancer Alphabet offers a new way to live with and plan past the hardest diagnosis that most women will ever receive: a personal, practical, and deeply informative look at the road from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.What Madhulika Sikka didn't foresee when initially diagnosed, and what this book brings to life so vividly, are the unexpected and minute challenges that make navigating the world of breast cancer all the trickier.  A Breast Cancer Alphabet is an inspired reaction to what started as a personal predicament.This A-Z guide to living with breast cancer goes where so many fear to tread: sex (S is for Sex - really?), sentimentality (J is for Journey - it's a cliché we need to dispense with), hair (H is for Hair - yes, you can make a federal case of it) and work (Q is for Quitting - there'll be days when you feel like it).  She draws an easy-to-follow, and quite memorable, map of her travels from breast cancer neophyte to seasoned veteran.As a prominent news executive, Madhulika had access to the most cutting edge data on the disease's reach and impact.  At the same time, she craved the community of frank talk and personal insight that we rely on in life's toughest moments.  This wonderfully inventive book navigates the world of science and story, bringing readers into Madhulika's mind and experience in a way that demystifies breast cancer and offers new hope for those living with it.

My Destiny


J.L. Perry - 2014
    After moving back to her hometown, she runs into Logan, the man who helped her all those months ago. From the moment they first met, Brooke felt that they had a connection, and now she finds it stronger than ever. There is one thing stopping her from acting on her feelings towards him though...her past.LoganLogan knew from the moment he saw Brooke that she was the one he’d been searching for his whole life. Can he convince Brooke to let go of her insecurities so they can be together?What will happen when Brooke’s past comes back to haunt her? Will Logan still be around to help her, or will she be left to face it all, on her own?Join Brooke and Logan as they share their story in My Destiny, the first of a two part instalment in the Destiny series. This story is told in dual POV. This book has been re-edited.

Enemy Within


Marysol James - 2014
    Namely, she heads out alone to a bar on Friday night, intent on having her first-ever one-night-stand. A single night of escape with a scorching guy, and then she’ll focus on her treatment and recovery. After all, what’s one night, really? Ever since coming back from Afghanistan two years ago, Dean Jessop’s life is all about ‘just one night’. No commitment; nothing permanent; nothing long-term. He meets Emma and one night of hot sex later, she sneaks out of Dean’s place while he sleeps – and they both think that’s it. Neither expects to see the other ever again. A month later, a chance encounter brings them back in to each other’s lives. They strike an agreement which includes: casual sex only, nothing too personal, and they can end it anytime with a single word. What Emma and Dean don’t count on is developing strong and real feelings for each other, despite Emma hiding her disease and Dean running from his guilt. When Dean finally tells Emma what happened in Afghanistan, she wonders if she can confess her own dark secret. But can she really expect him to forgive her for hiding her illness from him? If she tells him the truth, will he be there for her through it all? And can she help him make peace with his own demons?

The Bipolar II Disorder Workbook: Managing Recurring Depression, Hypomania, and Anxiety


Stephanie McMurrich Roberts - 2014
    Bipolar II disorder differs from bipolar I in that sufferers may never experience a full manic episode, although they may experience periods of high energy and impulsiveness (hypomania), as well as depression and anxiety. If you have been diagnosed with bipolar II, or even if you think that you may have this disorder, you may be frightened by the highs and lows of your intense emotions. Fortunately, there are proven-effective treatments that can help you find a sense of calm and peace of mind. Written by an extremely accomplished team of bipolar experts, The Bipolar II Disorder Workbook is designed to help you manage the recurring depression, hypomania, and anxiety that can arise as a result of your condition. The convenient workbook format combines evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and other mindfulness-based exercises to help you manage your emotions, track your progress, and ultimately live a happy and more productive life. This is the first self-help workbook available specifically for individuals diagnosed with bipolar II disorder.

The Book of Hat


Harriet Rowland - 2014
    At the time she was a student at Queen Margaret College in Wellington, New Zealand.Going through treatment was often a lonely time, as friends — while supportive — didn’t always understand Hat’s new life. This was until she fell in love with the character Hazel Grace from John Green’s novel The Fault in Our Stars, a girl who talks honestly and openly about living with cancer. Like her, Hat found life changed in ways that were both good and bad: falling in love and hospital stays among them. And she was surprised by how much happiness there was still to find.Throughout her journey, Hat kept a blog called My Experience of Walking the Dog, and this book is a collection of those posts edited with the author. Why the blog title? Her parents say cancer is like a dog — fine if it stays in its own yard. Hat’s dog got out.Harriet Rowland entered the Mary Potter hospice in Wellington two days after her book launch, and died surrounded by family and friends at 7.05 am, Friday, 7 March, 2014. This is her unexpected story.‘This way I will NEVER have to get a job, learn how to cook more than two-minute noodles or do anything mildly productive. I never have to grow up and I can forever be a kid! Though my ‘forever’ is shorter than most, I don’t mind. What I do mind is that I am going to have to leave everyone I love behind.’

The Carer


Scott Nelson - 2014
    Out of options in the middle of a bitter British winter, Mal takes on a live-in job looking after Florence Days, an octogenarian who talks to her wallpaper and can’t fathom why her late husband is always late for dinner.Part social commentary and part gritty psychological thriller, The Carer is a dark tale of patricide by proxy, the corrosive effects of unbridled power - and of what happens when you outsource your loved ones to people who don’t love them...Advance reviews for The Carer"A wake up call for anyone facing a dementia diagnosis - or who has elderly relatives requiring care.”Georgia Howley, best selling author of In the Garden and Switcher“With elder abuse increasingly in the news, and against a backdrop of a rapidly aging population, this book calls time on our culture’s drive to prolong life at all costs – providing the strongest argument yet for quitting while you’re still ahead.”James Whitehead, author of Exit Zero"The Carer contributes to the current – and increasingly intense and high profile – debates about our right-to-die and how we will cover the cost of our aging population’s healthcare."Dave Rider, author of Distant Sons

The Farmer's Daughter Romance Collection


Tracie Peterson - 2014
    Meet daughters of prairie farms from Montana south to Kansas who find love in the midst of turbulent life changes. Marty’s nieces are kidnapped. Rosalind’s town is overrun by a railroad company. Amy’s jealousy comes between her and her twin. Beulah’s answer is needed to a marriage proposal. Lilly’s choice puts her at odd with her neighbors. Into each of their lives rides a man who may only make their situations worse.

Forget Me Not


Nancy Van Laan - 2014
    Grandma’s whole family is concerned as they start to notice that she is becoming more and more forgetful. After they find her wandering the neighborhood, they need to make an important decision on her behalf—that the time has come for her to move out of her house and into an assisted living community where she can have the best care possible.

Vitamins and Death


Medeia Sharif - 2014
    After her mother, a public school teacher, engages in an embarrassing teacher-student affair at Lincoln High, they relocate to a different neighborhood and school. Being her mother’s briefcase, Deidra joins her mother at her new workplace, Hodge High. Since her mother has reverted to her maiden name and changed her appearance, Deidra thinks no one will figure out they’re the Battles from recent news and that they’re safe. Neither of them is. Hodge brings a fresh set of bullies who discover details about the scandal that changed her life. Feeling trapped at home with an emotionally abusive, pill-addicted mother and at school with hostile classmates who attempt to assault and blackmail her, Deidra yearns for freedom, even if she has to act out of character and hurt others in the process. Freedom comes at a price.

To Love Free


Chris Paynter - 2014
    Madison hasn't painted in over three years since her wife and muse, Callie, lost her battle with cancer.Supermodel Gabrielle Valenci's arrival at her family home in Islamorada unsettles Madison's comfortable routine. Gabrielle has left a floundering relationship behind in New York and travels to Florida to undergo the last of her chemotherapy. Her prognosis is excellent, but her journey since the initial cancer diagnosis has been rocky.The appearance of a dolphin in their cove coincides with Gabrielle's arrival next door. With each unannounced visit, he inspires Gabrielle and Madison as he gently nudges them together. Soon, Madison is accompanying Gabrielle to her treatments. Although the bond between them strengthens and their mutual attraction grows, both are hesitant to take the next step. Can they learn To Love Free again?Sometimes, the fragile human heart is reluctant to heal. But Madison and Gabrielle never counted on the persistence of one determined, magical dolphin they call "Free."Words: 80,220

How to Climb the Eiffel Tower


Elizabeth Hein - 2014
    and cancerLara Blaine believes that she can hide from her past by clinging to a rigid routine of work and exercise. She endures her self-imposed isolation until a cancer diagnosis cracks her hard exterior. Lara’s journey through cancer treatment should be the worst year of her life. Instead, it is the year that she learns how to live. She befriends Jane, another cancer patient who teaches her how to be powerful even in the face of death. Accepting help from the people around her allows Lara to confront the past and discover that she is not alone in the world. With the support of her new friends, Lara gains the courage to love and embrace life. Like climbing the Eiffel Tower, the year Lara meets Jane is tough, painful, and totally worth it.

The Meaning of Maggie (Sneak Preview)


Megan Jean Sovern - 2014
    Download now and enjoy this extended excerpt before the book goes on sale on May 6, 2014. As befits a future President of the United States of America, Maggie Mayfield has decided to write a memoir of the past year of her life. And what a banner year it's been! During this period she's Student of the Month on a regular basis, an official shareholder of Coca-Cola stock, and defending Science Fair champion. Most importantly, though, this is the year Maggie has to pull up her bootstraps (the family motto) and finally learn why her cool-dude dad is in a wheelchair, no matter how scary that is. Author Megan Jean Sovern, herself the daughter of a dad with multiple sclerosis, writes with the funny grace and assured prose of a new literary star. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of this book will be donated to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Chasing Butterflies


Josephine Brierley - 2014
    This is an updated cover edition of ASIN B00RJFEAMI.Struggling to deal with the break down of her relationship, Lorilei Williams faces an even bigger challenge when she is diagnosed with breast cancer.As Lorilei does her best to cope, she finds an unexpected friend in Lukas Bray, her employer of five years, and discovers an inner strength she never knew existed.As one relationship breaks down and Lorilei ponders whether anyone will love her with the new scars that grace her body, she finds that Lukas is there for her throughout her journey.If you believe in love, or ever had your heart broken, you will find yourself lost in this story, as Lorilei matures into a strong young woman, and finds that love can remain a part of her life.

Better


Carey Heywood - 2014
    It was supposed to be the trip Ally would have taken when she got better. Now, it's just a chance for Aubrey to say good-bye. Adam escapes in his solo trips overseas, working just enough to fund the next one. When the opportunity to circle the globe falls in his lap, he can't refuse. The only catch is that he won't be traveling alone this time. Unable to hide from each other, Adam's overprotective nature thwarts Aubrey's desire to find her own way. Can they move past initial assumptions to find something better?

Scars


Elena M. Reyes - 2014
    Thrown away.Invisible.Every single one of those could be used to describe me. They can tell you my story—my sad past—without a single syllable passing through my lips.I hate them—those who lied to me. They claimed to love me, but in reality they used me when convenient. My parents. Sister. And now Talan. Loving them has left me empty. Sad. Alone.Not anymore. Screw them. My love has turned to anger…hate. Now, what consumes me is the urge to destroy, to force them to see what they wrecked with their carelessness. My name will never be forgotten. Not after I have my revenge.His tears will be my ultimate retribution.

Breathing Out


Karen Hockney - 2014
     Karen Hockney's extraordinary battle with breast cancer was different in two ways. First, as an Englishwoman living in the south of France, a stone’s throw from Cannes, she suddenly had to contend with language barriers and an unfamiliar health system (albeit an extraordinarily efficient one). Secondly, as a leading showbusiness writer who has penned for publications including Hello, The Times and You Magazine, her job was jet-setting around the world to meet some of the most famous celebrities of our time. How could she cope with facing them sans wig, battling nausea and exhaustion? How would they react - and was it really possible to go from Cancer to Cannes Film Festival in the space of a few weeks? A memoir with a difference, Breathing Out is full of practical advice, meticulous research and knowledge garnered from Karen’s journey, punctuated by hope, positivity and a smattering of bleak humour. 'Inspiring, humorous and poignant, this book underlines the power of positivity.' Elle Macpherson ‘The word cancer is one we are still too scared to say. After reading this, I realised it was a book about the Big C but that C is courage. Karen's insight, good humour and selfless devotion to her family shows what an amazing human being she is. She actually makes cancer 'approachable' if there is such a thing. However grim life can look, with strength, good grace and love you can win. It’s a story we can all relate to and learn from, one that is truly worth reading. (It made me cry too). Amanda Holden ‘Karen’s book is an honest and touching account of her journey which had me laughing and crying at every turn. Her health tips are also accurate and empowering and a wonderful resource that I can put into the hands of my cancer patients.’ Dr Simone Laubscher, Harley Street nutritionist

The Body Tourist: a Memoir


Dana Lise Shavin - 2014
    It had been a difficult venture that included an expulsion, a multitude of transfers, and a four-month institutionalization for depression and anorexia. By the time it was over, she was convinced she was cured, and that it was time to start curing others. I’m ready, she told her parents, her therapist, her friends—all of whom shook their heads in horror at her 95-pound frame. But she was undaunted. She had landed a job as a counselor in a halfway house for drug and alcohol addicts. She knew better than anyone what it took to become a happy, functioning adult.Or so she thought. As you might suspect, the burden of self-contempt, faulty logic, and interpersonal turmoil that are the character traits of depressive disorders and addictions do not miraculously disappear once medication and therapy have taken effect. Where, then, do these dangerous obsessions go once a person sets foot on the road to recovery?For Shavin, they lived on beneath the radar of her supposed newfound health, disguising themselves in the falling-down houses she happily moved into and dangerous neighborhoods she somehow didn’t fear. They announced themselves in the deeply flawed men she professed to adore, the ordinary sex she could not have, the food rituals she thought were normal, and most profoundly, in her inability to acknowledge her father’s illness and encroaching death.While many writers have written candidly and eloquently about their struggles with depression, addictions, and eating disorders, those stories usually conclude once there is progress toward recovery. Beyond recovery there is another story, one that is about how we re-join the world, and, in the living years that follow the darkness, pursue a life that is creative, engaged, and deeply felt in our bones. This is the territory of The Body Tourist.