A Book and a Chat with Melinda Marchiano

Melinda Marchiano was a happy thirteen year old, academically at the top of her class, enjoying dancing six days a week and enjoying life, when suddenly her world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with “Hodgkin Lymphoma”.

As Melinda shared with us during the show, in some ways to finally have a diagnosis it was a relief.

Over the next “forty-eight doses of chemo, a trip to the ER, two doses of morphine, three drug reactions, forty-one shots, over one hundred-fifty needle pokes, fourteen days of radiation, an eating disorder, a mass the size of a softball, a PICC line, a port, two biopsies, a bone marrow aspiration, total hair loss, nine months of intense therapy and so many doctor appointments…” A first in her journal and then in her now international award winning novel Melinda shared a written record of her diagnosis, treatment for and recovery from Hodgkins.

Throughout the bad times, as we learned, Melinda’s faith, her love of dance, therapy dogs, and warm blankets kept not only Melinda aiming for the future, to beat the illness, help others and lead to an enhancement in her own faith and believe.

Her book “Grace: A Childs Intimate Journey Through Cancer And Recovery” is filled with countless upbeat, smiling photos of Melinda - posing with friends and family members, snuggling with the therapy dogs that kept her company during chemo, mugging for the camera in the hospital with a water bottle balanced on top of her bald head. But every chapter or so, her tone changes, becoming more serious, somber even, as she tries to make sense of her health crisis.

It is an uplifting story of thirteen-year-old Melinda Marchiano’s battle with cancer—told in her own unflinchingly honest words.

Melinda has taken on the mantel of advocate on behalf of many different organizations, her way of expressing gratitude for her life. Her story is a gift that will aid others both those fighting such an illness or those who have friends and love ones going through such times.

The first edition of Grace won 2010 International Book Awards: Award Winner in the : Health/Cancer Category and Finalist in the : Spirituality/Inspirational

I will leave the final words to Lance Armstrong…

“In her book, Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery, Melinda Marchiano offers an honest and inspiring portrayal of her cancer experience through the eyes of a teenager and proves there is medicinal value in love and laughter. Melinda and I share a common bond. We are survivors. And we believe in the importance of empowering fellow survivors to live life on their own terms. By sharing her story, Melinda is giving a voice to this global epidemic that needs immediate attention. I am grateful to Melinda for having the courage to speak up and for her generosity in helping others fighting cancer.”
-Lance Armstrong

So listen to an interesting and entertaining show as I spent thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Melinda Marchiano"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Melinda Marchiano".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Melinda Marchiano"

You can find out more about my guests and their books at:

"Melinda Marchiano - Grace"

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

A Book and a Chat with Kathi (Easy Writer) Macias

Half way through today’s show I checked my emails and there were already two messages from listeners saying how much they were enjoying the broadcast. This it what makes it all worthwhile, knowing that others are enjoying the show. Mind you, whenever today’s guest appears on the show it is always a fun and entraining event, “A Book and a Chat with Kathi (Easy Writer) Macias” was no exception.

With over thirty books already under her belt Kathi seems to be able to produce three to four books a year, be fiction or nonfiction.

Today the main topic of conversation was her recent novel “Valeria’s Cross” which was co-written with “Susan Wales”

The name Susan Wales is a writer well known amongst the book world, wife of film producer Ken Wales (Amazing Grace), she co-wrote the popular political thriller series The Chase, The Replacement, and The Candidate, but is perhaps best known for her Match Made in Heaven series of compiled true stories. With two etiquette books, Social Graces and Social Graces for Your Wedding, plus the entertaining The Pleasure of Your Company to name but a few.

When you add this level of writing to Kathi’s thirty plus books you know that the outcome will be a book well worth reading.

Valeria's Cross:

In the 3rd century, pampered Roman princess Valeria falls in love with Mauritius, captain of the Theban Legion. She sends him off to battle, where he suffers under the schemes of a notorious pagan general with an ambition for power and a lust for Valeria. In a scene based on true events, the evil Galerius kills Mauritius and his entire legion for their Christian faith. And in a shocking turn of events, the grieving Valeria is forced to become Galerius' wife against her will. Never has a marriage been set up for such failure. Valeria loathes her new husband, but he seems to undergo a change of heart, adopting a child for her and giving her power and authority, and even love. She struggles with the commitment she knows she must keep, and the love she knows she will never find again.

Kathi also shared with us her latest release in the "Extreme Devotion Fiction Series",
“No Greater Love” set in South Africa, was followed by “More Than Conquers” set in Mexico, next month the third book in the series “Red Ink” set in China, will be followed by “People of the Book” set in Saudi Arabia, which will come out April next year.

A lady who never seems to rest for a moment, Kathi shared with us much about not only her writing, but also how she developed into the wonderful speaker an writer she is today.

So sit back and enjoy today’s “A Book and a Chat with Kathi Macias”

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Kathi Macias"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Kathi Macias"

You can find out more about my guest and their book at:
"Kathi Macias - Valeria's Cross"


Don't Forget November is MALE YA MONTH



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry