SPECIAL GUEST Debut Author Tina De Salvo

TINA DE SALVO

GIVEAWAY!!!: Please read my post and leave a comment including your email address. I will be giving away two copies of ELLI, a Second Chance Novel along with two $10 Amazon gift cards to two lucky readers!

Congratulations Sarah and Judith on your Blog-O-Versary! I‘m a fan of Romancing the Genres and I’m thrilled to be a guest blogger. Thank you for the opportunity to share why I’m so passionate about the fundraising efforts of my book, ELLI, a Second Chance Novel. All of the proceeds from the sale of ELLI are being donated to help women in the fight against breast cancer with their unmet needs. As many of you know, the difficult treatment to save their lives often causes financial hardship because of interruptions in their wages or because their insurances don’t pay for certain services they need.

I have seen this first hand. I am a breast cancer survivor. While receiving chemo and radiation,  I heard stories of how some patients didn’t show up for treatment because they didn’t have money to put gas in their cars or pay for a cab ride! How awful! If they are to beat the beast, they need to show up to fight it. To learn about what other unmet needs the money raised will fund, visit www.tinadesalvo.com. There you will also discover how the AMAZING Cherry Adair, the TALENTED Stella Barcelona and I raised money for the same cause at #RT14 Convention with our campaign FRIENDS FIGHT TOGETHER. Both ladies helped to keep me writing when writing was very hard to do! Every writer needs a friend to push and encourage them through to "The End". 

CHERRY, TINA & STELLA

1 out of 8 women will get breast cancer. That’s a lot of sisters, mothers and wives. I think their stories of their fears, hopes and triumphs are important to understand. I wanted to tell it in a way that a person could understand the heart and soul of a survivor. I also didn't want to write a fiction book about cancer. Elli is a heroine who had breast cancer.  I deal with issues related to being a survivor (the same issues people with any life threatening or altering health problems face) but the bottom line is-IT’S A ROMANCE.

I tell Elli’s story with a light, humorous voice because that is how I see life.  Elli is tossed into a world of Cajuns, dogs and blogs that she had thought she could control. Her idea of how she wanted to live life post-cancer is quickly detoured when she arrives on Sugar Mill Plantation in south Louisiana and meets the gorgeous Ben Bienvenu, known as the Cajun Dog Whisperer.  

!’ve been honored to receive five star reviews for ELLI, (you can see some on Amazon.com and www.tinadesalvo.com ). As you fellow authors know, that feels pretty darn good. And, I’m thrilled to have NYT Best Selling Author Cherry Adair say this about ELLI…“DeSalvo writes with warmth and wit.  Her characters leap off the page and into your heart. It is a fun read where deals, dogs and disaster blend seamlessly in a fast paced story of second chances.” That feels good, too. 

And this by NYT Best Selling Author Heather Graham…“ It’s a delightful and uplifting read while it touches upon one of the most serious diseases facing us all today–cancer. The book never preaches — it entertains with wonderful humor. I recommend this book — it’s simply excellent in so many ways! A keeper — Bravo!” Okay, pinch me. I'm so ridiculously humbled by all of this. 

ELLI was inspired by my real emotion and those of the people who fought cancer alongside of me. I hope you enjoy reading Elli’s journey in that wonderful, difficult, joyful and fearful time after the cancer treatment ends and a renewed life begins. My next book, JEWEL, a Second Chance Novel, is set in the same delightful place with many of the same fun-loving characters from ELLI. It will be available at the end of 2014. Stay Tuned. For now, buy ELLI, and then, buy a second copy for your sister! Visit me on https://www.facebook.com/TinaDeSalvoAuthor https://twitter.com/tina_desalvo .