A fun read for Halloween!
Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story Blog! T'is the season for witches, goblins and ghosts and things that go bump in the night. Halloween has never been a favorite holiday of mine. I think the "being scared is fun" attitude of the holiday rushed out the door when my brothers took me to a horror movie when I was six years old. I still have nightmares about hiding under the theater seat!
In my adult life, I get scared about other things than Frankenstein. But when I write about my fears, the words on the page help me let go of the oppressive feeling.
In my adult life, I get scared about other things than Frankenstein. But when I write about my fears, the words on the page help me let go of the oppressive feeling.
I wrote about a topic that scares me--Alzheimer's disease, a form of dementia. It was one of the most difficult scenes I have ever written. I wrestled with my fear of the disease and body-slammed it down on paper.
In my romantic suspense, Deadly Undertaking, the mother of the main character is afflicted with Alzheimer's, a monstrous disease capable of stealing a person's personality and memories. The brain is attacked until it is rendered useless. No speech, no problem-solving, no reading, no recognition of loved ones. Eventually even the ability to eat and swallow is forgotten. Frightening? Yes! And worse is the fact that there is no cure, no turning back the inevitable loss of thinking, memory, and behavior.
Now you understand why I'm afraid of Alzheimer's because it may attack me and/or someone I love. I have lost friends due to Alzheimer's disease. I imagine someone you know and love has been stricken by this disease.
By including a character with AD in my novel, I hope to raise awareness and educate folks about AD, a form of dementia. One astounding fact is 5.4 million people are living with Alzheimer's disease according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Click here to learn more facts about Alzheimer's Disease. The mission of the Alzheimer's Association is "to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health."
During October through December, royalties from the eBook and paperback sales of Deadly Undertaking will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.
By including a character with AD in my novel, I hope to raise awareness and educate folks about AD, a form of dementia. One astounding fact is 5.4 million people are living with Alzheimer's disease according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Click here to learn more facts about Alzheimer's Disease. The mission of the Alzheimer's Association is "to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health."
Walk to End Alzheimer's
Photo courtesy of ALZ.org
This time of year the Alzheimer's Association is sponsoring walks all around the country in order to provide awareness and funding. Click here to find a walk near you or click here to register and donate. Donations are used for clinical trials and studies. With research, AA plans to not only relieve symptoms but to reverse the effects of Alzheimer's AND to eliminate the disease. Can you imagine a world without AD? I can.During October through December, royalties from the eBook and paperback sales of Deadly Undertaking will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.
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| Deadly Undertaking
Halloween is the perfect time to read this romantic suspense set in a funeral home.
A handsome detective, a shadow man,
and a murder victim kill Lauren’s plan for a simple life.
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BACK OF THE BOOK: Deadly Undertaking by J.Q. Rose
Lauren Staab knew there would be dead bodies around when she returned home. After all, her family is in the funeral business, Staab and Blood Funeral Home. Still, finding an extra body on the floor of the garage between the hearse and the flower car shocked her. Lauren’s plan to return to her hometown to help care for her mother and keep the books for the funeral home suddenly turns upside down in a struggle to prove she and her family are not guilty of murdering the man. But will the real killer return for her, her dad, her brother? Her mother’s secrets, a killer, a handsome policeman, and a shadow man muddle up her intention to have a simple life. Welcome home, Lauren!
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eBook and Paperback available at
Amazon US
ATTENTION Libraries and Retailers--Deadly Undertaking in paperback is available at Ingram.
ATTENTION Libraries and Retailers--Deadly Undertaking in paperback is available at Ingram.
Thank you for stopping in.
11 comments:
That does sound scary. Hopefully, someone will find a cure or maybe a way to slow it down.
Anna from elements of emaginette
A horrid disease. I hope they find a cure soon. Great cause. Hope you have many sales.
AD is such torture not only for the patient, but for the family and friends who watch the person disappear from them. Heartbreaking.
Thank you, Juneta.
My sister who is 3 years older than I am is in the last stages of Alzheimer's. She had early onset at age 56. She became a grandmother last year. She doesn't know it. She doesn't know who we are. It's a terrible disease. J.Q. it's wonderful that you are donating royalties from your book to the cause at this time. :)
My mother had Alzheimer's, so I've seen the devastation the disease causes. How difficult it must be for the patient not being able to express oneself or helplessly watching your life disappear. Doubly hard for the family. My mild-mannered mother who never (or rarely) swore used the F-bomb often. Her anger at everything and everybody was heartbreaking. Death was a blessing because I know she's at peace. I worry about getting the disease. My doc told me not to worry since I was writing every day, I was keeping it at bay. Still... Thank you, J.Q., for your contributions to this cause.
Susan, I am so sorry to hear about your sister.It is my fervent desire to eradicate this disease from our world. It causes such heart break for loved ones who feel helpless and frustrated because there is no cure. Thank you for sharing.
Diane, your mom's anger was justified when one realizes what is happening to their body with no way to stop it. I', glad you are comforted knowing your mom is now at peace. And I know friends who also worry about getting it since a family member was stricken with it. Yes, just one more reason to keep writing! Thanks for commenting.
Alzheimer's scares the heck out of me, too. It doesn't run in my family but that doesn't always matter. Kudos to you for digging into it and putting it in your novel.
Thank you, Jacqui. I've had several friends who have experienced AD and died from it. Their families always say the person they knew and love disappeared. ALZ Association is working on reversing the effects of the disease and in the future will develop a way to protect us from getting it. I hope it will be soon! Thanks for joining in on the conversation.
Hey, JQ. I have a friend whose Husband has this dreadful disease. She walks and I support her. Thanks for doing this and continued good luck with this fun/quirky book. :)
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