What do you wish people knew.

Hey Guys, I thought this would be the perfect place to reach out and see what kind of awareness we would like to bring to the world about cardiac issues, pm, icd, etc.

I am a writer and my debut novel Heartless is coming out in March. My Heroine has a few heart conditions because I'm tried of reading about people with perfect lives and all their struggles are only surface deep. So I wrote a lot of my experiences into her story to make it real.

As part of my release, I want to raise awareness about what it is we live with. Things that challenge our lives. I think there are a lot of misconceptions out there that need to be corrected. For starters, only "old" people have pacemakers. Hah. I was 26 when I was paired up with my constant companion "The Sparkster." Most people don't even know what an ICD is.

My idea is to do a google scavenger hunt. List questions and have people find the answers and post them in my event. If they do this, they will be registered to win a free copy of my book. I think it would be a fun and interactive way to educate people about cardiac issues in general.

What do you think? Any suggestions??

9 Comments

sounds good

by LisB - 2014-02-03 11:02:26

I like the idea very much. Sounds informative, fun, and a good way to build community.

congratulations

by rvrs708175 - 2014-02-04 03:02:00

on your book. as a writer too, I know what it takes. I would love to join the scavenger hunt. sounds like fun. please let us know how and when. Ann

God idea

by donr - 2014-02-04 08:02:01

...that needs focus & specificity.

Vanessa, I like your title. But a question - what genre' does it fit into? Obviously fiction, but what beyond that? Pulp love story? Crime? Mystery? Adventure? Humor? Tragedy?

What demographic is it aimed at? Teens? Male? Female? Old Coots? Cerebral? Educated?

Do you plan it to be the first of a series, following your heroine through a series of adventures? That could explore a series of PM/ICD issues & their social, physical & mental aspects. I'm thinking Sue Grafton & Kinsey Millhone here.

I know that it's too late to influence this edition, but food for thought WHEN this one is successful.

After that preface, on to the question at hand:

1) You cannot cure all ills in the first time out.

2) Pick a MAIN topic of awareness, plus several subsidiary issues to surround & support your main thrust.

3) You already have your MAIN OBJECTIVE - & it's a GOOD one - the age distribution of people getting PM/ICD's. Just look at the number of posts active w/i the current 7 day window where someone comes in saying "I'm too young for this." MOF, there's one that immediately follows this post & YOU commented on it.

4) Secondary OBJECTIVE 1) Just what, exactly, is a PM OR ICD? If this is NOT accomplished, the whole effort is wasted because no one will have the foggiest idea what is going on. It is also easy & straight forward in an INITIAL outing. This objective must be accomplished first & early, & is essential to accomplishing the MAIN objective or everything fails!

5) Secondary OBJECTIVE 2: The MENTAL aspects of the limitations PM/ICD hosts face. This is probably the worst issue facing the YOUNG ADULT newbie. Face it - the infant doesn't even know what is happening; the child accepts it w/o all the narcissistic issues the teen faces; Somewhere along the aging line, it becomes sorta accepted that it happens as part of our mortal aspects of being alive. This objective is a big supporter of the MAIN, & need not be completely accomplished, but neutralized such that it does not hamper successful accomplishment of your MAIN objective. Since this is a mental, rather than physical ghoal, part of it can be reserved for successive outings in your literary success. ( Think Sue Grafton.)

6) Secondary OBJECTIVE 3: The physical aspects of hosting. This one must be mentioned, but subsidiary to the MAIN & First TWO Secondary Objectives. Like the second secondary objective, it can be only neutralized & partially left for future exploration

6) The THREE secondary objectives must SUPPORT, but not overshadow the MAIN objective. They must be structured such that they are easier to accomplish than the MAIN; and be either enroute to it & accomplished before the MAIN, or at essentially at the same time.

Hope this helps.

Don

Specifics

by Vmurph - 2014-02-04 08:02:33

It falls into the NA (New Adult) Category and Contemporary Romance. The main demographic will be 18-35 but I've had a handful of people read it that are over 50 (Male and Female) and they seemed to enjoy it.

It is the first book in a 3 part series. The Chasing Hearts Series. Book 2 and 3 are already works in progress. It Does follow my Heroine through her struggles with her condition. I've talked with a couple people in here that have helped me out with medical specifics on Cardiomyopathy and she will end up with a pacemaker in the second book.

I've put a lot of my personal experiences into the things she deals with but amped them up a bit as far as the story line is concerned.

So as far as raising awareness, or even just educating people that may read it... I guess that needs to be my focus for the release stuff... I know I personally didn't know anything about pacemakers or ICD's before I was rushed into the emergency room and told I would be getting a pacemaker the next morning. That night I found this website, reached out...poured over every ounce of information I cold get my hands on because there was never a discussion about what it was or what it did.

Don- you and I have had countless conversations about things for the last few years, so you know my deal probably better than anyone.

My issues have me disabled and not able to do much, but I know my situation is not typical for people my age with a pm. I have other complications that just add to that.

I learned early on this is a 95% Mental game and most of the time I forget I even have a pm unless I'm pacing and I feel it kick in.

I think this could be a good platform to do something good. I don't know, I'd just like to try.

congrats

by rnff2 - 2014-02-04 08:02:34

Glad to hear your book is coming out soon. Thats so exciting!!! I would love to continue to help out with whatever you need.

A lot of thought.

by Vmurph - 2014-02-04 09:02:06

Yes my friend, I have given all of this a TON of thought. If figure if I'm going to put myself out there to be judged by the general public I needed to get a plan together.

Thanks for all the support you've ever given me. You are a good friend :)

Tattoos- They pulled a disappearing act lol. My author picture may show that I have a sleeve lol. It may be kind of strange to have my wings on there instead of my face. Or OH I know, I could be the faceless author LOL.

Oh and you have a private message to respond to, you slacker!

Sounds like you are on a roll!

by donr - 2014-02-04 09:02:43

Surprised that your plans paralleled my outline.

Sounds like you have thought things through pretty well & stand a good chance for success.

At least w/ a three part series, you need not try to do everything in the first outing. May you be as successful as Sue Grafton!

BTW: My heartiest congrats for adapting to your new reality w/i the constraints of your condition. Which points out that even if normality does get modified, the PM/ICD host is NOT a helpless cripple.

Will the book's back cover show your many neat tattoos? I would be hard-pressed to choose between the back, showing your wings, or the biceps showing Rosey the Riveter. Hey - I just checked - they're GONE from the gallery.

Don

Release

by Vmurph - 2014-02-09 11:02:14

I'm working my little tail off right now trying to get all the final editing done now. Hoping to release at the end of March. It will be available through Amazon/Nook/Ibooks and possible Kobo. I'm having a big release party on Facebook and will be giving a bunch of copies away too. I'll post when I have dates and anyone that's interested can join the party.

The book

by Stark - 2014-02-09 12:02:40

How will we be able to acquire a copy?

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Member Quotes

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.