I asked fellow Floridian writer, Marni Mann, to write a guest blog post talking about another project she was involved in after the publication of her debut novel, Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales.
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Marni Mann, a fellow Floridian and author of the novel, Memoirs Aren't Fairytales, is one of thirteen authors who contributed to the anthology, Write For the Fight.
After my debut, Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales, was released in December, I was asked to contribute to an anthology. Tess Hardwick, best selling-author of Riversong, and Tracey Hansen, author of the upcoming release, Not A Perfect Mom, were the founders of this project. In their words, they were feeling sad and hopeless over how many lives have been altered or ended because of breast cancer, and they decided, quite literally, to write for the fight.
Ten years ago, my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember the tear-dripped faces when she told my family the news. Most of all, I remember how she hugged me when she was going through chemotherapy. How her arms tightly bound my body with such strength, determination, and fight. I was the weaker of the two, barely containing my emotions, wanting to save my aunt from her disease. Our cheeks weren’t any drier when she told us she was in remission.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, nearly 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and more than 40,000 will die. My aunt is a breast cancer survivor. All women should be breast cancer survivors. My words could make a difference. The anthology could help fight this disease. I was honored to Write For the Fight.
Write For the Fight is a collaboration of thirteen authors and we’re all donating our profits to breast cancer research and awareness. The book explores the seasons of life and each author answers the following questions: what do you miss about being 5 years old; what would you tell your 20-year-old self; what, at this point in your life, do you want, wish and dream of for your life going forward; what would you want said about you on your 80th birthday?
As a writer of fiction, I often insert life experiences, things I’ve witnessed, or felt, into my pieces. I can hide these truths behind my characters. Write For the Fight was the first time my words came from my point of view and I had to be completely honest with my readers. The questions were a challenge, not just because I had to dig into my collection of memories going back as far as five years old, but also because I couldn’t mask my feelings and past. Readers weren’t just supporting a cause by their purchases, they were expecting quality writing and emotion-filled words. I can speak for the rest of authors and say we gave them just that.
Write For the Fight was released on February 29th, exclusively on Barnes & Noble. In early April, the anthology will be available for all eBook devices and in paperback. You can follow our progress and receive updates on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WriteForTheFight or spread the word by using the hashtag #write4fight on Twitter.
A New Englander at heart, Marni Mann, now a Floridian is inspired by the sandy beaches and hot pink sunsets of Sarasota. A writer of literary fiction, she taps a mainstream appeal and shakes worldwide taboos, taking her readers on a dark, harrowing, and gritty journey. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, she’s scouring for chocolate, traveling, reading, or walking her four-legged children. Her debut novel, Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales, was published by Booktrope in December 2011.
Website: http://marnismann.com
Twitter: @MarniMann
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mcbmann
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13267836-memoirs-aren-t-fairytales
Stories I Read, Stories I Tell 
Thanks again for hosting me, Eric! It was such a pleasure to work with you.
Any time, Marni.
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