A Day of Debunking Myths and Valuing The Lives Around Us: World Cancer Day 2014

Today, February 4th, is World Cancer Day 2014. The Union for International describes it best,  "World Cancer Day is a chance to raise our collective voices in the name of improving general knowledge around cancer and dismissing misconceptions about the disease." The fight against cancer, and the fight for increased cancer awareness are something that everyone can participate in.

As many of you are aware Jen O'Hara, one of our authors and one of the strongest women we know, has been a part of this battle ever since her daughter was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Jen and her husband Dan maintain a blog that was originally meant to help them keep in touch with their family and friends through their struggles, and now it serves as that as well as a source of inspiration and information to others that may be facing the same challenges. That blog inspired her writing in Determined to Matter, the story of their year long battle.

Determined to Matter is a great way to come to better understand not just the hardships that cancer can bring, but the love that family and friendship can combat it with. It's written so that you can follow along with their journey in large chunks or in little snippets, perfect for people that may at times feel overwhelmed by the emotion and need to take a break.

Join us in remembering the strength of Shannon O'Hara, and help us continue to fight for awareness and funding in the battle against cancer.

"Determined To Matter" Matters to Me

"You gotta love me.  And if you don't, about a billion other people do." ~Shannon O'Hara 

I had not met the O'Hara family until last night at an event for Determined to Matter at Micawber's Books. I came aboard the Scarletta train just in time to see the finished product, so I never interacted with them through the acquisitions or editorial process. While I think working with Jen and her family during the first parts of the book's journey would have been a great experience, I am glad that I get to share in the stops that are left.

A confession:

Determined to Matter was my least favorite book among the many that Scarletta was working on when I started here in February. I was so excited to work on events with creative, zany, adventurous children's books, and DTM is just about the furthest title from what I thought I'd be working with. It just didn't speak to me in the way that The Mighty Quinn or Monster Needs A Costume immediately did. And, as Dan and Jen pointed out last night in their discussion of the book's creation, I found it to be a little cliched. A family member passes and you write a book to memorialize them--it's a common practice.

Yet.