Note
from Suz: It's time to fight my way into the very back of my
closet, dust off that (very small) box that says "Last Few Copies of
LADIES' MAN," and have my annual fundraising raffle! Note
from Suz: It's time to fight my way into the very back of my
closet, dust off that (very small) box that says "Last Few Copies of
LADIES' MAN," and have my annual fundraising raffle!
For those of you who haven't heard, LADIES' MAN is the book that never was. As far as I know, there are only a few hundred copies in existence. (Click HERE to read the whole woeful tale...)
Because of the laws of supply and demand, this book has repeatedly sold for $1000 (yes, you counted those zeros correctly! LOL!) at internet auction. Which is a lot of money for a paperback book, if ya ask me.
But the fact remains that there are people out there who are dying to get their hands on this book. I do have a few copies left, and every now and then I'll dust one off and raffle it to raise money for a worthy cause.
This time around, all proceeds from this raffle -- every single penny raised! -- will be going to support distribution for "One in Eight: Janice's Journey," a documentary film by Cynthia A. McKeown.
Here's the film's blurb: "One in Eight: Janice's Journey" is a film that documents Janice Fine through her diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from late-stage breast cancer. "One in Eight" is an important film that can make a difference in how people think about breast cancer -- not just its treatment or impact, but its possible causes and what we as a society need to do to prevent it.
I've seen this film a number of times -- it's an amazing story, an amazing movie. It deserves to be seen, to be distributed, to be talked about. (One in Eight refers to the number of women who will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. Do you have seven female friends? I do. Those are pretty scary statistics, aren't they?) (Click here for an interview with the film's director!)
I'm going to be doing some additional fundraising to support the distribution of this wonderful film -- to make it easily available, in particular for women who've been diagnosed with breast cancer. One of the projects I'm planning is a weekend-long, in-depth master-class for writers, with a limit of eight attendees. (Watch my e-newsletter for more information about that after I get back from my FLASHPOINT road trip!)
Right now, let me explain how this raffle is going to work!
First off, the drawing will be held on April 17th at 8:00 p.m. eastern time. (Entries must be received in my post office box by noon on Saturday, April 17th.) Winner's name will be posted on my website by 8:30 p.m. that night! (You don't need to be present to win. In fact, you better not be present, since I'll be holding the drawing in my kitchen, the day after I get home from my FLASHPOINT tour! <g>)
Tickets are:
1 for a $5 donation
3 for a $10 donation
and 10 for a $25 donation
You can buy as many tickets as you like, but, since this is the nature of any raffle, it will be possible to win this mint, signed copy of LADIES' MAN even if you only buy one $5 ticket!
Oh, yeah -- the donation you make is completely tax deductible!
Checks (or postal money orders) should be made out directly to the "Center for Independent Documentary."
With your check or money order, also send a 3x5 index card upon which you write your contact information: name and address and phone number. Please send one 3x5 card for every raffle ticket you buy. The index card will act as the actual raffle ticket. We'll put them all in a big container, shake it up, and draw one of the index cards to pick our winner!
To make it absolutely clear: If you donate $5, send 1 index card with your contact information upon it. If you donate $25, send 10 index cards with your contact information printed upon each one! (You can use return address stickers on the cards if you like!) Act fast, because these checks and index cards must be received by April 17th!
Please send checks or money orders in U.S. funds (made out to the "Center for Independent Documentary" ) and index card(s) to:
Suz Brockmann
Ladies' Man Raffle
PO Box 5092
Wayland, MA 01778
You'll also be able to purchase raffle tickets during my FLASHPOINT tour! We'll have index cards on hand at each of my book signings for those who wish to participate!
Note from Suz: Last but way not least, here's some more information on ONE IN EIGHT:
One
in Eight: Janice’s Journey
Interview with Filmmaker Cindy McKeown
3/3/04
Question: What motivated you to make this movie?
Cindy: The primary motivation was learning that my friend, Janice Fine, had just been diagnosed with breast cancer at age 33. I had recently learned that a friend from college and a relative had also been diagnosed with breast cancer. All of a sudden, this disease became a part of my life, not just something that happened to other people.
Question: What do you see as the most important message of the film?
Cindy: From a personal perspective, the most important message is to be an advocate for yourself and your health care. If something is wrong, trust your instincts and find a doctor who will partner with you in your treatment and recovery. From a public health perspective, we need to understand why cancer is so prevalent today and what combination of environmental triggers and biology and lifestyle make a person more prone to getting cancer. Once we understand some of these factors, we need to have the political will to put into place policies that are prevention-oriented.
Question: Why create another film on breast cancer? There are so many already!
Cindy: The purpose of the documentary is to illuminate a larger truth through someone’s personal story. My goal in this film was for the viewer to "get inside" the experience of breast cancer. The scope of the project also changed over time as Janice and I both learned more about breast cancer and the work of many organizations and individuals searching for the causes of cancer and models of prevention. In this way, the film itself models a trajectory that many women take: from breast cancer patient to breast cancer activist.
Question: What are your hopes for this film?
Cindy: My first hope is that every newly-diagnosed woman is given this film to watch by her health care provider, and that she takes it home and watches it with her family and friends. My second hope is that every person in this country has a chance to see this film and begins to think differently about cancer. Thinking "differently" can take many forms: it can mean having the courage to get a second or third or fourth opinion, or having hope that you can go on to lead a full and happy life, or it can mean asking questions and demanding answers to why cancer is so prevalent, and what we as a society need to do to prevent it.
That's all for now! Be sure to come back on Monday for the next installment in the Countdown to FLASHPOINT!
See you tomorrow!