On Writing

Today we continue our interview with author, Dr Judith O’Malley – Ford to discover who she is and what prompted her to write this book. Follow the promotional tour to learn a little more each day.

 The Book: The Secret Stalker of the Prostate by Judith O’Malley-Ford

 Synopsis: This book has the potential to save many lives. Every question regarding anatomy, disease processes, decision making procedures for the treatment and considerations of the side effects, psycho-social effects and the impact on relationships, are concisely covered – all in layman terms.

For those men who are in the process of taking that difficult step of presenting prostate problems to their doctors, including those unfortunate enough to be facing investigation for prostate cancer, this book is for you.

More about Judith:

13. Other than writing, what else do you love?

I also love painting, and drawing and reading. I have had 2 watercolour exhibitions. I love quilting and spending time with family and friends.

14. Describe your perfect day.

Every day I achieve the things I set out to do.

15. What five words best sum you up?

Hard-working, passionate, dedicated, positive, meticulous.

Author profile:

I wrote a story once, starting with the statement, ‘I was born at the age of four”. I think this says a lot about who I am. If I set myself a task, I will always see it to the finish.

My heritage is a mixture of Irish, Scottish, and French. My paternal grandparents were born in Ireland. My grandfather was a stonemason craftsman and died before his time from an associated occupational lung disease. There are enduring examples of his work in public places in Brisbane where I live.

Recently I compiled a picture book of the family history, with pictures dating back to family gatherings of my mother’s family and her great grandmother.

Check out the posts on the other blog tour sites to learn more.

The book is available at all book stores. If it is not in stock yet, ask them to order it for you. It is also available from the Morris Publishing Australia’s website http://www.morrispublishingaustralia.com/the-secret-stalker-of-the-prostate.html And on Amazon as an eBook.  

Promotional tour dates and addresses:

Today I am pleased to welcome the amazingly talented,  award winning author Bill Condon. Bill is celebrating his new book, All of Us Together with a promotional tour. Just for something different, I’m posting a play that Bill wrote based on the book. Enjoy this extract from the story. It’s bound to make you smile.

We don’t have to wish Bill good luck with his book, his reputation as a great writer is so well known that I’m sure it will fly off the shelves.

All of us Together is a junior fiction novel set in Australia’s Great Depression of the 1930s.

When John O’Casey leaves his family to go in search of work, his wife Margaret is left to raise their three young children, Daniel, Adelaide, and Lydia. Daniel, being the eldest, tries to take on the role of being a leader, but as he discovers, it’s hard to be a man, especially for a boy who’s only twelve-years old.

Although the events within these pages take place many years ago, it is not primarily an historical novel, but one that examines the lives of the same kind of down-to-earth people, who live and breathe today. This is about a family who remain hopeful and resilient, as they stand together through the hardest of times.

All of us Together is an uplifting story, told with poignancy and humour.

 IT’S HARD TO BE A LEADER

A short play adaptation by Bill Condon from All of Us Together, a novel for children aged 8 to 12 years, published by About Kids Books (RRP $14.99)

CAST

NARRATOR

MUM

DANIEL

NARRATOR: When John O’Casey left home to look for work his family knew he might be gone for a long time. Mum would need her son Daniel’s help, more than ever before. But was he up to the task?

MUM: If your sisters see you being brave, Daniel, then they’ll probably be brave, too. Today more than ever, you’ve got to be a leader.’

DANIEL: I’ll try, Mum.

MUM: I know you will. Now, have you brushed your teeth?

DANIEL: I’m not sure.

MUM: It’s either “yes, I have” or “no, I haven’t”. Which one?

DANIEL: No, I haven’t.

MUM: Leaders brush their teeth without their mothers telling them. It might be something to keep in mind.

DANIEL: All right.

MUM: Oh, while I remember it — I haven’t seen your underpants in the washing lately. How long have you been wearing those ones you’ve got on?

NARRATOR: Daniel does a quick calculation and come up with four. It sounds too high.

DANIEL: Only about two days, Mum.

NARRATOR: She looks at him like she’s having trouble believing a word that falls out of his mouth.

MUM: Before you leave this house, boy, I want you washed and brushed. Every last living bit of you.

DANIEL: Yes, Mum.

MUM: As for the state of your underpants — what if you got yourself skittled by a bus on the way to school? With dirty underpants on? How would that be?

DANIEL: Not the best.

MUM: That’s the first thing you’ve got right all morning. It would be a disgrace. There you’d be lying dead, and people would be looking at your dirty underpants. They’d think I was a neglectful mother. Is that what you want?

DANIEL: No.

MUM: I should hope not. There’s hot water in the kettle. You can nip into the bathroom and get yourself washed. I won’t tell the girls about your father until you come back. Hurry along.

NARRATOR: But Daniel has a question that won’t let him leave.

DANIEL: Mum . . .

MUM: There’s a pair of clean underpants in your drawer. Off you go.

NARRATOR: He still doesn’t go.

MUM: Goodness, boy. You’re hanging around me like a bad smell. What is it you want?

DANIEL: There’s something I have to ask you.

MUM: I’ve got a mile of things to do. Won’t this keep till later?

DANIEL: One question, Mum. It’ll only take a few seconds.

MUM: A few seconds then, but not a breath more. Out with it.

DANIEL: I wanted to know if . . . if . . .

MUM: Oh for heaven’s sakes. If what, Daniel?

DANIEL: If you’re going to leave us, too?

NARRATOR: Mum stares at Daniel. For a moment it looks like she’s getting ready to bite his head off.

MUM: Oh yes, mister, I’ll pack my bags and leave this very day.

NARRATOR: Her stare becomes a smile.

MUM: If you don’t change those underpants!

Bill will also be touring online to promote his latest junior novel, All of Us Together, in the following blog tour:

17 November Di Bates http://www.diannedibates.blogspot.com.au

18 November Clancy Tucker http://clancytucker.blogspot.com.au

19 November Sally Odgers http://promotemeplease.blogspot.com.au

20 November Sandy Fussell www.sandyfussell.com/blog

21 November Dee White http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com 22 November Dimity Powell http://blog.boomerangbooks.com.au/author/dpowell

23 November Elaine Ouston https://elaineoustonauthor.com/ 24 November Melissa Wray http://www.melissawray.blogspot.com.au 25 November Susan Whelan http://www.kids-bookreview.com 26 November Romi Sharp http://www.justkidslit.com