Coincidences and those déja vu moments when I find myself pre-empting what will happen next have been a regular part of my life. I’m never quite sure what to make of them, but these days I go with the flow. My head tells me they are just a part of a busy mind that dredges things from the subliminal to the front when I least expect them. Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t, but my next book has more than a few coincidences. One of those involves ovarian cancer research.
When I was working in Cairns, every time I walked to the Qantas Club on the second floor of the terminal I saw a poster about Ovarian Cancer. That was undoubtedly the catalyst for Beverley, a character in my next book, battling ovarian cancer. I didn’t make a conscious decision on that, it simply evolved. The research was fascinating, but confronting, as I learnt so much about an illness that up until then had seemed insignificant compared to breast cancer.
Late in the writing process I was contacted by Wendy Johnson-McFarlane to see if I’d be interested in contributing to a fund raising initiative for the Mater Research Unit and Ovarian Cancer Australia. I was delighted to be involved and look forward to February 2014 and helping to raise the awareness amongst our community even further. Wendy also very generously shared her experience with ovarian cancer so that I could add some depth to Beverley’s battle in the story. For a writer that sort of generosity is to be cherished.
This week, my fellow Australian suspense writer, Bronwyn Parry, tagged me to join her ‘Romancing the Frock’ team for Frocktober – a fund raiser for Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. It was an easy decision. I’m an infrequent wearer of frocks (and ask my gorgeous nephew, Wolfram, about frocks!!) so the excuse to drag them out of retirement for October and then post photographic evidence on Face Book was too good an opportunity to pass up. Our team’s set a modest total of $2000 for the month. I’m sure we can do a whole lot better than that.
You can find our merry band of Frocksters at : https://frocktober.everydayhero.com/au/romancing-the-frock.
Our Face Book page is : https://www.facebook.com/romancingthefrock
And to kick off this dress-wearing caper here’s an old photo of me in a dress!!
Kerrie, I buy frocks and then don’t have the courage to wear them! But I will pull them out of the cupboard this month and hope that they still fit 🙂
Thanks, Cathryn, interested in frocking up for Friday Lunch at GenreCon???
Great cause and a great photo 🙂 I don’t even think I own a frock – that’s how infrequently I wear them!
And looking totally glam too!
All the best with the fundraising. Great cause.
My knees will be clad in thick tights, Bron! It’s a bit chilly in Brisbane this morning 🙂
Thanks for joining me in Romancing the Frock, Helene! I’m sure we can frock on together at GenreCon next weekend – although I’m not planning on showing my knees!