The Liar’s Diary Blog Day!

Today (Tuesday), over 300 bloggers, writers, and other luminaries are standing up for one of our own: Patry Francis. You can read a great post about it here. Or here. And 300 or more places, too.

The idea here, gang, is that Patry Francis is too sick with cancer to promote her book. So we’re all pitching in to do it for her.

Like many of us, the road to publication hasn’t come easy. And now to have to face cancer on top of it? C’mon. Give this woman a break already!

Go to that first link I posted and check out the names of the people involved in this. Look at this wonderful, amazing community of people — not just writers and publishing people — who are coming together for one woman.

One woman.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said that it takes one person to start a revolution. And then another.

I’m not much of a follower; you groupies around here know that. But this time, I’m proud to jump on the bandwagon and help spread the word about Patry Francis. It’s not just that she’s got cancer and can’t do the promotional stuff herself. It’s that here’s a writer who’s written a book that sounds terrific. Here’s a woman who has touched many people quite deeply.

Now’s our chance to give back. To say thanks — for the book, for the inspiration that is Patry, for the chance to come together and be part of this revolution.

Go on and pick up The Liar’s Diary. Feel free to use my handy-dandy link right there; it’ll take you to Powell’s bookstore. While you’re there, do another writer a good deed. Pick up a book by a new-to-you author. Need ideas? Check out that list of people participating in today’s Blog Event for Patry. They’re doing her a good turn. Why not do one for them to say thanks?

Here’s the blurb for The Liar’s Diary:
Answering the question of what is more powerful—family or friendship? this debut novel unforgettably shows how far one woman would go to protect either.

They couldn’t be more different, but they form a friendship that will alter both their fates. When Ali Mather blows into town, breaking all the rules and breaking hearts (despite the fact that she is pushing forty), she also makes a mark on an unlikely family. Almost against her will, Jeanne Cross feels drawn to this strangely vibrant woman, a fascination that begins to infect Jeanne’s “perfect” husband as well as their teenaged son.

At the heart of the friendship between Ali and Jeanne are deep-seated emotional needs, vulnerabilities they have each been recording in their diaries. Ali also senses another kind of vulnerability; she believes someone has been entering her house when she is not at home—and not with the usual intentions. What this burglar wants is nothing less than a piece of Ali’s soul.

When a murderer strikes and Jeanne’s son is arrested, we learn that the key to the crime lies in the diaries of two very different women . . . but only one of them is telling the truth. A chilling tour of troubled minds, The Liar’s Diary signals the launch of an immensely talented new novelist who knows just how to keep her readers guessing.

A huge thank you needs to go out to the fearless folk who’ve organized today’s effort to raise awareness of Patry. I hate to think I’d ever be in a position where I couldn’t promote Trevor fully, but it’s nice to hope that you guys would help me out in such a way. You organizers have put a ton of time, energy, and effort into making today’s event happen and while I wish I could list you all, I know myself and I’d forget someone important, or include the wrong people. Really. Go look at Susan’s blog. Thank her and all the others involved. Thank them. One person CAN make a difference. One book sold may not cure cancer, but when those books add up, it can take an awful lot of stress away from someone who doesn’t need any extra stress right now.

Beat this cancer motherfucker, Patry. We’re all pulling for you.