Come hear 'Rollercoaster' author speak in store

My Copperfield's Books talk in San Rafael is at 7 tonight — please be there to support me

Woody Weingarten and Nancy Fox, with their
granddaughter in Copperfield's children's section.

Tonight's the night.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, I'll find out if I can just as easily put one word after another standing up as I do when I sit at a keyboard.

I'll be at Copperfield's Books in San Rafael, 850 4th St., to speak about my book, "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer."

I'll focus on caregiving, especially for patients with life-threatening diseases.

I'll be happy to sign copies, too.

And I'll also be talking about the support group I've been leading for 20 years, Marin Man to Man.

I'd love it if a bunch of you who read this item show up to support me.

Do nail salons breed cancers, other health woes?

Chemicals in nail products threaten manicurists, clients with cancers and miscarriages

Can manicures be hazardous to your health?

Possibly.

According to The New York Times, new medical research shows links "between the chemicals that make nail and beauty products useful…and serious health problems."

The problems are not so distinct for customers, but they're apparently clear for "manicurists who handle the chemicals and breathe their fumes for hour on end, day after day."

In a May 8 article by Sarah Maslin Nir, the Times claimed "stories and tragedy abound at nail salons across the country, of children born slow or 'special,' of miscarriages and cancers, of coughs that will not go away and painful skin afflictions."

Older manicurists, it said, "warn women of child-bearing age away from the business, with its potent brew of polishes, solvents, hardeners and glues that nail workers handle daily."

The federal law that regulates cosmetics safety doesn't require companies to share data with the Food and Drug Administration.

Warnings basically have been ignored by manufacturers of the risky products, and the industry has vigorously fought regulation.

As a follow-up to the Times piece, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo ordered emergency measures initiated to help quash the health hazards, educate workers of their rights, and fight apparent wage theft. He called for a task force to conduct probes and close salons that don't meet the new standards.

Among the changes he demanded are the mandatory wearing of gloves and masks, proper ventilation for the salons, and requiring bonds to ensure payments to workers.

Cancer in all its forms, of course, is the scourge of our time. Once contracted, it is likely to turn into an ordeal of ups and downs — such as I, Woody Weingarten, chronicled in my VitalityPress book, "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer" — which focuses on a male caregiver's journey through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and the aftermath of all those treatments.

My book also provides up-to-date coverage of breast cancer research and meds — as well as a guide to where help can be obtained.

Radio broadcasts feature 'Rollercoaster' author

CBS station in San Francisco features 'Rollercoaster' author  — 'from adversity to advocacy'

Jeff Bell

I'm planning to claim my first minute and a half of radio fame this Sunday.

I'll be the solo guest of Jeff Bell’s regular spot, which focuses on people who've moved “from adversity to advocacy” — in other words, according to the A2A Alliance website, “individuals who have successfully turned a personal challenge into service to others with similar challenges.”

The 90-second segment, boiled down from a 15-minute interview,

Bookstore officials hail 'Rollercoaster' success

Copperfield's book-signing by 'Rollercoaster' author called 'one of best since store opened'

Woody Weingarten signs "Rollercoaster."

The title of a classic movie from 57 years ago may best sum up what I experienced last weekend:

"The Sweet Smell of Success." 

That's what I, Woody Weingarten, gleefully felt after my first book signing — at Copperfield's bookstore in San Rafael.

Jake James, assistant manager, and Alex Steinmetz, community events coordinator, agreed that my "meet-and-greet" was "one of the best since we opened this store" at the end of 2013.

It was my first-ever signing for "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer."

Happily, it drew friends, friends of friends, friends of friends of friends, relatives, neighbors, former co-workers, members of my Marin Man to Man support and film groups, members of my wife's cancer support and book groups — plus a sprinkling of strangers.

Happily, too, many of them bought books — three to four times as many as average meet-and-greet purchases, according to store officials.

"Rollercoaster" is aimed at caregivers. It’s a hybrid book, a memoir-chronicle, a love story, and a guide to research, meds and where to find help.

It tracks a caregiver’s bumpy yet uplifting journey from the depths of a wife’s diagnosis to the heights of their climbing the Great Wall of China. And it illustrates that most couples can successfully deal with the disease itself, “slash, poison and burn” treatments, fear, and the repercussions of it all — and that there truly can be light at the end of the tunnel.

Author sets in-person bookstore appearance

'Rollercoaster' author plans 'meet-and-greet' in San Rafael Copperfield's — his first ever

I'm going to do my first-ever “meet-and-greet” book-signing this Saturday, Feb. 28, at Copperfield’s bookstore in San Rafael, California.

You'll find a cheery me, Woody Weingarten, at a table at 850 4th St. between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. chatting up my new VitalityPress book, "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer."

“I’d appreciate it if everyone I know would drop by if only to say hello and offer support,” I told myself in a mock interview I conducted.

"And if some of you want to offer even more support by buying the book (and having me personally inscribe it), that would be a bonus."

“Rollercoaster” is aimed at caregivers. It’s a hybrid — a chronicle-memoir, a love story, and a guide to research, meds and where to find help.

The book tracks a caregiver’s bumpy yet uplifting journey from the depths of a wife’s diagnosis to the heights of our climbing the Great Wall of China. It illustrates that most couples can successfully deal with the disease itself, “slash, poison and burn” treatments, fear, and the repercussions of it all — and that there truly can be light at the end of the tunnel.

On this very weblog I've noted there are 35 million caregivers in the United States. My mostly tongue-in-cheek hope is that, over the course of time, I can sell at least one copy of “Rollercoaster” to each of them.

For anyone who might not yet know, I've been an award-winning professional newspaper editor and writer for 50 years, and have run a support group for male caregivers for two decades. I've also been the recipient of two “healing partner” awards. 

Come to Copperfield's in San Rafael and help me help others.

Nonprofit plugs breast cancer care book

Zero Breast Cancer organization supports 'Rollercoaster' book for male caregivers on website

Zero Breast Cancer, which collaborates with scientists on studies designed to identify the causes and recurrence of the disease, has given my book, "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer," a prominent push on its website.

Under the headline "Men caregivers need support, too," the article says that "when it comes to breast cancer, men — especially prime caregivers — are often a forgotten part of the equation." 

And it notes that I, Woody Weingarten, wrote the book to remedy that situation.

It quotes me as saying that "Rollercoaster," which your favorite bookstore can order in hardcover or paperback, "will benefit male caregivers because 'even if they mistakenly believe they require zero help and can fix anything, they need support.'" 

Simultaneously, the quote continues, "a woman reader can learn what a man goes through while she's locked in a life-threatening battle."

The article also cites the fact that I've been running Marin Man to Man, a drop-in breast cancer support group for guys, for 20 years — since shortly after my wife, "who’s doing well indeed, was diagnosed."

ZBC, a nonprofit based in San Rafael, California, was founded in 1995 as Marin Breast Cancer Watch. It became Zero Breast Cancer in 2006.

It's 16th annual Honor Thy Healer awards program and dinner is scheduled for Thursday, May 7, 2015, shortly before its Racing for Research fundraiser on Saturday, May 16. A third event, Dipsea Hike for Zero Breast Cancer, is slated for Sept. 26. 

You can register for any or all of the ZBC events, or obtain information about the organization, at www.zerobreastcancer.org or by calling (415) 507-1949.

Tips 'Rollercoaster' author might use next time

'Rollercoaster' writer plugs book by other experts after he admits guilt (but no remorse)

Joel Friedlander

Betty Kelly Sargent

Okay, I'll confess.

I — Woody Weingarten — didn't use Joel Friedlander's latest book before I used my years of experience and expertise to write and publish mine, "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer."

My sole excuse is that "The Self-Publisher's Ultimate Resource Guide," which he wrote in tandem with Betty Kelly Sargent, didn't exist then.

But it's a permanent part of my here-and-now now, and I expect it may help me with any new edition of my book on male caregiving that I might publish. Or any future book(s).

So I only feel a teensy-weensy guilty.

The fact is, "Ultimate" could help a whole bunch of writers who'll put out books on their own — as well as many still being published by the few major houses remaining in New York, writers who often discover those corporations generally suggest you do your own promotion, marketing and desk-dusting.

Joel, owner/operator/desk-dusting guy at Marin Bookworks in San Rafael, California, labels himself a blogger, book designer, consultant, internet marketeer and speaker.

I know him. He's all that.

He's also funny — though you probably can't tell that from this book, which is almost exclusively a series of lists.

Betty Kelly Sargent was an editor at William Morrow and Harper Collins and other publishing houses before New York's literary world started shrinking faster than an Arctic icecap being assaulted by climate change. She also founded BookWorks.com, the self-publisher's alliance.

I don't know her. So I don't know if she's funny.

But I do know they've come up with a volume that might save an author or wannabe tons of research time.

One of the best things about "Ultimate" is its reference links to what the compilers label the first collection "of curated and verified resources for independent authors…"

I tested some. To verify the verified.

The links are live.

Some references I might use next time fall under the titles of professional and trade associations, marketing and publicity, sites to list e-books, image sources, illustrators and cartoonists, writing contests and book awards.

Use of only a couple would certainly be worth the space I'm giving the book (which I and countless others were allowed to download free).

Although I feel zero guilt, shame or remorse about writing this item, I recognize that some readers may feel my plug will show there's no such thing as a free lunch — or a free download.

Weekly boosts breast cancer caregiving book

San Francisco paper bolsters 'Rollercoaster,' male caregiver's guide to light at tunnel's end

Woody and Nancy now

Abracadabra!

Like welcome magic, the first full-length newspaper feature about “Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner’s breast cancer” has appeared.

The print version was published Jan. 10, 2015. 

An online edition followed.

Editors put an intriguing headline on the piece: A memoir about cancer from the other side of the bed.

Here's the story, reprinted by permission in its entirety:

by liz harris, staff writer

j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California

Their love story is sweet and also remarkable: Woody Weingarten and Nancy Fox met as teenagers in New York and vowed eternal love. They dated for a while and then, questioning their commitment, cut it off and completely lost touch.

Decades later, after a chance meeting in Mill Valley, their love rekindled. At midlife, they became husband and wife.

Seven years into their marriage, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Life became a wild ride.

In “Rollercoaster,” a book 20 years in the making, Weingarten offers an unblinking look at how breast cancer affected him and Fox from diagnosis to the present day. Its primary focus is to help male caregivers through the process, thus the subtitle: “How a man can survive his partner’s breast cancer.”

“Rollercoaster” is also meant to help others navigate the emotional and physical ups and downs, as well as the mountains of confusing medical studies and different treatment options, that come with the disease.

Today life is good, Weingarten declares during an interview in the couple’s sun-drenched hilltop home in San Anselmo. With Fox cancer free for many years, they travel, enjoy a busy social life and pursue lifelong passions. Weingarten, 77, who retired in 2007 after 24 years as managing editor of J. (formerly the Jewish Bulletin), still writes for local newspapers and is working on a new book. Fox, 75, a pianist whose white baby grand piano is the focal point of their living room, still performs at local retirement homes, senior centers and JCCs.

Weingarten acknowledges that “Rollercoaster” isn’t exactly an easy read, but he believes it is a valuable one.

“My major aim is to help people — men whose partners have any life-threatening disease,” he says. “What you go through. What you can expect.”

He utilized his journalism skills to craft a love story/“memoir-chronicle” and comprehensive resource for anyone affected by breast cancer, with current, meticulously researched information on medications, scientific studies and helpful resources.

He also includes a short list of books written for partners of breast cancer patients. “In the last 15 years there have been 15 books published by [and for] men,” he says, while noting that “most of them are way out of date, not well written.”

Weingarten’s book is “positive,” he says. “There’s light at the end of the tunnel.” It also is sprinkled with humor. In fact, asked for the most important piece of advice he can give

Book on male caregiving wins readers' praise

Reviewers give 'Rollercoaster' five stars, say it's 'frank,' 'eloquent' and a 'must read'

Readers are giving "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer" — the new VitalityPress book I, Woody Weingarten, wrote about being a male caregiver — five-star ratings, and calling it a "must read."

On Amazon, for example, certified retirement life coach Gloria Dunn labels it "a love story written…charmingly with both wit and compassion. If you only read one book about a couple going through the cancer process together, this is a must read."

"Black Blender" writes that it's a "terrific book on a neglected subject."

And Georgia McDaniel, one of my wife's "chemo-sitters" and a current breast cancer patient herself, writes that she "appreciated the insertion of various statistics or results from studies to punctuate a particular point."

Leah Garchik

Leah Garchik, a daily columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, notes that I've "written a memoir, an instructional guide, a journal of emotions…Anyone who has suffered through watching a loved one face possible mortality will find succor here."

Callie Raab, herself an author, writes she found the book "surprisingly frank, eloquent, moving, and enlightening…and a powerful reason for others in a similar situation to hope."

And on the Goodreads website, Fran French, a medical professional, concurs: "I laughed, cried and felt totally immersed in the words and feelings Woody Weingarten expressed. A must read."