Post #35 – Women’s Memoirs, News – Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett
According to statistics from the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, 8 million Americans have eating disorders…and 7 million of them are women. Yes, anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating are largely women’s issues. And it’s not just a matter of being overweight.
Let's get out the VOTE for Marguerite and her book.
Now, here’s the really interesting statistic: The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reports that without help 20 percent of people suffering from serious eating disorders will die. But the number drops dramatically–to just 2 percent or 3 percent–when people receive help.
My sister in law, Marguerite Piazza Bonnett, is writing a book that she believes can help. She calls her approach “a 12-step program based on New Thought spiritual principles.” She needs your help, though. More specifically, she needs your VOTE!
Marguerite is not someone who just thought she could sell some books about weight loss. She has lived with an overeating disorder for years. Furthermore, she has suffered in secret. Only close family knew her problem. Marguerite’s never been obese. She’s just been in constant fluctuation–up a size or two, down a size or two. Through it all, she’s battled depression, which is probably the most painful aspect of this affliction.
But don’t take my word for this. Follow this link to The Next Top Spiritual Author, and let Marguerite explain her story in her own words. She’s created a short video in which she talks openly about her problem and her book, which she hopes can help others to help themselves. Then, please, vote for Marguerite.
Since we’re all writers, I think you’ll find this contest to get a publishing contract very interesting. The co-creators of the competition, James Twyman and Robert Evans, are, in effect, getting prospective authors to engage in social networking and build a platform and a following for their book prior to publication. It’s quite clever, really. And the vote is only the first of four steps she must complete. In Round 2, the top 250 contestants will write and submit a book proposal, which we again get to vote on. The 25 who make it to Round 3 are then judged by an expert panel that includes Hampton Roads Publishing. There will be 5 winners and one Grand Prize Winner.
Marguerite is a good writer, so I’m looking for her to go all the way! She is a screenwriter. Marguerite also co-authored her mother’s memoir, Pagliacci Has Nothing On Me!
I hope you’ll help Matilda and me demonstrate the power of Women’s Memoirs to reach writers. Together we can help Marguerite get her book deal so she can help others suffering from food addiction and the pain and depression that goes hand in hand with the affliction. We have until May 3rd to vote. Thank you.
Update: According to Marguerite’s Facebook page, she’s among the top 100 vote-getters.
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Done. Best of luck to Marguerite. I look forward to reading her book.
Thanks, Kathy. Marguerite’s got a lot of heart and soul invested in this. I think she’ll do well. Actually, she called me last night…almost speechless. She couldn’t believe I blogged about her contest entry.
I really do think that as writers we should think about this process because I have a feeling we’re going to see a lot more contests of this type–giving us the opportunity to vie for publishing contracts. And if it gets us out there building a platform, so much the better.
Thanks again.