The Dream, 10 Days: It’s Just About… Life.

Ten days to go. The first book. The end of the beginning, because you must start somewhere.

And no the picture you see attached to the blog is not a selfie :). I have to thank my friend, the very talented Adam Oberfeld, for this picture, which is the official back cover photo for It Takes 2. Surviving Breast Cancer: A Spouse’s Story. The photo proves you can do wonders with the right light! And it is the picture to which my team gave the green light and more importantly the one my wife Debbie told me was OK to use. After all, it’s her story.

We go worldwide on September 26th as a Kindle e-book and a soft cover version on Amazon.com. It Takes 2, is the compilation of journal entries I kept (and much, much more), during Debbie’s battle with breast cancer in 2012 and 2013, leading up to the milestone of one year cancer free on May 10th of this year. I used the online journal to keep everyone up-to-date on her progress, as catharsis and as it turns out, to offer a perspective on the ordeal I have been told is unique, and seemed to resonate with so many.

Yes, I wrote it, but it’s Deb’s story. She was in the driver’s seat for the ride of her life. I was simply confidant, caretaker and witness to her heroism. I read an article recently by someone who pointed out that indeed the breast cancer survivors are heroes, yet they did not ask to be. Given the choice, Debbie would never have wanted to fight for her life, but she did and with a force I will forever admire and respect. To this day the force lives on.

I must thank this force again. Seems I do this countless times, but Deb has stayed quiet and mostly in the background while I have worked two vocations to make this book a reality. It hasn’t been easy, nothing worthwhile ever is. I didn’t want her to relive the story, as I have done many times in the editing and revisions of parts of the book, so I have kept her out of the details of the struggle to get it just right and to get it published. My team can attest to the challenges of hours of additional writing, editing, design and marketing. There have been long days, early mornings and late nights to get this accomplished. In the days ahead, leading up to launch, I will have many to thank for making this a reality. Yet it has been a labor of love. I know there is value in the message and inspiration in our story and I look forward to sharing it with the world.

Marketing is key. A book gets lonely if there is no one to read it. A website is under construction, as well as a Facebook page, Twitter account and other promotional materials. The e-mail account is already active, markbrodinsky@spouses-story.com. Media interviews are being scheduled, speaking engagements are being arranged. There are charity events to attend, like The Breast Lunch Ever fundraiser this Thursday. There’s also the book launch benefit party. I am proud to partner with the band, Charm City Static, (special thanks to Scott Bondroff and Jeff Sirody), on September 27th at Michael’s Café in Timonium, MD as we team up, along with Michael’s, to raise money for several cancer-related charities and support groups. In fact, portions of proceeds of the sale of It Takes 2, wherever it is sold, will be donated to a multitude of cancer-related charities, support groups and research organizations. My goal is more than a book, it is a movement. I’m not creating the movement, it is obviously underway and has been for years, but I want to play my part. The goal is that someday a woman you love won’t have to face the fight. We will find the cure.

In the days ahead, I will also ask for your help… my blog followers, my social media friends and you social media rock stars, to help spread the word. More details to follow leading up to the launch of It Takes 2. The date to start the online campaign is not far away. It will take, and already has, many more than just two, to make the dream a reality. I thank you in advance, from the bottom of my heart, for your support.

Until next time, thanks for taking the time.

Mark