Four Months To Publication of Going, Going, Gone!
CANCER UPDATE AND PENDING SURGERY
As most of you know, I have been living with metastasized melanoma for almost two years. Since my second surgery in March 2020 to remove affected lymph nodes under my left arm, I appear to have been cancer free. To remain that way, I underwent a year of targeted gene therapy that ended in May of this year.
I now have periodic CT scans and brain MRIs. My last brain MRI seven months ago was clear. But since then, I have developed a tumor in my brain that would suggest the gene therapy was a failure. Plan B now will be to remove all evidence of this growth with a combination of surgery and perhaps radiation and then proceed with immunotherapy.
The kicker in all this is that I was on the gurney with the surgeon outside the operating room, ready to go under the knife, on Thursday afternoon this past week. Then word came down that a shortage of post-op recovery beds meant they had to bump my surgery. Because of other scheduling issues, I am still waiting to confirm a new date this coming week. In the meantime, all I can do is manage symptoms with medication.
It’s a tough time all around with scheduling in hospitals with all the pressures that are on the healthcare system because of COVID (I have zero sympathy and zero patience for anyone who refuses to get vaccinated without a legitimate medical reason, but that’s another story). I live in Canada with a public healthcare system and the there are still dire challenges right now.
All we can do is just wait and see and hopefully I will get a new surgery date confirmed on Monday and then take it from there.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Where gene therapy tries to attack the cancer directly, immunotherapy boosts your own immune system’s ability to identify, target and destroy cancer itself. So, you could say my first treatment with gene therapy was giving a man a fish to eat, and Plan B with the immunotherapy will be teaching him to fish for himself.
THE GOOD NEWS
The good news is that the tumor is easily accessed and easily removed … relatively speaking. There are of course risks with any kind of surgery like this, but I am assured in this case that a positive outcome is the most likely outcome.
AND … Bane of All Things is still releasing, come hell or high water!
Again, due to COVID disruptions (this time, impacting book publishing supply chains) the release date has shifted back three weeks to Dec. 07 – but it will still be out in time for Christmas, so chill that egg nog!
Thanks again for all your love and support.
Cheers
Leo
Dear readers,
I hope you have not forgotten me. It has been quite a while, and I admit that things have progressed far slower than I’d hoped. I feel that much of that is my own fault, and that has made me reluctant to post any updates. However, it looks like we’re finally over the slump, and have something real to report.
The book went into copy edits just last month, and should be moving on to the next step within the next week or so. Apparently we have a publication date set for February 2022, so here’s hoping things go according to schedule.
As I’m writing this, the International Agatha Christie Festival is just entering its last day. I was invited to say a little something about Christie’s post-WW1 world, though the ongoing plague means my contribution has had to be online only. Rather a shame not to be there in person, but being "online only" means the video is now available on YouTube. Check it out here: Agatha Christie: Clues to the Post-War World. While you’re there, why not check out some of the other online talks and events for the festival?
Cheers to everyone; stay healthy, and happy reading.
Friends:
If you’re hungry for a strange, twisted Southern gothic tale, a pre-order now means that apatite will be filled in a few weeks. Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or of course right here on Inkshares. Click over at least to look at the amazing cover art. Trust me, the inside of the book is just as beautifully designed.
Hey readers,
I hope by now you have read (and enjoyed) IN BETA. The buzz on Amazon and Goodreads has been strong (4.7 and 4.2 stars, respectively).
Inkshares is running a $0.99 Kindle promotion through end of the weekend in an effort to get the book on Amazon’s #1 bestseller list. We’re close to summiting the "Humorous Sci-Fi" category (#8 and climbing), so if you know anyone who would enjoy the book feel free to post something like the below to your social:
Check out my buddy Prescott’s first novel, he got crazy endorsements from JJ Abrams and Felicia Day and its $.99 through the end of the day: https://tinyurl.com/h4dtjfzp.
And here’s a nice photo:
Thanks everyone!
“Visceral and vivid, Bane of All Things is a gorgeously imagined ride. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and the world of monsters and magic they inhabit. A terrific read.”
These heartwarming words came just this morning from fellow Ottawa-area scribe Kate Heartfield. She is the author of Armed in Her Fashion, Alice Payne Rides, and, coming early next year from HarperVoyager UK, The Embroidered Book.
It’s hard to believe we are just two months from Bane of All Things’ release day on Nov. 16. Even more unbelievable (and affirming) is that I have fellow authors like Kate, whom I have admired for years, sharing their enthusiasm for my work.
My publisher continues to make the rounds with the bloggers and the magazines and e-zines that might post a book review or agree to interview yours truly. In a few weeks I will be launching a giveaway on Goodreads to also drive attention to BoAT.
World Fantasy Con
Coming up on Nov. 4 to 7 is the 2021 World Fantasy Convention. As the “World” in the name suggests, this is a big deal. The Con is hosted by a different city in Canada, the U.S. or the U.K. each year. This time, it’s in Montreal – only a few hours down the road from my house. I bought my ticket way back in 2019. It will be my first time at this event and, as a debut author to boot, it should be memorable. There will be mandatory vaccinations and masks for all.
Would you like to join my Street Team?
The call is now open for volunteers to join my “Street Team” and help spread the word about BoAT. As a Street Team member, you are agreeing to be a positive and supportive cheerleader, because any debut needs all the positive press it can get!
Your participation could take any of several forms:
If you are interested in taking part in any way with the Street Team, or if you have other ideas for how you might like to help, don’t hesitate to email me: leo@leovaliquette.com
That’s all for now. Stay safe and keep reading!
Happy September!
Happy Monday to all my Henderson House supporters!
Hello Friends and Backers,
Way back in 2016 you pre-ordered my book, The Loving Wrath Of Eldon Quint. I am pleased to announce that the book will be released September 14, 2021.
That means this September, Inkshares will ship you your paperbacks and email you your ebooks. If you are expecting a physical paperback, and you have moved to a new address in the last five years, please update your address on the Inkshares website.
To update your address, sign into your Inkshares account using your email address and password. Then click the circle icon on upper right corner of the screen. In the dropdown menu, select "Shipping Address." From there, click the "Change Address" box and input your current one.
If you can’t remember your password, email hello@inkshares.com and they will help you find it.
Thank you for being so patient. You made this book possible. I do hope you enjoy it.
Many thanks,
Chase