It’s a
pleasure to welcome author Antoinette Truglio Martin to Thoughts in Progress
during her WOW! Women on Writing Tour for her latest release, HUG
EVERYONE YOU KNOW.
Doesn’t
the title make you smile and entices you to find out just what the book is all
about? Well here’s a brief summary.
During
2017's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, She Writes Press published
Antoinette Truglio Martin’s touching memoir, Hug Everyone You Know:
A Year of Community, Courage, and Cancer. It is a 2017 USA Best Book Awards
Finalist in Non-Fiction: Narrative and a 2018 Next Generation Indie Book
Finalist: Non-Fiction Women's Issues.
In
2007, Antoinette believed her call back doctor appointment was routine, maybe a
scare, nothing worse. Her shock at receiving a Stage I breast cancer diagnosis
was instantly compounded by her own deep fears. As a self-described wimp—afraid
of needles and uncomfortable with sedation—how was she going to get through
this?
Antoinette
started her fight against cancer with words. She began by journaling and by
writing emails to Her Everyone—the large close-knit family and circle of
beloved friends wanting to offer their support, especially those who were
fighting breast cancer alongside her. The emails not only helped to keep Her
Everyone informed, they gave cancer less of a presence in Antoinette’s life,
since she wasn’t repeatedly updating people or saying the word “cancer” over
and over. The practice of writing calmed her and also gave her space to focus
on living: on the house that wasn’t selling, an exciting new job, daughters in
college, and summer beach plans. She signed every email with the reminder to
“hug everyone you know.”
Those
emails and journal entries are at the heart of this memoir, which gives the book
an immediacy and raw power.
HUG EVERYONE
YOU KNOW is a memoir about how Antoinette found the
courage to navigate her first year of breast cancer treatment. It’s the story
of how a community—colleagues, family, friends—rallied to support her. The book
is moving, brave, informative, and occasionally funny—and it speaks to us all.
Print
Length: 325 Pages
Genre:
Memoir
Publisher:
She Writes Press
ISBN-13: 9781631522628
ASIN:
B07415341C
HUG
EVERYONE YOU KNOW is now available to purchase on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound.
Praise
for Hug Everyone You Know
“…a
well-written, concise telling of what it’s like to be hit with a cancer
diagnosis and the human thoughts that accompany it, like ‘how do I tell the
family?’ and ‘what do I tell them?.... In five words: she writes a good story….
Martin’s persona is optimistic; you just want to hang around her and it’s that
attitude that got her through. Not surprisingly, gratefulness is part of her
mantra. So are hugs.”—The Suffolk County News
“Filled with fresh air, light, and life, Hug Everyone You Know is an intimate conversation with an intelligent, funny survivor. The voice rings true, and the insights resonate well beyond the cancer moment. Highly recommended.”—Joni Rodgers, NYT bestselling author of Bald in the Land of Big Hair
“… a compelling memoir about the importance of community while navigating a life crisis such as cancer. As an oncology nurse and a cancer survivor myself, I found Martin's writing to be a refreshingly real depiction of life as a cancer patient. Her writing is a testimony to the endurance of the human spirit, the importance of love and community, and the need for hope every day of the journey.”—Lee Ambrose, StoryCircle Book Reviews
“Martin used journaling and emails to “My Everyone,” her group of close family and friends, to get through her diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from early-stage breast cancer….The account reveals the value of keeping a journal as a means of coping with one’s fears and acknowledges the support Martin received through sharing her experience rather than trying to shield others from her illness.”—Library Journal
“Filled with fresh air, light, and life, Hug Everyone You Know is an intimate conversation with an intelligent, funny survivor. The voice rings true, and the insights resonate well beyond the cancer moment. Highly recommended.”—Joni Rodgers, NYT bestselling author of Bald in the Land of Big Hair
“… a compelling memoir about the importance of community while navigating a life crisis such as cancer. As an oncology nurse and a cancer survivor myself, I found Martin's writing to be a refreshingly real depiction of life as a cancer patient. Her writing is a testimony to the endurance of the human spirit, the importance of love and community, and the need for hope every day of the journey.”—Lee Ambrose, StoryCircle Book Reviews
“Martin used journaling and emails to “My Everyone,” her group of close family and friends, to get through her diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from early-stage breast cancer….The account reveals the value of keeping a journal as a means of coping with one’s fears and acknowledges the support Martin received through sharing her experience rather than trying to shield others from her illness.”—Library Journal
For those
who aren’t familiar with the author, here’s a bit of background on her.
 |
| Author Antoinette Truglio Martin |
Antoinette
proudly received her MFA in creative writing and literature from Stony
Brook/Southampton University in 2016. Antoinette had also written the
children's picture book, Famous Seaweed Soup (Albert Whitman and Company), and
was a regular columnist for local periodicals Parent Connections (In a Family
Way) and Fire Island Tide (Beach Bumming).
Her blog,
Stories Served Around The Table, tells family tales and life's musings. She
lives in her hometown of Sayville, New York with her husband, Matt, and is
never far from her “Everyone” and the beaches she loves. Since being diagnosed
with metastatic breast cancer in 2012, she strives to not let cancer to dictate
her life.
You can
foll her at Facebook and her website.
You can follow Antoinette’s blog tour by visiting the following sites:
October
7th @ The Muffin
What goes
better in the morning than a muffin? Join us as we celebrate the launch the
blog tour for author Antoinette Truglio Martin's book Hug Everyone You
Know. Read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book.
October
8th @ 12 Books
Visit
Louise's blog today to read her thoughts about Antoinette Truglio Martin's
book Hug Everyone You Know.
October
9th @ The Frugalista Mom
Stop by
Rozelyn's blog where you can read her review of Antoinette Truglio Martin's
book Hug Everyone You Know and enter to win a copy for
yourself!
October
10th @ Choices
Visit
Madeline's blog where you can read Antoinette Truglio Martin's guest post on
how writing can calm your nerves.
October
13th @ Dunning Knicks Interviews
Make sure
you visit Mzz Dunning's blog today where you can read a guest post written by
Antoinette Truglio Martin about 5 reasons it's okay to not be okay. You can
also enter to win an ebook copy of the book!
October
14th @ Bookshine and Readbows
Make sure
you visit Stephanie's blog and read her interview with author Antoinette
Truglio Martin. You don't want to miss it!
October
15th @ The Burgeoning Bookshelf
You'll
want to stuff your bookshelf today when you visit Veronica Joy's blog and read
her review of Antoinette Truglio Martin's book Hug Everyone You Know.
October
17th @ Reading Whale
Visit
Caitlin's blog today where you can read Antoinette Truglio Martin's guest post
that will give you 5 tips for starting your memoir.
October
18th @ The Burgeoning Bookshelf
Stop by
Veronica's blog again where you can read Antoinette Truglio Martin's guest post
about how to help people help you. Don't miss this important guest post!
October
19th @ Bookworm Blog
Stop by
Anjanette's bookworm blog and read Antoinette Truglio Martin's guest post
featuring 5 tips for writing your memoir. Don't miss it!
October
20th @ Rachael's Thoughts
Visit
Rachel's thoughts today where you can read her review of Antoinette Truglio
Martin's book Hug Everyone You Know.
October
21st @ Writing Through Life
Visit
Amber's blog and read Antoinette Truglio Martin's guest post featuring 5
journaling tips when going through difficult trials. You can also read Amber's
review of Antoinette Truglio Martin's book Hug Everyone You Know.
October
22nd @ Karen Brown Tyson's Blog
Get
inspired today at Karen's blog where you can read Antoinette Truglio Martin's
guest post about 5 lessons she learned writing about her cancer journey.
October
24th @ Bookworm Blog
Visit
Anjanette's bookworm blog again where you can view her video vlog review of
Antoinette Truglio Martin's book Hug Everyone You Know.
October
25th @ World of My Imagination
Visit
Nicole's blog today where you can read her review of Antoinette Truglio
Martin's book Hug Everyone You Know.
October
26th @ Keeping it Real
Be sure
to visit Lisa's blog today and read author Antoinette Truglio Martin's guest
post that is talking about her ways to not let a difficult diagnosis run (or
ruin) your life. Plus read Lisa's review of Antoinette Truglio Martin's
book Hug Everyone You Know.
October
28th @ Strength 4 Spouses
Stop by
Wendi's blog today and read her review of Antoinette Truglio Martin's
book Hug Everyone You Know.
October
29th @ Bring On Lemons
Turn
lemons into lemonade today by visiting Crystal's blog and read her review of
the touching memoir Hug Everyone You Know.
November
1st @ Bookworm Blog
Stop by
Anjanette's blog again and read her interview with author Antoinette Truglio
Martin.
November
3rd @ Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde
Visit
Lindsey's blog today and you can read her review of Antoinette Truglio Martin's
book Hug Everyone You Know.
November
4th @ Strength 4 Spouses
Visit
Wendi's blog again where you can read Antoinette Truglio Martin's guest post
about keeping a positive mindset during a health crisis.
November
5th @ Life Like a Galaxy Girl
Be sure
to visit Alanna's blog where you can read her review of Antoinette Truglio
Martin's book Hug Everyone You Know.
November
6th @ 12 Books
Stop by
Louise's blog again where you can Antoinette Truglio Martin's guest post
featuring 5 books to keep you motivated during difficult times.
November
8th @ Author Anthony Avina Blog
Stop by
Anthony's blog where you can read his review of Antoinette Truglio Martin's
touching book Hug Everyone You Know.
Thanks so
much for stopping by today. Have you ever wrote in a journal and if so, was it
helpful?
Simply brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThank you, and Antoinette. I hope her journey goes well. And that she receives truck loads of hugs.
By doing that, she didn't have to go through it alone. Love the sentiment - hug everyone!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting 'inside look' at getting through that first year. And it is so important to reach out to others. Thanks for sharing this, Mason.
ReplyDelete