Rethinking A Storyline?
In 2011 when I penned Running To You, I really intended on
including a serious storyline involving my lead character, Alexandra, that was completely
out of the norm for medical issues commonly included in romance novels.
In character, Alexandra lost her mom to breast cancer at
the age of 12. She grew up without a motherly figure in her life and with an
absent father, who buried himself in his company. The staff practically raised
her. After college, she went on to sell medical devices to surgeons performing
surgeries in the Breast Cancer field.
The storyline that I scrapped included Alexandra having
the test for the Breast Cancer Gene (known as BRCA I and BRCA II) because her
mother had the disease and could’ve potentially passed the gene to her. Her
test would’ve turned up positive, indicating her very high risk for
developing breast cancer. It would’ve been discovered during her pregnancy and
a turning point in her relationship with her boyfriend, Grayson, who just happened
to be a surgeon, performing mostly breast cancer surgeries.
Why would this be important and who would care, you might ask?
In my real life, I sell products for the diagnosis and
treatment of breast cancer, a disease that has probably affected someone you
know. It is a subject that is near and dear to my heart, since I have devoted
over 20 years in this arena. At the time the novel was written, I wanted to
write a medical romance, but I also wanted to use the opportunity to touch the
reader in another way, a way that was real and relatable, but different and
possibly new to readers.
During beta reads of Running To You, the feedback provided
to me indicated that the readers didn’t really understand the premise of having
the BRCA tests performed and therefore, didn’t relate to it. So, I made the
tough decision to scrap that part of the material and refocus the storyline a
different direction.
Fast forward to May 16, 2013
Angelina Jolie announces that she recently underwent a
preventative double mastectomy in Feb. 2013 because she tested positive to the
BRCA genetic testing, confirming that she carried the Breast Cancer gene. It
was discovered that her risk of developing Breast Cancer was greater than 85%. Removing
her breast decreased her likelihood of developing the disease by over 80%. (In
an effort not to plagiarize prior writings, please see her story at http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/14/showbiz/angelina-jolie-double-mastectomy
.)
I’m very inspired by Angelina’s strength to be proactive in
her health and more than likely, the most difficult decision she has ever made.
I am even more in awe of her ability to undergo such public awareness and
applaud her for her motivation and tenacity. I’m certain that her story will
reach millions and influence many women to undergo the tests and feel confident
about seeking further treatment, with the attitude “if Angelina can do it, I
can do it.” I also applaud Brad Pitt for standing beside her and making a
very public commitment to love her with or without breasts.
The recent events leave me revisiting my thoughts about my storyline. At the time, I didn’t believe readers would’ve understood what it
meant for my character to undergo treatment of removing her breast prophylactically for carrying the breast cancer gene and
how this would affect her in such a profound way or how it would fit into the
couple’s relationship.
In the future, I won’t be so timid about stepping out of the
norm with my storylines. After all, we don’t want to read the same things over
and over. My passion for all-things-pink haven’t gone away. Who knows, maybe
the storyline will appear in another form in another story along my writing journey.
Up until two weeks ago, this storyline of genetic testing
wasn’t a normal everyday conversation. Now, it’s epic! Cheers to Angelina for
coming forward and graciously educating women everywhere!
Hugs,
DeLaine
Author of Contemporary Romance
The Running Series:
Book 1: Running To You- now available in paperback and
ebook at all major retailers.
Book2: Two Sides of a Heartbeat- expected Summer 2013
Book 3: Chasing Air- expected Fall 2013
Book 4: Forgiveness Creek- expected Holidays 2013
One lucky person commenting today today will receive an autographed copy of Running To You, released April 28th and a little bit of swag to go with it. All commenters will be entered to win the drawing for a Kindle Fire Giveaway at the end of June.
Follow DeLaine at:
@delaineroberts
Facebook: DeLaine.Roberts Author
delaineroberts.blogspot.com
Sounds like you were trending before the trend hit! Breast cancer is a topic that is in the forefront of most women's minds and if it an be addressed in an entertaining fashion, such as a romance book, I say more power to you! Great post!
ReplyDeleteThat's great of you to devote your books and time to this subject
ReplyDeleteI follow via email
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thanks so much for your comments. Hopefully, I will do the storyline much justice and with grace when the time comes!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, DeLaine. Look forward to the next book.
ReplyDeleteTalk about timely! I've had to rethink story lines a time or two but wouldn't even know how to deal with such an important topic as breast cancer. Congrats on your new release!
ReplyDeleteThank you for shining the spotlight on genetic testing. Even though genetic testing is fraught with economic and possibly legal complications, I think it's best to be forewarned. In our family, hereditary hemochromatosis is the threat.
ReplyDeleteIf you are of Scots/Irish/Welsh/English or northern European ancestry, ask your family doctor to check the iron binding capacity of your blood or go straight for the genetic test for hemochromatosis.
If this is your ancestry, NEVER take any kind of iron supplement unless you are sure you are free of this genetic variant.