New Fiction Book: "Be Still," sheds light on Lou Gehrig's Disease

July 29, 2012 - PRLog -- In Tania L. Ramos’ new fiction novel Be Still (published by iUniverse), one man is caught between life and death, trying to make peace on both sides, before his life with Lou Gehrig's Disease ends and time seals all wounds.

When Jack Silver and his wife, Shannon, lose their 3-day-old daughter, their relationship almost ends. But when Shannon is killed on the anniversary of their daughter’s death, it is Jack’s relationship with his son, Travis, that will suffer most. Now there is something more to hinder their relationship: Jack is diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's) and refuses all treatment.

The book trailer is as chilling and hopeful as the book.  Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ5DJdQ7HU8&feature=youtu.be

An excerpt from Be Still, a recipient of the Editor's Choice and Rising Star awards:

    “You’re a doctor,” she said. “You knew the signs.”
    “Some say doctors make the worst patients. Is it Parkinson’s?”
    Chris shook her head. He could see her working to remain strong and focused. “I hoped for that. Hell, I prayed for it.” She paused long enough to cause Jack to break eye contact and look downward. “I consulted two other doctors and a specialist. We all came to the same conclusion. The tests you took confirmed it—”
    “Just tell me,” he interrupted, weary of the song and dance.
    She clasped his hands and revealed the cold, harsh truth. “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,” she blurted, her ice-blue eyes instantly turning red and glassed. He gave her a blank stare, unknowing and paralyzed. “You have Lou Gehrig’s disease,” she explained. “If you would have come sooner—”
    “Are you sure?” he interjected, unsure he had heard correctly.
    “I’m so sorry, Jack,” she said with the same high pitch he’d heard over the phone.
“There are clinical trials and medications …”
    Jack vehemently shook his head, causing her to stop speaking and gawk with a gaping mouth. Buying time was not an option—he’d waited too long, had run down the hourglass. If it was indeed Lou Gehrig’s, the point of recovery or stalling the disease had already slipped away. The only thing left to look forward to was death and the possibility of being reunited with Shannon and Holly … if there was indeed an afterlife, an uncertainty he was about to face.
    “Won’t you even try?” she asked.

Be Still is the poignant story of a man haunted by his wife's death, guilty over the loss of his daughter, and regretful of the relationship with his son.  With nothing to live for, Jack concedes to his diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's Disease, while the story follows his illness and eventually the life he finds when in a coma.

Questions with the author:
Why write about life in a coma?
“I think at some point everybody wonders what happens to a person’s mind and soul when that person is in a coma,” Ramos writes. “Be Still answers this question from a purely speculative opinion, but it also hits on decisions a family member must make in regards to life-support and death.”

With so many diseases out there why choose Lou Gehrig's?
"Originally it was cancer, but as a nurse I had a remarkable encounter with a woman who had ALS.  The more I wrote the story the more I thought back to her story and our interaction.  She was a fighter and refused to give up, unlike my hero in Be Still. I felt that despite my novel being fiction this may be an avenue to also shed light on a disease many people do not understand. I hope to raise some awareness."

Are you working with any organizations to raise awareness?
"Not yet.  I'm new at all this and don't always know where to start.  Sometimes I find that I started in the middle and have to go back.  I have started slow on my publicity but hope to start a fundraising campaign this fall with an ALS organization where I will donate a portion of my sales to help a family in need or donate to ALS research."

About the Author
Tania L Ramos worked as an emergency medical technician in Los Angeles, Calif for seven years before becoming a registered nurse where she works now in the recovery room and cardiac rehabilitation.  She resides in Hesperia, Calif with her family.  She hopes to be able to speak to young authors about writing and pursuing their dreams. Ramos is also the author of When I Thought I was Tough.

Events
Tania L Ramos has most recently completed a 6 day blog and video tour.  Also on her venues has been book signings, private event book parties, and an upcoming venue at an Art & Book charity event.  She is also working on a one hour program to help new authors avoid point of view errors for an upcoming writing seminar.

To Learn More:
http://www.BeStillNovel.com
http://www.Facebook.com/TaniaLRamosBooks
http://www.TaniaLRamos.com
author@tanialramos.com

Reviews:
"This book had me crying and laughing within pages of each other!!" Melanie RN74
"It's a tragic story that's at the same time uplifting, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone..." Michelle8888
". . . this one was so much more deep. The visual discriptions were outstanding and you felt as if you were there... To feel, see and smell every word as it lept from the pages." DEKC
"I read it non-stop in less than a day. One of the and I mean few books that had me literally laughing out loud, unable to hold back tears, get frustrated and so on in one book. It was good, good, GOOD!!!" BirdDog2

Be Still, is published through Iuniverse and has received two awards.  This book and the author will touch the lives of readers.