Title: Before I Lay Me Down to Sleep
Author: Obsession
Publisher: Obsessional Ink Publications
Genre: Urban Romance
Hosted By: Diva’s Literary World www.divasliteraryworld.com
ISBN-10: 0615899900
About The Book
If you were given only six months to a year to live, what would be your final good deed?
Filled with love, humor and heart stopping suspense, you will find Gail Washington; a therapist turned matchmaker diagnosed with a monstrous disease. She arranges a sensual mixer in hopes that four individuals, who are also her clients, make a love connection. Nathaniel, a head strong seductive pediatric surgeon, has never met a woman that could handle him mentally or physically; that's why Gail’s feisty secretary Zaya is perfect for him. Raven is the top male tennis player in the world. He quickly learns that with championships comes a lot of money and a lot of women; both of which he’s always had control over until he meets Morgan, a free spirited hairstylist that is drop dead gorgeous and emotionally elusive. Will Gail live to see her last wish granted? Will they surrender their hearts and fall passionately in love with one another? Or will Gail’s final act of kindness accompany her to the grave?
5 Facts about the Book
1. What can we learn from the protagonist?
>Acceptance, love, humbleness, Kindness & forgiveness
2. How was Gail inspirational?
>Even though her life will be cut short, Gail remains unselfish while showing us a softer and stronger side of humanity.
3. Gail played a major role in her clients love connection.
>She devised a plan to not only heal her clients but to gift them the one thing the all yearned for, which to love and be loved.
4. The importance of loving yourself before you can love anyone else.
>Nathaniel, Zaya, Raven & Morgan had to face and conquer their own demons in order to see the good within themselves and others. They went to war with their past and their emotions; coming out scraped and bruised but free.
5. My own story inspired Gail's and the rest of the cast.
Healing, learning to love myself, facing my abusive childhood, learning how to forgive, being selfless, helping others heal with my story.
About The Author:
Growing up on the west side of Chicago, Obsession began writing at the age of 7. Winning countless awards in her youth, it was plain to see that she was indeed gifted. Upon graduating from Young Chicago Author's, she published two poetry books by the age of 17. Obsession is currently working on her fifth novel and fifth poetry book! She now resides on the north side of Chicago, where she teaches preschool.
Social Media Links Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/Obsessionthewriter
Purchase Links:
Ebook~ http://www.amazon.com/Before-lay-down-sleep-Obsession-ebook/dp/B00FNCICGY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1388363549&sr=8-2&keywords=before+i+lay+me+down+to+sleep
Paperback~ http://www.amazon.com/Before-lay-down-sleep-Obsession/dp/0615899900/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1388363549&sr=8-2
Excerpt:
CHAPTER ONE:
“The thing that is worse than death is betrayal.”~ Malcolm X
~Gail~
“What in the world is taking Dr. Erickson so long?” Gail wondered aloud.
Anxiously bouncing her right leg, she glances down at her wrist watch for the tenth time.
She’s been nervous ever since receiving a phone call from her gynecologist nurse Veronica.
Veronica stated that her test results were in and for Gail and her husband to come into the office immediately. The request from Dr. Erickson to have Chaz come along is what’s concerning her the most.
“Lord please, if this man has given me another STD I will become one of the newest movies playing on the lifetime channel… burning bed… the sequel.”
“Gail who are you talking to?” a familiar voice asked
Gail spun around to see Dr. Erickson leaning against his office door with her chart in hand.
“Oh hey Dr. Erickson, I wasn’t talking to anyone, I was just thinking aloud. You know me, always thinking about something.” A nervous laugh escaped her mouth
“Now Gail we’ve talked about this; call me Ollie. You helped me through a rough period in my life. You’re not only my patient, but you are my friend. I couldn’t have gotten through my divorce without you.” said Dr. Erickson.
“Oh Ollie, I was just doing my job. I’m a psychologist, that’s what we do; we’re healers, as my grandmother would say.”
“And a healer you are. You helped me to forgive my ex-wife and to let go. All of the talks we had, exercises and books that you recommended really aided in healing my broken heart. Now look at me; my private practice is doing amazing, my self-esteem is through the roof, and the ladies love me! And I have you to thank.”
“Not at all Ollie, you can thank God; I just helped out a bit.”
They laughed simultaneously.
Gail leans back in her chair and speaks softly.
“You’ve found something wrong with me haven’t you? There’s a reason you wanted Chaz to come with me to receive the results.”
“Where is he?” Dr. Erickson asked.
“Obviously not here so what is it already?” Gail impatiently replied.
“Your pap smear came back abnormal. We explained that most the time abnormal cell changes on the cervix are caused by human papillomavirus, which is a sexually transmitted disease. This prompted us to do a colposcopy or cervical biopsy to run test on the abnormal cells.”
“Right and you told me that usually the abnormal cells will go away on their own.” said Gail.
“Yes but I also said that it depended on what type of HPV we were dealing with. You haven’t had a pap smear 10 years prior to this one.” Explained Dr. Erickson
“It slipped my mind.” she shamefully replied.
“Yes, you informed me of that. With the symptoms you’ve been having; the abnormal vaginal bleeding after intercourse, the fatigue, the longer heavier periods, and the pelvic and back pain; Gail I don’t know any other way to say this but to say it.”
Dr. Erickson looks at his friend with the saddest eyes and continues.
“The biopsy results report that you have cervical cancer. You will undergo further test to determine whether the cancer has spread and to what extent; this process is called staging. The stage of the cancer is a key factor in deciding on treatment. It seems like we need to run test as soon as possible.”
He walks over to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
“Gail, are you listening to me? We need to start testing immediately so we can see which treatment we need to begin.”
She sat there staring at the behind him with tears lining her face.
“Gail I’m sorr…”
She reaches out to hug him.
“It’s okay Ollie. I’m free after four pm all next week. Have Veronica give me a call with available days and times.”
“Are you going to be alright Gail?”
Breaking their embrace, she walks to his office door.
“I will be” she said over her shoulder.
The walk to her car seemed like it took forever. Shaking and crying uncontrollably, she was in no shape to drive, so she grabbed her cell phone and dialed her husband’s number. Ringing only once, she was sent straight to the voicemail.
Um, hey Honey, I waited for you at Dr. Erickson’s office, but you never showed up; guess you were busy. Any who, the news wasn’t so great, I’m a complete wreck, I’ve been sitting in the car crying and wondering why is this happening to me.”
She let out a long sigh before continuing.
“Well Honey, I’m going to head on home and get some rest. After a good nap I’ll start on dinner, I love you, bye.”
She loves music, but she can’t handle any extra activity at the moment, so she decides to drive home in silence.
How could this be happening to me? I mean, I eat right, exercise, pray, tithe, volunteer at women shelters and children hospitals. I’ve never killed, beat up, scammed, or flat out harmed anybody in my entire life and yet I’m stricken with cancer. This is not fair; why Jesus?
As she pulls up to her home, she notice her husband’s car parked in their drive way.
Hmm, I didn’t expect him to be home so early, she thought.
Upon entering their home, she hears a familiar song playing softly in their bedroom.
“Aw, he must have heard my voicemail and decided to play our favorite song. He knows Janet Jackson always cheers me up.”
She sings along with the lyrics as she climbs the stairs to their bedroom.
“Anytime, and any place, I don’t care who’s around…”
She stops singing when she hears moaning on the other side of the door.
Turning the door knob slowly, she stands outside of the room in complete and utter shock…”
