How and why my first book, DEADLY SECRETS became a sponsor for the American Breast Cancer Foundation

Hi all, My name is Leeann Burke, I started writing when I was a tween let’s just say that I have been writing for a long time. I first started writing for the pleasure of putting the characters in my head to paper. DEADLY SECRETS isn’t my first book, but it is my first published book. It was released last December. I’d love to say I sold to a publisher right away, but that would be a lie. It took me 11 years before I found a home for it. It took another 3 years to see it published.

As I waited to hold a copy in my hands I decided I wanted more. Here I was about to get my creative dream come true while there were women out there who weren’t as lucky. I realized I wanted my dream to mean more, that’s when I decided to donate my royalties to a charity. One that was close to my heart. I chose to donate to the Breast Cancer cause. Why? When I was barely 15 my own mother found a lump in her breast. We were lucky it was benign, but not everyone is as lucky. Since then I have lost one friend and had countless friends like fellow LBF Books author A B Wallace, who have battled and won their fight against breast cancer.

When I told the owner of my publisher, Carole Spencer, of my intentions she decided she would also donate proceeds to the cause. Together we approached the American Breast Cancer Foundation to be one of their sponsors. We were thrilled when they accepted and we became their first Canadian sponsor.

My goal is to sell enough copies of DEADLY SECRETS to donate $1,000 USD to the American Breast Cancer Foundation and $1,000 CAD to a Canadian organization that does research to find a cure for breast cancer.

Here is a bit about DEADLY SECRETS my Romantic Suspense

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Philippe Lafrance is a well known reclusive writer whose life is suddenly thrown upside down when the grandfather he never knew existed, dies. He investigates the reason and learns that his family has kept secrets from him. Deep, ugly secrets. Worse, a killer is murdering the men in his family. He discovers that his father, then his grandfather, were murdered by someone desperate to keep secrets buried.Bereft, Roxanne St-Clair is left to manage a restaurant when the only person who ever mattered to her, her foster parent and mentor, is murdered. She puts her life on hold to find his killer and bring him to justice.Thrown together by circumstance and a mutual goal, Philippe and Roxanne fight their attraction and team up to find the killer, bring him to justice and unearth the truth. To stay alive, they must keep one step ahead of the assassin in order to prevent him from killing his next target, Philippe.Will they succeed in bringing to justice this killer before Philippe becomes his next victim? Will they be able to deal with the truth behind the deadly secrets?  

If you want to help me reach my goal please purchase a copy of my book at the following locations LBF Books, ARe, Bookstrand, Fictionwise, Amazon or get your library to carry a copy.

18 Responses to How and why my first book, DEADLY SECRETS became a sponsor for the American Breast Cancer Foundation

  1. Kim S

    Good luck on your quest!! Hope you beat your goal!! You are one remarkable individual to set your sights in this way!!

    Congrats on the book, it looks soooo good!!

  2. Leeann Burke

    Thanks for your kind words ladies.

    Anna I’m sorry to hear you lost a loved one to the desease and thanks for picking up a copy of the book.

    Lori, have faith your time will definitely come. It took me 11 years to find the right place for my book. I’m sure you’ll find yours in no time at all.

  3. Lori Leger

    Kudos to you, Leeann, As a breast cancer survivor, I plan to do the same thing if and when I ever get published! God bless you.
    Lori

  4. Anna Shah Hoque

    Hi Leeann,

    I just wanted to say that I’m blown away by the kindness and thoughtfulness of your act…I’ve gone on over to Fictionwise and purchased a copy of your book just now!!! I’ve lost a great-grandmother to the disease so I always applaud anyone who strives to help out in any shape or form in eradicating this horrid disease!!!

    Happy Reading!!!
    Anna Shah Hoque
    s7anna@yahoo.ca

  5. Carol L.

    Hi Leeann,
    God Bless you in donating your royalties to Breast Cancer Research.
    Your book sounds very interesting and I’ll put it on my to buy list. Thank goodness it was just a scare for your Mom.
    Carol L.
    Lucky4750@aol.com

  6. Cherie J

    Sounds really good and I think it is wonderful what you are doing for such an amazing cause. My birthday is coming up this month. I might have to hint to family members for a present of this special book.

  7. Pam S

    Leeann,

    Your book sounds really good; I’ll be sure to pick up a copy. I think it is great what you are doing and hope you reach your goal.

  8. Leeann Burke

    Hi Brenda, Valerie and Kimmy L,

    Thanks for brightening my day with your compliments. Valerie if you pick up a copy of DEADLY SECRETS you’ll have to let me know what you thought.

    If you guys love a good suspenseful romance you have to pick up Brenda Gayle’s SOLDIER FOR LOVE. You’ll love it I certainly did!!

  9. Kimmy L

    Leeann, I love your books and think you are a awesome writer and I think what u are doing is so wonderful.

  10. Valerie

    Hi,

    I think it’s wonderful what you are doing. Bless you! Looks like a really good read, I must pick it up.

    Valerie

  11. Brenda Gayle

    I loved your book Leeann (for anyone who hasn’t read it, you definitely should pick it up!). And I think you are an inspiration to authors to go above and beyond. It is far too easy to get bogged down in our own day-to-day lives, sometimes we need to be reminded to look up and see how we can contribute meaningfully to the world around us. Thanks.

  12. Leeann Burke

    I forgot to include the URl for the American Breast Cancer Foundation. They are a fabulous group of women. Here is their home on the net https://abcf.org/

  13. Leeann Burke

    Lexee,

    I’m glad to hear it was only a scare. I had one of those when I was 22. I thought I had a lump when I did a self examination. I was 7 hours away from home and not planning on going home for 7 weeks. Let’s just say they were long weeks. LOL. My doctor did an examination is just happened that I had a muscle that was growing which was what I felt. Boy was I relieved. I can just imagine how transforming hearing the words “you have breast cancer” or any cancer can be.

  14. Lexee

    That’s really cool. We had a breast cancer scare in my family also. We got lucky. I think that it is awesome that you are doing this.

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  16. Leeann Burke

    Josie,

    Thanks for the support. DEADLY SECRETS finaled in the Golden Leaf in the First Book Category.

    Leeann Burke

  17. LeeAnn

    Hi Karen H,

    I’m glad you enjoyed the excerpt. Breast Cancer affects so many people from those fighting the desease to their families. I live in Canada where Mammograms are free. When I learned that the ABCF provides free mammograms for women (which is just one of many things they do) who can’t afford them I knew they were an association I wanted to support.

  18. Josie Roetemeyer

    Loved what you are doing with the royalties. I will definitely pick up a copy of your book, not just so that you can reach your goal, but because it sounds really good.

  19. Karen H in NC

    Hi Leeann,

    Thank you for writing such an inspirational blog today. Breast cancer was the cancer no one talked about until Betty Ford was diagnosed with the disease. Since then, women are more aware of the need for regular examinations and annual mammograms. Your generosity to donate your royalties from your book sales to the Breast Cancer Foundation is to be commended.

    Your book sounds pretty good too. I enjoyed reading the excerpt.

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