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Meet Yvonne Perry, author of RIGHT TO RECOVER: Winning the Political and Religious Wars Over Stem Cell Research in America
BloggingAuthors: Yvonne, what prompted you to write your book? How did you come up with the idea?
Yvonne Perry: Reverend Dan Bloodworth came to me in 2005 seeking a ghostwriter for his son’s story.
Dan’s All-American athlete son, Brian, suffered a spinal cord injury when he was hit by lightning in 1987.
Motivated by his desire to find a treatment that would allow his son to communicate and become mobile again, Dan has devoted 16 years of his life to learn everything he could about stem cell research and share that information with anyone willing to listen. I was immediately intrigued by his enthusiasm regarding stem cell research.
Dan decided he was not ready to write about his son at the time since his job was taking too many of his hours, but our interview left an impression upon me.
In 2006, while working with Michael Davis on his book, FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH: A Personal Story about Living with Quadriplegia, I was reminded of the healing potential that blastocystic (also known as embryonic) stem cell research offers victims of spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, renal failure, paralysis, heart disease, and many other illnesses.
H.R. 810 (the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005) was passed by Congress and quickly vetoed by President Bush. I felt furious. I could not understand why people were saying that an embryo was being killed by research. It just didn’t feel right in my spirit so I began researching to find out more. I went back to Dan Bloodworth and asked him to let me use his research material to write a book, not about his son, but FOR his son and all those who might benefit from therapies resulting from the research.
BA: Does this book have a special link to something that happened to you in your life?
YP: I’ve always been somewhat of an activist, but other than meeting Dan and Michael, I don’t know of any personal event that propelled me to write this book. I was simply following my inner guidance when I felt I needed to challenge President Bush’s decision to veto H.R. 810.
Both his vetoes of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act have had a heartbreaking impact on members of our society who have physical and medical disabilities. His decision and the mindset of the misinformed right-wing ultra-orthodox party must be challenged if our society is to benefit from blastocyst stem cell biotechnology.
BA: How many books have you written and if you have written more than one book, what are the subjects?
I’ve written as many as 20 books, but mostly for clients whose names appear on the cover.
Under my own name, I have authored: The Sid Series—A series of holistic books for children, Email Episodes—a humorous book about going through mid-life crisis and divorce, and More Than Meets the Eye: True Stories about Death, Dying and Afterlife—a book that address topics that many people are not comfortable talking about such as suicide, the near-death experience, end of life decisions, and euthanasia.
I have earned Platinum Expert Author status for the 90 articles I’ve written on family, health, spirituality, death, afterlife, spirit communication, suicide, religion, politics, and many other topics published on ezinearticles.com.
BA: If you could pick out anyone to read and comment on your book, whom would you pick and why?
YP: I’d like for President Bush to read it as well as the entire legislative body—every member of the House and Senate.
BA: What would you like to have your readers get from this book?
YP: I’d like everyone to know the truth about all types of stem cells and cloning, which would allow them to carry on an informed discussion without endorsing fabricated data believed to be true. It is my desire to see people making medical decisions based on scientific knowledge rather than dogma.
BA: What was your favorite part of the writing process?
YP: Holding the first copy of the book in my hand, knowing that all the information I had gathered and all the time and energy I had put into the project was almost ready for someone to read and experience!
BA: Where can readers buy Right to Recover?
YP: It is available on Amazon, and will be available in all major book retailers both online and in stores October 2007. I will also have a link on my Web site that will allow people to purchase directly from my publisher Nighengale Press.
BA: Have you received any special comments back from any of your readers and can you share them with us?
YP: Yes, I have reviews from Reader Views, AllBooksReviews, and several doctors. Also Don C. Reed, Mary Schneider, Dr. Shane Smith, Ray Brown and many other notable advocates for stem cell research have helped me in the writing of my book. Here are some of their remarks:
“Yvonne Perry counters long-standing myths of the American stem cell debate with bright, accessible prose. Policymakers and everyday citizens who want to make informed choices about stem cell research need to read RIGHT TO RECOVER.” —Shane G. Smith, Ph.D. Science Director, CNS Foundation, Former Science Director, ‘Yes on Proposition 71’
“Yvonne Perry’s book enrages and inspires: it leaves you with the feeling that something must be done, that it can be done, and that it will be done—because we will do it. This book changes the equation.” —Don C. Reed, Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act
“Yvonne Perry has truly researched the research and spent hundreds of hours to find the facts to share with the readers. RIGHT TO RECOVER is the most complete work I have ever read.” —Reverend Dan Bloodworth, The Brian Bloodworth Stroke and Head Injury Research Foundation
“In a world confused with chaos in regard to stem cell research, Yvonne Perry has moved beyond the political to the healing in her new book RIGHT TO RECOVER Winning the Political and Religious Wars over Stem Cell Research in America. This book will shed light on the future, today.” —Dr. Eric S. Kaplan, Author of DYING TO BE YOUNG, From Botox to Botulism
“Finally, the truth about stem cell research. I search the Internet daily for articles on stem cell research to pass along to other advocates. It’s so maddening to constantly read the oppositions blatant lies concerning stem cell research.” —Diane Wyshak, StemCellBattles.com
“RIGHT TO RECOVER delivered far more than I ever expected. I was completely hooked by it from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book to those who are sitting on the fence with this issue.” —Cherie Fisher for Reader Views
“Offering the political arena and medical community the opportunity to avoid future mistakes made at the expense of those in need.” —Mary Schneider, Illinois Senate Bill 0019
“The only trouble with Ms. Perry’s book is that it will probably never be read by the people who truly need to understand its import. Nevertheless, the book is drop dead great!” —G. L. Helm, Author of the novels, OTHER DOORS, a fantasy of Peace, and DESIGN
“If you have been unable to settle on an educated opinion concerning stem cell research, this well laid out book should end your dilemma.” —Cheryl Ellis, Allbooks Review
BA: Would you tell us a little about yourself?
YP: I am a freelance ghostwriter, published author, writing instructor, newsletter publisher, podcast host and public speaker. I am also the owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services—a team of writers and editors based in Nashville, Tennessee, offering writing and editorial services to businesses and individuals.
I am a graduate of American Institute of Holistic Theology where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics, so it’s only natural that I enjoy writing about topics that challenge people’s belief systems. I recently completed the program requirements for the Distinguished Toastmaster Award.
I put my speaking skills to good use on Writers in the Sky Podcast—my weekly show in which I interview guest authors, publishers, and book marketing experts. Each Friday a new show is uploaded to iTunes.com and is also available on my company’s resource-rich Weblog.
BA: Do you have a new book in the works? If so, what it is about?
YP: I’ve been busy marketing RIGHT TO RECOVER this summer, so I have written a lot of articles, marketing pieces and media releases for the book. No new books are underway at the moment.
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