In at least one regard, Patry Francis may be the luckiest woman I’ve never met. (I know: Any woman who has never met me might be luckier than I care to admit). Patry’s good fortune is the natural result of having an army of friends, some of whom, like me, would be strangers if not for the devotion of a dedicated few.

One of those dedicated few is a mutual writer pal—Laura Benedict (http://www.laurabenedict.com/)—who informed me of Patry’s continuing battle with an aggressive cancer and the secret plan to blog on her behalf today, the launch date for the trade paperback edition of her debut novel, The Liar’s Diary, a small-town psychological thriller that carries more than one dark, deeply hidden secret.

I doubt I’d turn down any request from Laura, but I felt particularly obliged to help out on Patry’s behalf.

So:

Learn about Patry and The Liar’s Diary here: http://www.patryfrancis.com/

To view the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD31Ip3y3Gk

To hear an audio clip from the book (and read more about Patry and the book on Susan Henderson’s Litpark website): http://litpark.com/2008/01/28/the-liars-diary-blog-day/

Purchase the book here:  (or at fine bookstores everywhere).

And read more about Redroom’s blog-a-thon on Patry’s behalf here 

My late wife died of cancer, so I know a little of what Patry’s facing. I was very touched by her husband’s account of his and Patry’s life together (http://www.litpark.com/), and I know even better what he must be experiencing right now. My heart goes out to both of them, and here’s wishing them the best of, yes, luck.