ARTICLE APPEARING ON TRINIDAD NEWSDAY 7th NOVEMBER 2018

TRINIDAD NEWSDAY ARTICLE 7th NOVEMBER 2018

Trinidadian author Brenda Mohammed is making her mark on the literary landscape, both here and abroad.

On October 24, Mohammed was made an honorary member of the World Higher Literary/Academic Council of the World Nations Writers' Union, Kazakhstan.
The author of 18 books, with the 19th in progress, Mohammed said she is the first Trinidadian to achieve such an honour.

She is also slated to receive two awards from the Readers' Favourite International Book Awards 2018, at a gala scheduled to be held at the Regency Hotel, Miami, on November 17. .
The Vistabella mother of two and grandmother of four said she is thrilled by the accolades for her literary works, fiction and non-fiction, written and published over the past six years.
As she is a former bank manager who delved into the insurance industry after her retirement, becoming an author was not on her itinerary. Her plans changed drastically when in 2005 she was faced with a life-changing situation.
Diagnosed with cancer and living to tell her story inspired Mohammed to help others afflicted with the disease to cope.
With no writing experience, apart from work-related documents, Mohammed began documenting her heart-breaking experience of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer and her long and painful journey to overcoming the death sentence.

In time, the essays transitioned into a book, I am Cancer Free: A Memoir, that tells the true story of a cancer survivor, and was published in 2013.

Pretty soon the book, published and available on Amazon, had been read by so many people that it won the McGrath House Indie Book Awards 2016 in the non-fiction category. It also earned a five-star review and five-star seal in February 2017 from Readers' Favorite and is up for the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards 2018 in the health and fitness category.
Encouraged by the rave reviews, the multi-genre writer went on to write six fascinating memoirs, a five-book science fiction series, two children's books, four books of short stories, and one self-help book, How to Write for Success.

The science-fiction futuristic thriller series Zeeka Chronicles: Revenge of Zeeka also won an award for Best Science Fiction in September 2017 from Metamorph Publishing Summer Indie Book Awards, a five-star rating and five-star seal from Readers' Favorite, the gold award in the category science fiction in Emagazine Readers’ Choice Awards 2018 and placed in the top ten for the Author Academy Awards.
It also won the young adult thriller category in the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards 2018.

Of her other books, My Life as a Banker, was awarded for Best Bio/Memoir in Metamorph Publishing Summer Indie Awards 2016 and

Your Time is Now, which contains a section of inspirational poems, received the IHIBRP 5 Star Recommended Read Award Badge.

Mohammed runs a writer empowerment programme called Brenda’s Book Reviews in the How To Write For Success Group endorsed by Motivational Strips.

All Brenda's Books are available on AMAZON. CLICK HERE.

For all those looking to beat Cancer

I am Cancer Free: Cancer does not have to be a death sentence.
Have you ever been touched by cancer or know someone who has?
Has a doctor. ever told you she could do nothing more for you?
Do you know what it is like to undergo several months of chemotherapy sessions and cancer surgery in a foreign country?
Have you experienced that feeling of imminent death?
I am Cancer Free - A Memoir, is a touching and emotional true story of a woman's battle with Ovarian Cancer.
The killer disease threatened her life and financial well-being.
Her strong faith in God saw her through all the trials she had to undergo.
Cancer does not have to be a death sentence.
I am Cancer Free - A Memoir was voted Winner of Mc Grath House Indie Book Awards 2016 in the category Best Non-Fiction.
Extract of a five-star review from Readers Favorite:
'The author's 'never say die' attitude, the decision not to give up in life, and finally being cancer-free will encourage everyone who has been diagnosed with the disease or who have suffered from cancer.
The memoir recounts from the time of diagnosis the experiences the author went through during the treatment, her emotions, fears, finances, until the successful treatment of the disease
Get the Book at Amazon Universal Link and Books2ReadUniversal Link

Cancer does not have to be a death sentence

WHY I WROTE I AM CANCER FREE

Almost eight years after my battle with Ovarian Cancer, I decided to write the book, “I am Cancer Free.”
My thoughts were that I was still alive, although my doctor in Trinidad had given up on me eight years before when she performed a hysterectomy and could not remove the tumour.
I believe that my story would help others in similar situations to get other doctors’ opinions, even if it means going to another country to do so.
Do not rely on the first one.
For eight years, the feeling that I would die remained with me. Even after the doctor in Miami declared me Cancer Free after seven months of treatment and surgery, I asked him, “How long do I have?” He looked at me in the eye and told me, “Brenda, I just told you that you are cancer free. Enjoy living.”
In my book, I spoke about what I did after each chemotherapy session, which was always on a Friday.
Although my body was filled with Taxol and Carboplatin, I felt energized and wanted to go shopping and eat in restaurants. I never lost my appetite. I could have eaten any food I wanted. I had chemotherapy on Fridays and no pain until Sundays, when I experienced bone pains, which the doctor told me to expect. It has been ten years since I am Cancer Free.
The cost of the medical treatment would have been great cause for concern.
Well, thank God for Insurance. I had two Critical Illness Policies and Health Insurances with two well - known Insurance Companies.
The only problem was that I had to fork out that money before the Insurance Companies reimbursed me.
Luckily, as I mentioned in an earlier chapter I had negotiated and secured a large credit limit on my credit card, and I utilized that to my advantage. I also got bonus miles on that credit card which helped me to travel to and from Miami for my last three chemotherapy sessions.
In the final analysis, Insurance paid my bills, although it was a hassle to get them to do so. I always liked an Insurance advertisement I saw on Television.
It goes like this. “Insurance is a promise to pay.” Insurance has not only helped me in my bout with cancer but in all other aspects of my life.
I must also mention the generosity of my former employers at the bank where I worked before I moved on to the Insurance business. They sent me a cheque for a rather substantial amount to help me pay my medical bills.
I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the kindness of everyone who supported me at a time when I faced my greatest challenge in life.

Read the book for my advice to family and friends of loved ones who may be going through cancer treatment.
Get the book at Amazon Universal Link

For those diagnosed with cancer and those who love them.

Marie Author of the YouTube Channel BIBLE STORIES FOR ADULTS reviewed I AM CANCER FREE - A MEMOIR.
This is the transcript of the Video:

Review by Marie Author – I am Cancer Free
Published on Nov 21, 2016(Today)

Guess what i just got in the mail - Brenda Mohammed's book I am Cancer Free
Let me tell you about this book. The book was short and is a great read.
If you are battling cancer or know someone who is, this is a fantastic book to read.
Brenda tells her journey of going through cancer and surviving, and not only surviving but also coming out cancer free.
One of the things that stood out for me in this book is that I am NOT going through cancer, nor do I have anyone in my family who
have, so there are certain preconceived notions I have about what cancer treatment is like, and how it should be addressed by the people around them. So this book really takes you step-by-step.

You understand what the treatments are like. You understand how the body reacts and gives you great ideas on how you can go ahead and help somebody who's in that situation. There were things that I learned from this book - like to call the person, ask if they want to go shopping,
take them a meal, or take them out to eat things that I would be thinking they're too tired or too sick to do. By reading this book I realize those are great things to do.
This was really a fantastic read.
You're going to enjoy it.
Like I said it's short so it's not something that someone who is going through the cancer treatment wouldn't have the ability to read.
It is very short and simple to the point of encouraging.
It's got all the glory.
I think you're going to love it so check out I am Cancer Free by Brenda Mohammed.
Go check it on Amazon today or you can check out her website at the link below.

To get any of Brenda's books go to AMAZON UNIVERSAL LINK

I AM CANCER FREE was the Winner of Mc Grath House Indie Book Awards 2016.

I Am Cancer Free" A Memoir - Five Star Review

FIVE STAR REVIEW

Thoughtful and detailed account of defeating the most terrible of diseases
By Kato's Revenge on May 21, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
I am Cancer Free is an extremely positive title for something that is so terrifying to pretty much all of us, were we to be diagnosed with it.

No illness is pleasant, but surely cancer is one of the very worst, and although survival rates are increasing all the time depending on the type of cancer concerned, it is good to know that the author, who thankfully defeated this terrible disease, overcome it in order to pen this extremely good read.

From a carefree life, visiting friends and relatives, through to the initial concerns and then onto the diagnosis, the author takes us on a journey in this book. But potential readers shouldn't be put off by the subject matter. The author has bravely chose to share her experience with the reader. It is never negative, although some of it is very harrowing to read.

The description of the subsequent and very necessary operation which resulted in the author regaining her full health is a case of just enough information. There's no need for gory details and we don't get them. In essence, the author has the balance right between info-dumping and info-giving.

Again, it's a book that educates and informs.

Thank goodness for medical insurance. In the UK, we are fortunate that the NHS provides many life-saving treatments. I do hope the government (s) wake up and spend money on research to defeat this terrible disease in all its forms.

Well done to the author on the beating of this disease and in the creation of this book.

Video Book Trailer for Book Publications by an Indie Author

AMAZON UNIVERSAL LINK