Psst! On the contest page, I’ve posted winners of the coverflat contest – who will be receiving their prizes in the mail soon – and posted a new “KISS and Teal” giveaway.

What’s “KISS and Teal,” you ask?

I am thrilled that A Night to Surrender is part of the “K.I.S.S. and Teal” campaign, a partnership between Avon Books and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

The “K.I.S.S.” stands for “Know the Important Signs and Symptoms,” and teal is the designated color for ovarian cancer awareness. There’s a money component to this partnership—Avon has donated $25,000 to the OCNA and will donate up to $25,000 more, based on sales of the labeled books—but the other important part of the campaign is raising awareness.

There’s no routine test for detecting ovarian cancer, such as the mammogram and Pap smear for breast and cervical cancers, and the symptoms of ovarian cancer are easy to miss until the cancer is in an advanced stage. That’s why is so important for all women to know the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer (K.I.S.S.) and discuss them with their friends and family (“teal”/tell).

From the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance website:

For years, women have known that ovarian cancer was not the silent killer it was said to be. Over the past decade, science has confirmed what women have long known: ovarian cancer has symptoms.

The symptoms are

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

If women experience these symptoms almost every day, over a period of two weeks or longer, they are urged to visit their gynecologist.

You can visit www.ovariancancer.org for more information, downloadable factsheets, and a symptom diary.

Here are the books that will carry the KISS and Teal burst. For each copy sold (print or E), Avon will donate another $.25 to the OCNA, up to $25,000.

Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue, by Stephanie Laurens
The Deed, by Lynsay Sands (reissue)
The Seduction of Scandal, by Cathy Maxwell
A Night to Surrender, by Tessa Dare
In the Arms of a Marquess, by Katharine Ashe
One Night in London, by Caroline Linden
Star-Crossed Seduction, by Jenny Brown

At the KISSandTeal.com, you can find more information about all of these books and view videos taped by several of the participating authors, including yours truly.

There are several other ways to help the cause and promote awareness, and I’ll be posting more about them as we move into September. I can’t say what an honor it is to be part of this special effort.