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Diana M. Raab, MFA, RN was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1954 and received her undergraduate degree in Health Administration and Journalism in 1976. A few years later she received her RN degree. After 25 years as a medical and self-help writer, she's directed her creative energy towards nonfiction and memoir writing. In 2003 she earned her MFA in Writing from Spalding University's low-residency program.
Diana is the author of eight books. Her first memoir, Regina's Closet: Finding My Grandmother's Secret Journal (2007) was the recipient of the 2009 Mom's Choice Award for Adult Non-Fiction, and the 2009 National Indie Award for Excellence in Memoir. Her award-winning work has been published in numerous literary magazines and is widely anthologized. She has one poetry chapbook, My Muse Undresses Me, and two poetry collections, Dear Anais: My Life in Poems For You (winner of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Award for Poetry) and The Guilt Gene (2009).
After experiencing three successful, but high-risk pregnancies, she wrote a comprehensive guide for other women. The award-winning Getting Pregnant and Staying Pregnant (1989) was updated and revised in collaboration with Dr. Errol Norwitz of Yale School of Medicine under the new title, Your High Risk Pregnancy: A Practical and Supportive Guide (2009).
Diana is editor of the anthology, Writers and Their Notebooks (USC Press 2010), a collection of essays written by distinguished writers who journal, including Sue Grafton, Kim Stafford, Dorianne Laux, John DuFresne, James Brown and Michael Steinberg, to name a few. The foreword is written by world-renowned personal essayist, Phillip Lopate.
Diana's latest book, Healing with Words: A Writer's Cancer Journey (2010), reflects her experiences battling breast cancer at age forty-seven, and then multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer, when she was fifty-two.
She currently teaches creative journaling and memoir in UCLA Extension Writers' Program. She facilitates workshops in journaling and writing for healing around the country, and is a frequent moderator for panels on writing.
Find out more about Diana by visiting her website, www.DianaRaab.com, her blog, Diana's Notebook, and her Facebook Fan Page.
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By: Wow!,
on 7/12/2010
Blog: WOW! Women on Writing Blog (The Muffin) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: book giveaway, blog tour, author interview, journaling, Diana Raab, breast cancer, A Writer's Cancer Journey, Healing with Words, Add a tag
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By: Wow!,
on 7/12/2010
Blog: WOW! Women on Writing Blog (The Muffin) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: book giveaway, blog tour, author interview, journaling, Diana Raab, breast cancer, A Writer's Cancer Journey, Healing with Words, Add a tag
15 Comments on Diana M. Raab, author of Healing with Words: A Writer's Cancer Journey, launches her blog tour!, last added: 7/14/2010
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Dear Diana, sometimes I wonder if the mantra of my life is 'tired'!
And this Monday morning, your story is exactly what I needed to give me an inspirational boost. Sometimes life can seem like such constant hard work and one (ie me!) can get that overwhelmed, bogged down feeling!
Thank you for this - I feel renewed, revived and empowered!
What a great interview and a wonderful way to walk through your journey. I've long been a believer in journaling and encourage every person I counsel to do so. I would love to read your book!
edwina[dot]cowgill[at]yahoo[dot]com
Having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, I don't consider myself a "survivor"...I am a "THRIVER"! Part of that healing process was journaling.
I look forward to reading your book.
Blessings,
Lynn
You are very inspiring. I recently lost a cousin to cancer. She wrote poetry and expressed herself with that. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Diana, thank you for sharing your story. I don't feel so alone. I had surgery to remove a number of organs, six months ago due to cancer. Because my thyroid continues to cause problems, I haven't been able to get back to writing yet but hope to soon. Your inspiration has been great and I look forward to reading your book.
Thank you.
Faye
Wow! This is so phenomenal and wonderful. I've recently been studying the effects that journalism has on people, but not in such a moving way. I look forward to such a wonderful book.
Thank you and be blessed!
My mother passed away in June from cancer, so your topic hit a chord with me. After watching my mother-in-law battle and lose 16 years ago I have been acutely aware of the emotions, fear, and acceptance we fail to see in those going through such an experience. I also am intrigued by your first book about your grandmother. My mother passed on to me letters my grandparents sent to one another before they were married. It is her wish they be put in book form and published (self-published if need be). I will be checking out your books soon.
It's so important to write the truth of our feelings, and to facilitate the healing process. You are a brave survivor and courageous person whose work will inspire others to thrive and write to heal.
I love that you are inspired by life. It's wonderful when strong, intelligent women endorse journaling. This is a great interview. Thanks.
B. Lynn Goodwin
www.writeradvice.com
Author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers
It is interesting that you started journaling around the age of ten...that was when my mother gave me my first journal, also. Her advice was, "write something every day, even if it just your name!"
My journals have kept me sane through much trauma. They have also inspired my other writing.
You are such an inspiration, Diana! Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Blessings...
I've always been a writer, but have had a block when writing about my daughter and my best friend's battles with cancer. I would hope that this book could help me both write myself and encourage my daughter to do the same. My friend always wanted to create a book, but was not afforded the chance before she passed on.
Thank you for writing this book, thank you for encouraging others and thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you SO much for having me on your blog and posting my interview. I'm delighted your readers enjoyed it.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have!
Diana- Like you I use writing to make sense of the world, and also like you, I was diagnosed with breast cancer almost 4 years ago. Joining a writing group for women cancer survivors shortly after my treatment was literally like a lifeline for me. I look forward to reading your book!
I can totally relate this: (Cause)"I try to live in the moment and appreciate and notice what is around me." (Effect) "I always have too many ideas for the amount of hours in the day." It's a beautiful thing in a sometimes painful way!