For the Smith family, life was good. John, most known to R-J readers as Nevada’s best-read newspaper columnist, and wife Tricia, were the parents of a beautiful little girl, Amelia, then eight-years-old.

That perfect and perfectly normal life was shattered with the terrifying diagnosis of a brain tumor. Little Amelia was whisked to specialists in Phoenix on an medical flight for life-saving emergency surgery. Then the worst-day-in-their-life got worse yet with the news the tumor was cancerous. The next days, months, years were dizzying rounds of doctors and hospitals, chemotherapy and radiation, recoveries and replapses.

As the Smith family went through this terrible ordeal, John pondered the old adage — write what you know. Should he write about Amelia’s health crisis? In the ensuing five years, John did write about his brave and stalwart daughter as she endured the relentless pain and suffering that comes with modern medical treatments for cancer.

AMELIA’S LONG JOURNEY will debut at the Vegas Valley Book Festival. John will present the keynote address, “The Challenge of Writing What You Know” this Saturday at the Flamingo branch of the Clark County Library. John and Amelia will sign books together.

Amelia’s favorite childhood cancer charities will benefit from sales of the book. They include:

• Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada
• Make-A-Wish Foundation
• Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation
• St. Baldrick’s Foundation

The book acknowldeges the crucial supportive role these charities provide to the families of children with cancer.

When: Saturday, November 7, 7:00 PM
Where: Clark County Library Theater, 1401 E. Flamingo
Web: www.ameliaslongjourney.com

Kevin Janison of KVBC-TV, Channel 3, holds a microphone for Amelia Smith as she shaves her dad's head Saturday at McMullan's Irish Pub. To John L. Smith's left is oncologist Dr. Jonathan Bernstein, who was buzzed by patient Ethan Freer, bottom right. Courtesy photo.

A couple of “good guys” from our family of Stephens Press authors were recently in the news — or making news. Getting scalped for a good cause was popular Review-Journal columnist and author of Bluegrass Days & Neon Nights, John L. Smith, whose gleeful daughter (and brave brain cancer survivor) Amelia did the honors. Our own Deputy Dorkface author Kevin Janison covered this breaking event for Las Vegas Channel 3 where he’s a meteorologist. The annual St. Baldrick’s fundraiser helps in the fight against childhood cancers. Bravo! ]]> http://workingtitlez.com/2009/03/14/shiny-scalps-for-st-baldricks/feed/ 0