My Books – Just the Right Dose and more

Just the Right Dose: Your Smart Guide to Prescription Drugs & How to Take Them Safely

  • What is the difference between a medicine you have to take every six hours and one you were told to take four times a day?
  • What are some ways to make swallowing a pill easier?
  • What is the difference between a generic drug and a brand-name drug?
  • Should you keep suppositories in the fridge?
  • Can you eat grapefruit while taking your prescription medication?
  • Why do you have to wait two hours after eating to take your pill?
Studies have shown that patient misunderstanding of instructions on prescription medicine labels is common, resulting in medication and drug errors, and treatment not working effectively. Many of these people take the medicines themselves, but many also are responsible for making sure a family member in their care, such as a child or a disabled parent, takes their medicine. 

Interview: Listen to why I wrote the book.

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Chapters & Kobo

5-star reviews from Amazon.ca and Amazon.com:

 

“As a diabetic I thought I had a tricks down for dealing with prescription medication but there were a few surprising gems in this book that I didn’t know about.”

 

“Love this book because it’s short, to-the-point, and well-researched. It’s the kind of thing everyone should keep in their medicine cabinet (or “virtual” medicine cabinet).”

 

“Very interesting, informative, and easy to understand book. Even the sections that don’t apply to me directly were interesting, and I learned some important facts that I had not even thought about before.”

 

“Just like the title says, Just the Right Dose is a smart guide to taking prescription medicine. The language is simple and precise, making it easy to read and understand.”

 

“I downloaded and read the book and I think it’s easy to read, informative, and comprehensive.”

 

” The author has done a great job of pulling together the most important things we need to understand and remember whenever we take prescription or over-the-counter medicines.”

 

“This book isn’t overly wordy, but that doesn’t mean it skimps on good information. It gets right to the point, and zeroes in on what you really need to know in order to understand your prescriptions and take medications correctly (and, more important) safely.”

 

“How many times have you looked at a medication label and thought, “Huh?” Even sophisticated, knowledgeable people have trouble deciphering just how they should be taking their prescription or over-the-counter medications. Worse yet, we may not be aware of the unspoken dangers of flubbing this process. As a health and medical writer, I thought I knew a lot about this, but reading Just the Right Dose clued me in to my own ignorance of these extremely important details.”

 

“I really enjoyed this quick read. As a mother of young children I now have a better understanding of how I should give medication to my kids and even how to take better care of myself. I think it’s a very handy tool to have around the house as a quick reference!”

“Adults of all ages will find “Just the Right Dose” a perfect prescription guide with helpful medical directions and tips. The information is very clear, informative and presented in an easy-to-read format. I found all sections especially useful and the abbreviated glossary is a helpful addition for understanding prescriptions after leaving the doctor’s office.”

Fits, Starts & Matters of the Heart: 28 True Stories of Love, Loss and Everything in Between.

Fits, Starts & Matters of the Heart is an anthology of stories by professional writers across North America. I am one of only two Canadians featured in the book, with my essay: Moving On.

According to Amazon,

For anyone who has fallen in love, been betrayed, lost a parent or let a child fly from the nest, Fits, Starts & Matters of the Heart will resonate with your heart. A woman recalls her decision to lose her virginity at 17 – and the emotional roller coaster that ensues when her parents discover a secret stash of prophylactics. A mother comes to terms with her adopted daughter’s quest to find her birth mom. A black Labrador wreaks havoc on one woman’s idyllic relationship with her boyfriend- until she, too, falls in love with the beautiful canine. A pregnant woman discovers her husband’s affair – and realizes that the baby she’s carrying is her ticket to rebirth. A daughter learns that the way into her father’s heart is through her hair.

These are just a few of the essays in Fits, Starts & Matters of the Heart: 28 True Stories of Love, Loss & Everything in Between. In this compelling collection, a group of writers, who connected through a professional community called Freelance Success, share the joy and angst at the root of all relationships. Through stories of family and friends, lovers and exes, even pets and rock stars, these writers demonstrate the enduring power of relationships to drive, haunt, empower, and enrich us.

The book is available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.ca, and Chapters/Indigo.

Oscar’s Diaries, Life as a Retired Greyhound

One project I’m happy to say is ready for its announcement: Oscar’s Diaries, Life as a Retired Greyhound has finally been published. Oscar is a five-year-old greyhound who came to live with us in June 2004. I visit a greyhound forum called greytalk.com and whenever anyone brings home a new hound, they love to see pictures and hear about how the new guy or gal is adjusting to life in their forever home. It can be bought here.

On November 27, Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell published an interview she did with me, about Oscar’s Diaries. You can find that interview on her website, K.C.’s Write for You.

When Oscar arrived, just for fun, I started a diary where he comments on how it is adjusting to a home life, with many photos included of course. Much to my surprise, the diary became very popular and I started to have requests to email installments to people around the world. Oscar now has fans in Australia, New Zealand, Austria, England, and across North America.

After much persuasion, I have agreed to publish some of his diaries and I hope to publish more if the demand is there. Volume 1 is available in both colour and black & white editions from lulu.com. If you click on the cover photo in the upper right hand corner, you should be brought to our storefront where you can buy the book. Or, just click here.

I’d like to emphasize that a portion of the sales (minimum 10%) will go to non-profit greyhound groups. The first group is the Greyhound Health and Wellness Program, run by Guillermo Couto, DVM, dip. ACVIM, at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.