Cancer, Courage, and Creativity
LIVE WIDE Trailer
The author produced this “trailer” to convey that LIVE WIDE is not your typical cancer memoir, if one exists. The trailer comprises three unique scenes that reveal the distinctive personality and “voice” of LIVE WIDE.
In the first scene, Green Beer, pays homage to Elizabeth’s 89-year-old Irish grandmother, Ginny, who confronted her own mortality and served as a touchstone during her (EMC’s) journey. Ginny, a fiercely independent and unconventional woman, has always intrigued and inspired Elizabeth. In this clip, Ginny meets her second husband, a gay man, on St. Patrick’s Day in the 1950s. EMC narrates it as somewhat equivalent to the Kennedy era’s Will & Grace.
The second scene, LIVE WIDE, captures the birth of the book’s title. It unfolds at “Gilda’s Club,” a non-profit community for cancer support founded by Gene Wilder in memory of his wife, the Gilda Radner of Saturday Night Live notoriety. Gilda’s Club becomes EMC’s second home during her journey, giving her purpose as she assists with fundraising for the organization. During a support group session at Gilda’s one evening, they discussed mortality and the possibility of succumbing to their diseases. The moderator said, “Not all of us can live long…” and EMC promptly completed the sentence with, “…but we can all LIVE WIDE.” LIVE WIDE eventually became a mantra for club members and remains EMC’s personal brand of carpe diem to this day.
The third scene, Bald Karaoke, is an unexpected and moving recreation of the author’s “last hurrah” with her right breast and her best friend before her mastectomy. Elizabeth coerces her friend Maria, who was receiving cancer treatment in the US but hailed from Morocco, to attend a concert in Chicago’s trendy Uptown area. The evening concludes with the duo, as the title suggests, performing I Will Survive without their wigs, in a dive bar.
Exciting News! "Live Wide" by Elizabeth Distel-Grady is now available for sale.
In Live Wide, you’ll find an inspiring story of resilience and hope, and great medical significance.
Join us in honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month and donating funds to research by getting your copy of LIVE WIDE today.
Someday, may we only know Cancer as a Constellation and a Zodiac sign. ~EMC
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ELIZABETH DISTEL GRADY aka Elizabeth Mary Catherine is a debut author embarking on an unprecedented literary trilogy. With over three decades of professional experience, Elizabeth’s career path led her to become a media director for renowned U.S. advertising agencies. Her journey also includes surviving a rare form of breast cancer with an initially unfavorable prognosis, placing her among the early pioneers of targeted therapy.
For more than 20 years, Elizabeth has dedicated herself to the nonprofit sector, actively engaging in public speaking, mentoring, and fundraising. Her inspirational survivor story has earned recognition from esteemed organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen, Imerman Angels, Gilda’s Club, and more.
The publication of L I V E W I D E faced a two-decade delay due to a post-cancer saga, a compelling narrative she boldly unfolds in her second book, UnBreakable Girl.
Elizabeth firmly believes in the unbreakable strength of the human spirit and advocates for a life lived to its fullest, free from regrets
