Promise Me

A Riveting Story of Family, Sisterhood, and the Promise Heard 'Round the World

Growing up in postwar Peoria, Illinois, Suzy and Nancy Goodman were inseparable, with the elegant, socially poised Suzy serving as younger sister Nancy’s best friend and role model in the grand adventure of life. Then, in 1977, at thirty-four, Suzy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Three years later, having endured an uninformed doctor, multiple surgeries, and several grueling courses of chemotherapy and radiation, she died. In one of the sisters’ last conversations, Suzy begged Nancy to do something to stop the suffering. “Promise me, Nanny,” she said. “Promise me you won’t let it go on like this.”

Her heart broken, Nancy promised. “I swear, Suzy. Even if it takes the rest of my life.”

At that moment, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® was born.

Armed with only $200 and a shoebox filled with names, Nancy embarked on her thirty-year quest to change the way the world thought about, spoke about, and treated breast cancer—a quest that took on added urgency when she was herself diagnosed with the disease. Through it all, she was aided by the loving tutelage of her husband, Norman Brinker, whose dynamic approach to entrepreneurship became Nancy’s model for running her foundation. Promise Me’s account of how she and Norman met, fell in love, and achieved the elusive “true marriage of equals” is one of the great grown-up love stories among recent memoirs.

Nancy was luckier than Suzy: She survived breast cancer and went on to turn SGK into the most influential health charity in the world. To date, SGK has contributed some $1.5 billion to cutting-edge research and community programs. And, thanks to a sister’s love, a diagnosis of breast cancer is no longer a death sentence.

Promise Me Marketing and Publicity Campaign National publicity, television appearances, reviews, and feature coverage National and regional NPR campaign 10-city author tour Author events and interviews out of Dallas, TX Extensive promotion with Susan G. Komen for the Cure Reading group guide and author video available for download and sharing Tie-ins with For the Cure events and author’s speaking schedule Social network promotion at Facebook.com/SusanGKomenfortheCure. Readers are invited to join the "Promise Me by Nancy G. Brinker Facebook Event" to share their response to the book. Preorder Campaign – Preorder a copy of Promise Me through September 13th from any U.S.-based online retailer (or participating retail store), and Susan G. Komen for the Cure will send a free limited edition signed copy to your sister (or anyone you nominate to receive this gift). Details at PromiseMeByNancyGBrinker.com

About the Authors:
Nancy G. Brinker is the founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She has served as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary and White House Chief of Protocol and is currently the Global Ambassador for Cancer Control for the World Health Organization.

Joni Rodgers is the New York Times bestselling author of Bald in the Land of Big Hair, a memoir of her cancer treatment and recovery.

Nancy G. Brinker is dedicating a majority of the author's proceeds from Promise Me to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the organization she founded in 1982, to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all, and energize science to find the cures.