Sex and Elaine Viets

Well, it got your attention, didn't it?  But this really is a story about sex and about Elaine Viets.  Let me explain.

I recently co-authored a book entitled, Sex and Your Heart Health: A Cardiologist Tells All, 380 pp., available for purchase through the nonprofit organization, Ozarks Marriage Matters, found at www.ozarksmarriagematters.org.

One of our chapters has a section called "Laughter and Loving."  As a physician-author, I describe well-known physiologic changes that occur with laughter.  These include decrease in blood pressure, stress hormones, and muscle tension.  These changes are good for your cardiac status – and for your relationships.  Laughter helps to defuse tension both in and out of the bedroom and lights the fuse for things to come (sorry about that).  Along with other practical suggestions, Sex and Your Heart Health: A Cardiologist Tells All  recommends that you read funny articles and books.  That's where Elaine Viets comes in.

For those of you unfamiliar with Elaine, she is a delightful lady who used to write a newspaper column in St. Louis, Missouri, where I first met her.  She now lives and writes in Florida and is the author of the hilarious Dead-End Job mystery series.   Elaine's writing tickles the funny bone so much that I recommend her work in the book.  She told me that it is the first time she has been in a sex book.

Unfortunately, despite her young age, Elaine had a stroke and was just discharged from Holy Cross Hospital on May 13.  (Gee, I hope it didn't happen from reading my book.)   She should make a full recovery and return to her writing career, but in the meantime, she is worried that she won't be able to tour with her new book, Murder with Reservations.

Because writers have good hearts and because Elaine is a wonderful person, a national campaign is afoot for fellow writers as well as booksellers or fans to step in and help her.  If you would be willing to serve as a "stand-in" by hosting a nearby scheduled signing on Elaine's tour, if you are willing to place an image of Murder with Reservations with a note about this effort on your web site or blog, or take other steps to help Elaine, please send an e-mail to 4elaineviets@gmail.com.

Let's show the world that authors have good hearts!  I should know, because I just wrote a book about hearts . . .

Maryellen Stratmann, M.D. is co-author of  Sex and Your Heart Health:  A Cardiologist Tells All Available through www.ozarksmarriagematters.org.