Author Jane Green writing from the heart

(WTNH) - Jane Green has several jobs. In addition to being a wife and mother to six children her job is to write a book a year. And the New York Times best selling author , who lives in Connecticut, has been doing just that for the last dozen years.

But something happened when she started her most recent book. Her friend Heidi was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer and Green's life became hospitals and chemotherapy treatments. Her stories always come from what's happening in her life.

"A day or so after I realized I needed to write about this she turned to me coming out of hospital and with a twinkle in her eye she said 'I hope you're going to write about this', so I had her blessing," Green said.

She wrote most of "Promises to Keep" while Heidi was sick. Sadly, Heidi passed away in September. Jane's main character in the book, Callie, was also diagnosed with a terminal disease.

"It's not about her and isn't about her story, it's not about our friendship, it's just inspired by friendship and by, I suppose, the lessons I learned," Green said.

Lessons about love, about acts of love that make people happy, about being present in friendships and relationships.

Readers of "Promises to Keep" get a bonus two books in one. There are recipes at the end of every chapter. "I really love feeding the people I love," Green said. "That's how I show them that I love them."

Writing, cooking and now a new purpose: giving back. As Jane Green goes on tour promoting her new book, she will raise money for breast cancer research for the charity City of Hope , always with Heidi and other women who are fighting the fight on her mind.

"They are expecting the (cancer) rates to double within 20 years," Green said, "and if it hasn't touched you it probably will so it's really important that we get involved."

Green will have a luncheon and reading starting at 11:00 a.m. at the Westport Country Playhouse . Tickets are $35, and the money raised goes to the Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital .

For information visit Jane Green's website at janegreen.com