As she makes her grand entrance to today’s ball, our esteemed hostess, Lady Beaufetheringstone, is taken by surprise.  She strides to the center of the ballroom and makes a slow turn.

Lady B:  Why, pray tell, is everything this singular bluish color?  I’m always glad to see young ladies wearing ribbons, but normally one likes a variety of shades.  And it isn’t only the ribbons. The decorative swags, the candle tapers…  My word.  Has someone dyed the ratafia?

Tessa, sheepishly:  That might have been me.

Lady B:  I should have known, Miss Dare.  And all this strange shade of blue.  Or is it green?  A pleasant shade, but one hardly knows what to call it.  It’s not precisely peacock.

Katharine:  It’s teal, my lady. We’ve decorated everything in this special color today in honor of our guest.

At the foot of the stairs, the majordomo announces, “Miss Amanda Davis, of America.”

Into the ballroom sweeps a lovely young woman with dark hair and a charming smile.  She’s wearing a dazzling teal silk gown with ropes of aquamarine.

Tessa:  Oh, here she is now.  Miss Davis, please let me introduce you to our hostess, Lady B.  Lady B, Miss Davis works with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

Polite curtsys and warm greetings are managed.

Tessa:  Miss Davis, Lady B was just wondering about the teal color. It has to do with the month of September, doesn’t it?

Amanda:  Every September, we urge women — and the men who love them — to learn about ovarian cancer. This month is dedicated to the 22,000 women in my country who will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year.

Katharine:  Our publisher, Avon, is spreading awareness of this too, Lady B.

Lady B:  In ballrooms?

Katharine: Oh, yes! You see, Tessa’s and my new books are part of Avon’s K.I.S.S. and Teal campaign to encourage everyone to Know the Important Signs and Symptoms of ovarian cancer and to tell their friends. Proceeds from the sales of our books and five other new Avon titles will go toward awareness and research programs. But that’s not all: in the back of each K.I.S.S. and Teal book is information on ovarian cancer, including the signs and symptoms.

Lady B:  What are these signs and symptoms?

Amanda:  Ladies should pay close attention to signs of ovarian cancer, especially if they are unusual or persistent. Those symptoms include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms (like urgency or frequency). Many of us have felt these symptoms at one time or another, but if you feel them almost daily for two weeks, please consult a physician.

Lady B lifts an eyebrow.  I am sure that the Ballroom is not an appropriate place to discuss bloating.  Much less…the other.

<<squawk> Urinary! <squawk>>

Tessa:  If I may be so bold as to disagree, Lady B, I think the Ballroom is actually a perfect place to discuss this.

Katharine:  After all, Lady B, women adore your balls (not to mention the men that love women who adore your balls!), and women need to talk about this important issue.  Miss Davis, Lady B is actually really open minded.  Can you help her understand the reason it’s so important for women to be aware of these symptoms and talk about them?

Amanda: Unlike other women’s cancers, there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer. Very often, women are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced. Knowing the symptoms is the best way for a woman to protect her health so she can live a long, healthy, happy life.

Lady B:  Well, then, that is a worthy effort.  I may be a woman in my… prime… but I plan to spend several more decades admiring the calves of well-formed gentlemen.

Tessa:  Exactly, Lady B.  The K.I.S.S. and Teal message is all about helping women live longer and healthier.  Who can argue with that?

Katharine:  Miss Davis, thank you so much for being our guest today.  It’s such an honor to have you here (and I really adore your gown!). Before you join the dancing, would you tell our guests how they can stay informed?

Amanda: New advances are being made all the time that could help doctors identify and treat ovarian cancer. Stay informed by visiting www.ovariancancer.org or following us on Facebook.

Katharine:  Lady B, in thanks for allowing us to transform the ballroom today, Tessa and I would like to offer you this pair of teal gloves.  We know you prefer peacock–

<<squawk!> Inferior bird! <squawk!>> 

Tessa:  But we’d like you to have them, nevertheless.

Lady B:  Thank you, dear gels. And what will you give my guests to celebrate the occasion?

To celebrate Amanda’s visit today, Tessa and Katharine are giving away to one commenter a set of all seven K.I.S.S. and Teal romances from Avon. (Katharine’s and Tessa’s will be personally signed!) To enter the giveaway, tell us in your comment below how you’re planning to show your teal spirit during this last week of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. And since we’re all about spreading the teal word, if another commenter says that you invited her to visit the Ballroom for our teal post, we’ll add your name to the drawing again. We’ll draw a winner this Wednesday.

Under katharine, special guests, tessa