When Greenville native Bettye Daniels first began her chemotherapy treatment in 2016, she had little to turn to for answers. 

Lost in a storm of confusion, she found her courage and, eventually, her way to a breast cancer-free life.

Now, Daniels has decided to turn her own experiences into a guiding force for others, both those dealing specifically with cancer and other hurdles in life.

Daniels has written a new book, titled “Pink Rain: Calm in the Storm,” about her personal fight with breast cancer. In her words, it’s a book about courage, adversity and triumph during a troubling 2016. 

The inspiration behind the book sprang from a chance encounter that she’ll never forget.

“One day I was at the cancer center, after I had done maybe two treatments already, I saw a friend of mine who was just starting her treatment,” Daniels said. “And she was really upset, because she didn’t know what was going to happen. So I took some time out to talk to her about what I was going through, and that seemed to calm her down.

“And I thought ‘maybe I should just put a book out?’ Because what I told her actually helped her.  I had just been through what she was getting ready to go through. I thought maybe I would share this story with other people, so that I could help someone else along the way with their problems.”

Daniels demystified the concept of cancer treatment for her friend, and reiterated that she had a support system to rely on.

And ultimately, “Pink Rain” is about exposing the challenges associated with cancer, and ultimately, all hurdles in life, through a combination of personal anecdotes and encouraging scripture.

Most surprising of all to Daniels was that, upon sitting down and beginning the daunting task of writing one’s first book, she discovered that the book mostly wrote itself.

“I just started to jot things down,” she said. “Every day I’d go to treatment, I just write down what was going on day by day. And all of a sudden, I had a book.”

Her journal-like approach to writing chronicled the cancer treatment process, what happened during particularly trying days and how she felt on those days.

The whole process took only half a year.

For her, it was much harder to recall certain events than the mechanical process of writing itself.

“It was tough to go back and relive some things, like the first chemo treatment,” Daniels said.

“But I just kept in mind that this information could help someone else. I kept telling myself that you could help someone else if you put this down on paper.”

Daniels will hold a book signing on Sunday, Oct. 8 from Hook Street Church of Christ in Fort Deposit.

The event, slated for 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., will feature a dinner and a balloon release for those who have lost loved ones to cancer.

“Pink Rain: Calm in the Storm” can be found from Amazon.com.