Writing for Charity and something more...

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Home by the Goo Goo Dolls.






Eeep! How on earth did half the week pass me by? This is insane. Really, I could swear it was Monday. Tueday at the latest if I thought you were crazy. But no worries, I have STUFFS to show you.


It seems I am on a writing conference kick lately (and I know many of you are writers out there, but to my straight readers head straight to the bottom of the post).


Now there is a writing conference - again in Utah - that I absolutely adore. The genesis for this extraordinary idea came from Shannon Hale way back in 2008. She made a goal for herself to try and use her writing to help raise money for causes she was passionate about. Thus Writing for Charity was born. You can read her entire, and sincerely heartfelt blog post here.

What I love about about Writing for Charity is that 100% of the proceeds go to the cause picked for that year (after location fee). The first year, Shannon picked The Wheelchair Project - which donates new wheelchairs to people who need them in third world countries. This year they are working with the Children Literature Association of Utah to help give books to children in hospitals and shelters for children in crisis.


Why books? Because, as authors, we believe in the therapeutic power of books to transport children from the “here and now” to a place where anything is possible



They are also working with the Future Light Orphanage in Cambodia to distribute books and school supplies to the more desperate regions of their country.


I believe in doing good and helping people. I would love nothing more than to do this in every capacity I can when I am fulltime, published author. I believe in the power of a person and the effect a simple act can have in another's life.


I'm definitely going (if you couldn't guess). Besides the awesome break out sessions over twenty authors are offering to read the first page of any manuscript and offer a critique on it. Names like Shannon Hale (Goose Girl series), Bree Despain (The Dark Divine trilogy), Brodi Ashton (Everneath trilogy), Dean Hale (Rapunzel's Revenge/Scapegoat) Mette Ivie Harrison (The Princess and the Hound trilogy/Tris and Izzie), Brandon Sanderson (yes, him. Mistborn and finisher of the Wheel of Time series), Matthew Kirby (Clockwork Three/Icefall), Jennifer Neilson (The False Prince), and so many more I can't even list them now. And there is lunch. And a book signing after. And a silent auction with things I would give my right hand for. Heck, I would pay $45 just to get into the signing and auction.

Yes, that's right. Only $45 for the whole thing. It is the cheapest conference you will ever get into. You can show up the day of the conference, but people who pre-register get priority of which author they want to read their work.

It's this Saturday (I know, I know. Forgive me!). I'll make sure to announce early next year to give everyone as much time as possible. Because this is a super awesome thing.





But now for you readers. You readers who stuck it out to the end - here we are. Because today is also a very important day. Today is March 14. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS? It's PI DAY! Get it? 3.14? :D I am a super nerd. I am not ashamed in the least. I am going to eat a pie today (it's traditional. Seriously, go ask anyone who celebrates Pi Day). I almost want to buy this just so I can make my own pie and have my own geekiness be utterly complete.

I've also discovered there is a Nutella Pie in the world. I will not stop until I have one of my very own.

And in honor of Pi Day, I have a video for you, one of my favorites. It's from a place called Legendary Lily Pad, and apparently I'm not the only one who knew and loved this place to death according to all the youtube comments I found. It follows the adventures of Ark and Kerrigan, my two favorite green people on the planet. ^_^ (He also has some hilarious other videos, completely worth checking out). This one is called All Your Pie. That's all I will say. Happy Pi Day! :D

(note, the embedded video is a lot fuzzier than the real thing. If you click the Legendary Lily Pad link, and have flash enabled, just search for the All Your Pie link to watch it in all its gloriousness).



1 comments:



Enna Isilee said...

Squee! I'm so excited (and completely terrified) to go to my first writing conference since the FIRST W4C. Can't wait to see you there.

And HAPPY PIE DAY!