Hi there! Thanks for coming to my fundraising page for National Novel Writing Month. This fall, I'll be joining 100,000 authors in the challenge of writing a book, from scratch, in November.

It's going to be a busy month! As I write my novel, I'll be raising money for the nonprofit Office of Letters and Light, whose free programs such as National Novel Writing Month have helped spark a lifelong love of writing in kids, teens, and adults around the world.

(Confession: Until this point, all of this language was boilerplate. Below find actual words written by me!)

I have set $50 as an arbitrary amount of money to raise - $1 for each 1,000 words I've promised to write. So if 50 people - friends, relatives, strangers, whatever - decide to each throw in a buck, I've met my goal. If no one donates, I totally understand and will still do the work. (But if there are donations here, up to or exceeding the $50 amount, I'll feel extra-super-obligated to go through with what I said I'd do... to finish the marathon of word production!)

I do want to make clear that donations through this portal do not go to me, but rather, benefit this literary organization; there is a separate donation option on my main website which helps our family of four with groceries and rent, since my husband got laid off in April. Spare change in either or both of these collection plates is welcomed but totally not required.

(Okay, now we're back to boilerplate. Sorry I can't be more personal... but jeez, I have a novel to write!)

Thank you so much for your support of my writing and the Office of Letters and Light's literary mission! If you can think of anyone else who might be interested in sponsoring me, please forward this page along to them.

Thank you so much for your support of my writing and the Office of Letters and Light's literary mission! If you can think of anyone else who might be interested in sponsoring me, please forward this page along to them. PS: You should think about writing a novel in November too! Find out more at www.NaNoWriMo.org http://www.NaNoWriMo.org