Authors Helping Others: Between the Scenes

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Bama Charity FINAL UPDATE! How'd we do?


The Dragonfly photo above was selected for its meaning.  We all have a little something to learn from this beautiful creature--even in the wake of tragedy.

The dragonfly normally lives most of its life as a nymph or an immature. It flies only for a fraction of its life and usually not more than a few months. This adult dragonfly does it all in these few months and leaves nothing to be desired. This style of life symbolizes and exemplifies the virtue of living IN the moment and living life to the fullest. By living in the moment you are aware of who you are, where you are, what you are doing, what you want, what you don’t and make informed choices on a moment-to-moment basis.
 

Learn to live your life without regrets like the great dragonfly.


A Special Thanks to everyone who donated to this cause near and dear to my heart.  After all was said and done, our online $1 for Alabama efforts raised $450.00 from generous donations made by those in the writing and publishing community!  My heart beats proudly for all the love I received from my friends, peers, and family in the world of writing.  Many of you gave much more than $1 and I simply cannot thank you enough. (Feel some tears coming on now.)

But...but...but...uh, the GRAND TOTAL over there says...$900?  

Well, I'm also thrilled to announce that my husband's employer (who shall remain anonymous) has agreed to MATCH our contribution by 100% making our total raised $900!!!!!

So, this has been an incredibly successful fund raising effort.  A special thank you message is being sent out to each of our donors and their first name with last initial only (for privacy purposes) is listed down below.  Sincere gratitude from the bottom of my southern belle heart.

I'm heading out of town tomorrow to the 7th Annual Lori Foster Reader & Author Event in Ohio.  If you're in the area, I'd love to see you at my first ever book signing at the book fair on Saturday, June 4th!  And a special thanks to Lori for her contribution to this cause as well as her invaluable word of mouth.

Also, a special thank you to Paisley Kirkpatrick for the amazing baby quilts that she sent for whom I will be finding special homes with disaster victims very soon.

Hmmm...let's see...I think I'm forgetting something...what could it be?

Oh, yeah...PRIZES!!!

Since we didn't reach our $1000 goal, I won't be able to give away the Kindle.  BUT since we almost got there, I've decided to give away TWO separate prizes of 6 free months of promotion at my Book Boost Author Promotions Blog!

I've entered all the names on a piece of paper and placed them in a box for a random draw.  My daughter Brooke will draw the first name...and the winner is...

KELLY WHITLEY

My daughter Julie will draw the second name...and the winner is....

ALEXIS MORGAN (Patricia P.)

CONGRATS!

The winners should contact me at thebookboost@gmail.com to discuss your prize.

Special thanks and extreme love and gratitude to all the following generous folks who made contributions to this effort.  May the good karma you've put forth return to you ten fold.

And in no particular order the generous folks are...


Rachel F.
Denise J.
Marlene U.
Stuart W.
Brooke F.
Alison H.
Ginger S.
Amy M.
Karen C.
Dana T.
Heather H.
Patrizia H.
Maureen B.
Libby B.
Colleen P.
Regina M.
Laura K.
Jodi S.
Monica B.
Michele M.
Lori F.
Janice A.
Elizabeth A.
Michelle M.
Renee V.
Christine A.
Danielle E.
Marian A.
Kelly W.
Debra H.
Alisa W.
Paw Prints
Miriam N.
Linda M.
Andrea I.
Diva J.
Sandra C.
Kathryn P.
Patricia P.
Laurie P.
Carol A.
Bronwen E.
Angela J.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

A Buck for Bama! Help Tornado Victims in Alabama

Click logo to learn more about this charity.

Event Ends June 2nd!  Donate Today!

Updated 5/23/11 (see below):

Our debut charity event will go towards something near and dear to me...disaster relief efforts in my home town in Alabama.  As most of you know, just two weeks ago, my home state was ravaged mercilessly by hundreds of tornadoes.  Many lost their lives, their loved ones, their homes, and their belongings.  

Personally, I lost people from my home town as well as witnessing vast damage to the small community in which I grew up.  In addition to that, my lifelong best friend tragically lost her 21 year old daughter who was attending college in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  

As a published author in the romance community, I've been searching for ways to help.  If you've been looking for something simple, I think I've come up with an idea.

Today, I'm launching my debut event "A Buck for Bama" campaign and simply asking you to give $1.00 via PayPal.  It doesn't sound like a lot but in this economy--every little bit helps!  If you can give more, great!  But all I'm asking for is a dollar.  AND to spread the word.

PayPal donation buttons are located in the right hand column of this blog for your ease of use.   If you have any problems with the buttons, you can donate directly to this e-mail address:  thebookboost@gmail.com






**Special Bonus** 

This event is being sponsored by my author promotional site The Book Boost.  If you are an author or industry professional and you donate to this cause, please contact me here (thebookboost@gmail.com) and let me know that you've donated.  I'll enter your name in a a drawing for 6 FREE MONTHS of promotion on my rapidly growing publicity site!

Thank you in advance to anyone who donates, spreads the word, or any other help you've provided to the victims of this terrible tragedy.

I'll be back with updates soon.

Sincerely Southern,
Author of Romance & More
Owner, The Book Boost

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Day# 1 Update:  

Thanks to all the wonderful folks who left encouraging comments here, sent messages of support, and gave much needed funds to the cause!  Our Day #1 total was $69.00 and we've already started receiving funds for Day #2.  Watch the thermometer on the right hand side of the blog to see how we're doing each day.  The generous outpouring from friends has sincerely touched my heart.  Thank you.


AS ANOTHER ADDED BONUS:


If we reach our $1000 goal, I'll give away a Brand New Amazon Kindle to one lucky person who donates to the cause.  1 entry for each Buck for Bama that you contribute!  Help us reach our goal and bring relief to my hurting community.  Walk away with a brand new Kindle of your very own!


I really want to give this away.  So, please help us make it happen.  Spread the word!

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Update Day #5:


Blogger has yet to restore all my lovely comments and my new Kindle giveaway gadget that was placed here on Thursday when Blogger began having troubles.  I've waited patiently but want to help this charity get moving towards our goal so I'll re-post the BONUS offer again here:


If we reach our $1000 goal, I'll give away a FREE AMAZON KINDLE to one generous donor.  You will get 1 entry per $1 you donate.  


Thanks for all the words of encouragement and outpouring of support from everyone.  


Hugs,
Kerri

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Update Day #7:

Well, Blogger still hasn't given me back all my lovely comments but I want to thank everyone who has helped put the word out for this great event.  Today, I'm super proud to announce that we've reached about  30% of our goal!  This is with only 1 week into the month long event.


Keep up the great work.  I so want to give away that Kindle!


Alabama thanks you,
Kerri

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Update Day #13:

More bad news...another devastating storm has hit the U.S. over the weekend and more loss of life and property has befallen others.  My heart breaks for the families affected.  Alabama feels your pain.


I want to take a moment to thank you all for your support and help with this fund raising effort for my hometown community in Alabama.  I'm thrilled with the response and although it doesn't seem likely we'll reach our $1000 goal, we've raised $346 to date and I'm so grateful to each and everyone of you.

We still have a few more days to go.  This event will end on June 2nd.  So, if you want a chance at winning the Kindle, please help to spread the word.

Either way, one person will still win my free promotion package and I'll be writing a special thank you to each of you here on the blog in the coming weeks.


Thoughts, love and prayers to all,
Kerri
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