I received the following email from a co-worker, who also happens to be my mentor. Knowing what children, literacy and family mean to both of us, I’m taking the liberty of posting this rather modest plea here. I plan to buy copies, I hope you will, too.
I have been working with a group of teens at school called the “graphic novel club.” This is a group of students who usually, do not think they are good readers and we incorporate art and literature to help with their reading. In the last two years, I have gotten at least two students to the point that I want them to publish some of their writing. It is very difficult to find a publisher for good, clean urban literature. I found a place to self publish their work.
This is the link to a book I published. This is actually my book that I wrote over a year ago, with no intent to publish until the need arose for me to inspire others to publish their works. You can buy a copy of the book, and I would encourage you to not only purchase a copy, but to know that any proceeds of the sale will be going to the second reason I chose to publish my writting.
Earlier this year, my mom’s house went into foreclosure. This is a personal issue, I know. But she said to me when I asked why didn’t she tell me sooner, “I did not want to bother you. You are always so busy with work.” Don’t we all work to provide better homes for our families? How could I have sent her such a message? I want ALL the proceeds of the sale of my work to go to buying my mom’s home where she has lived for 19 years, where she has raised her children and grand children, back from Chase Bank. I have to sell 16,000 copies to do that, so that is why I am abusing my Frequent Contact folder in my work email. I am not sending this to everyone- just educators, book vendors, SFC Woodworth, and a few people who I respect as artists.
PS- This is what a librarian does on Friday nights
Cotton Quilts Edi 