Dear Friends, Family, and Righteous Supporters,

I am crazy, but we already knew that. This November, I'll once again be participating in National Novel Writing Month. It's a global writing challenge in which participants spend November writing a 50,000-word book. That's right, a whole book. In 30 days. I also happen to be one of the Municipal Liaisons for Miami, which means I am organizing meetings for other writers in the Miami area to get together and drink too much coffee and have more fun than any sane person should.

But why am I asking you for money? Unfortunately, it isn't for me directly, although if you really want to give me some... No, I'm raising money to help the Office of Letters and Light continue to put on free creative writing programs for kids and adults in classrooms, communities, and libraries around the world. Every dollar I raise will help National Novel Writing Month and its Young Writers Program create a more engaged and inspiring world.

I'm hoping at least 20 people will be able to give $10 each to embarrass--I mean, motivate me to finish my novel this year. Be one of those people.

Thank you so much for your support of my writing!