I’m really happy to announce that the event will have a tie-in with the Family Support Center, a local nonprofit that provides a variety of services for children at risk for abuse and neglect, and their parents. They have Crisis Nurseries in various locations across the valley, providing up to 72 hours respite care for children infants to age 12. One of the first things volunteers do when children come in is sit down and read them a book – and then give them the book. Often this will be the first and only book the child has ever owned.

I want to invite everyone who comes to the book launch to purchase a children’s book for donation to the FSC. Suitable books include anything for kids up to age 12; the Center specified a preference for uplifting, encouraging books that give children hope, rather than books focusing on violence or victimization.* If kid books are not your thing, you can also purchase books for FSC’s Lifestart Village—transitional housing that moves single women with children from dependency to self-sufficiency.

Writing can be sort of a self-obsessed profession, so I’m extremely happy to have the opportunity to be not quite as self-obsessed, if only for a day. Thanks to Cecil Castellucci, Jo Knowles, Justina Chen Headley and others for being an inspiration in this area.

*I am taking suggestions here for titles that would fit into these guidelines. You all know non-YA kid books better than I, and I’d love to have a list to pass out to people who may not know where to begin to look. Post your suggested titles in the comments section! Thank you!!