This week's writerly news: Swag September, #giveaways, #Shakespeare, + more

Happy Friday, ya'll! School officially started here yesterday (here's a platter of brownies. I'm celebrating.) Let's get straight to the news, shall we?

1) Amber at Paradise of Pages is hosting something called Swag September, and I'm happy to say I've sent some swag to celebrate! Check out the description, below:

Swag September is organized by Amber at Paradise of Pages. It will occur through the whole month of September. You don't need to worry how much you read during the month, the only thing you need to do is when you do read, read only the books that you have swag for. If it isn't on a piece of swag you read, don't read it. There will be guest posts, interviews, excerpts, a read-a-thon, and lots and lots of giveaways. Where can you go wrong? For any information or questions you may have as well as updates, visit Amber over at Paradise of Pages. ~From Amber at Paradise of Pages 

(To participate, sign up HERE)

2) The Chasm's Summer Bash is full of fun, summery posts and giveaways, and I was delighted to be able to participate with both a giveaway, and post: Top Ten Character's I'd Want to Spend My Summer With Stop on by, enter the giveaway, and say hello! :D

3) In case you missed my recent Facebook post, The Mossy Foot Project (the organization to which 10% of all sales proceeds from my Flora series are donated) was featured at Operation Change on OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network) this week. It's hard to believe that something so simple as shoes and a treatment of soapy water can change lives so drastically, but that is seriously all it takes. Not only does The Mossy Foot Project help treat the beautiful people in this area of Ethiopia who deal with Mossy Foot, but TMFP also gives loans out to patients ostracized by their communities (due to the disease), enabling them to support themselves, and their families. I am so grateful for doors opening like this so that more people can learn about and possibly support this project! I've put the video that was aired in its entirety below (or you can go here to watch the video and read informative, interactive stats on the sidebar):

4) TeamNerd Reviews is hosting #IHEARTYA2014 and celebrating with lots of guest posts and a pretty huge giveaway. My post goes up next week, and let me tell ya, it's a doozy! (Oh and Dahlia gets interviewed, too!)






5) ICYMI: My lovely pal Nikki was this month's Reader Interview. I think it's safe to say that she loves books more than I do (the amount of authors she's met already at only fourteen years old is basically insane). Click the links to check out part one and part two of the interview!

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6) Shakespeare announcement: I am incredibly excited to announce that I will be part of a YA Shakespeare retelling anthology coming out next year!!! *throws coffee bean confetti* There's about 15 of us so far (that's a whole lot of retellings), and I can't wait to see how everyone does their versions! The title of the anthology hasn't been decided yet, but the moment I can share it with you, I will! Yay!



Have a blessed weekend, guys! :D

The Flora series and The Mossy Foot Project

So... I wasn't going to share this, but I'm feeling led to, so there must be a reason for it! (And honestly, I'd rather share about it now, anyway, if He's going to have me do it, so as not to appear as though I'm doing it for promo as the book release gets closer -- because that's not why I'm doing it at all.) Which means instead of my usual Friday writerly news and whatnot, this is going to be my post today.

Over the past month or so, I've really been feeling the Lord putting on my heart to donate a portion of the Flora series books to go to a foundation called The Mossy Foot Project. I could tell you a whole lot about The Mossy Foot Project, but really, it would be easier to give you the link and let you read about it if you want. So here's the link.

To summarize, the purpose of The Mossy Foot Project is basically to share His love with the people of Ethiopia while giving them the tools (socks and shoes) to keep from developing mossy foot, or the treatment and tools to stop the progression of mossy foot if one already has it. Mossy foot is a horrible, debilitating, and, sadly, culturally-shunning disease that is preventable by simply wearing socks and shoes. That's it. Shoes! If everyone had and was able to wear socks and shoes as they went about their business, there would be no mossy foot!!! For that reason, and because it's such a simple solution, and because for the past few years this foundation and the amazingly beautiful people of Ethiopia who need, deserve, and have the right to not have to deal with this (or receive treatment if they do) have been on my heart, a portion of each e-book sold in the Flora series (starting with If I Speak True) will go toward The Mossy Foot Project.

Now, I know that this might seem trivial to some. I mean, if the e-books are say, $3.99 tops, and I only make a portion of that, and then only a smaller portion from what I actually make comes from that, what's the point? Well, the point is, this is what has been placed on my heart. The point is, everyone deserves to be taken care of and shown His love, no matter who they are, or where they're from. The point is, every cent counts. It's not about how many e-books might sell and therefore, how much money will go toward this project; it's about the fact that more people will be helped by me doing this than if I didn't do anything at all.

And there you have it. I probably won't mention this again (though it will be in the back of the e-books so readers will be informed as to where a portion of their money has gone), and feel free to share this, but do not feel obligated at all. As I said, I was just feeling led to share what's been on my heart for a few weeks now. :)

Have a blessed weekend, everyone!