Since I started writing YA, one of the questions I’ve been asked most frequently is, “Oh, you write for teens? Does that mean you write about vampires?” My books are about as far from paranormal romance as you can get, so my friends and I used to laugh about this a lot. (I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love a good vampire as much as the next girl—I’m a huge Buffy fan, and I watch The Vampire Diaries. But my books are 100% contemporary.) Eventually, the questions about vampires got so out of hand that I actually DID write a vampire story. I sent it out to about eight people, giggled over it for a while, and then put it away and never looked at it again.
How would you guys like to read it?
I’ll make you a deal. My very favorite store in New York City, Books of Wonder, is in trouble. In addition to their gorgeous bookselling and events space, Books of Wonder has a cafe space. Due to the recession, they lost their last subletter (a bakery) a few months back and can’t find someone to take over the lease. That means they’re paying months of unexpected rent on this huge chunk of unused space, and let me tell you, NYC real estate is not cheap. The store needs to raise $100,000 QUICKLY to stay on its feet, and so far they’ve only been able to raise $45,000.
You guys, this store is REALLY important to me. It’s one of only two children’s bookstores in the entire city, and the other is more than an hour from where I live. I’m in Books of Wonder so often that the booksellers have been known to ask ME for reading recommendations. I will cry for weeks if it has to close its doors. I want so badly to walk in there next October and see my book on the shelf. Please help me make that happen.
Here’s what I propose. If you go here and make a donation to the Revitalize Books of Wonder campaign on Indiegogo, then email a receipt to alisoncherrybooks@gmail.com proving that you did, I will send you my never-before-seen and never-to-be-published vampire story. This is not a drawing—I will send it to EVERYONE who donates. Even a $5 donation would help. If you can give $10, do it. Hell, if you can give $100, do it. I will be extremely grateful, and so will Books of Wonder. The campaign ends in ten days, so that’s how long you have to donate.
Ready for some bloodsucking ridiculousness?
GO.
(Thanks in advance!)