About This Project
When my mother-in-law called to tell me she’d been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis [ALS], I had to research it to fully understand what it was and how things would progress. You hear ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, and images of the baseball player or Stephen Hawking come to mind, but in reality, most of us don’t know a thing about it until we find out someone we know and love has it.
Imagine, now, being a child and learning that your grandmother has been diagnosed with ALS. At first glance (and second and third), it’s terrifying. ALS is a motor neuron disease that starts with symptoms so subtle, they’re often overlooked. As it progresses, muscles stop receiving signals from the brain, leading to decreasing functional ability. Depending on a child’s age, they may be confused, scared, and worried as they watch the progression with their own eyes.
“What’s happening?”
“Why’s it happening?”
“Is it going to happen to me too?”
When my mother-in-law called to tell me she’d been diagnosed with ALS, we spent a lot of time talking about the kids. My two children and my nephew—her three grandchildren—range in ages from 5-11 years old. She brought up a meeting she’d had with her medical team, and when she asked if there were books available, geared toward a young audience to better explain ALS, they couldn’t provide any titles. Turns out, there are very few, and they’re not reaching the hands that need them.
Let’s change that.
As a librarian, former teacher, and published author, I will use my experience and education to work efficiently to create appropriate and effective stories that help kids make sense of this difficult disease. Through 3 stages, we’re going to create and distribute literature suitable for kids to ease their worries and address their confusion.
STAGE 1
I’ve teamed up with Qamber Kids and talented illustrator, Mark Balita, to create a picture book for ages 4-8.
And Love Speaks follows the thoughts and experiences of 5-year-old Ben after he finds out grandma has ALS. At first he’s just confused. “She doesn’t look sick to me.” But as things progress they go from uncertain to downright scary. He doesn’t like these changes and wishes everything would go back to normal. The wise words of his grandma echo in his mind, helping him adjust to this new reality.
STAGE 2
Ben’s older brother and sister are also coping with the difficult news. In a middle grade novel that follows the same timeline as And Love Speaks, Leah and Elliot take two different approaches to finding out their grandma is sick. Leah puts all her time and focus into friends and middle school, pretending nothing at home has changed, while Elliot’s anger gets the best of him and he starts getting into trouble. What will it take for them to turn back to their family to process their feelings?
STAGE 3
Distribution! It’s not enough to write these books and make them available through retailers. We want the medical and ALS communities to know they exist. We want them in their hands so they can get them into the families’ hands that need them. My stage 3 goal is to deliver free sets of books to as many ALS treatment centers across the United States as possible.
I’ve taken on a hefty endeavor, but it’s important to me, to my family, and to many others out there who are being impacted by ALS. Now we need you to join the team to help make this happen.
Please consider donating to the cause. Any amount will help, and the faster we raise the funding for these projects, the faster these books will be created.
Here’s what your donations will cover:
- And Love Speaks - The writing, illustrating, formatting, editing, publishing, and packaging of this picture book
- Leah & Elliot’s middle grade novel - The writing, cover design, editing, formatting, publishing, and packaging of this book
- Processing, shipping, and handling of the book sets to as many ALS treatment centers as we can reach.
- Donating to ALS research - There is no cure, and the progression can be rapid. If we exceed our goals, any remaining funds after covering costs will go to the organizations that make a difference.
Once the books are released, their royalties earned will continue to fund ALS-based causes. This is the sort of gift that we hope will keep on giving indefinitely.
Donate, share, help spread the word. Let’s get these books funded!
Use Of Funds
$4,000 Tipping Point Goal
At a minimum, we want Stage 1 completed. The Tipping Point goal will cover everything needed to create, publish, print, and distribute And Love Speaks.
Though costs involved can often vary due to scoped time and hourly rates, here's a basic breakdown of the full three-stage budget:
STAGE ONE - And Love Speaks
Writing - varies
Illustrating - 3500
Formatting - 150
Editing - 100
Publishing - 1000+
Printing - 500+
STAGE TWO - Leah & Elliot’s middle grade novel
Writing - varies
Cover design - 200
Editing - 300
Formatting 150
Publishing - 1000+
Printing - 500+
STAGE THREE - Distribution
Materials - 100+
Shipping - 300+
OTHER
Printing rewards - 200+
Shipping rewards - 100+
Fees - varies per transaction
$12,000 Stretch Goal
The stretch goal brings all three stages to completion and provides more opportunity to provide ALS awareness and understanding to children!
Once we pass the tipping point, we'll move onto funding the creation of the middle grade chapter book (Stage Two). We'll also reach out to ALS treatment facilities all across the United States to find out what we can do to help (Stage Three). We'll be able to print sets of books for each center to be distributed to them for free.
The more we raise, the more we can do, such as:
- Live readings
- Public speaking events
- Book sequels
- Additional copies sent directly to families in need
- International distribution
Latest News
Feb 21, 2021
Cover Reveal!
We've made it to the home stretch! Illustrations are done, the layout is complete, and we're ready to finish the last of the formatting. That means the first copies will soon be ready and sent to all the contributors who donated $10 or more to the StartSomeGood crowdfunding campaign!
I can't wait for you to read And Love Speaks. We're SO close. In the meantime, how about a cover reveal courtesy of the amazing work at Qamber Kids.
Jan 31, 2021
This has been a rollercoaster of a week in my corner of the ALS world.
ALS took my friend yesterday.
Around this time last year, we were at a pub crawl, and the running joke was, “I’m not drunk. I have ALS”. Claudia had been diagnosed about the same time as Sandi—the same time the first notion of an idea for a children’s book was introduced. Not even a year since I last saw her, she’s gone.
There are a lot of ugly words I’d like to say about ALS, but since this is a family-friendly update, I’ll refrain.
That’s what happens with ALS though. It’s unpredictable; it’s ugly; we don’t have a cure (the latter is the biggest issue). Let’s all hope someday that changes. In fact, Claudia donated her body to research. Because of her, and many like her, maybe we can see a future where we defeat ALS before it takes its hold.
And speaking of the future…
And Love Speaks has been accepted to reside alongside 100+ other books in a time capsule being sent to the moon. (I told you this week has been a whirlwind).
Writers on the Moon is a project led by author Susan Kaye Quinn to “… send a rag-tag fleet of stories to the Moon aboard a digital data card. We hope this snapshot of indie fiction from around the world in 2021 will reveal the humanity of today to the readers of tomorrow.”
My little educational children’s book about ALS has a seat on that mission, and whatever legacy it leaves behind will now be astronomical (…get it?). Personally, I’m geeking out with excitement, but I’m also humbled by the fact I get to send the 2D animated version of my loved ones to the moon.
I may not be able to provide that cure we all want, but I can help bring awareness and understanding. I can help children cope with their confusion, fear, and worry when their own world is turned upside down by ALS. And in your own ways, you can do the same.
Hugs and love to you all. ALS won’t win.
Jan 21, 2021
Finally...
Good morning supporters of And Love Speaks!
It has been a many-months’ long effort, and I was hoping for an early Spring release, and guess what?
I think my wish will be granted!
The illustrations are done (and beautiful).
The cover is done.
The typography is done.
We’re down to last steps, final editing, and file formatting.
Thank you for being so patient. Stay tuned for the final sneak peek before the big release.
There’s so much love piled into 30+ pages, and I know you’re all going to love it!
—Jami
Oct 17, 2020
October Update
So much love and talent is pouring into the pages of And Love Speaks. I've started receiving storyboard sketches, and I can't begin to tell you how much I love them! Mark is capturing my characters and the book's overall tone perfectly. Here's a little preview:
After the storyboards are complete and approved, Mark will move into colorizing and detailing each page. Then comes formatting the text to compliment each illustration, followed by final edits. It's a lengthy process and so much fun each step of the way. I see more children's books in my future.
Keep an eye out for future updates where I show you how these sketches evolve into their final works of art.
Sep 14, 2020
September Update!
I'm so excited to say the final manuscript has been sent to the illustrator! A huge thank you to my beta readers and my editor, Nicole Bailey, who graciously donated her services at no cost. Mark Nino Balita, the crew at Qamber Kids, and I are going to work on storyboarding the whole book next. I can't wait to see it come to life. Stay tuned for some sneak peeks ;)
At this point, I have a growing list of preorders, as well as tons of recommended places that can benefit from being sent copies of this book once it's done. I know we're all eager to see the finished result. I'm working on getting the shipping materials together now so that when the book is ready and printed, it can be sent out quickly. It's only a matter of time!
Aug 20, 2020
We're funded and on our way!
Another huge thank you to everyone who contributed! And Love Speaks is funded and our next steps to getting this book published are underway. My illustrator is on schedule with beginning the artwork in September. I'll keep everyone posted as we move forward so you can see the process of completing and publishing a children's book.
Important Notice: Some have asked how their donation will appear on their bank statement. I wasn't aware until recently that it shows up as Wood Pulp Fiction. This is one of my publishing companies, so don't be alarmed!
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via my email ([email protected]) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/JLBlairAuthor).
Jul 25, 2020
An addition to all our rewards!
We’re halfway through the campaign AND about halfway to our goal! Thank you so much for helping get us closer.
I’ve added a new reward to the mix. Did you notice?
Now when you donate $5 (or more), you’ll get a 2” round “And Love Speaks” commemorative patch to proudly display wherever you like.
All the rewards are tiered, so everyone who donates any amount, whether it’s $5 or $500 will get the patch added to their rewards shipment in the coming months.
With two weeks left, I wonder what else I’ll come up with to show my eternal gratitude…
Jul 19, 2020
One Week!
I'm so happy to see we've hit 42% of our goal in the first week. We're so close to the halfway mark, which means we're that much closer to making this idea a reality.
"And Love Speaks" has its plot outlined and ready to go. I keep tweaking things to make Ben's world and experiences more authentic, and his voice grows stronger each day I work on the manuscript. With the help of Mark Niño Balita's illustrations, the final product is going to be entertaining, heartfelt, and real.
I've written over 10 novels in the last 6 years, and I've contributed to dozens of other published works. This 32-page children's book has proven to be the most difficult project yet. Maybe it's because a piece of my heart is woven into these words. Maybe it's because there's a strict limit to the length, and every page must serve its purpose. Maybe it's because I truly hope to create something that'll help so many others. Realistically, it's all of the above.
Let's keep this campaign moving! We have 3 weeks left to hit our tipping point goal and (hopefully) hit the stretch goal. I'm confident we can get there, but it's going to take your support. Keep sharing the posts, tell everyone you know, and consider contributing to the fund. $5 goes such a long way!
