Monday, November 23, 2015

It Takes a Village

During Thanksgiving week, we all stop and think about the things that we are thankful for in our lives. Many traditions harvest family time, and we sit around our table and share what we are most thankful for in our lives. I know that I’d planned to share the same three things at our dinner table that I do every year; warm home, healthy family and job security. That being said, something happened that changed my answer, and my heart.

Recently, I discovered that my son’s school, a special school for dyslexia, would no longer have a place to hold their classes. This school is a gift to many, since our county school system does not recognize dyslexia as a disability. Also, the only school in all of the metro area that does service this unique learning need, is a school that is over thirty thousand dollars a year, has a three year waiting list, and is a long way from our community. Because my son has gone from not being able to even write his first name without issue, to writing a full paragraph in only a few months, I felt like I couldn’t sit back and let the school fight the battle on its own.

Of course, funding is a crucial need while they search for a new location, build a school, or pay exponentially higher monthly rent to remain in the church they are currently located. I started thinking there had to be a way that I could help, and I spoke to a couple of authors about possibly putting together a multi-author boxed set that all proceeds would benefit this special school. To my surprise, they not only wanted to contribute a novella to the project, but they also wanted to be on a committee to produce this boxed set.

Now, I realize saying ‘It takes a village’ is a cliché, but in this case it was the truth. There is no way I could afford to donate enough to make a difference to the school, but when I made an announcement at my local writers meeting, the village came together. Not just a few, but many asked to be involved in the project. The word has spread and the outpouring of support brings tears to my eyes as I type. Not only authors, but cover artists are donating the cover, a formatter is donating their expertise, a public relations specialist is going to help with advertising, and more. I am truly humbled by support for this project, and I now know exactly what to say on Thursday at our Thanksgiving feast table. I’ll say that I am so thankful to be a part of an amazing author village full of giving, kind, talented and gracious writers.

I hope to be thankful for a permanent location for my son’s school by this time next year. J


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Ciara Knight is a USA Today and Amazon Bestselling author who writes 'A Little Edge and A Lot of Heart' that span the heat scales. Her popular sweet romance series, Sweetwater County (rated PG), is a small town romance full of family trials, friendly competition, and community love.


Jenna Mitchell Grayson returns to her hometown to run a center for children with autism. Divorced and raising a child diagnosed with special needs, she tries to put her life back together in the one place she’d sworn never to return. 

Confirmed bachelor, Deputy Walker, has a reputation for being a playboy, but he’s never found the right girl to capture his heart. Not since the girl-next-store, Jenna Grayson, moved away. Now the woman who stole his heart has returned, and he is determined to discover why she left without an explanation or even a goodbye. 

3 comments:

  1. Such a great cause! Best of luck with the box set

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  2. I feel for you - my daughter goes to a school that specializes in dyslexia. She's blossomed while she's been there. I will be happy to spread the word whenever your boxed set is available.

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