Random Acts of Kindness & Guest Blogger: Brenda Novak

A Special Message from Kerri (@thebookboost):

Lately, I've been feeling the strain of every day life. Too many obligations plus too much stress equals too little time to enjoy and appreciate the best things in life. Those things are family and friends and taking a moment just to be thankful for your many blessings.

This morning I woke up feeling a bit down and disheartened about life in general and then I realized that I needed to do something just because I can. What do I mean by this?

Today, I'd like to hear from readers and authors and I'd like you to tell me something you want or need. It can be anything. From a prayer for someone to a critique of your work in progress to a free book. Just something that you want or need that would make your day a little bit better right now.

I'm going to choose 5 requests and do my best to make them come true. Today, I will pursue 5 random acts of kindness for those who simply ask! All I ask is that you spread the word to someone you know who might need some random kindness.

You can leave your comment here OR you can e-mail it to me privately at: thebookboost@gmail.com. TODAY ONLY, please! :-)


NOW...I'm honored and thrilled to announce that we have a special guest blogger today...the Bestselling Author Brenda Novak and she is one of my own personal heroes!

If you don't know by now, my 9 year old daughter Brooke suffers from Juvenile Diabetes (check her out on my homepage this month www.KerriNelson.com) as does Brenda's son.

Every year Brenda runs an amazing auction to help benefit research for a cure of this terrible disease. Let's hear what Brenda has to say about the auction which is hitting its mid-month stride right now. Then stay tuned below for details on my special auction for today only!

Take it away, Brenda!

SHOW TIME….

I’m SO excited! My 6th Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research began May 1st (at brendanovak.com). With over 2,200 fabulous items, many of which you can’t get anywhere else, it's going to be a blast.

I started this fundraiser in 2005 and have made it an annual event in an attempt to help my thirteen-year-old son (diagnosed at 5) and the many, many others who struggle with diabetes--like Kerri's daughter. The need is there. Anyone who lives with a diabetic will tell you about the constant fingertip pricks, the shots, the pump insertions, the danger that comes with blood sugars that are too high or too low or swinging wildly from one side to the other.

It’s almost impossible to avoid the fluctuations, no matter how hard you try. But you rarely hear about that, or about the tragic side affects. Diabetes affects every part of the body—the heart, the liver, the kidneys, the skin, the nerves, the eyes, everything. But...thanks to my many, many generous donors--and shoppers--we’re doing what we can to help!

Last year we managed to raise $280,000, which brings us to over three-quarters of a million so far. In 2010, we should break the $1 million mark! Judging by the increase in donations and web traffic, I think we’ll get there. Not only does the auction offer fabulous items like original paintings, handmade quilts, trips and stays and autographed books and baskets from Big Name authors, it offers fabulous opportunities for readers and writers. How would you like to have lunch with one of your favorite authors—authors like Barry Eisler, Diana Gabaldon, Linda Howard, Beverly Barton or Catherine Coulter?

Kerri Nelson, John Lescroart and Christine Feehan are offering you an opportunity to name a character in one of their novels. Jane Porter is donating a trip to Hawaii! Heather Graham has donated a trip to New Orleans, which includes her Writers For New Orleans Conference. Nora Roberts is offering a stay at her inn. And Anna DeStefano has put up a whole category of Coach purses.

For aspiring writers, we have more agent and editor evaluations and author critiques than ever before. There are too many items to list here, so hop over and check it out. For those of you who have never participated in an online auction, don’t worry--it’s easy. This auction runs just like E-Bay. You shop the entire month of May (there are also one-day auctions so be sure to check the schedule), bid on whatever you like and pay for what you win via credit card or Paypal when it’s all over, at which point it will be shipped to you (in most cases, the shipping is free).

The person who places the highest number of bids each week will be awarded a fabulous prize (the first week it's an iPad as well as an Advanced Reading Copy of my new book, WHITE HEAT, due out July 27th). There will also be lots of other prizes given away via random drawings. And we have something new this year for aspiring writers. It's a writing contest that will be judged by New York Times Bestselling Authors. The winner will receive a 6-month mentorship from me and guaranteed reads from my agent and editor.

One other thing I should mention. To help promote the auction, I’m currently holding a drawing for a fabulous Trip for two to Curacao. This trip includes airfare and hotel stay at the Hyatt Regency. To enter, visit brendanovak.com and click on the Contest link.

Here’s hoping I see you at the auction!

Note from Kerri (@theBookBoost): Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to stop by and share more details about this important auction with us! Everyone, please see the details below about how to access the auction AND if you are a YA writer or YA fan, I have a special one day auction today for my YA novel Surviving Truth! Don't miss it!

Here are the links:

To the auction homepage:
http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Home.taf

To my One Day only Auction Today:
http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Bidding.taf?_function=detail&Auction_uid1=1786592