Help a Good Cause & Get Cool Stuff

Monster Cookie Malfunction: Tales fro... Dessen in Denver!

Help a Good Cause & Get Cool Stuff

Announcing Brenda Novak's Annual Auction for the Cure of Diabetes 2011!

Brenda and Thad Each year, author Brenda Novak hosts a massive online fundraiser for diabetes research in honor of her young son Thad and everyone who suffers from this fifth deadliest killer. This year's money will be donated to The Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami.

Brenda's goal is to raise a cool $500,000, topping last year's record of $303,000. Those are some serious stakes, and serious stakes require serious goodies. Goodies like signed books, concert tickets, jewelry, sports memorabilia, lessons, trips, gift baskets, VIP packages to VIP events, services, dinner with famous people… all of that and more, Brenda's auction delivers!

This is my first year participating, and I'm excited to offer two items for writers and readers (and people who like to give gifts to writers and readers, which should be everyone, because who doesn't have a writer or reader on her list?):

1. An in-depth critique by yours truly of the first 50 pages of a YA or MG novel in progress. I might make you laugh, I might make you cry, but I promise I'll help you make that story shine.

2. An autographed set of Fixing Delilah and Twenty Boy Summer. A great gift for you or your favorite YA readers, libraries, or schools.

You can check out these and other auction items — and learn more about Brenda, Thad, and The Diabetes Research Institute — at brendanovak.auctionanything.com. Even if you're not able to bid, you can help spread the word about the auction and this important fundraiser by posting about it on your blog, Facebook, Twitter. You can even go super old school and tell people about it on the phone! ;-)