My Story
Hi. My name's Zachariah Wells; I'm a writer based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I'm the author of two poetry collections, Unsettled (2004) and Track & Trace (2009). Recently, four of my poems were adapted into songs by Canadian composer Erik Ross, as commissioned by baritone singer Phillip Addis. Mr. Addis will be singing the poems, accompanied on piano by Emily Hamper, at an event in Toronto on December 19. I will, unfortunately, be unable to attend that recital because of work obligations. On January 11, however, they will also be performing at the Opéra National in Paris, France. This is the kind of opportunity that presents itself rarely in most writers' lifetimes, so I wouldn't miss it for anything short of a catastrophe.
I have bought my ticket to Paris, I have booked accommodations and I applied to the Canada Council for the Arts for a grant to cover some of the cost, but my application did not meet with success. My funding target represents the cost of airfare and ground transport to and from airports, as well as a week's accommodation. I will be enormously pleased to raise half of my target, as that is the approximate amount the Canada Council would have covered had my application been successful.
So: your help would be greatly appreciated.
The Impact
If I can't raise funds to pay for my travel and accommodation costs, then the money will have to come out of my family's general revenue. I work seasonally and on a freelance basis and my wife, who is also a writer, is a substitute teacher and contract literacy programmer, so we are not wealthy. But this isn't a charity or pity case; I'm just trying to come up with a creative way to fund my trip that benefits myself, my family AND my supporters. Win, win, win.
What I Need & What You Get
I have set a goal of $2200 to pay for my transportation and accommodation expenses.
This won't cover 100% of my costs, but I don't want to ask for too much. Any funds raised in excess of my goal will go towards covering lost income and/or will be put towards my future literary endeavours--and will help pay for the AWESOME PERKS you can claim in exchange for your generous support of my campaign. Any contribution of $100 or more will also receive acknowledgment (unless anonymity is preferred) of support in my next published book.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you support my campaign, or would like to but can't spare the cash (believe me, I understand!), please help me spread the word by means of email, blog and social media. Every bit helps.
