Dear Friends,

I need your help bringing a wonderful writer to the U.S. in March.

Not all heroes wear capes, and I will argue to the end of my days that the biggest heroes I know are everyday Joes and Janes who often do small things, behind the scenes, to collectively change the world...one small move at a time.

The writer you're sponsoring is Mamle Wolo (aka Mamle Kabu), and she has published a beautiful YA story set in Ghana called The Kaya Girl. It is the story of an unlikely friendship between two young girls of different socioeconomic backgrounds. Her writing is engaging, and this great book is getting a hardcover, U.S. release in June!

I have been so lucky over the years to help when and where I can to bring diverse and engaging literature to universities here. I wish I could do this all myself, but I can't. I need your help.

One of the best ways to get new literature, authors, and visiting professors good exposure to academics and university writing programs here is through the *AWP Conference, held each Spring. This conference is attended by 10-12,000 academics and writers each year, and we have a booth through our fledgling organization, WriteChange.org.  Mamle and other writers will engage with attendees, read from their work, and make as many connections within the U.S. academic circles as we can arrange. (*AWP = Association of Writers and Writing Programs)

I am offering up some really cool and interesting items I've purchased during my travels as perks for your support. (Single-click on any perk to see a description of what all is included!)

In addition to the items from my travels, other rewards will include one-on-one time in a private online chat with a few famous Ghanaian writers who have donated an hour each! There will also be a private reading with Mamle when she is in Pittsburgh, Philly, and DC this March.

For those of you who have asked for more "MarLa time" (idk why either haha) I'm also donating my time to give a few of my courses, as well as my "geeky" presentations on birding, international wildlife, or international travel (in your home, club, or organization within a 2.5 hour drive from my home in Lover, Pennsylvania.)

GOAL: $4000 for approximately 2 weeks
How this breaks down:
$2500 Flights & Ground transportation (estimated): Round trip flight between Ghana and the U.S.; ground transportation between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
$750 Main conference hotel (the remaining stays will consist of homestays and my reward points for hotels)
$195 Conference Registration (includes full bookfair staff access, and full conf registration)
$300 Food (Will be supplemented with home-cooked meals where available.)
$255 Estimated fees as follows: for IndieGogo (3% of funds raised PLUS .20 per transaction); fees for books purchased from authors to sign and sell; cost of fabric; sewing fee to make Kente strips; and fees to ship books to the U.S. that are not available in print here.

First, I have faith that my friends will do whatever they can to help us, and share the campaign with others who will donate.

If we do not reach at least half our goal, and are unable to bring her this year, or she cannot make it due to an unforeseen situation on her part, then funds will go toward the seed money for our non-profit, WriteChange.org.

What if we raise MORE than $4000?
Well, first, I am not surprised, because my friends and family are really wonderful. If we exceed our goal, the remainder will go toward all the fees of establishing our non-profit literary organization, WriteChange.org. It will be some time before we obtain official 501c status, so this fundraiser is not tax deductible. We are working to get there in the next couple of years, and with enough engagement with fellow organizations.