Who am I, and what is Dellie's Run?
I'm Laura Lee Cascada, a writer and animal advocate based in Portsmouth, Virginia. I have a master’s degree in environmental policy from Johns Hopkins and am the Director of Corporate Outreach for Compassion Over Killing (where I make vegan options like Starbucks’ macadamia oat cookie appear on menus nationwide). I also run The Every Animal Project, a collection of photographs and awe-inspiring stories of animals around the globe. I spend my free time advocating for imperiled wild hermit crabs through my Plight of the Hermies campaign and managing marketing and PR for the annual Hampton Roads VegFest.
For my entire life, I have been moved and shaped by the power of words, and I believe that they truly can change lives and open hearts and minds. Four years ago, I began a journey to use my own words to share the truth about the oppressive animal agriculture system, which abuses and kills billions every year, through the eyes of a loveable, inquisitive, and headstrong character named Delaware.
The novel is already complete. And as a former editor, I've already given it an initial run-through. But I need your help to get it professionally edited and formatted and then to get it out of the depths of my computer's hard drive and into the world.
Book Synopsis
When you’ve lived your entire life mired in muck and filth, dreams might be the only thing you can cling to. And inside her prison, lost in a sea of thousands of other girls, Delaware has one colossal dream that revolves around a simple white ball. Captivating her from the screen of the portable television owned by one of the prison workers, it is her only glimpse of the place she calls Outside. Her dream is baseball.
Dellie’s Run is an empowering story of one girl chasing the elusive home run in the name of freedom—not just for her, but for the thousands she left behind. Along the way, she comes face to face with who she really is and why, according to the laws of physics, she’s basically destined to strike out. As Dellie sets off to defy these odds along with the companionship and scientific ingenuity of a curious young boy named Austin, she might just change the game for her kind—and for all of us on the Outside.
What I Need & What You Get
I have decided to self-publish Dellie's Run because I believe it's the best way to stay true to my creative vision for this book. But to turn this project into a reality, I will need to raise at least $5,000. I will need help with copy editing, internal design, and (the biggie) marketing. I want to raise enough to launch my book into the world at full steam via press releases, book-signing events, interviews, ads, advance reviews, an online presence, and much more.
In return, I'm inviting you to join Dellie on her journey! See the different perks to the right to find out what you'll get in return!
The Impact
Dellie's Run will reach thousands of Americans who will love a good adventure about our nation's greatest pastime, baseball--and through Dellie's story, they will find a spark of compassion inside themselves they never knew they had.
Words can deeply touch our souls and cause us to reflect on our very foundations. This book will prompt many readers to think about the choices they make in their daily lives, and to begin choosing compassion three times each day.
Risks & Challenges
If I don't reach my goal, Dellie's Run will still come to fruition--it's already written and (almost) ready to roll. But without sufficient funds, its impact will be limited. I don't want to just reach vegans and animal advocates -- I need your help to reach those who might never have thought about the animals behind their meals.
Although I've never published a book before, I've been writing my entire life. I have years of training and even professional experience as an editor. I have also dabbled in graphic design since I was a teen. And I've been working in public campaigning for animals (including through media outreach, event organizing, social media, and advertising) for nearly a decade.
Although you might be taking a gamble on me, know that I live and breathe to fight for animals. This book has been the biggest undertaking of my life thus far, and I will throw my entire self into making it a success.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't contribute right now, please share www.DelliesRun.com with everyone you know. Your help will truly spread the wingspan of this fundraising effort and ensure that this book reaches the public next spring!