Monday, March 31, 2008

Let's support Relay for Life


Hi everyone...just a brief note to encourage you all to support Relay for life. The following message was emailed to family and friends and I have decided to include it on my site as well. A copy of the flier preceeds this message:


As many of you know, our granddaughter, Charli Ann Preister, was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Cancer in March of 2007. After going through treatment and much prayer, Charli has been declared NED (no evidence of disease) and is doing well. Although the tumor remains in her spinal area, she is developing and growing into a healthy, normal and beautiful little girl...and our prayers continue for her always! Charli, who will be two in July, has been chosen to be the honorary co-chair for the Platte County, Nebraska Relay for Life which will be held the last weekend in June and our team 'Charli's Angels' will be selling luminaries to spell out the word 'CURE' for the ceremonies. So we are all working very hard to raise money as well as an awareness of Childhood Cancer, which is the leading cause of death among children...and one of the least funded for research!

We are also on a mission to have every state represented with a luminary from our team...that's where you all come in. I am going to be doing some donated sketches for the next month for relay for life. For every luminary purchased from our Charli's Angels Team I will do a free 8'x10' single subject pencil sketch from a photograph of the contributors choice...person or animal. That should keep me busy! But it goes to a good cause, and it is the one thing I know I can do to contribute. I figure, God gave me this talent and I need to give back whenever I can.

So, won't you join me and the other members of 'Charli's Angels' in raising awareness to Childhood Cancer and supporting Relay for Life by printing and sharing the flier (at the top of this messeage) with your friends, family and co-workers...or sending it on through cyber-space to those you know in other states (countries?) and see just how busy you can make me :o)

Photographs can be sent to me directly at the address below or given to the Charli's Angel Team member you are familiar with. Please include your full name, address and phone number so I can contact you and return your photo with your drawing. This offer will expire on April 30, 2008, so purchase your luminaries and get those photos to me as soon as you can!

Oh, and please be patient with me as I complete each drawing. Thank you and God Bless!

Jody Preister
27040 State Hwy 91
Humphrey, NE 68642






Sunday, March 9, 2008

Another ABNA Update

Here are the top 10 Fianlists in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. Please feel free to click on each one and download the excerpt to view and vote.

The Hellraiser of the Hollywood Hills by Jennifer Colt (Santa Monica, CA)
Casting Off by Nicole R. Dickson (Greesnboro, NC)
Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan (Ypsilanti, MI)
The Wet Nurse's Tale by Erica Eisdorfer (Carrboro, NC)
The Butterflies of Grand Canyon by Margaret Erhart (Flagstaff, AZ)
Ring of Lies by Karen Laugel (Woodbridge, CT)
Fresh Kills by Bill Loehfelm (New Orleans, LA)
Motherless Children by Randall Luce (Montgomery Village, MD)
The Prospect of My Arrival by Dwight Okita (Chicago, IL)
Wrecking Civilization Before Lunch by John Ring (Shawnee, KS)

I did not post any reviews while "The Scrapbook" was a contender in the contest, but now I am enjoying reading some of these and casting my vote. I haven't made any decisions on what my plans are for my book until the contest is completely over...but I hope it will be published soon. Thank you everyone for your continued encouragement and support as I proceed with my writing.