I had planned another post entirely.  Had it halfway written this morning, in fact.  And then I heard about urban fantasy author L.A. Banks.  She’s gravely ill and fighting not only a physical battle, but a monetary one.

Back in 2005 I had started reading Minion, the first book in the Vampire Huntress Legends.  I fell in love with the style and characters immediately.  I reached the end–an abrupt finale–and realized the original novel must have had been split in half because of the length.  At the time I was in a frenzy because I was halfway through writing my first book and was already beyond the 80,00-120,000 word count recommended by professionals.  I was writing a monster.  I was terrified, confused, wondering if I should shelve the behemoth, or start hacking at it like Michael Meyers on All Hallow’s Eve.  Discovering that Ms. Banks’ book had been divided in two gave me back a bit of breath, eased the rising hysteria.

About a week after finishing the second novel, The Awakening, I decided to email Ms. Banks about the whole mess.  I expected a quick, form note, or possibly nothing at all.  Instead, I received a sincere, helpful, inspiring letter.  In a single page (an outpouring of literary energy that could have been directed to benefiting her WIP and not mine) she gave me the courage to let Resonance be what it wanted to be.  I haven’t forgotten that.

I am deeply saddened to hear she is now so very ill and that her finances are also dire. I don’t have much, but what I can give, I give freely.  For the next week, the profits from any purchase of Resonance from either Amazon’s Kindle store, Barnes & Noble’s Nook Store, or the iBookstore will go to Ms. Banks.

If you don’t have an e-reader or would rather support her in your own way, please visit the L.A. Banks Auction and Donation Site.

I still have the email she sent me sitting in my inbox as a reminder that people can be good and kind, even the incredibly busy, bestselling ones.

I wish her well.