Aloha, Ohana (family and friends),

Why the Hawaiian terms? I was blessed to spend 15 unforgettable years living on the Big Island of Hawaii, a place that holds a special place in my heart.

The greatest lesson I learned during that time? Aloha = Love. It's more than just a word—it's a way of life.

From the beginning of time, artists like Michelangelo, da Vinci, and Rembrandt all relied on patrons to create their masterpieces.

Today, I’m humbly asking for your support to be my patron—even if it’s the equivalent of buying me just a couple of cups of coffee.

Asking for help is never easy, but sometimes life presents challenges we can’t face alone. I’ve worked hard my entire life, starting on Broadway when I was 7 years old, and later serving in the Navy. But now, I find myself in a position where I need to reach out and ask for a helping hand.

In 2001, my ex-husband and I built our dream home on the Big Island, CastleInHawaii. We spent ten years working on this home and spent every penny we earned in twenty-plus years of our lives. You can see what it looked like here: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10207451376039435&set=pb.1738972489.-2207520000

or a piece that Olena Heu did on KHON2 on my YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtHipVy6jAM

During that time, Ray, my beloved heart dog, became a part of my life. You only have one heart dog in a lifetime, the one who grabs your heart so tight he changes your life.

Unfortunately, my ex’s battle with bipolar disorder led to the loss of everything we built. He let the dregs of humanity into what was our home, and this is what they did to it: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10207454722763101&set=a.10207454732123335

Due to his health challenges, I had to "do my duty" and say goodbye to Ray at only seven years of age, which was devastating. I wrote a screenplay called People Make Plans which garnered some awards.

Processing the losses has been a long and painful journey. Writing about it in my book (Mama Drama, A Journey with Bipolar and Dementia— Finding Light Through Loss and Grief) has been a major part of healing. It took five years, but I finished it!

Writing, publishing, and launching a book (let alone a bestseller, which I’m determined to be) is no easy feat, and can be costly even though I’m attempting to DIY as much of it as I can, some things I cannot.

Asking for $15,000 to complete these works:

• Turn Mama Drama into an audiobook

(I’m narrating myself) need editing

• Adapt People Make Plans from script to prose

(Need editing, formatting, and cover design)

• Need to revise my author website

(if you know me, you know that technically challenged is a mild understatement to describe me)

Any help you can offer would truly mean the world to me. No amount is too small, and I would be more than grateful for every bit of support.

I find it difficult to just take without giving so (choose one):

• A copy of Mama Drama audiobook

• An eBook of People Make Plans or When We Wrote Letters, The Sixties, Volume One

• Two tickets to the People Make Plans film premiere (after it’s made!)

• A chocolate fountain experience (if you're in SoCal)

My writing partner and I adapted My Culinary Love Story (a book written by Pauline Parry) into a screenplay at her request, and he's optimistic it will go into production by the end of 2025. And more exciting news? He believes People Make Plans could be next in line for 2026. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed.

Mahalo for taking the time to read this and thank you in advance for anything you’re able to give. Your support means everything, and I promise to pay it forward in any way I can.

Aloha, Sheri

Join me on my author journey!

For updates, new releases or to buy any books: https://sherismithauthor.com/

(pitch decks for People Make Plans and My Culinary Love Story - on this site)