Please help Laura get her book published!

Writing books has been something I've wanted to do since I was seven years old. Even though I loved writing as a child, my confidence was shaken many times over, I stopped writing, and it became something that I thought I might as well give up on. I didn't have any concrete ideas kicking around my head that I could follow through on, and even if I did, where would it lead? So, what would be the point?

Pretty depressing, right? Not the most inspiring attitude.

Well, this year I finally ignored that nasty voice in my head that I'd listened to for decades, and wrote a damn book! I'm about to turn 41 - surely now is as good a time is any to start accomplishing goals.  

It's a children's picture book suitable for toddlers to age five (note: I wrote it - I did not illustrate it; nobody wants to see my wonky scratching of a kangaroo), with the main character being inspired by one of my rescued kangaroos, Poppy.  I have 6 kangaroos that I have raised from joeys with my eternal-fiance (wedding, schmedding) and our daughter.  So, how exciting for me that a publisher reached out and wants to partner with me to see it published!

Turns out, though, that it's quite a pricey endeavour to get a book published what with editing, proofreading, marketing and paying an illustrator. That's where you all come in, if possible.  

I need to raise $10,000 to see this dream become a reality (ooh, that was a bit cheesy, wasn't it?), ideally within the next two months. With these funds I can get my book published.  Also, because it never leaves my mind that the reason I have my 6 wonderful roos is because they each lost their mother at a young age, and if it wasn't for people stopping and checking pouches, handing the joeys discovered in pouches on the side of the road to experienced carers who then find homes with people like me, they wouldn't be here.  That was a long-winded way of me getting to this point: once published, I will be donating a portion of the sales of my book to one of my favourite native animal charities - they rely on donations, and I want to see them get as much help as possible.

Well, I go on a bit, don't I? It would mean more than I can put into words (says the writer of words) to be able to publish my book and do my bit to help provide for our native animals. So, please, if you can, support my book.

Cheers,
Laura