Monthly Archives: October 2016

I’m going to take a moment away from all the prep I’m doing for the next Monkey Queen book to talk to you about something important. A friend of mine needs your help.

I first met Amber Goss when she wrote me fan mail about one of my short stories. She went on to read the Monkey Queen books, and has become a big supporter of Michiko and Beth.

Amber is a college student in Arizona, majoring in linguistics. Health issues have caused her to miss several semesters, and as a result, she’s in real danger of missing her deadline to graduate. She can make it up, though, by taking a class during the December Winter term…

A class that her financial aid plan won’t cover.

Amber’s started a GoFundMe page to help raise money to cover the costs of tuition and books for the December class, plus her application fees for graduate school. She’s looking to raise $2300 by December 1; any extra money raised will help cover her living expenses. She goes into detail there about her situation and what the funds will be used for.

$2300 is a big amount. Money’s tight for everyone. People are nervous about the election and so many other things…but I’m not hesitating to pitch in. Amber’s not just a fan, but a true friend; she’s smart and sharp, she knows her geek stuff, she makes me laugh early and often, and she’s there with words of support and encouragement on the bad days.

And this is Amber’s chance. A chance to graduate, to go to grad school to pursue her dream career, to make a living instead of struggling to get by, to make a difference in the world. But to do it, Amber needs your help. And I’m asking, imploring, all of you to pitch in.

Please head to her GoFundMe page and donate. Even the smallest donation helps get her closer to her goal. And spread the word that a fellow Monkey Queen fan needs our help.

Thanks for reading, and if you’re donating, a million thanks more.

(She’s going to kill me when she reads this. I know it.)