Lara Zielin

Tonight is the launch of my new book, The Implosion of Aggie Winchester! I’ll be at Nicola’s Books in Ann Arbor at 7:00 p.m. along with authors Saundra Mitchell, Rhonda Stapleton, Christine Johnson, and Aimee Carter.

This is awesome, and I’m super excited. Tours are wonderful, and signing books is great. I love it. But I think the best part about being an author is being inspired. And boy, was I inspired this past Wednesday night.

Considering that a delicious-looking donut can give me goosebumps, I realize this might not seem like much.

But trust me. It was.

I had the great honor of helping out with 826michigan’s first ever “Jump Up and Write-a-Thon,” an event to celebrate books and writing. The bulk of the event was a writing marathon where kids plunked their butts in seats and just … wrote.

For FIVE HOURS.

You might think it was distraction city, but the room was quiet. The kids were focused. And at the end, they shared some of their stories with the group. The prose was amazing.

Fellow Ann Arbor author Will Purves and I were on hand to witness all the incredible work. We got to help the kids out a little — drop a writing prompt or two, encourage them to share — but really we didn’t do much. These kids had writing in their marrow. All they wanted to do was get their words down on paper.

Even after five solid hours of writing, the 826michigan kids weren't sick of prose. Here, I'm reading a bit of 'Aggie Winchester' to them.

I was so honored to be around these budding writers. As I told the audience, I’m not sure I could have kept my butt in that chair for five hours in such a disciplined way.

Later in the evening, I was able to share a little bit from The Implosion of Aggie Winchester. Will read from his book, Fairmont Forever. The kids were into it. After five hours, they still wanted more writing. More books. More words.

These kids were awesome. The event was awesome.

And for me, being THIS inspired? Was priceless.

I do not spell good. But, see, there’s this place that wants to help people spell good, and write good, and learn to do other things good, too. And it’s not even out of Zoolander. It’s real.

It’s called 826michigan.

And they are having an epic spelling battle. I am not participating (see above: spelling, no good). But Rob is participating. And so is our friend Jim Ottaviani. They are a team.

The thing is, even if they don’t spell good, they can cheat. That is, if they raise enough money. The more money they raise, the more they can cheat.

You can help them by clicking here and donating. They’re trying to raise $826 and, well, like the come-from-behind duo they are, they could use a little help.

Will you help them spell and help kids develop a love of books and reading through 826michigan? I really can’t think of a better cause than that.

Even that little piglet wearing rain boots that’s all over the internet wants you to donate.

Thanks, and if you want to catch the event live, it’s at Woodruff’s Bar in Ypsilanti on March 30, starting at 7:00 P.M.

A-w-e-s-u-m.