I’m happy to take a break from writing about the pandemic to note that the release date for my new novel, Bending the Arc, is now within 45-60 days. I’m excited about the book’s upcoming availability but even more enthusiastic about the opportunity it presents to support an organization called The Kindness Corps.
The Kindness Corps, as the name implies, is all about spreading kindness to those people who need it the most, and in very practical ways. Serving predominantly black communities in Washington D.C., Dallas, New Orleans and Boston, The Kindness Corps “offers a range of community service opportunities for those who want to spread kindness one helpful act at a time.” Since 2015, this volunteer-coordinating group has been providing backpacks loaded with school supplies for kids unable to buy their own, meals for hungry families, and even Thanksgiving turkeys for those who would normally go without. And now, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, needs like these are even more acute. To learn more, please go here and here.
So, what’s the connection between the book, Bending the Arc and The Kindness Corps? In consulting with the Kindness Corps’ founder and psychotherapist, Leathia West, on the cultural and racial aspects of the book, I asked about her organization. I was inspired by what I learned from her as well as from my in-laws, Susan and Dean, who have volunteered with the organization. The basic philosophy is simple: show kindness whenever and wherever possible. And do it in practical ways. Meet real needs.
Last year, when I wrote my personal goals for 2020, one of them was this: “Make one significant contribution to the life of someone not in our family.” Then, after learning about The Kindness Corps, it became clear to me that this would be a great way to realize that resolution. I decided to contribute all profits from the sale of Bending the Arc to The Kindness Corps. But the significance of this contribution depends very little on anything I do from here on out. It depends almost entirely on my potential readers. Profits from book sales in general are small. So in order to make a real difference, we need to sell lots of books!
Immediately after the book goes on sale on Amazon as both a paperback and a Kindle book, I will send an email to my Contacts list announcing its availability and explaining the opportunity to support the Kindness Corps by simply buying a copy. I’ll also ask recipients to consider forwarding the email to people who they think might be interested, and from there to others, and so on. In this way, we should be able to reach a large set of potential readers/contributors.
I’m very excited about this and hope my readers will be too.