Big Red Button For Sophie

So you probably (possibly?) know I saved up my pennies in April and early May for my bunny to get a lump looked at, and then the surgery to remove it, then tests to tell me what type of tumor it is. That all happened last week.

By Sunday, suddenly my old dog was very, very sick.

Which is what brings us here today.

We're here for Sophie.

Background:

As I get paid once a month, I plan things very carefully. So when your poor dog is suddenly peeing blood clots a week after your bunny broke the bank, it's pretty grim. I went into the vet office immediately on Monday, discussed everything, and I finally said, "Look, just fix her. I will worry about rent later. Also, stop saying the 't' word around me after my bunny just had one removed."

After some tests, some drugs, she's feeling a lot better. It's not the "t" word, probably, though after sorting this bit out, we have more tests to determine what's wrong with her liver, which is probaby unrelated to THIS problem. Right now, she's BETTER. And that is a good thing.

But we're still pretty FUBAR over the cost.

What we're going about it:

Fundraising!

I've given to random animals with high medical bills via the internet. I know how generous people can be and I have no pride when it comes to my furbabies. So I'm asking for help. And we want to give you stuff as thanks.

Most people know I hoard manuscripts--I have half a dozen finished books on my harddrive that I love to pieces and have no desire to send anywhere. I've pulled out an unpublished book I've had shelved for a while--it was an odd one, not a series starter unlike how I normally write, and despite some good feedback, I was never sure about pursuing it due to its standalone nature. It's polished up and for fundraising purposes now in a variety of ebook formats, yours for tossing some pennies into the jar. $5? Great! $20? Super! Whatever you can manage, the book is yours.

85 000 words, "rural" fantasy (as opposed to urban) with romance, mystery, monsters, violence, and an extremely socially awkward heroine--exclusively available here and now. More info here.

But there's more!

The ever...uh...I can't say "generous" or "nice" or "kind"...the ever EVIL Dina James has offered to knit a lovely scarf for anyone who donates $100. And she's got SKILLZ. She's made me stuff. And also stuff for my cats.

What'll the scarf look like? Here and here are samples of the patterns.

And more still!

My coworker, artist Skyewolf, has offered a free poster from her online store--recipient's choice--to the first person who donates $50 or more.

Will there be more?

Maybe! This hit kind of fast. Anyone have any suggestions? If I come across kick ass prizes to be tossed in, I'll edit this post/blog about it!

I have some freelance work to finish this week, then next week I'll start offering cheap query/first pages crits to bring in extra cash for this (basically...I'm sorry, I like working for money--this is why I'm trying to give you guys stuff).

I'm in. How do I help?

PayPal moi:

I'll send your book and if need be, I'll send Dina your email for your scarf.

Want to be "anonymous"? Yeah, I get you. In that case, you can PayPal to dinajames@gmail.com. She will forward it to me and NOT tell me who you are. She will also send you a book/scarf.

How much is needed?

Well, we have a goal thing in the bar to your right (you might have to scroll up by this point). After some debate, I've decided not to firmly cap it off--if extra comes in, great. It'll go in the VET BILL savings account, used solely for more blood workups and appointments for the pup in the next few months as she needs it. There was some talk of maybe-sorta-I-hope-not needing an ultrasound, which runs $500 - $700 on top of the current goal. *gulp* Yes, I'm saving those pennies in case it comes to that--every damn dollar goes to the pup. As I get through extra freelance work, I'll be tossing in everything extra I have. If she needs it, she gets it. I'm good as long as I have ramen noodles to eat.

Who is Sophie?

My dog. Just after my shelter dog, a beagle named Abby, had to be euthanized due to chronic illness when I was seventeen, my mother took poor devastated me waaaay out in the boonies to get a adorable mutt puppy. I've had Sophie since July 3, 2000.

Yes, that is Puppy!Sophie.

She's a beagle/corgi cross. A little spazzy, suffers from ADHD, and is too damn smart for her own good. She's also sweet, gentle, ridiculously friendly, and generally athletic (when not confined to no exercise over her cruciate ligament injury earlier this year). She thinks she's a cat, loves canned vegetarian dog food, and is an expert bug hunter.

Okay...smart except when she tries to smell sand UNDER water.

Have you ever had one of those pets who has been there a chunk of your life and you don't know what you'll do without her? That's Sophie. I'm turning thirty in September--she has been with me through all sorts of major milestones. Graduation. First apartment. Engagement. Losses. Abandonment. Abuse. Breakups. Homelessness. Moves. Sophie's always there with a grin, tail wagging, delighted at everything.

She's also a little bit famous, as several years ago a video of her howling to a Moby song (Porcelain--that songs freaks the hell out of her) was shown to the singer himself on a Belgian TV show, and he praised her video response to his music.

Okay, so she's not just a "little" famous--she's WAY more famous than me.

Sophie yesterday on her puppy pads with her favourite kitty, Temperance Von Eviltry The Duchess of Doom.

She's special.

Who are you?

I'm just a girl who loves her pets, and has a menagerie of odd companions (Blind Cat, Rescued-from-Under-a-Dumpster Cat, Toothless-and-Abandoned Cat, Socially-Awkward Cat...you get the picture).

I mostly write books (dozens of them--a few you can read). As that doesn't usually pay the bills, I work for small press publisher Mundania Press as the acquisitions editor, scheduler, edits coordinator, art director, editor, artist...you know, I just do a lot of stuff. We'll leave it at that.

What I really don't want to do is become a stripper. Mostly because there are no clubs in my area and I haven't a clue where to get work. So, once again, this is why we're here.