be a character two

When my long-time friend Robert Salih called to ask me to be on the Advisors Board for his daughter Sara’s foundation to help survivors of sexual abuse, I readily agree. I was aware of the passion she brought to helping others.

Seeing the event schedule on the foundation's calendar, I wanted to contribute to this year's foundation fundraiser for The Survivors Oasis.

I called Robert in March and suggested I had four of these nifty handheld tire inflators. That they might work for silent auction items and should go for at least $50.00 each. And before I was finished with that thought a heavenly idea came to me.

Hey, I said. How about if I offer to make someone a character in my next novel? For the winning bid of a donation to The Survivors Oasis in the amount of $250.00 + that person would be a named character.

Robert thought this was a great idea and Sara agreed.

Before Robert and I hung up, I added, in the event multiple people are bidding, of course the highest bidder wins. But if the second place or one of the other bidders is willing to match the winning bid, I would include two new characters to my new book, not just one.”

Everyone agreed.

On the evening of 23 April the fundraiser was held, and lo and behold, a gentleman by the name of Ron Neal won the bidding at $250. As I heard it, Ron went back to the table as the winner and his wife, Jen, said she wanted to do it also!. They talked to Robert who said (and I paraphrase with the humorous comment) 'funny you should ask'? “Mr. Sadler said that if this happened and someone was willing match the max bid, he add two new named characters!”

When Robert called me several days after the fundraiser he told me that indeed one supporter got the winning bid. I said, that’s great! Then he told me of a second matching bid, by the winner’s wife!

I contacted the couple and asked questions to hopefully (no guarantees) imbue these new characters with some of their real attributes and character. One of my first questions was do you want to be included in the story as individuals or (as an afterthought) as a couple? They both responded quickly, “As a couple”.

I want to thank the Neals for donating $500.00 to The Survivors Oasis. They are both already intwined in the story unfolding in my 37^th novel: “Grant’s Law”.

Scene from Grant's Law ~ Ron & Jen - Sunday Brunch at The Lobster Pot - Grand Cayman Island