I wanted to update everyone and let you know that I talked to D. C. White the Buffalo Soldier, the founder of History Records last night, and he has agreed to provide our sound as well as music for the Shadow Play Benefit Cookout this weekend. This is such an important thing to me, since D. C. is from New Orleans and has been personally affected by the disaster---- for him to take the time and work with us on this project while going through his own rebuilding, is a testament to his willingly to lend a hand.

Gary Pettus of the Clarion Ledger and I talked yesterday about the event. He is going to post a special note about it on the online edition of the Clarion Ledger, as well as make sure that it is in the paper on Friday and Saturday.

For those who have emailed about the cost of the event, it is true that we were not able to get all the supplies and food donated, so we have incurred some costs. I have talked to my board member, Mitchell Davis, who assists me with finances and we have both expressed concerns about making sure the money is distributed the way we have said it would be.

For this reason, we have posted specific instructions for those who want to make contributions for the event this weekend. Visit this site:
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewblog.asp?AuthorID=3920

In closing, I want everyone to come out, have a great time and support what we are trying to do. Everything that Shadow Play will be selling on Saturday: books, food, artwork and the like---- 50% of the proceeds will be earmarked for the American Red Cross for the Huricane Katrina Relief Fund.

Leave me a voicemail at 601.201.8139 with further questions.