Children Will Love Maya

Astonished is a bit understated for how I felt on Thursday evening. Within a few hours of launching the Kickstarter project for ‘Saving Maya’, my first foray into the world of crowdfunding was proving what a great bunch of people are out there, wanting to make a difference. In less than 48 hours, a book which will educate children about puppy farming, and entertain them, became possible through the generosity and belief of enough people who pushed the project over the required £2500 needed for the first print run.

When Annabel and I launched the Kickstarter, we thought we’d need at least 30 days to get close to the target. We weren’t at all sure we’d reach it at all. To have done so in less than 2 days, is testament to the great community that we’re part of. We could not be more thankful, or stunned! I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised, I know people are dedicated, kind and generous, but, it’s easy to lose sight sometimes when the subject that obsesses me, animal cruelty in the guise of puppy breeding, involves a lot of cruel and greedy humans.

So, now we know the book will be printed by July we can think about using the extra funding people are continuing to pledge. The book’s written and illustrated, and we’re just finalising the editing now – I say just, this is a massive task that must be completed in the next three weeks and those who have pledged on the Kickstarter  will get insights into the crazy world Annabel and I now inhabit in our occasional ‘creative process’ updates on our Kickstarter page.

We’ve had some ideas and for us, it’s all about getting the book out to as many children and adults as possible. The message of the book is the reason we do this. We see it as a contribution to educating young readers about pet rescue and the awful reality for breeding dogs caught up in the sheds, factories, cages, barns and mills around the world. This we hope will inspire them to avoid puppy buying badly in future. So, we need the book to be out there, in the real world where children look and find books – schools and libraries.

Taking on board a few suggestions we’ve had from people who have pledged support, we’ve decided that the best use for extra funds coming in will be to extend the initial print run that we’d budgeted for in the original target. To have available plenty of copies of the first edition of ‘Saving Maya’,  so that we, as well as everyone who supports the idea of educating future puppy buyers, can donate copies to their local schools and libraries.

To make donated copies even more special, we’ve added a new Reward on the Kickstarter page. For a £15 pledge, backers will get a copy of the first edition book, with a dedication to their local school or library, written & signed by Annabel and I, with an original Maya paw print doodle inside the cover. We think this would make a great gift to any school library, or local library AND potentially reach many thousands of young readers for years to come.

Imagine all those minds we can change together about how to source their new dog. Excited is another understatement for how this makes me feel.