Representatives for author Frank Beddor announced that he will
be partnering with actor Nathan Fillion's charity Kids Need to Read for a new
initiative. For every book sold by author Beddor at the upcoming Phoenix
Comicon (May 23-26), or ordered through his new Kickstarter campaign
(http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/149372651/hatter-m-zen-of-wonder), he will
be donating one to the charity's book drive.
"Frank has been a fixture at Phoenix Comicon since its
early years and has been at the intersection of realizing success and using
that success to the benefit of others for even longer," says Matt Solberg,
Convention Director of Phoenix Comicon.
"Getting kids to read will be successful through these
efforts."
"We are so pleased to have Frank contribute in this
way," said Denise Gary, Executive Director for Kids Need to Read.
"His books are extremely imaginative and so well-received by the children
we serve. This book drive is a terrific gift to Kids Need to Read!"
"This was a no-brainer," said Beddor, author of the New York Times Best Selling young adult
series the Looking Glass Wars.
"Getting books into the hands of kids is something every author needs to
take part in. And Kids Need to Read is one of the best ways to do that."
Nathan Fillion, the charity's founder, and star of ABC hit series
"Castle", expressed excitement about Beddor's involvement, but no
surprise.
"Yes, I am excited. But, you're right, I wasn't
surprised," said the actor. "I've known Frank for several years now.
And he's a great guy. And a great supporter of our organization."
Beddor first learned of the charity through its co-founder the
young adult novelist P.J. Haarsma. The two were partnering on the web game The Rings of Orbis
(www.ringsoforbis.com), based on Haarsma's young adult series The Softwire, when Haarsma explained the
organization to Beddor.
"It seemed so simple, so logical. I was surprised no one
had done it before," said Beddor. "And I immediately told P.J. I'd do
anything I could to help."
"Frank has been a vocal advocate of Kids Need to Read
since he first learned of it," said Haarsma, echoing Beddor's claims.
"But I'm hugely excited that he's made us a part of his upcoming Con
appearance, book release, and Kickstarter campaign. We considered this both a
big help and a great honor."
Kids Need to Read has a simple mission. They provide books to
underfunded schools, libraries and literacy programs with a special emphasis on
those organizations serving disadvantaged children. They achieve these aims
through auctions, events, and donations from publishers, authors, private
individuals and other organizations.
According to the organization's website, to date they
"have provided over 42,000 books to 153 schools, libraries, and literacy
programs in 41 states, as well as Washington, DC and Puerto Rico". And
they've "also facilitated the donation of three thousand books to the
Friends of the New Orleans Public Library".
Kids Need to Read was founded in 2008. It is a nonprofit
organization. It achieved 501 (3) (c) status on May 22, 2008. Donations to the
organization are tax deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.
They are also classified as a 509(a)(2) public charity. The foundation's
Employer Identification Number is 26-2755631.
Frank Beddor's route to best sellerdom has been circuitous. But
circuitous routes are nothing new to this former World Champion freestyle
skier, a sport from which he retired in 1983 to pursue a career in show
business. First as a stunt man, then an actor and finally a producer. He is
probably best known for producing the hit Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller vehicle
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY.
This success gave Beddor the chance to indulge his passion for
writing. He spent several years writing the Looking
Glass Wars trilogy, a unique take on Alice
in Wonderland. It became a hit in both the UK and US, spending 21 weeks on
the New York Times Best Seller List. It has also inspired the Eisner nominated
graphic novel series Hatter M based
on the series' bladewielding analog for the Mad Hatter.
There have been three Hatter
M original graphic novels published to date: Far from Wonder, Mad with Wonder, and Nature of Wonder.
A fourth volume Zen of
Wonder will be released this May with a fifth and final volume Love of Wonder due out next year. These
volumes end the current Hatter
storyline.
The publication of the fourth volume will be aided in part by a
Kickstarter, the popular online site which facilitates crowd sourced funding
for a variety of products and projects.
But Beddor hasn't given up on his career as a film producer.
He's currently in preproduction on THE JULIET for Sony Pictures and New
Regency, a near future science fiction tale based on the classic story
"Fondly Fahrenheit" by Alfred Bester. Rupert Sanders (SNOW WHITE AND
THE HUNTSMAN) has signed on to direct. And Brian Koppelman and David Levien
(OCEAN'S THIRTEEN) have been hired to rewrite the previous script penned by
Henry Bean. Beddor will be partnering on the project with producers Chuck Roven
and Alex Gartner of Atlas Entertainment.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON
KIDS NEED TO READ:
LINKS ON BEDDOR
LINKS ON "THE JULIET"
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