Signed copies build the John Paul II School—and help keep Cambodian girls away from the human traffickers—twice as fast. Why? Simple economics. When we sell a book direct (rather than through a bookstore or Amazon) my publisher, AKA my husband Richard, nets almost twice as much. Of course selling direct is expensive so that’s not all gravy. But the extra margin is enough for him to match my own pledge of 100% of my royalties. That means for every book sold we can make double the contribution to the Cambodia project!

It’s easy: click here to order. I’ll sign your book and add a little personal message. If the book is a gift, please mention the recipient’s name that in the “Comments” box you before you complete your order here.

Thanks so much.

Love,
Sue

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“Pope” Author Pledges Royalties to Build Pope John Paul II School in Cambodia

Goal: keep girls in school, away from human traffickers

Special signed copy program doubles aid for Cambodia’s poorest

For Immediate Release--Thanksgiving Day, 2010:

Susan Vigilante, author of Breakfast with the Pope, announced today that she is using her book royalties to help build a school in Cambodia to be named after Pope John Paul II.

Breakfast with the Pope, Vigilante’s “alternately moving and hilarious” spiritual memoir, which has been called “A Christian Eat, Pray, Love” culminates with the adoption of her daughter Sophia in Cambodia. “In Cambodia we saw eight year old girls begging in the street. We’ve wanted to do something about this ever since,” Vigilante says. “Now Breakfast with the Pope gives us the vehicle.”

In Cambodia trafficking of girls remains a terrible plague among the poor. Illiterate girls are lured from their homes with false promises of jobs and forced into sex work or exploited as virtually captive factory workers.

“American Assistance for Cambodia runs two wonderful programs,” says Vigilante. “The Rural School Project can build a village school with a donation of just $13,000” thanks to matching grants from institutions. “But just as important is to get girls to come to school and away from the human traffickers. These families are so poor the girls feel they must work which is where the danger comes in.”

To address that problem Vigilante touts the “Girls Be Ambitious” program, also run by AAfC. “It’s great”, says the author. “For every month of perfect school attendance a girl’s family gets a stipend of $10,” In Cambodia that allows a family keep its girls in school.

Vigilante’s goal is to raise $25,000 to build and equip the school and to fund the stipends. The author has several projects planned to raise the money but is committing all her royalties until the goal is reached. Vigilante has also announced that purchasing signed copies directly from the publisher effectively doubles the amount donated with each book. “Publishers take in more on direct sales, allowing my publisher, who also happens to be my husband, to match my contribution of 100% of my royalties until we complete the project.”

Vigilante loves that under the AAfC program sponsors can name their school. “Of course we would name it after John Paul! Who else!” Breakfast With the Pope, set in the Italian hill town of Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the Popes, includes a “deeply personal” portrait of the late Pope, who figures largely in Vigilante’s spiritual journey.

Vigilante hastens to say she is not affiliated with or endorsed by American Assistance for Cambodia but says the group gets good recommendations from others in the field.

Vigilante will be signing copies of her book at a “morning coffee” at the Barnes & Noble at Har-Mar Mall in Roseville, MN on Wednesday December 8, from 9 to 11 AM.

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Thanks so much.

Love,
Sue

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