Making a Difference: Brenda Novak's On-Line Auction for Diabetes Research

Well, it's finally happened. My first online article. I always assumed this would happen once I got published, but leave it to Brenda Novak to make things happen ahead of schedule.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Anna Stewart and I'm Brenda's assistant. I've known Brenda ever since I joined our local RWA Chapter, The Sacramento Valley Rose, approximately seven years ago. To say I am in awe of this woman is an understatement. To call her a friend is a privilege; not just because she's an amazingly talented writer. Not just because she's a dedicated wife and mother of five. And not just because she's a genuinely nice person. I feel priviledged to know her because she's out to make a difference in the world...she's on the hunt for a cure for Diabetes. You know what?

I think she's going to find it.

For the past three months, I've been helping Brenda gather donations and list them on her web site in preparation for the May 1st launch of her on-line auction. This is a personal crusade on Brenda's part. Her youngest son has the disease and she is determined to find a cure before he reaches adulthood. What I've found by working for and with Brenda, however, is not what I expected. I have been dismayed and humbled by the number of people who have been affected by this disease. I honestly did not realize just how many people live with Diabetes, not to mention the number of loved ones who must deal with the complications and dangers on a daily basis. Diabetes literally affects millions. Did you know Diabetes kills one American every three minutes? I didn't. It’s the leading cause of kidney failure, adult blindness and non- traumatic amputations, all things I didn't realize. It also causes nerve damage, stroke, and an increased risk of heart attack. Why don't we hear more about this on the nightly news? You would think the fact that life expectancy for people with diabetes is shortened by an average of 15 years might garner some attention.

Well, there's a spotlight shining now and it's all at www.BrendaNovak.com.

Every year, beginning May 1st and running through the 31st, Brenda holds an on- line auction where every penny raised goes directly to diabetes research. To date, she has raised $253,000 and she's on track to make at least that much in 2008. Donations are flying in from all over and not just from the romance publishing world (you wouldn't believe some of the donations!). Businesses, magazines, editors, agents, published and unpublished writers alike, along with artists of all kinds, have donated all sorts of items ranging from critiques for aspiring writers to lunches with beloved authors, hand-made items ranging from jewelry to wedding bouquets to miniature room boxes (okay, that's a purely selfish addition--I do a room box every year specifically for Brenda's auction). There are books, photographs, paintings, diamonds (yes, I said diamonds!) and gift baskets filled to the brim with goodies of all sorts. This auction is truly one-stop shopping. With one click, you can shop for birthdays, baby showers, graduation, Christmas and yourself. Father's Day have you concerned? How about a round of golf? Need someplace to go this summer? How about Africa? Or an all-expense paid trip to Hawaii (thank you, Jane Porter!), or a weekend trip to Bainbridge Island off the coast of Washington State (Thank you Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs, and Allison Brennan)~airfare included!

Have I caught your attention? The next time you're surfing the net and wondering what interesting site might be out there, I hope you'll head to www.BrendaNovak.com and shop 'til you drop...and know that every penny you donate goes to finding a cure for Diabetes. Be a warrior for Brenda! Help her find a cure for her son and for the millions of people who live with this disease on a day-to-day basis. Happy shopping, happy bidding and here's to making a difference!