Resisting Invasion

Many of my books deal with the struggle for freedom in Europe. I’ve studied and written about several of their wars, but another major war in Europe is not something I ever wanted to see in the newspapers. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has been a step backward for freedom and for peace, and it makes my heart hurt.

A few weeks ago I decided I wanted to do something to help. I’m just one person, so I can’t fix everything, but I can do something to help some of the people fleeing their country, unsure if they’ll ever be able to return to the home and family they left behind. Here’s what I’ve come up with:

I’m going to donate early royalties for my upcoming release, Before the Fortress Falls, to charities with projects in the Ukraine and its neighbors. For every preorder, purchase, or subscription listen through April 30, 100% of the royalties I receive will go to charity. That includes any purchase or subscription site and any book format.

Details:

I don’t openly discuss the features of my publishing contract, but I do want to clarify that I am donating only my portion of the proceeds. If you buy the ebook on Amazon for $5.99, the majority of that purchase price will go to Amazon and my publisher. This is a way to get my readers involved in a good cause, but if your primary goal is donating to charity, please make a direct donation with an established, reliable charity.

Also, I don’t see sales numbers right away. I know there is an immediate need for help, so I have already made a $1000 donation to the International Rescue Committee and a $1000 donation to the UN Refugee Agency (USA for UNHCR). (My family also makes monthly contributions to LDS Charities, and those will continue regardless of what happens with this book.) I will make additional donations as I receive sales numbers. I expect paperback numbers first, because those are recorded as they leave my publisher’s warehouse. Audiobook listens through Deseret Bookshelf Plus will probably be next. Amazon numbers take their time getting to me, but the refugee crisis isn’t going to be solved quickly. There will still be a need by the time my last sales numbers roll in. I pray the fighting will be over by then, but even if that happens, the rebuilding will take years.

For anyone wondering, I plan on using income from my other titles to handle taxes and tithing. Really, 100% of my royalties for Before the Fortress Falls earned through the end of April will make their way to charity.

Also, I want to note that I have selected charities with ongoing projects in Ukraine and it’s neighboring countries, but they have other projects too. I’ve researched the charities in question and feel they are good options, even if the dollars I send end up helping people in need in locations other than Eastern Europe.

Thanks for reading!