Stan
For two years, I have
been working across U.S. policy barriers to craft a beautiful children’s book
of this story –Bonnie, the Backyard Bunny- and it is now illustrated by
one of Cuba’s most famous artists, Saulo Serrano. I am now raising funds to
publish.
Over three years ago,
I gave a sermon at a local congregation, and told an original story to the
children about a real bunny who lives in my garden. They loved it, and many
parents asked me to publish the story as a book as they wanted to buy it.
This happened repeatedly,
so, over the past two years, I have been working across U.S. policy barriers to
craft a beautiful children’s book of this story –Bonnie, the Backyard Bunny-
and have it illustrated by one of Cuba’s most famous artists, Saulo Serrano.
Bunny who lives in my
garden. They loved it, and many parents asked me to publish the story as a book
as they wanted to buy it. This happened repeatedly, so, over the past two
years, I have been working across U.S. policy barriers to craft a beautiful
children’s book of this story –Bonnie, the Backyard Bunny- and have it
illustrated by one of Cuba’s most famous artists, Saulo Serrano.
It started with a
sermon I delivered at a local congregation, where I told an original story to
the children based on a real bunny who lives in my garden. They loved it, and
many parents asked me to publish the story as a book so they could buy it. This
happened again and again, and then Saulo Serrano volunteered to illustrate it,
so I was hooked, and, I admit, very excited.
The difficulties - in
communication, insuring that no money changes hands, lack of postal service and
good technology - have been overcome. Now I have launched an Indiegogo campaign
to publish it in English, then Spanish. (www.igg.me/at/BonnieBook)
This week, Presidents
Obama and Raul Castro made mutual commitments to release prisoners and
normalize relations. Bonnie reaches across the U.S. embargo put in place
over 50 years ago that has separated our peoples. The story celebrates
the belief, of people in both countries, that everything in the world fits
together, everything has a place. It is a story of gratitude, and
especially poignant at this historic moment.
Even with the changes,
according to U.S. law, Saulo still cannot benefit from a book published here, I
cannot travel to Cuba for this purpose, and it is doubtful whether we can share
the work done here to facilitate publishing there. (We will see if regulations
change any of this.)
The crowdfunding
campaign that is now over halfway to goal! The beauty of crowdfunding is that
you can donate $1 and make a difference. But if you give more, there are
beautiful gifts (listed on the site) including the book itself! Please help
make this book a reality by donating to Bonnie, the Backyard Bunny. Leave
a message on the site, if you will, and spread the word to others. Crowdfunding
works when a lot of people know about the campaign. Just click this link: www.igg.me/at/BonnieBook.
And as Bonnie says in
her heart,
because bunnies don’t
talk out loud,
“Thank you.”
