Can Spicy Stories Save Lives really save animals’ lives?
Corelli, one of my rescues, found his wonderful, happy-ever-after home with the Navarro family (pictured here with his ‘brother’ Vincent Navarro), thanks to Rita Martinez of Vizsla Rescue Fund (VRF). Spicy Stories Save Lives is my way of giving back to VRF and many other amazing groups.
by Katerina Lorenzatos Makris
Enough is enough.
I, for one, am tired of seeing animals suffer. It makes me feel ill, emotionally and physically.
I’m also sick and tired of watching small, hardworking rescue groups scrimp along on shoestring budgets, struggling to save every animal they possibly can, all against overwhelming odds.
My hubsy (a.k.a. The Saint) and I manage to rescue, foster, and rehome a few animals ourselves now and then. In the past 14 months we’ve done five, and made small donations to various groups. But that’s all just a drop in the bucket amidst the flood of animals who desperately need help around the world.
We want to see more happy endings and more smiles, like the ones glowing on the two best friends in the photo above. But how to accomplish this without drowning under the financial tsunami of animals’ needs?
Looking at my professional writing record, something stands out: 17 novels published by some of the biggies—E.P. Dutton, Simon and Schuster, and others. So chances are that I’m not too terrible at writing fiction.
Hmm… I love animals, I love writing, I love writing about animals, and I desperately want to help them, so… ding ding!… one day it hit me…
Drum roll… announcing…
Spicy Stories Save Lives!
The recipe is simple. Combine the following ingredients: romance, rescue, a healthy sprinkle of spice, and donations to boots-on-the-ground animal rescue groups. Pour into story. Heat thoroughly. Enjoy!
Every time you buy a Spicy Story, at least 20% of the profits goes to reputable, in-the-trenches, registered nonprofit animal rescue groups.
This means I can write and rescue at the same time. It means you can read and rescue at the same time. It means that qualified rescue groups around the world will receive funding for their valiant work. And most importantly, it means that many more animals—let’s hope at least thousands over the coming years—will get a chance for the safe, comfortable lives they deserve.
I’m having tremendous fun creating these tales for you. In the future there might be additional authors doing the same. It would please me no end to help generate work for fellow writers at a time when opportunities for us along the traditional avenues have grown sparse.
Meanwhile, we plan to offer fresh Spicy Stories and lots more “inspicering” content here for you on a regular basis.
Would you be so kind as to subscribe? It’s free, and you’ll receive an email to let you know whenever there’s a new Spicy post.
Many thanks for stopping by, and please drop in again soon!
Spicily yours,
Katerina Lorenzatos Makris
Writer and Editor, Spicy Stories Save Lives
Katerina Lorenzatos Makris is a career journalist, author, and editor. Her fiction includes 17 novels for Simon and Schuster, E.P. Dutton, Avon, and other major publishers (under the name Kathryn Makris), as well as a teleplay for CBS-TV, and a short story for The Bark magazine. She has written hundreds of articles for regional wire services and for outlets such as National Geographic Traveler, The San Francisco Chronicle, Travelers’ Tales, NBC’s Petside.com, Animal Issues Reporter.org, and Examiner.com (Animal Policy Examiner).
