With just one week two days left to raise $855 $830 $820 $785 $715 for my novel research trip to Galax, I thought I’d answer a few of the questions that have popped up from several of you who have read about my crowd funding project.

What made you pick Galax as the setting for your novel?

I grew up on the east coast, just outside of Washington, D.C. Over the years, I took several cross-country drives with Pops. On one of those trips, we took a southern route and drove past an exit sign that read Galax (pronounced gay-lacks) Virginia. I loved the look and feel of the name – Galax sounded so exotic and special to me. When I started researching Galax, I discovered it was the perfect place to set a story about a woman in search of big adventures. As home of the oldest fiddle convention in the world, Galax becomes a place where it’s very possible that a record producer from California would visit in search of the next big thing.

Have you written a novel before?

Technically, yes – when I was in junior high school. It was a YA romance called Triangles and I wrote it longhand in a spiral notebook. I think the only person who ever read it was my best friend Alice. I’m not sure what happened to that story, but if it’s still around it’s probably in my parents’ attic.

What happens if you don’t raise all the money?

I’m still going to Galax, because I’m committed to finishing this novel. My family has offered me a plane ticket if necessary. The money raised by May 19 will help pay for my hotel, gas, and food.

Do you have an agent?

Not yet, but I have some very good leads on agents, and the support of a few published authors.

Do you have other writings I can read?

Yes! You can read my flash fiction piece, “What the Beautiful Girls Do”, at In the Snake, an online literary journal. If you’d like to read some of my non-fiction writing, you can view my portfolio by clicking here.

I don’t want to use PayPal, but I’d like to donate. Can I send you a check?

Absolutely – and thank you in advance for your support! It’s much appreciated. Send me an email and I will send you the address where to send your check.

I really want to help, but I’m strapped for cash right now.

I completely understand – and you can still help me get to Galax! There are two things you can do:

1. Share a link to this post on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Stumble Upon, Reddit, whatever social network you use to share messages with others.
2. Email the link to your friends, family, colleagues, dogsitter, florist…you get the idea.

Click the button below to donate via PayPal. Thanks!

5/14/2012 5/16/2012 5/17/2012 UPDATE: Only $855 $830 $785 $715 and one week three two days to go! Got some great news last week – I won first prize in a local short short fiction competition. To celebrate, the next 10 8 7 people who donate $25 will also receive an Girl from Galax “soundtrack.” This CD features songs from Lucinda Williams, Dixie Chicks, Aerosmith, and other artists that inspire my writing of this novel. 

If you are unable to donate, please share this post with your friends, family, Facebook friends, Twitter followers, dry cleaner, pool boy, pizza delivery guy, accountant…you get the idea. Thanks! – Moxie

Many of you know that I’ve been working on a novel for some time now. Lately I’ve been feeling the push to get the first draft completed, but in order to do that, I need a little help.

The Girl from Galax is a coming-of-thirty story about Belle Mackey, a married waitress who’s far from living the dream in a small town. When a young, attractive music producer walks into the diner where she works, Belle finally gathers the courage to leave the only life she’s ever known in search of new adventures.

Set in 1997 in Galax, Virginia, just eight miles from the North Carolina border, this novel will take readers along for the ride with Belle as she makes her way from her job at Mayva’s Café all the way to Los Angeles. You can read a brief excerpt from the current draft here.

I started work on the novel in spring 2010, and positive feedback from fellow writers has encouraged me to continue. While online research is great, I want to visit Galax to immerse myself in its culture: meet the locals, explore the town, see what life is really like there.

That’s where you come in. In order to make this trip happen, I need $1275 to cover my travel expenses:

• airfare to and from the DC area
• hotel and food in Galax for three (3) days
• gas for the trip from the Washington DC area to Galax, a 335 mile drive
• petsitting fees for my cats while I’m away

And to show how much I appreciate any and all financial help I receive, here’s what you get in return for helping me get to Galax:

To donate, just click the PayPal button below. I’ll be collecting funds through May 19 and will keep you updated as to my fundraising progress.

If you like what you read, I’d much appreciate you passing along a link to this post via Facebook, Twitter, G+, or any other social network.

Thank you so very much for supporting me and my writing!