Calling All Artists for Robert's Snow 2007!

Yes, it's happening again! Would you like to be considered to make a Robert's Snowflake?

Send your
-name
-e-mail address
-mailing address
-website or an Amazon url to a book you have illustrated

to robertssnow@gracelin.com and I will pass your name onto Dana-Farber. Even if you have participated in the past, please send your info again as this will be a whole new database.

Published Children's book illustrators only, please.

p.s.-I am not running the project anymore, only advising--all decisions (such as artist selection) will be left to Dana-Farber.

p.p.s.-I have been trying to contact all artists who have participated in the past to let them know, but my e-mail address book went crazy sometime during the winter so I know I am missing many people. If you have participated in the past and have not received an "invitation" e-mail from me, please don't take it personally--we still want you (as well as new people too!). Just sign up.

p.p.p.s.-I have been asked if everyone will get a snowflake. Honestly, I don't know. I am going to forward the list to Dana-Farber and let them figure it out. In the past we have capped it at 200, it is up to D-F to decide if they want to change that. But if there is no room for you this year, chances are they will put you at the top of the list for 2009.

THANK YOU!!!!!!


What is Robert's Snow?

When Robert and I were married, the skies poured out a river of rain. Our wedding day was wet but it couldn't dampen our happiness. So, when Robert's aunts told me that rain on a wedding day meant good luck, I believed them.

However, it seemed that the superstition was horribly false. That winter, Robert was diagnosed with bone cancer (Ewings Sarcoma). The treatment was grueling and Robert was left listless and weak.

One night, I began to tell Robert a story. It was a children's story about a mouse that wasn't allowed in the snow, just like him. Robert became interested and it became our pet project.

I titled the story Robert's Snow; and as the story grew, so did our hopes for the future.

Nine months later, Robert was declared cancer free. Robert's Snow was accepted for publication. We felt that our good luck had finally arrived.

But, in March 2004, Robert's cancer returned. We were devastated. Our doctor told us that Robert's best chance for long-term survival was a breakthrough in cancer research.

So we decided to help the doctors the best we could. Because Robert's Snow had meant so much to us the first time, we decided to use it as an inspiration for a fund-raiser. We recruited children's book artists to paint wooden snowflakes and auctioned them off–the proceeds going to cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The response was tremendous. Robert's Snow 2004 and 2005 raised over $200,000. and we also produced a book Robert's Snowflakes which highlights the 2004 snowflakes.

Unfortunately, Robert's health continues to be complicated, so we planned on retiring the project after our 2005 event. However, because of the great interest and support, the hospital has decided to manage the fundraiser themselves (I will still be involved in certain aspects) and hold the event every other year--2007 being one of them!

So PLEASE support Robert's Snow 2007. Spread the word and keep your eyes open for it in the fall. As I wrote on the Robert's Snow website and in the book, Robert and I are continually touched by the outcome of our project. Every one of Robert's Snowflakes is a gift of love, community and kindness which we know we are so fortunate to receive. That rain that fell on our wedding day must have been a sign of good luck after all.