I love to write, but I also am very involved with eliminating illiteracy and poverty for children around the world. I believe that teaching children to read breaks the cycle of poverty and exploitation of children.

Three years ago I created a non-profit organization called Breaking the Chain with the goal of eliminating illiteracy for children. So far, I have raised enough money to build three schools in Africa, created a children’s literacy center in a woman’s shelter in Colorado, and bought books for reading programs in the U.S.

This year, my brother, Nick, who is a junior in college joined Breaking the Chain and we are working together on literacy and sustainable development around the world. We created a great new program called Bookin"It, which buys books for classrooms in underfunded and/or low-literacy schools in the U.S. It is an amazing program and there is enormous demand!

Also, I have been speaking at schools around the country to thousands of kids about my books and how important reading and writing have been in my life, about Breaking the Chain, about taking ownership over their own educations, and about risking failure so as to achieve their dreams.

Some of the proceeds from sales of The Fire Stone will help fight illiteracy and poverty.

For more information about me and my writing go to the FAQs

For more information about Breaking the Chain go to linkbylink.org