Since 2007, I've been running the New York City marathon for various charities. You can read about it here, here, and here. This year, I'm running again, and I'd like you to give money to charity, but I'm going to suggest something a little different.

Earlier this year, I found myself seized with the craze of zombie literature mashups involving the undead and classic English literary characters. How amusing, I thought, it would be to apply the zombie trope to the world of P. G. Wodehouse, particularly Jeeves and Bertie Wooster. I knew as I wrote my pastiche that the Wodehouse literary estate wouldn't allow me to be published (a hunch that was duly confirmed), but there was nothing stopping me from privately printing the work. I'm pleased to say that Bertie Wooster and the Lizard King is now available for you to chuckle over. You can read the blurb about it here.

So, here's the deal. I can't sell it, and you can't buy it. However, I can give you a copy. So, if you'd like either a PDF or a printed copy, then send your particulars to me (martin [at] lanternbooks.com), and I'll send one your way. (I'll even pay for postage.) In return, I hope you'll seriously consider giving money to one or more of the organizations listed below—whether in support of writing or running, or both or neither.

First off, should you wish to help farm animals, please make a contribution to my man Jim Porcaro, who's running the NYC marathon for Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. Secondly, should you wish to help the environment, please make a contribution to the Green Belt Movement, which is a grassroots organization that has planted 40 million trees throughout Kenya, and was begun by Lantern's inspirational guiding light, Wangari Maathai. Thirdly, should you wish to support the struggle for human dignity, then please contribute to a very worthy organization called Ubushobozi, which helps women and girls in Rwanda learn skills and trades.

Thanks so much. I'll see you at the finishing or final line.