1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Steven Spenser
Public relations director
(206) 551-6161 (days)
www.starlight-washington.org steven@starlight-washington.org
Winning Bidder at Oscar Night® America Gets to be Character in Romance Novel
Author auctions “ultimate vanity gift” to benefit Starlight Children’s Foundation-Washington
SEATTLE (Feb 17, 2009) – The winning bidder in a charity auction at Seattle’s Feb. 22 Oscar
Night America gala, benefitting Starlight Children’s Foundation-Washington, will get to be a character
in Seattle romance author Pat White’s upcoming novel, the foundation announced today.
“Warrior’s Revenge,” a romantic-suspense novel tentatively slated for publication next year,
will be set in the Seattle area and features a children’s-foundation director and her involvement with a
U.S. agent trying to protect the nation from a terrorist threat.
While doing research for the book, White had approached the Washington chapter of Starlight
seeking background information on how children’s foundations operate. After responding to White’s
inquiries, the chapter inquired if White would like to donate the name of a character in her next book to
be auctioned at the chapter’s Oscar Night America fundraiser next week at the Triple Door in Seattle.
“I thought it was a crazy idea at first,” White says, “but the idea quickly grew on me, and I real-
ized that when I’m writing, my characters sometimes evolve in totally unplanned ways. The random-
ness of this method of creating a character appeals to me. I’m excited to find out who—and what—this
character might turn out to be.”
The winning bidder will have the opportunity to meet with Pat and have his or her name, and
one or two personal characteristics, used as a character in Pat’s new book, said Steven Spenser, the
chapter’s public-relations director, who proposed the idea to White.
“Perhaps we’ll add an opportunity to pay a premium so that the winner’s physical description
can be enhanced with a little bit of poetic license,” Spenser joked. “Either way, it’s going to be the
ultimate vanity gift—a personal appearance in a nationally released novel.
“If it were me, I’d buy a few hundred copies and pass them out to everyone I know,” he said.
“Heck—I’d even pass them out to strangers on the street.”
Since the book isn’t finished yet, White can’t commit to whether the character will turn out to be
a hero, a villain or just a secondary character. The winner will have to sign a legal waiver, but that’s the
only precondition, White said. “Who knows—if the winning bidder is intriguing, I might incorporate
more than just a few personal characteristics.”
White has a journalism degree and spent 10 years as a newspaper reporter and public-relations
manager before embarking on a writing career that has led to 12 novels so far. Her books span a range
of genres, including romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and a romantic-comedy series set in the
world of professional wrestling. White’s current releases, “Undercover Stranger” (Harlequin, February
2009) and “Renegade Soldier” (Harlequin, March 2009), received four-star reviews from Romantic
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2. Book character auctioned for charity
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Feb. 17, 2009
Times Magazine. She is a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice winner for Best Contemporary
Romance, and a six-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award.
Other Oscar Night America auction items include a private lunch with actress Josie Bissett
(“Melrose Place,” “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”) and autographed copies of her new
children’s book, “Tickle Monster”; a reception with Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and a tour of
the Governor’s Mansion; and joining the Mariners grounds crew for a game at Safeco Field. Tickets are
available at (425) 861-7827, ext. 102, or from www.starlight-washington.org.
About Seattle’s Oscar Night America
Oscar Night America is an annual charity gala that gives Seattle film fans the opportunity to
experience the glamour and excitement of Hollywood’s biggest night, complete with a red-carpet walk
and the opportunity to rub elbows with celebrities. The Feb. 22 event, at The Triple Door (216 Union
St) in Seattle, is the only official Oscars® gala in Washington sanctioned by the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences, and benefits Starlight Children’s Foundation-Washington. Seattle party-
goers will get to mingle with celebrities including actress Josie Bissett at a Champagne reception, enjoy
a catered dinner inspired by Seattle’s acclaimed Wild Ginger restaurant and view a private, large-
screen telecast of the Oscars ceremony. Attendees will receive the same official 81st Annual Academy
Awards® program distributed to Academy members at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. KOMO-TV
news anchor Molly Shen will be the master of ceremonies and Seattle radio personality Kent Phillips,
of Star 101.5 FM, will serve as charity auctioneer. Local fashion maven Joan Kelly of Fashion First
will provide commentary during the Seattle red-carpet walk, which begins at 3:30 p.m.
About Starlight Children’s Foundation
Starlight Children’s Foundation is a 25-year-old, non-profit organization dedicated to helping
seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment,
education and family activities. Unlike any other charity, Starlight offers a comprehensive menu of out-
patient, hospital-based and online offerings providing ongoing support for children and families—from
diagnosis through the entire course of medical treatment.
Starlight serves children and teens suffering from chronic, life-threatening illnesses and
conditions such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, kidney and heart disease, diabetes, asthma, sickle-cell disease
and burn injuries. The nonprofit organization operates a network of chapters and offices in every U.S.
state and Canadian province, and also delivers programs internationally through affiliates in Australia,
Japan and the United Kingdom.
Starlight’s Washington State chapter (www.starlight-washington.org) served more than 20,000
children and family members at 527 inpatient and community events statewide in 2008. The chapter
has been awarded a Four-Star rating by Charity Navigator, the nation’s premier independent charity
evaluator.
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