Swell of Support for Jay Lake

Two notable fundraising events have arisen as a result of science fiction author Jay Lake’s ongoing struggle with colon cancer, one to directly assist with medical funding and the other supporting a documentary about Lake.

An inventive fundraiser through youcaring.com is online, called “Sequence a Science Fiction Writer.” From the site: “a new technology is becoming available—one that may offer [Jay’s] doctors a better option for treating the cancer. We’re trying to raise funds to allow Jay to have whole genome sequencing.”

Although the subject is a serious one, Lake’s typical humor shines through and many science fiction writers have volunteered to perform public acts of silliness if various stretch goals are met. Participating authors include Tobias S. Buckell, Mary Robinette Kowal, Jim C. Hines, Scott Lynch, Elizabeth Bear, Seanan McGuire, Paul Cornell, Cherie Priest, John Scalzi, Patrick Rothfuss, and Neil Gaiman.

Promised stunts range from Scott Lynch & Elizabeth Bear performing a sock puppet show of one of Lake’s short stories, to Cherie Priest presenting a steampunk/goth fashion show for pets, and culminate in Neil Gaiman’s promise to “perform a cover from the Magnetic Fields album 69 Love Songs whilst accompanying himself on the Ukulele” if the $20,000 goal is met.

Get more information and donate here: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/Sequence-a-Science-Fiction-Writer/38705

The second fundraiser is in support of the documentary being filmed by Waterloo Productions, an independent production company based in Austin TX, about Lake’s struggle with cancer, entitled “Lakeside”. After Lake’s prognosis took a turn for the worse, the company began a Kickstarter campaign to “continue filming, bring in more crew, and fund the expanded post production.”

You may visit and donate at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1060155945/lakeside-0