I hate cancer.

As most of you know, I've had two different types in my life. Through no fault of my own, I did not have health insurance for the last one in 2011. Fortunately, my writer friends rallied to help me create Unfettered, the anthology paying off my medical treatment.

So when I hear of someone in need, I automatically try to figure out how I can help. I owe a lot of people and it's my way of helping contribute to the world that helped save me. Sean Shepard is one of those people now in need. I've known Sean since 2011. As irony would have it, we met at San Diego Comic Con the same summer I was going through treatment. He gifted me a cool wooden pen he had created. And we became friends online thereafter.

Sadly, Sean was diagnosed in January 2018 with an aggressive cancer called Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. It presented in his tongue and spread to his neck lymph nodes. He entered treatment immediately, both radiation and chemotherapy. He's been fighting ever since. And it didn't kill the cancer.

He asked me last week if I could auction off his ARC of A Game of Thrones signed by George R. R. Martin. I didn't hesitate. As he explained, he needs money to travel to Seattle for the next steps in his journey--probable tongue removal and further immunotherapy treatment to either save his life or at least extend it.

I have placed the ARC on eBay with an additional George R. R. Martin goodie included from my own collection, to help Sean during his time of need.

Bid! And if you can't bid, share this on your social media. Let's help one of our community members!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I am always around.

Shawn Speakman

Publisher & Editorial Director

EDIT: Subterranean Press has donated a Publisher's Copy of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, signed! So the winning bidder will not only get the ARC and the comic book but also this PC copy from Sub Press! Pretty awesome!