Tonight at the Autry National Center, Angel City Press and CaliforniaAuthors.com gave the California Arts Council a check for $10,000 – the first, but not the last, proceeds from sales of My California: Journeys by Great Writers.

We’re thrilled that the money will go toward writing programs for children statewide. Many of the authors who contributed to this special travel anthology joined us for a celebration generously hosted by the Autry.

Arts Council member Michael Alexander enthusiastically accepted the check, even as he noted that the latest crop of California teachers is the first generation to complete their own education since the state slashed arts in the public schools. Alexander said he hoped that the efforts of so many in California’s literary community to create My California would be the first step toward restoring arts education in our schools.

Many thanks to the Autry’s wonderful staff, particularly David Burton and Wendy Esensten, for hosting such a terrific My California evening. And thank you to My California contributors Veronique de Turenne, Anh Do, Edward Humes, David Kipen, Aimee Liu, Mary Mackey, Patt Morrison, Carolyn See, Deanne Stillman and D.J. Waldie for being there, as always.

“The generosity on this project doesn’t stop,” said Angel City Press Publisher Paddy Calistro. “We keep waiting to see what good things will happen next!”

Read more about the anthology at www.mycaliforniaproject.org.