Sarah Jansen

Burlington

A$2,306

of $2,000 targetyrs ago

Successful on 8th Dec 2012 at 12:00AM.

Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m writing a book.

It’s set in north-eastern USA and southern Québec.

Why is it set there when I’m here in Australia? Because it’s based on the real life story of my great-great-grandmother — that’s my grandma’s grandma — and that’s where she lived.

I have a pretty epic trip all planned out—nine weeks of travelling, studying and working. This campaign is for my return airfare only: $2,000.

The full cost of the trip is about $10,000 but I’m going to use my savings for the rest of it.

I’ve been planning this trip for the last five years. I’ve been researching my topic for about 12 years. I’m confident I’m ready to go and get this thing done.

When I come back, I expect to have a full rough draft of the book finished.

You can follow my progress on the website, Facebook and Twitter.

The story and my itinerary

Phase 1: Writing (weeks 1 to 4)

My first stop is Johnson, Vermont, where I’ve been accepted into the writing residency program at the Vermont Studio Centre. It sounds FREAKING AWESOME. The centre is right on the US-Canada border i.e. pretty much exactly where my story is set.

I’ll be there for four weeks, working with a mentor and soaking up the atmosphere of the place and writing it down, and talking to the other resident artists and generally getting inspired and being productive.

Phase 2: Research – USA (week 5)

The story starts in Lewiston, Maine, where Great-Great-Grandma Alphonsine met her husband Pierre when they were teenagers. I’ll be there for a week exploring the town and its history as an industrial mill town, talking to the folks at the local public library (we’re already good email buddies), and talking to some people at the local university, Bates College.

Phase 3: Research – Canada (weeks 6 and 7)

Soon after they met, Alphonsine and Pierre had a shotgun wedding and moved to a farm in Québec. So I’m going to spend a couple of weeks working on a farm in the region they lived, the Eastern Townships.

I’ll work my butt off learning about farming, traditional medicine of the First Nations (an important part of the story), and the region’s history and culture, and improving my French.

Phase 4: Connecting, getting inspired, writing (weeks 8 and 9)

To finish off the trip, I’ll spend a couple of weeks in New York City being inspired by its awesomeness and connecting with some artists I’ve met through the internet and various projects over the years.

• A hug

1 chosen

Est. delivery is Dec 13

• A postcard from somewhere cool and/or obscure on my trip with a personal message.

28 chosen

Est. delivery is Apr 13

• A postcard from somewhere cool and/or obscure on my trip with a personal message • An ‘I Heart NY’ T-shirt from New York City

25 chosen

Est. delivery is Jun 13

• An ‘I Heart NY’ T-shirt from New York City • Listed as a supporter on the Cedar Chest website • A shout-out on the project's Twitter and Facebook telling everyone you’re awesome including a link of your choice

8 chosen

Est. delivery is Jun 13

• An ‘I Heart NY’ T-shirt from New York City • Listed as a supporter on the Cedar Chest website • A shout-out on my Twitter and Facebook telling everyone you’re awesome including a link of your choice • A selection of maple sugar products from Canada or Vermont

2 chosen

Est. delivery is Jun 13

• A shout-out on the project’s Twitter and Facebook telling everyone you’re awesome including a link of your choice • A blog post on the Cedar Chest website about you or your project

0 chosen / 2 available

Est. delivery is Jun 13

• Listed as a major supporter on the Cedar Chest website • A shout-out on my Twitter and Facebook telling everyone you’re awesome including a link of your choice • A blog post on the Cedar Chest website about you or your project

0 chosen / 2 available

Est. delivery is Jun 13

• Listed as a major supporter on the website • A shout-out on the project social media telling everyone you’re awesome including a link of your choice • Original artwork from a local artist somewhere on my itinerary OR • A selection of maple sugar products from Canada or Vermont • A private presentation of photographs from the trip by me for you and up to 8 of your friends OR • A one-of-a-kind scarf knitted by me during writing breaks • A blog post on the website about you/your project

0 chosen / 2 available

Est. delivery is Dec 13

• A hardcopy of the book’s first draft printed, bound and autographed with a personal message addressed to you (or person of your choosing) • Listed as a major supporter on the Cedar Chest website • A one-of-a-kind scarf knitted by me during writing breaks • A blog post on the Cedar Chest website about you or your project

0 chosen / 2 available

Est. delivery is Dec 13

• Hardcopy of 1st draft bound and signed with a personal message • Blog post on the website about you/your project • Listed as major supporter on the website • One-of-a-kind scarf knitted during writing breaks • Presentation of trip photos for you & 8 of your friends • Original artwork from local artist somewhere on the trip • Selection of maple sugar products from Canada/Vermont • ‘I Heart NY’ T-shirt from New York City • Shout-out on project’s social media including a link of your choice

0 chosen / 2 available

Est. delivery is Dec 13