Local writers help local writer

March 30, 2008

A friend of Lori Hall Steele recently asked her if she saw the movie Sicko.
“I haven’t seen it,” she quipped. “I’m living it!”
Steele, a gifted freelance writer, has been sidelined with a paralyzing neurological condition that has yet to be diagnosed. It’s left her unable to walk or even write. That prompted a band of friends and local writers to hold an April 12 fundraiser to help her out.
“It’s pretty amazing that these independent, creative types are all pitching in. I think we all think of ourselves as poor, starving artists, but collectively we’re going to make a difference,” said Kris Hains, a freelance writer, who’s coordinating the event.
The event will feature live music, great food, and a silent auction of signed books by just about every author in the area. It also will include fine art and CDs by well-known regional artists, antiques, boutique clothing, yoga lessons, designer haircuts, and much more.
The hottest item of the night: Mike Sullivan of Song of the Lakes has offered to write an original song for the highest bidder.
Proceeds will help Steele, 43, pay for IV treatment and diagnostic testing at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, as well as living expenses.
Steele mysteriously lost the ability to move her feet last fall, and the paralysis spread to her legs and arms. She’s now confined to a wheelchair and can only type for a short amount of time, thus short-circuiting her only means of making a living for her and her six-year-old son, Jackson. Her mom, Shannon, recently moved up from Florida to care for both of them.
Jim Neu, owner of Computer Haus, is investigating the donation of voice recognition software so that Steele can begin working once she regains her strength.
Doctors in Traverse City and at the University of Michigan have not pinpointed the cause of her ailment, but say Lou Gehrig’s disease remains a possibility. A specialist has ordered long-term, $100-a-day IV antibiotic treatment for possible Lyme disease, which is not covered by insurance. Steele’s insurance has so far denied any coverage of extensive medical testing and treatments, claiming Steele had a pre-existing condition.
Steele is well-known in the Traverse City area, where she first moved in 1989 to work as a reporter and editor at the Traverse City Record-Eagle. She eventually moved into freelance work, writing for the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press, Woman’s Day, Orion, Salon.com and scores of other publications. She also worked as an editor and writer for Traverse the Magazine. She edits and designs books, including copy editing Michael Moore’s Dude, Where’s My Country?
Steele helped kick off the Traverse City Film Festival in its first year, handling all the publicity, promotion, media relations, writing movie teasers, and coordinating the care and feeding of visiting journalists.
Kris Hains, a freelance writer and friend, is organizing the April 12 fundraiser. Generous sponsors include the law firms of Thompson, O’Neil & Vanderveen and Parsons Ringsmuth. The FIM Group, the Record-Eagle, and the Minervini Group are also sponsors.
Author Jim Harrison will donate books and Richard Guindon will be there with a signed cartoon. Additional authors—most of whom will be at the event—include Deb Wyatt Fellows, Anne-Marie Oomen, Michael Moore, Jack Driscoll, Cari Noga, Terry Phipps, Jerry Dennis, Paul Sutherland, Mike Delp, Heather Shaw, Aaron Stander, Heidi Johnson, Rose Hollander (on behalf of the late Stu Hollander), Bob Butz, Doug Stanton, Kris Hains, Ellen Kossek, and Lori Hall Steele (her book will also be available). Authors living elsewhere include Allison Winn Scotch (The Department of Lost and Found) Kristin Ohlson (Kabul Beauty School) Jen Singer (Only 14 Hours ’Til Bedtime) and Rachel Weingarten (Career and Corporate Cool).
The fundraiser will take place in the Mercato of Building 50 on April 12 at 7 p.m.
If you can’t make the fundraiser, but want to donate money or items for the silent auction, please call Kris Hains at 231-421-1249 or email her at krishains@aol.com. If you’re an author, don’t feel spurned! She just didn’t know how to reach you—so call her!