Author Melissa Saulnier will describe how she is raising funds for and building awareness of community needs. Melissa is writing a mystery trilogy, Fallen Race, about a young woman’s introduction to dangerous secrets when she inherits her grandmother’s estate. The stories involve history of the Vatican’s Observatories, antediluvian relics, science, and ancient mysteries.

Formerly working as a music publisher, Melissa edited a songwriter’s magazine and wrote 27 songs and three books helping songwriters with copyright, royalties, and music publishing. She became Executive Assistant at Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska in 2016 and found that she could contribute to the agency’s mission through her writing. In her presentation she will discuss her exploration of two fundamental questions: How can the literary and arts communities become a more significant part of the greater community? How can they collaborate with local organizations in a way that brings attention to real needs?