Book promotes SMA awareness

When author Christopher Finlan learned that his high school classmate, Hillary Dunlop Schmid, had just lost a baby, he wanted to help.

Hilary's daughter died of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a heartbreaking disease that affects 1 in every 6,000 babies, and is often fatal

Inspired, Finlan wrote Not a Fire Exit, creating a charming mystery story that in only two months has sold over 1,000 copies and raised over $5,500 for SMA awareness.

Finlan's debut novel is a work of fiction, full of intrigue and humor, interwoven with a serious social message. The book's element of mystery uses SMA as its springboard, but as a peripheral story element, not as the book's core.

"When I heard about the death of Hillary's baby daughter, Zane, I wanted help to raise money for SMA, so I wrote Not A Fire Exit," explained Finlan. Both he and Schmid graduated from Great Valley High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

"I dedicated the book to the Schmid family and made sure a significant portion of the profits will be going to help families struggling with this terrible disease. I have a son the same age as baby Zane."

Finlan is now giving to The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation, which promotes research, awareness, and support of the SMA disorder. Less than two weeks ago, they were voted sixth out of 500,000 organizations for the 2010 Chase Bank Community Giving campaign.

"I am so touched by Chris's tremendous efforts to raise awareness for Spinal Muscular Atrophy and to donate so much to research to combat it, both personally and through proceeds from book sales," said Hillary.

Chris' quick success with his own book has caused him to create Milverstead Publishing, LLC, which already has three titles on its roster. He plans to publish several more titles this year and will ensure that a portion of the proceeds goes towards charity.

The paperback, e-book and Amazon Kindle versions of Not a Fire Exit are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble.com and other Internet book re-sellers. Not a Fire Exit also is available as an audiobook for download on iTunes.