West Virginia’s award-winning author Austin Boyd, whose recent suspense novel “Nobody’s Child” brought Middlebourne, Sistersville and The Jug to life in the pages of a national book release, has proposed a novel way to help raise monies for a critical ministry to feed the hungry children of Tyler County.

Teamed with Tyler County nature photographer Roger Spencer, Boyd has produced a unique 2012 calendar that he has offered for free to local churches and businesses to help raise monies for the Tyler County “Backpack Ministry.” The 8 ? x 11-inch calendar features 12 full color photographs depicting the seasonal beauty of Tyler County.

With Boyd’s donation of 400 calendars, Tyler County residents have the opportunity to contribute critically needed monies that will place nutritious food in the hands of needy families.

For the past year, the backpack ministry has partnered local Methodist churches with Tyler County schools to help families eat healthy meals and snacks every day. On Friday afternoons, a bag of healthy food and snacks is placed in qualified children’s backpacks to supplement each family’s weekend meal planning. The food may include cereal, breakfast bars, oatmeal, juice, peanut butter or cheese crackers, applesauce, fruit cups, ravioli, pudding, fruit snacks, and other nutritious food. Just $5 can put nutritious food in the hands of a child for a weekend, helping to augment their diet between Friday and Monday school breakfasts and lunches.

Copies of the “Nobody’s Child” 2012 calendar are available in businesses and churches around Tyler County, including some that are highlighted in Boyd’s novel about a young woman who lives on a fictional farm located at the south end of The Jug. The suggested retail cost of the calendar is $10. However, it will be available locally for a limited time in exchange for any donation toward the backpack ministry.

Boyd, the son of former Sistersville resident Walker Boyd and the late Jody Boyd, will be in Tyler County during President’s Day week, Feb. 20-24, to meet with local schools, sign his novels in local stores, and to speak with interested groups. “Nobody’s Child” is the first of a multi-book series to be authored by Boyd called The Pandora Files. Each book threads a unique tale through the lives of fictional characters living in Tyler County. The series highlights thorny dilemmas that confront us all through the world of biotechnology while bringing the reader face-to-face with complex ethical challenges. The books also convey the rugged individualism of West Virginians and their strong grounding in faith and family.

To help bring food to the hungry children of Tyler County by donating to this critical ministry, calendars will be available at the following locations: in Sistersville, the public library, Sistersville Eye Care Center, Phillips’ Pharmacy, HPS Pharmacy, First Federal Savings Bank, Union Bank, the Wells Inn, the Dollar Store, Style Center Beauty Salon, the United Methodist Church and the Baptist Church; in Middlebourne, the public library, Union Bank, The Jug, Did’s Designs, Boggs Family Pizza, Witschey’s Market, Archer’s Chapel, and the Methodist Church. Calendars will also be placed at Witschey’s Market in New Martinsville.

To learn how to meet with Austin Boyd during his West Virginia book tour, contact Mary Rohrig at 304 758-4401. Learn more about Austin Boyd and his novels at www.austinboyd.com