“Childhelp USA - Greater Phoenix Chapter Spring Event to honor Mr. Clive Cussler, internationally acclaimed Grand Master of the American action/adventure novel, and release of The Adventures of Vin Fiz, his 1st Children’s adventure story”

Event: “Childhelp Flies into Spring on the Vin Fiz”

Presented by: Childhelp USA- Greater Phoenix Chapter (Event proceeds to benefit Childhelp services for Arizona’s most severely abused and neglected children)

When: Sunday, March 5, 2006 11:00-11:30 AM Reception 11:30 PM-2:00 PM

Honors Program, Luncheon & Macy’s Fashion Show 2:00-3:00

Book Signing Where: Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa

Ticket Information: $125 (Limited runway seating available for $150)

Join us this Spring as we celebrate, with Mr. Clive Cussler, his children and grand children, the release of his 1st adventure story for children (and the young at heart).

What was the inspiration for your story?

Well, not many people realize that Ian Fleming based his novel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, on actual planes built in the 1920s. And my novel is based on a real plane, too. There really was a Vin Fiz, a biplane built by the Wright brothers in their small factory in Akron, Ohio. I dedicate the book to the memory of Cal Rodgers, who in 1911 made the first transcontinental flight in this plane. He crashed about 30 times along the way, but finally made it from New York to Pasadena. Rodgers was sponsored by a company that made a soft drink called Vin Fiz and the company used the plane to advertise the drink. The story line about the twins and the magical machine is based on an ongoing story I made up for my children and my grandchildren

Additional Book and Specialized T Shirt Sales

A limited number of specialized T Shirts featuring The Adventures of Vin Fiz book cover and a silk screen signature from Mr. Cussler may be purchased at the event /or ordered on line for $20.00* Please specify your choice of size (Adult Large or Youth Large Size).

Additional books may be ordered and signed by Mr. Cussler, either at the event or ordered on-line for $20.00* Click here to order online

*NOTE:Proceeds will be donated to Childhelp USA to support its efforts to eradicate child abuse and bring healing services to those children suffering severe neglect and abuse.

The Greater Phoenix Chapter, comprised of community volunteers, was formed in 1988 and is dedicated to supporting Childhelp USA co-founders, Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson in their quest to eradicate child abuse. The chapter provides community awareness, fundraising and “hands-on” opportunities to ensure nurturing healing services are provided to these precious children, whose lives have been so traumatized by the severest of neglect and abuse incidents. For information about how you may join in our efforts, please contact Terri Leveton, President 602-790-4854 E-mail: chirp123@aol.com

The Luncheon Event will feature a Macy’s three-generation fashion show, to include children, men and women’s designs. Mr Cussler, to be honored for his unwavering love for his family, has demonstrated longstanding support for multiple causes that enrich the lives in our community. Mr. Cussler, known as the internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater & Marine Agency, has also kept us spellbound by his adventure novels dating back to his 1st release of The Sea Hunters featuring Dirk Pitt in 1973.

You will not want to miss this opportunity to acknowledge Clive Cussler’s achievements which will feature his latest labor of love, written especially for children. Mr. Cussler has generously assured that everyone who attends the event will receive their own copy.

He will be providing a book signing as well. “We are thrilled to pay tribute to Clive, by honoring his long-standing love for his family.

I anticipate a secondary gain, as Clive’s book will provide a medium to promote our own tender abused children’s interest and growth in reading” says Terri Leveton, current Childhelp-Greater Phoenix Chapter President.

Childhelp, founded in 1959 by Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, is one of the largest and oldest national nonprofit organizations dedicated to the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect. “Many of our children treated for physical and emotional trauma, related to atrocities that have occurred in their short-lived lives, suffer severe delay in reading abilities”, states Ms. Leveton.

“I am expecting Mr. Cussler’s latest quest will not only provide them a safe, but adventurous, distraction from their pain but will generate their interest in reading in general.”

Clive Cussler, is regarded as the Grand Master of the American action adventure novel. Clive grew up in Alhambra, California. He later attended Pasadena City College for two years, but then enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War where he served as an aircraft mechanic and flight engineer in the Military Air Transport Service. Upon his discharge, he became a copywriter and later creative director for two of the nation's leading ad agencies. At that time, he wrote and produced radio and television commercials that won numerous international awards one at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Cussler began writing in 1965 and published his first novel featuring Dirk Pitt® in 1973. His first non-fiction work, THE SEA HUNTERS, was released in 1996. Because of this work the Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York considered THE SEA HUNTERS in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May of 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed. Cussler is the founder the National Underwater & Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization that dedicates itself to American maritime and naval history. Cussler and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers have discovered over 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites. After verifying their finds, NUMA turns the rights to the artifacts over to non-profits, universities, or government entities all over the world. Some of these finds include the C.S.S. Hunley, best known as the first submarine to sink a ship in battle; the Housatonic, the ship the Hunley sank; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron; the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, Texas; and the remains of the Carpathia, the valiant ship that braved icebergs to rescue the survivor's of the Titanic.

In addition to being Chairman of NUMA, Cussler is a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He has also been honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.

A noted collector of classic automobiles, Cussler owns 85 of the finest examples of custom coachwork and 50's convertibles to be found anywhere. They are garaged near Golden, Colorado. Today, Cussler divides his time between the mountains of Colorado and the deserts of Arizona. Cussler's books which have sold more than 190 million copies are published in 45 languages, in more than 110 countries with a readership of more than 125 million avid fans.

www.childhelpusa.org www.numa.net www.cusslermen.com