Kid-Lit Cares: Superstorm Sandy Relief Effort

ROUND ONE OF KIDLIT CARES HAS ENDED, BUT PLEASE VISIT AUTHOR JOANNE LEVY, WHO HAS GREAT AUCTIONS LISTED FOR ROUND TWO!

People who write children’s books and work in this industry have a wide range of interests and talents. As authors, illustrators, agents, and editors, we do different jobs, and we love and create different kinds of books. But one thing we all tend to agree on is using your powers for good in the world.

Many of us watched with sadness Monday night as Sandy ravaged the East Coast.  Damage estimates are in the tens of billions, and the heartbreak is impossible to measure. We’d like to do what we can to help, and that’s what KidLit Cares is all about.

What is KidLit Cares?

It’s an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort for Sandy. Agents, editors, authors, and illustrators have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund.

What kinds of things are included?

 Manuscript critiques, in-person and Skype author visits, virtual writing workshops, school & library marketing consultations for authors… you name it.  You can scroll down to see the full list of auction items for KidLit Cares Round One.  (Round Two will begin soon, hosted by my fellow Bloomsbury/Walker author and organizational goddess Joanne Levy.  If you’d like to make a donation, please email her at kidlitcares@joannelevy.com with the information)

The full list of current auction is below, and you can click on any item to see all the details, and bidding is happening in the comments.  To bid on an auction, check the current high bid in the comments, and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in a new comment, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.)

 What happens if I win?

 Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation directly to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.   After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.Exceptions are noted on some auction pages.

Okay…so who’s Kate Messner and why is this fundraiser on her website?

I’m Kate.  I’m the author, speaker, & social media geek who organized the KidLit Cares online talent auction. I write books for kids (one of them is about scary futuristic storms that feel a little too real these days), and I wanted to do something to help the people in Sandy’s path who are hurting. The whole thing is hosted on my website because…well…I know how to post things here. So hi there! And welcome. I hope you’ll  find something in the KidLit Cares auction that you can’t live without and a donate ton of money to the Red Cross while you’re here.  Feel free to scope out my books later on, but for now, check out these AMAZING auction items!

1. Manuscript Critique with Caroline Abbey of Bloomsbury (CLOSED)

2. Manuscript Critique & Signed Books from Julie Berry  (CLOSED)

3. Manuscript Critique with Laurie Halse Anderson (CLOSED)

4. Manuscript Critique with Jo Knowles (CLOSED)

5. 20-minute Phone Chat with Agent Erin Murphy (CLOSED)

6. School Skype Gift Bag from Author Laurel Snyder! (CLOSED)

7. Perfect Your Pitch Package with Author Erin Dionne (CLOSED)

8. Query Critique & Phone Chat with Agent Jennifer Laughran (CLOSED)

9. Manuscript Critique with Agent Pam van Hylckama (CLOSED)

10. Skype Author Visit with Laurie Halse Anderson (CLOSED)

11. Skype Visit with Veronica Roth, Author of DIVERGENT (CLOSED)

12. Phone Call with Poet & Author Nikki Grimes (CLOSED)

13. Picture Book Critique with Author Jean Reidy! (CLOSED)

14. Manuscript Critique & Phone Call with Egmont USA Publisher Elizabeth Law (CLOSED)

15. Full YA or MG Manuscript Critique with Author Kody Keplinger (CLOSED)

16. Picture Book Critique with Author Deborah Underwood (CLOSED)

17. Skype Visit with Mo Willems! (CLOSED)

18. Skype Visit & Signed Books from Author Linda Urban (CLOSED)

19. Skype Author Visit & Signed Books from Sara Lewis Holmes (CLOSED)

20. Skype Visit & Signed Books from Barbara O’Connor (CLOSED)

21. Writer’s Care Package from Sarah Aronson (CLOSED)

22. Picture Book Critique with Michelle Knudsen (CLOSED)

23. “Free Pass” to Chronicle Books Editorial Meeting & Picture Book Critique with Editor Melissa Manlove (CLOSED)

24. For Authors: School and Library Planning & Publicity Package from Kate Messner (CLOSED)

25. Manuscript Critique with Author April Henry (CLOSED)

26. Manuscript Critique with Author Sarah Darer Littman (CLOSED)

27. Poetry or Picture Book Critique with Author Kelly Fineman (CLOSED)

28. Author/Agent Tag-Team Picture Book Critique & Submission Package w/ Anne Marie Pace & Linda Pratt (CLOSED)

29.Signed Fairy Tale Retellings & a Personal Letter from Author Diane Zahler (CLOSED)

30. Manuscript Critique & Phone Call with Agent Michelle Witte (CLOSED)

30A  (I apparently like the number 30 and used it twice.) Release Day Launch Package for your YA/MG Book from InkSlinger PR (CLOSED)

31. Manuscript Critique & Signed Book from Editor Cheryl Klein (CLOSED)

32.Month9Books 2013 “Books for a Year” Package (CLOSED)

33.Skype Author Visit & Signed Books from Ellen Hopkins (CLOSED)

34. School Author Visit with Sarah Albee (CT, NY, MA, & DC only) (CLOSED)

35. New England School or Library Author Visit with Cynthia Lord (CLOSED)

36. Signed Books (and a character named after you!) from Author Robin Wasserman (CLOSED)

37. Query & Manuscript Critique Package with Author Tessa Gratton (CLOSED)

38. 50-page Fantasy or Science Fiction Critique with Author Gwenda Bond (CLOSED)

39. 3-Day Writing Retreat at The Writing Barn in Austin (CLOSED)

40. Skype Author Visit with Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park (CLOSED)

41. Portfolio Critique with Penguin Art Director Giuseppe Castellano (CLOSED)

Please note that each auction’s closing date & time is listed on the page. Winners will be contacted after the auction ends, and after you forward me a receipt for your donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund, you’ll be put in touch with the person who donated the item, and you’ll work out the details from there. Happy bidding!