Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Hurricane Harvey and related flooding. 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. You can read more about KidLit Cares here. Now, on to the auction!

Debbie Levy is the award-winning and NYT-bestselling author of I DISSENT: RUTH BADER GINSBURG MAKES HER MARK, as well as 20+ other books for young people of all ages. She is offering a 30-minute Skype visit with your school classroom, book club, or library group, plus signed copies of the following books I DISSENT; THE YEAR OF GOODBYES: A TRUE STORY OF FRIENDSHIP, FAMILY, AND FAREWELLS; WE SHALL OVERCOME; DOZER’S RUN; and SOLDIER SONG.Opening bid: $50
Auction ends: Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at 8pm EST.
Any bids submitted in comments after that time will be void. (Please note: bidding at the last second isn’t a good idea. Websites get overloaded & there’s always a chance that your bid might not post on time. So please bid your best offer with plenty of time to spare.)
If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Hurricane Harvey 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.
Good luck, and thanks for bidding!





Literary agent Fiona Kenshole has donated a first 15 pages critique for a YA novel. She will provide a written critique and Skype follow up.
Kelly Jensen is offering an up to 60 minute Skype author/editor visit + 10 copies of HERE WE ARE. Discussion can be about feminism, a creative nonfiction writing workshop, and talk about some of the best YA books available. Could also be about finding a path in writing through nontraditional means. She’s also willing to do this as IN-person for winner if in the Milwaukee/Madison/Rockford/Chicago area (roughly 90 miles from Beloit, WI).
Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang, co-authors of THIS IS JUST A TEST, are offering to co-author a manuscript critique. They’ll look at the first 30 pages of your kid-lit manuscript, along with a one or two page synopsis. You’ll also receive a signed copy of their book.
Newbery Medalist Katherine Applegate has donated a 30-minute author Skype visit, with 5 signed copies of her new book, Wishtree, and personalized bookmarks for every child in a class.
Author Tamra Wight (
Author Sarah Albee has donated two options for this auction:
Jo Knowles has donated a first chapter (10 pages) manuscript critique. Jo is the author of several YA and MG books, including Read Between The Lines, Still A Work in Progress and See You At Harry’s. Jo also teaches writing at the Mountainview Low-Residency MFA Program. Jo has donated a first chapter critique for an aspiring children’s author. The winner of this auction will receive a critique in the form of an editorial letter giving feedback on up to 10 pages of the opening of a YA or MG novel.
Query Critique + 20 minute Skype call: For the writer about ready to start querying, Moe Ferrara will provide feedback on a query for any of the genres listed in her bio (MG or YA! no picture books or young readers, please.) as well as one 20 minute video call on Skype or similar platform. During the call you can ask her any of your burning questions about publishing or discuss your own writing/pitch/whatever your heart desires!