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!

Literary agent Holly McGhee has donated a picture book critique, 1000 words or less. Holly is both the founder of Pippin Properties, Inc., a New York boutique literary agency with a focus on children’s books, and a writer—her most recent books are the middle-grade novel Matylda, Bright & Tender and the picture book Come with Me, illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre.Opening bid: $50
Auction ends: Tuesday, September 5, 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!





George O’Connor is the author and illustrator of the popular graphic novel series Olympians, which retells classic Greek myth in comics form. He is offering a 30 minute Skype visit for your school, book club, or library, along with a signed (with drawing!) copy of each volume of Olympians: ZEUS, ATHENA, HERA, HADES, POSEIDON, APHRODITE, ARES, APOLLO and ARTEMIS. That’s nine books, practically your own pantheon!
Author Hannah West has donated a 30-page manuscript critique, along with a signed hardcover of KINGDOM OF ASH AND BRIARS. Hannah is the author of young adult fantasy Kingdom of Ash and Briars and its upcoming companion Realm of Ruins. She is a lifelong Texan, animal enthusiast, and holder of a BA in French that she rarely uses. She lives in the Dallas area with her husband and pup. Visit
#1 NYT bestselling author Kerri Maniscalco has donated a personalized “book box” filled with items curated by herself. Included is a signed collection of her books (STALKING JACK THE RIPPER and the forthcoming HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA), magnetic bookmarks of her characters, candles, bookish tea, a tea infusing ball, character cards, and a signed map from her second novel.
Picture book author Maria Gianferrari is offering a 30 minute Skype visit for your school, homeschool, library, book club plus signed/dedicated copies of each of her five picture books: Penny & Jelly The School Show; Penny & Jelly Slumber Under the Stars; Coyote Moon; Officer Katz & Houndini and her latest picture book, Hello Goodbye Dog as well as assorted book swag.
Kim Norman is offering a 30-minute video critique of a rhyming picture book manuscript. Because the “read-aloud” quality of rhyme is so important, the winner of this auction will receive an audio-video recording of Kim reading your manuscript and commenting on the rhymes in each stanza, as well as the work overall.
Author Laura Silverman is offering a signed copy of GIRL OUT OF WATER along with the chance to name a character in her second book! Laura received her MFA in writing for children from the New School. She loves books, dogs, and bubble baths—okay, and quite a few people too. She currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia. You can say hello on Twitter at @LJSilverman1.
Bev Katz Rosenbaum, a former in-house Harlequin editor and a multi-published romance and young adult author, will critique your full novel manuscript. Bev is now a popular freelance editor who has acquired and edited fiction for publishers like McGraw-Hill Ryerson and critiqued manuscripts for both traditionally published and self-published authors.
Author Linda Urban has put together an amazing School Skype Gift Bag for KidLit Cares. She’s offering one lucky bidder ALL of the following:
Elana K. Arnold will critique the first 30 pages (plus a 1-2 page synopsis) of your MG or YA manuscript.