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!

Samantha M Clark, author of the middle-grade novel WAKE coming from Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster on June 26, 2018, is offering a full manuscript critique to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Samantha will write a detailed editorial letter with notes on character, pacing, plot and more to help you take your MG or YA novel to the next level.
Samantha M Clark is the author of the middle-grade novel WAKE coming from Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster on June 26, 2018. A former journalist and managing editor for newspapers and magazines, Samantha is also a freelance editor with Yellow Bird Editors in Austin, Texas, and the Regional Advisor for the Austin chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. Contact Samantha on her website, Twitter or Facebook.
Opening bid: $50
Auction ends: Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at 10pm 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!





Kara LaReau is offering a 30-minute Skype visit and signed copies of THE INFAMOUS RATSOS and THE INFAMOUS RATSOS ARE NOT AFRAID.
Giuseppe Castellano is an award-winning Executive Art Director at Penguin Random House. He’s offering a private,
Sue Lowell Gallion, author of PUG MEETS PIG and PUG & PIG TRICK-OR-TREAT, is offering a picture book and query letter critique.
Agent Uwe Stender of Triada US Literary Agency is offering a 20-minute phone call about writing & publishing to the high bidder for this auction. The winner will have the opportunity to make a pitch and/or ask general questions about queries, writing and publishing.
Lori Richmond is donating a 20-minute Skype author visit with your class (to be scheduled at a mutually convenient time for both author and school). She’ll answer questions from your students and they will also get a behind-the-scenes sneak preview of art from books coming out next year. Your class will also receive a signed copy of PAX AND BLUE for your classroom!
Megan Manzano offers a 25 pg critique to any YA or MG writer. If they have a synopsis, that can be included in the package as well. The critique will be in the form of an annotated document and a letter highlighting well done aspects of the manuscript and what needs improvement. Any questions they have are encouraged and will be answered.
Jennifer Ward is a bonafide bird stalker, wildlife whisperer, and authoress who writes books for children and adults. With over 800,000 books in print and translations in many languages, her work has been the recipient of numerous awards including state awards, New York Public Library’s Best Informational Book of the Year, ALA Notable recognition, the International Literacy Association/Children’s Book Council Children’s Choice Award, the Giverny Award for Best Nonfiction Picture Book, among many other honors.
Kara Thomas is offering a 40-minute Skype chat with your library, classroom, or book club. The date and time will be mutually agreed upon by the winner and Kara. The winner will also receive a signed paperback of THE DARKEST CORNERS and a signed hardcover of LITTLE MONSTERS.
Erin Dionne’s latest book for tweens is