KidLit Cares: Our Hurricane Harvey Relief Effort

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.

We are heartbroken that Hurricane Harvey and related flooding is having such a devastating effect on those in the storm’s path. Today and in the weeks to come, relief organizations will be serving thousands of families displaced by Hurricane Harvey and related flooding. Those families include so many kids who read our books. 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 and Global Giving relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey & 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 or Global Giving.

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 list of auction items. Just click on any item to see the details, and bidding will be 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 for me to contact you if you win (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 Hurricane Harvey Relief fund OR the Global Giving Hurricane Harvey 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 may be noted on some auction pages.

Okay…so who’s Kate Messner and is this fundraiser legit?

I’m Kate. I write books for kids (see the Books link, above, if you want to read about them after you’ve bid on your auction items). I’m also an educator and speaker, and I organized the KidLit Cares effort for Superstorm Sandy Relief in 2012. We raised over $35,000 then – you can read about that here – and this seemed like a good model for an effort help the people in Harvey’s path as well. So welcome! I hope you’ll  find something in the KidLit Cares auction that you can’t live without and make a great donation to the Red Cross or Global Giving.

We’d love for EVERYONE to help out with a donation to the Red Cross or Global Giving, and you can do that, even if your favorite auction items aren’t within your budget. Everyone who donates at least $10 to the Red Cross or Global Giving using today through Monday 9/4 will be entered in a drawing to win a signed class set of my new novel for young readers, THE EXACT LOCATION OF HOME (36 hardcover copies!) and a 30-minute school Skype visit with me this fall.

The Exact Location of Home by Kate MessnerKirby “Zig” Zigonski lives for the world of simple circuits, light bulbs, buzzers, and motors. Electronics are, after all, much more predictable than most people–especially his father, who he hasn’t seen in over a year. When his dad’s latest visit is canceled with no explanation and his mom seems to be hiding something, Zig turns to his best friend Gianna and a new gizmo–a garage sale GPS unit–for help. Convinced that his dad is leaving clues in geocaches around town to explain his absence, Zig sets out to find him. Following one clue after another, logging mile after mile, Zig soon discovers that people aren’t always what they seem . . . and sometimes, there’s more than one set of coordinates for home. This book releases September 12th and has earned starred reviews from School Library Journal & Kirkus.

To enter this drawing & help out with the relief effort, make your $10 or more donation to the Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund or Global Giving Hurricane Harvey Relief fund by clicking on the appropriate link. Please send your receipt to kidlitcaresharvey at gmail dot com to be entered in the drawing. A winner will be announced on September 6th.

Now…on to the list of auction items!  (Links will go live as the auctions are listed, so this is just a preview until then. I’ve been overwhelmed with donations. Thanks for your patience!)

  1. 50-page MG or YA manuscript critique from author Nova Ren Suma 
  2. School Skype gift package from author Brooks Benjamin
  3. Tag-team picture book critique & free pass to the Chronicle Books editorial meeting from author Kate Messner & editor Melissa Manlove
  4. Skype visit & signed book from author Crissa Chappell
  5. Skype visit & Signed Books from author Coert Voorhees
  6. Full manuscript critique with 30-minute phone consult from author Jen Cervantes
  7. Skype visit & signed books from author Barb Rosenstock
  8. In-person author visit from Carrie Jones (limited to New England, TX, OK, & GA)
  9. 20-page manuscript critique & signed books from author Carrie Jones
  10. 30-page manuscript critique from author Elana K. Arnold
  11. School Skype gift package from author Linda Urban
  12. Skype visit & signed books from author Christina Diaz Gonzalez
  13. Full manuscript critique from author-editor Bev Katz Rosenbaum
  14. Signed book & opportunity to name a character from author Laura Silverman
  15. 30-minute video critique of a rhyming picture book from author Kim Norman
  16. Skype visit & signed books from author Maria Gianferrari
  17. Autumn themed book box from author Kerri Maniscalco
  18. 30-page manuscript critique & signed book from author Hannah West
  19. Skype visit & signed books from author-illustrator George O’Connor
  20. Picture book critique from agent Holly McGhee
  21. Skype visit & signed books from author-agent Holly Mcghee
  22. Full MG or YA manuscript critique from author Jenn Bishop
  23. Skype visit & class set of signed books from author Brenda Ferber
  24. Skype visit & signed books from author Katie Slivensky
  25. Skype visit with author Roshani Chokshi
  26. Skype gift package with author Brian Herberger
  27. Full YA manuscript critique with author Marieke Nijkamp
  28. Skype visit & signed books from author Ali Benjamin
  29. 25-page YA or MG manuscript critique & signed books from Megan Frazer Blakemore
  30. Query and full picture book critique (or 1st 10 pages of MG or YA) with 15-minute phone consultation from agent Jennifer Laughran
  31. Skype visit & signed book from author Amber Duell
  32. Full MG or YA manuscript critique from author-editor Brian Farrey
  33. Skype visit & signed books from author Jacqueline Houtman
  34. Skype visit & signed books from author Nanci Turner Steveson
  35. Skype visit & signed books from author Leslie Bulion
  36. Skype visit & signed books from author Sarah Darer Littman
  37. Skype visit & signed books from author Dee Garretson
  38. Skype visit & signed books from author-illustrator Deborah Freedman
  39. Skype visit & signed books from author Denis Markell
  40. Original character portrait by artist-author Gwen C. Katz
  41. Skype visit & signed books from authors J&P Voelkel
  42. Skype visit from author Barbara O’Connor
  43. Query critique & phone consultation with agent Brent Taylor
  44. Skype visit & signed books from Jordan Sonnenblick (2)
  45. Picture book critique from author-editor Jesse Klausmeier
  46. Skype visit & class set of books OR in-person visit from author Anica Mrose Rissi
  47. 30-minute “pitch & learn” phone call with agent Erin Murphy
  48. Skype visit & signed books from author Katie Bayerl
  49. Skype visit & signed books from author Janet Fox
  50. Skype visit & signed books from author Josh Funk
  51. Skype visit & signed books from author-illustrator Jeanette Bradley
  52. In-person author visit within NYS from author Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
  53. Picture book manuscript critique from author Tammi Sauer
  54. Skype visit, signed books, & original art from author-illustrator Courtney Pippin-Mathur
  55. Picture book critique & signed book from agent-author Tracy Marchini
  56. 30-page MG or YA manuscript critique & signed books from author Danielle Joseph
  57. Skype visit & signed books from author Terri Farley
  58. Picture book critique from author Megan Wagner Lloyd
  59. Skype visit & signed books from author Lynn Plourde
  60. 25-page manuscript critique & phone consultation with editor Alison Weiss
  61. Classroom set of signed books from author Melissa Roske
  62. Tag-team picture book critique & signed books from authors Jacqueline Tourville and Amy Guglielmo
  63. Picture book critique from author Liz Garton Scanlon
  64. Skype visit & signed books from author Jennifer Maschari
  65. Picture book manuscript critique (or 1st 15 pages of chapter book) and signed book from author Ariel Bernstein
  66. Skype visit and “draw-along” and signed books from author-illustrator Grace Lin
  67. Query critique & Skype call with agent Moe Ferrara
  68. 50-page manuscript & synopsis critique from agent Kim Lionetti
  69. First chapter critique for MG or YA novel from author Jo Knowles
  70. Research & Nonfiction Skype visit & signed books OR in-person author visit (in CT) from Sarah Albee
  71. Skype visit & signed books from author Tamra Wright
  72. Skype visit & signed books from author Katherine Applegate
  73. 30-page manuscript critique & signed book from authors Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang
  74. 90-minute school-visit consultation for author or illustrator from author-educator Michelle Cusolito
  75. Skype (or in person near Beloit, WI) visit with author-editor Kelly Jensen
  76. Picture book critique (or 1st 10 pages of a novel) from editor Karen Boss (2)
  77. 15-page YA novel critique with agent Fiona Kenshole
  78. Skype visit & signed books with author Debbie Levy
  79. Full novel-in-verse manuscript critique with Laura Shovan
  80. Skype visit with author Nancy Churnin
  81. Skype visit & signed books from author Miriam Busch
  82. Skype visit & signed books from author Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
  83. Skype visit, books, & audiobooks from author Alison McGhee
  84. Skype visit from author Sarah Aronson
  85. Skype visit & signed books from author Lola Schaefer
  86. 50-page MG or YA manuscript critique from author Jody Feldman
  87. 25-page manuscript critique from author Marilyn Hilton
  88. Skype visit & signed books from author Fran Manushkin
  89. In-person school visit (near SF, Manhattan, Boston, DC, Portland ME, or Portland OR) from author Anne Nesbet
  90. Skype visit & signed classroom set of books from author Cynthia Reeg
  91. Skype visit & signed books from author Emma Ortheguy
  92. Skype visit & signed books from author Elizabeth Eulberg
  93. 20-page manuscript critique & signed books from author AC Gaughen
  94. Skype visit & signed book from author Donna Gephart
  95. 15-page manuscript & query critique & phone call with agent Patricia Nelson
  96. Skype visit & signed books OR picture book critique & signed books from author Amy Dyckman
  97. 50-page manuscript critique & phone call with author Janet Sumner Johnson
  98. Skype visit with author Kekla Magoon
  99. Skype visit & signed books from author N.H. Senzai
  100. Skype visit & signed books from author Lissa Price
  101. Picture book manuscript critique from author Julie Falatko
  102. Classroom or library Skype visit from Chelsea Clinton
  103. 30-page manuscript critique with author Monika Schroeder
  104. Query, synopsis, & 1st pages critique with author Kristine Asselin
  105. 50-page manuscript critique (verse novel or historical fiction) & signed books from Jeannine Atkins
  106. Picture book dummy critique with author-illustrator Fred Koehler
  107. Skype visit & signed books from author Nikki Loftin
  108. Skype visit & signed books from author Dana Alison Levy
  109. Skype visit & signed books from author Kristin Gray
  110. 100-page manuscript critique from author Alyssa Hollingsworth
  111. Picture book critique & “skip-the-slush-pile” pass from editor Mary Kate Castellani
  112. 20-page MG or YA manuscript critique &”skip-the-slush-pile” pass from editor Mary Kate Castellani
  113. Skype visit & signed books from author Tracy Barrett
  114. Skype visit & signed books from author Elly Swartz
  115. Picture book critique from author Minh Lê
  116. Skype visit & signed books from author Sara Lewis Holmes
  117. 2500-word ms & query critique from author Helene Dunbar (3)
  118. Skype visit from author Cynthia Levinson (2)
  119. Original animal paintings from illustrator Anna Raff
  120. Skype visit & signed books from author Jarrett Lerner
  121. Author-Editor tag-team picture book critique from Hannah Barnaby & Kate O’Sullivan
  122. Full YA manuscript critique from author Rachel Lynn Solomon
  123. Opening chapter & query critique with phone call from author Erin Dionne
  124. One hour of editorial time from editor Cheryl Klein
  125. Skype visit & signed books from author Kara Thomas
  126. Skype visit & class set of signed books from author Jennifer Ward
  127. School Skype gift package from author Laurel Snyder
  128. 25-page manuscript critique from freelance editor Megan Manzano
  129. Skype visit & signed books from author Lori Richmond
  130. 20-minute phone call with agent Uwe Stender
  131. Picture book manuscript critique with author Sue Lowell Gallion
  132. Portfolio consultation with art director Giuseppe Castellano
  133. Skype visit & signed books from author Kara LaReau
  134. Full manuscript critique from Samantha M. Clark
  135. Skype visit & signed books from author Augusta Scattergood
  136. Picture book or 1st 10 pages review plus phone chat w/ agent Marietta Zacker
  137. Original watercolor from illustrator Mika Song
  138. Skype visit with author Shannon Hale
  139. Author visit & signed books from Robin Newman
  140. Full manuscript critique with author Rob Vlock
  141. Picture book critique & Skype discussion with author Tara Lazar
  142. One hour Skype writing career advice session/Q&A with Tara Lazar
  143. Full manuscript critique with author Jennifer Latham
  144. Skype visit & signed books from author Erin Teagan
  145. Skype visit & signed books from author Stacy McAnulty
  146. Skype visit & signed books from author Jacqueline Davies
  147. Picture book critique from author Amy Guglielmo & editor Stephanie Pitts
  148. Conference tuition for the SCBWI Mid-South Conference
  149. Picture book critique from author Anne Marie Pace & agent Linda Pratt
  150. Picture book critique from author Susan Hood
  151. Full manuscript critique from author Caryn Lix
  152. Query & picture book (or 1st 20 pages of novel) critique from agent Stefanie Von Borstel
  153. 3-chapter (40 page) manuscript critique from Aisha Saeed, Emery Lord, & Anna-Marie McLemore
  154. Lego Tiny House from author-translator Lyn Miller-Lachmann
  155. 50-page manuscript critique from editor Bess Cozby
  156. Original art from Debbie Ridpath Ohi
  157. One hour Skype consultation with agent Jill Corcoran
  158. Picture book critique with editor Allison Moore
  159.  School visit with author Eric Luper (NY- Capitol Region)
  160. Editing package from Marlo Garnsworthy
  161. Picture book or 1st 30 novel pages critique & publicity/marketing letter from Peachtree
  162. Original watercolor sketch from Jarrett J. Krosoczka
  163. Press release educator’s guide from Debbie Gonzales
  164. 30-minute Skype visit & signed books from Laurie Halse Anderson
  165. Full manuscript critique (up to 300 pages) with Laurie Halse Anderson
  166. Star Wars Origami made by Tom Angleberger
  167. Picture book critique with editor Carol Hinz
  168. Original art from Stephanie Ruble
  169. Full picture book or MG manuscript critique & Skype mentor visit from author Kat Yeh
  170. Full MG novel critique from author Heidi Schulz
  171. Tuition for a 2017 or 2018 Highlights Foundation Workshop
  172. Manuscript critique & phone conversation with author Monica Brown
  173. Signed books from a dozen Virginia authors
  174. Full MG manuscript critique & phone consultation with agent Elizabeth Harding
  175. Gold-level membership in 12×12 picture book writing challenge for 2018
  176. Original art from Leeza Hernandez
  177. One-hour manuscript review phone call with agent Molly O’Neill
  178. Original, custom commissioned art from Jo Blakely
  179. Skype visit & signed books from Margaret Peterson Haddix
  180. 100-page critique & phone call with editor Greg Ferguson
  181. Picture book manuscript critique by phone with editor Susan Rich
  182. Basket of signed books from author Nikki Grimes
  183. Hamilton Skype visit with author Martha Brockenbrough
  184. Skype visit with author Lauren Tarshis
  185. Skype visit & signed books with author April Henry
  186. 25-page graphic novel or chapter book proposal review with editor Cassandra Pelham Fulton
  187. School visit for any school impacted by Harvey, from Kathi Appelt
  188. Skype visit, signed book, & FISH IN A TREE swag from Lynda Mullaly Hunt
  189. Picture Book critique & signed books from the founders of Just Us Books
  190. In-person school visit with Alex Flinn (Florida)
  191. Two picture book critiques & phone call with editor Lisa Yoskowitz
  192. Full manuscript critique with author Francisco X. Stork
  193. Picture book critique from authors Jane Yolen & Heidi Stemple
  194. Original art from Barbara DiLorenzo
  195. An upcoming Ranger in Time book dedicated to your child, school, or classroom from Kate Messner
  196. Skype visit with author Jenni Holm
  197. SCBWI one-year membership & national conference tuition
  198. Full MG or YA manuscript critique from agent Sara Crowe
  199. Original drawing & signed book collection from author-illustrator Dan Santat
  200. Partial manuscript critique from editor Andrew Karre
  201. Full manuscript critique (picture book, MG, or graphic novel) from editor Shana Corey

A note about last-minute bidding: Please consider making your highest bid early instead of waiting. Two reasons for this… #1 – This isn’t Ebay. It’s a community auction hosted on an author’s blog. Websites can crash, especially in high traffic times, and if you wait, you may find that your bid doesn’t post before the end time. And #2 – Our end game here is raising money for people whose lives have been devastated. Early, robust bidding is the best way to do that. Thanks!

Another note: The links on the auction sites are for the Red Cross only; Global Giving was added as an option at the request of potential bidders, and there wasn’t time to update all 200+ auction sites. But you may donate your high bid to either of those two organizations if you win. Also, many thanks to Linda Sue Park for volunteering her time to handle the logistics of having another charity involved so that we’re able to offer this.

Please note that each auction’s closing date & time is listed on the page. After each auction ends, I’ll post a comment with the final results & directions for the winner to forward the receipt from their donation. Once that’s done, you’ll be put in touch with the person who donated the item, and you’ll work out the details from there. Happy bidding!