RWA Flooded Communities Book Appeal

Current work: Capri medical revisions (nearly there)
Listening to: Patrick Hawes, Into the Light
Reading: Nicola Cornick, The Undoing of a Lady (was meant to be my ‘carrot’ book for finishing, but… I’ve worked hard so deserve a treat :o) Enjoying hugely and only put it down last night owing to husbandly nagging to have the light off)

I think everyone must have seen pictures of the floods in Australia, and my heart goes out to the families involved. An awful lot of things will need replacing, and books are going to come quite low on the priority list – but books are food for the soul and can really help take you out of a bad place. (This is a personal truth as well as a general one. I was there last month, when my dad died and then a family crisis blew up – good books saved my sanity, they really did. And they continue to do so while the family crisis continues.)

So when I heard about this appeal, I wanted to publicise it as well as sending something myself. Basically, the Romance Writers of Australia have put together a Flooded Communities Book Appeal, and this is what they have to say:

What we need?
FICTION BOOKS! Romance books, children's books, young adult books, genre books, whatever – either new or in sparkling condition.

Please send them to:
RWA Flooded Communities Book Appeal
PO Box 1717
Noosaville Post Office
Noosaville BC
Queensland 4566

When to send them?
Now! And any time over the next few months. The books will be boxed and delivered to the appropriate libraries/schools/neighbourhood centres/community centres in batches as soon as the communities are ready to receive them. We’ll be liaising with councils, libraries and schools to ensure this is done appropriately. Feel free to pop a note inside, or if you're an author, sign it.

Questions:
If you have a question about donations, email Jess Anastasi: Jess@jessanastasi.com
If you work in a library / council / community centre / school in a flood affected area, email Rachel Bailey: rachel@rachelbailey.com.au

What I’d like to add to that? OK, we’re in a recession, times are hard, and postage to Australia is expensive. But if lots of people send just ONE book (which, in the scheme of things, isn’t that expensive – maybe it’s the equivalent of one cup of coffee a week for the next month, which isn’t that big a sacrifice to ask), it’s going to make a huge difference.

Thank you.