First Day Recap

Whew! What a fantastic first day at the Read for Relief auction!

We are so grateful to the donors who graciously gave to the auction, and we are very, very thankful for your bids! (Keep 'em coming!) There will be a batch of new items posted tomorrow, but you can still bid on today's items until Wednesday at 10:00PM EST.

A few housekeeping items:

• Please remember to include your email address when you bid. This way, we can get in touch with you if you win!
• If you'd like to donate to the auction, we are still taking items! Please fill out this form and we'll contact you once your item goes live. Thank you so much!
• A blog reader pointed out yesterday that the American Red Cross donation page only accepts U.S. credit cards. Fortunately for our international participants, organizer Erin Bowman found a way around this! If you are an international bidder who wins an item, please choose "Amazon Payment" as your pay method on the Red Cross site. Then hit "Continue" and you will be redirected to Amazon where you may make your donation. (Thanks to Bec Sampson for bringing this up!) 

Be sure to check in tomorrow where we will have some awesome items up for bid, including a query critique from Joanna Volpe, a group critique from Operation Awesome, and a signed copy of Suzanne Young's A Need So Beautiful! 

Thank you and happy bidding!

Let the Auction Begin!

The Read for Relief auction is now open!

We have a great line-up of items today, including a variety of query critiques, partial critiques, and signed ARCs! (I'm pretty tempted to bid on a few myself!)

To recap our auction policies:

1. Bidders will have three days to bid in the comments of an item. (Monday's items will close on Wednesday at 10:00PM EST.)
2. There is a minimum starting bid of $10.
3. Include your bid in US dollar ($) amounts along with your email address so we can contact you if you win.
4. Please use comments only for bidding.

For more information on the auction, please visit our How It Works page.

Happy bidding!

ETA: We are still taking donations for the auction if you'd like to give something! (A book, an ARC, a critique...basically anything publishing-related.) To donate, please fill out this form. Thank you!

Day 1, Item 1: Query and 30-Page Critique

From the Read for Relief Organizers:

A critique of your query and first 30 pages from each of us! (We all write mainly YA or MG, so keep this in mind!)

Erin Bowman is the author of THE LAICOS PROJECT, a first in a YA trilogy coming from Harper Teen in the winter of 2013. When not writing, Erin can often be found designing things (websites, mainly). Or reading. She tweets a lot too; it's sort of an addiction.

Caroline Tung Richmond is a MG/YA writer represented by Jim McCarthy of DGLM. One day, she would like to own a cupcake factory, a mini horse, and a Nimbus 3000.

Tracey Neithercott is a health journalist and YA writer who thinks reading is more fun than partying and cleaning is a better stress reliever than ice cream. She's a firm believer that book nerds make the best friends.

Sarah Enni is a YA writer whose love for books is only rivaled by her dedication to completing the Triforce and defeating Ganondorf.

Learn more about Erin, Caroline, Tracey, and Sarah on the About Us page.


This item will close on Wednesday, September 14th, at 10:00PM EST. 

Day 1, Item 2: Editor 10-Page Critique

From HarperTeen Editor Erica Sussman: 

Win a critique of the first 10 pages of your children's manuscript (YA, MG, chapter or picture book).

Erica Sussman is a senior editor at HarperCollins Children's Books, where she acquires and edits teen and tween fiction. She works with many authors, including Kiersten White, Amy Garvey, Leigh Fallon, Erin Bowman, and Robison Wells. Upcoming projects include the middle grade novel Storybound by Marissa Burt and the teen novel The Selection by Kiera Cass. She is also the editor of the #1 New York Times bestselling Warriors series and she is closely involved with the Little House program.

Learn more about Erica by following her on Twitter.


This item will close on Wednesday, September 14th, at 10:00PM EST. 

Day 1, Item 3: Agent Query Critique

From Agent Jim McCarthy:

Win a query critique from the agent who represents authors like Richelle Mead, Carrie Ryan, Jackson Pearce, and Jessica Spotswood.

Jim McCarthy interned for DGLM while studying urban design at New York University. Upon graduating in 2002, Jim realized he would much rather continue working with books than make the jump (as he had originally intended) to the field of city planning. Jim was raised just outside of NYC and currently lives in Manhattan.

Learn more about Jim at DGLM's blog.


This item will close on Wednesday, September 14th, at 10:00PM EST. 

Day 1, Item 4: Signed ARC of CARRIER OF THE MARK

From YA author Leigh Fallon: 

Win a signed ARC of CARRIER OF THE MARK.

Note: This item is open to U.S. and international bidders.

Leigh Fallon was born in South Africa, raised in Dublin, Ireland, and moved to Cork in her twenties. Her debut novel, CARRIER OF THE MARK, will be available in the U.S. and Canada on October 4th, 2011, and in the U.K. and Ireland on September 29th, 2011.

Learn more about Leigh on her website and Facebook page, or follow her on Twitter.


This item will close on Wednesday, September 14th, at 10:00PM EST. 

Day 1, Item 5: Query and 10-Page Critique

From YA author Natalie Whipple:

Natalie will critique your query letter and the first 10 pages of your manuscript.

Natalie Whipple is a YA writer repped by Anna Webman of Curtis Brown, LTD, and her novel, TRANSPARENT, will be out Summer 2013 from HarperTeen! When she's not writing, she cooks, draws, and watches more anime than she should.

Learn more about Natalie at her blog or follow her on Twitter.


This item will close on Wednesday, September 14th, at 10:00PM EST. 

Day 1, Item 6: Partial Critique and a Signed Copy of COLD KISS

From YA author Amy Garvey:

Win a signed hardcover of COLD KISS and a critique of the first 30 pages of your manuscript.

Note: This item is open to U.S. bidders only.

Amy Garvey grew up reading everything she could get her hands on, watching too much TV, and wishing she was Samantha Stevens from Bewitched. (She still wishes that, actually.) COLD KISS is her first novel for young adults.

Learn more about Amy at her blog or follow her on Twitter.


This item will close on Wednesday, September 14th, at 10:00PM EST. 

Day 1, Item 7: Hardcover of SHATTER ME

From YA author Tahereh Mafi: 

Win a hardcover copy of SHATTER ME.

Note: This item is open to U.S. bidders only.

SHATTER ME is Tahereh Mafi's first novel, and the first of a trilogy, coming from Harper/HarperCollins on November 15, 2011. Film rights have been optioned by 20th Century Fox.

Learn more about Tahereh at her blog or follow her on Twitter.

This item will close on Wednesday, September 14th, at 10:00PM EST. 

Day 1, Item 8: Vermont-related Books and Prize Pack

From YA writer Stephanie Kuehn:

Since the state of Vermont was hit hard by Hurricane Irene, this item includes a couple Vermont children's books, Vermont maple syrup, and Ben and Jerry's swag.

Note: This item is open to U.S. bidders only.

Stephanie Kuehn is a YA writer represented by Michael Bourret of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management. She also writes about reading and writing with YA Highway. She loves sports, languages, Santa Cruz, autumn leaves, stone fruit, and anything that can make her laugh out loud. In literature and life, she is drawn to realistic worlds and under-represented voices.

Learn more about Steph at her website and follow her on Twitter.


This item will close on Wednesday, September 14th, at 10:00PM EST. 

Day 1, Item 9: Full Manuscript Critique

From Teen Eyes Editor Taryn Albright: 

Win a full manuscript read through with critique notes from the perspective of a teen. This is something only a teen can give: what your future reader would like to see. Although you initially have to impress editors and agents, your ultimate goal is for your story to resonate with teenagers. The ability to connect with your audience will determine whether or not your book will sell once published.

Taryn Albright is an editor with Teen Eyes, an editing service which offers a teen's perspective on your YA manuscript. Taryn is also a literary agency intern, and a querying writer.

Learn more about Taryn at Teen Eyes Editing Service. 


This item will close on Wednesday, September 14th, at 10:00PM EST. 

Day 1, Item 10: Signed Hardback of ASHFALL

From YA author Mike Mullin:

Win an autographed first edition hardback of Mike's debut novel, ASHFALL, which will release on October 11th, 2011. ASHFALL is about a teen struggling to survive and find his family after the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts.

Note: This item is open to U.S. and Canadian bidders only.

Mike Mullin wrote his first novel in sixth grade, Captain Poopy's Sewer Adventures. Luckily for you, he's not giving that away.

Learn more about Mike on his website, blog, and follow him on Twitter.


This item will close on Wednesday, September 14th, at 10:00PM EST. 

Day 1, Item 11: Critique and MG ARC Prize Pack

From the Apocalypsies:

The Apocalypsies have offered a mega prize pack of critiques, ARCs, and author swag!

• 15-page critiques from Lynne Kelly, AC Gaughen, Jenny Lundquist, Gina Rosati, and Suzanne Lazear
• 10-page + query critique from Gennifer Albin and Katy Longshore
• Query critique from KM Walton
• Middle grade ARCs of STORYBOUND, donated by the author Marissa Burt; TUESDAYS AT THE CASTLE by Jessica Day George & DOWN THE MYSTERLY RIVER by Bill Willingham, donated by Claire Legrand
• An Apocalypsies tote bag with author swag

The Apocalypsies is a group blog of 2012 debut authors who write for children and young adults.

Learn more about the Apocalypsies on their blog or follow them on Twitter. 


This item will close on Wednesday, September 14th, at 10:00PM EST.