Because charity doesn't end when the headlines do

The news of earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010 dominated the news for days. But it wasn't long before the headlines turned to other things. Now, almost eleven weeks later, we hear little about what is happening in the devastated country.

Haiti's problems are just beginning. A "Preliminary Damage and Needs Assessment" (PDNA) report issued by Haiti's government and several major donors gave these statistics:

• More than 220,000 people killed and more than 300,000 others injured.
• Homes: 105,000 completely destroyed, more than 208,000 damaged.
• Educational institutions: more than 1,300 collapsed or unusable.
• Hospitals and health centres: more than 50 collapsed or unusable.
• Debris: 40 million cubic metres
• Total value of damage and losses: US$7.9 billion, equivalent to 120 per cent of Haiti's 2009 GDP (by that measure, the Jan. 12 quake was the worst disaster in the 35 years that methodology has been applied)
• Recovery cost: $11.5 billion over the next three years

These numbers are overwhelming. You may wonder what you can do to help.

You can read!

That's right. Inspired by one author, 100 writers got together and contributed short stories of hope, love, joy, and life that would help raise money for the victims of the earthquake.

100 Stories for Haiti is available in ebook form from Smashwords 

or in paperback from British publisher Bridge House Publishing.

Since it is a British publisher, the cost is in pounds and the shipping is expensive. If the shipping cost is a problem but you would still like to order a copy, please let me know in the comments. I will be going to the UK in June and would be happy to add your order to mine and hand carry them back to the US. (If I order 5 copies at once, it will ship direct from the printer and save money).

If you would like more information, go to the 100 Stories for Haiti website or click the image on the right hand side of this blog.

Imagine...you get to read great stories (including my story "The Last Bus to Montreal") AND you will be contributing to the British Red Cross to aid Haiti.

If you want to get involved, please link to this blog or directly to 100 Stories for Haiti and help us get the word out.
Thank you! 

100 Stories for Haiti call for submissions

100 Stories for Haiti is a collection of short stories being sold to raise money for relief efforts in disaster-striken Haiti. All proceeds go to the Red Cross. This worthwhile cause is the project of Greg McQueen, a British writer who wanted to do something for the unfortunate people of Haiti. They are still looking for short stories of 1000 words or less in all genres and have extended the deadline to Wednesday. Here are the details:

We want short story submissions to help raise money for disaster-stricken Haiti. Out of the submissions, 100 pieces of fiction will be chosen to appear in an e-book and paperback, the proceeds of which will go to the Red Cross.

If you want to send a short story, please follow these guidelines:

• Do not exceed 1,000 words.

• No stories containing graphic violence, death or destruction.

• We want stories with a lot of HEART, a dash of COMPASSION, and unmeasurable amounts of HOPE. Stories that anyone can read. Stories that leave you feeling as though life really is worth living.

Send all stories in the body of an email to: 100storiesforhaiti@gmail.com.

Stories sent as attachments will *not* be opened. Write “Submission” in the subject of the email.

Please follow the above guidelines carefully, and include your full contact details.

Nick Harkaway, author of ‘The Gone Away World’, will be editing a story for the book as well as penning the introduction.

The e-book will be sold on www.smashwords.com. The paperback will be published and sold by Unbound Press, and will be available online about a week after the release of the e-book

The website:

http://www.100storiesforhaiti.org/

Maybe you already have a story that word work, or maybe you are great under pressure and can bang one out in a day. Or maybe you or someone you know would love to buy the book and support this fantastic cause.

Another way to help would be to mention 100 Stories for Haiti or set up a link on your own blog. But please do it today because the deadline is Wednesday!

Thank you!

A way to do something for Haiti...

If you are like me, you have been reading the stories about Haiti and wishing you could do something. And maybe you are like me and finding yourself unable to give as much financially as you would like to and would like some other way to contribute. Some fantastic people have established "100 Stories for Haiti," a short story anthology with proceeds going to the Red Cross.

The information for their site:

We want short story submissions to help raise money for disaster-stricken Haiti. Out of the submissions, 100 pieces of fiction will be chosen to appear in an e-book and paperback, the proceeds of which will go to the Red Cross.

If you want to send a short story, please follow these guidelines:


• Do not exceed 1,000 words.


• No stories containing graphic violence, death or destruction.


• We want stories with a lot of HEART, a dash of COMPASSION, and unmeasurable amounts of HOPE. Stories that anyone can read. Stories that leave you feeling as though life really is worth living.


Send all stories in the body of an email to: 100storiesforhaiti@gmail.com.


Stories sent as attachments will *not* be opened. Write “Submission” in the subject of the email.


Please follow the above guidelines carefully, and include your full contact details.


Stories must be received by Midnight, Monday 25 January, 2010. (Jenna's Note: this is midnight GMT, so check your time difference!)


Nick Harkaway, author of ‘The Gone Away World’, will be editing a story for the book as well as penning the introduction.


The e-book will be sold on www.smashwords.com. The paperback will be published and sold by Unbound Press, and will be available online about a week after the release of the e-book

The website:
http://www.100storiesforhaiti.org/

Maybe you have a story tucked away that might work for this. Or maybe you already a story of hope, yet unwritten, that is burning to be free. Or maybe you aren't able to contribute words, but could buy one of these great books when they are available. A way to give and get at the same time.

Thank you.