Haiti – 100 stories antholgy

Greg McQueen, British writer in Copenhagen had the idea for the 100 Stories for Haiti Project and just went along and did it. More than 400 writers heeded the call and the ebook should be out end February followed by the paperback early March. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross for Haiti. No middle(wo)man.

I´m proud to have had two tiny stories accepted. And I´m proud for a number of reasons, so let´s get the ego out of the way first. One story was one of the first I ever wrote and was published on the Internet in 1995 at a labour of love called The Edifice of Writing and Literature. The other was a story penned in one day, one hour actually, in 2007 as part of an online project called Your Messages. The latter donated its proceeds to Kids Company, a charity in the UK. The Edifice disappeared from the web a while ago, but it remains firmly in my grateful memory.

I´m proud because my stories will be between covers with likeminded writers. And this brings me to something I have to comment upon when I googled all the writers to see who my stories were in bed with. There were no heavies. Well, heavies don´t give their work away easily and are often bound by contracts to discourage this. Writers write to be read though, and although we don´t always sell, it´s a thrill, a validation, to have someone like your work enough to want to publish it, and many publications just don´t have the money to pay, especially these days. But this project isn´t about getting paid, it´s about giving.

And here we are at “these days” where big donations are tax deductible so why aren´t more of the biggies donating? They are, you say, but what about all those bank manager bonuses? And on and on…

Of the almost 100 writers with their work in the 100 stories for Haiti anthology each one will be buying at least one copy of the book. Yeah, I like to see my work on my shelf. But many will be buying more copies and their friends will, too, and Greg, proceeds WILL be more than 50 Euros.

And so I say to the person who posted on the blog of one of the writers in anthology, knocking writers for wanting to get exposure through this avenue:

Hey, we write to be read. Someone thought our stories would be fine in a book that could be sold to help the Red Cross help Haiti. More than one someone thought so: volunteer editors worked like crazy behind the scenes so that this book gets out; two publishers took a risk, but turned that risk into their own form of donation. Maybe an audio book publisher will do likewise. Maybe they´ll make a film, a documentary, interviews, maybe it´ll all help to raise more money for Haiti.

They say more quakes are on the way. I say, why do we always have to wait for disaster?

Donating a story that can make a book that can be sold to make money to help is our way. Buying the book is also our way, a way I´m proud of. Why don´t you buy the book, too? It may not be tax deductible, mate, but it will help. Every little bit does in this not so brave, no longer so new, world.

Thank you Greg McQueen for showing that passion makes possible. Onwards!