Do The Write Thing

I had a blog scheduled for today but when I read about "Do the Write Thing" on DorothyL, I decided to use this opportunity to publicize "Do The Write Thing." My wife has accepted a position at Canterbury University in Christchurch, New Zealand. We will be there from July through October and I feel I should help with earthquake recovery effort.

I want to quote Craig Sisterson: Craig.Sisterson@LEXISNEXIS.CO.NZ

As many of you will know, on Tuesday at 12:51pm NZT the city of Christchurch, which suffered a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in September last year, was struck by another massive earthquake - this time much shallower and more violent. This earthquake is completely different than last year's one, which caused massive property and infrastructure damage, but we were blessed with no loss of life. As of this morning, NZT, more than 100 are dead, and another 220+ missing, and hundreds badly injured. There have been no signs of life from under any rubble for more than 36 hours, which is heartbreaking for the more than 1000 rescuers, from several countries, who are working their way through what is a pretty dangerous environment.

I now live in Auckland, but I went to University in Christchurch, so have many, many friends living in what is/was a wonderful city. As the days go on the people of Christchurch will need a lot of help.  There will be months, even years, of rebuilding, and as of today more than half the city is still without power/water. Organizations like the Red Cross and many others are doing some fantastic work, supported by caring people from all over New Zealand, and all around the world.

I know this is meant to be a mystery discussion group, and I apologize for using it for something else - but I just thought I should share with you some ways you could help, if you felt like doing so. All of us down this end of the world would appreciate it, that's for sure. California mystery writer and Professor Margot Kinberg is setting up a charity raffle - "Do the Write Thing" - of signed mystery novels, to raise funds. Several authors have already donated signed copies of their books, and she is looking for more, so she can create the biggest/best raffle possible. People will enter the raffle by donating to the Red Cross.

If you are a mystery author willing to help out, please contact Margot at MargotKinberg@gmail.com

You can read more about "Do the Write Thing" here: http://margotkinberg.blogspot.com/2011/02/lets-all-do-write-thing.html.