Three days into the new decade, Premier Daniel Andrews of Victoria, Australia, declared a State of Disaster. 

Australia is burning. 

To date, at least 24 people (including three volunteer firefighters) have been killed in Australia. Over 63,000 sq km of bush, forest, and parks have been burned. 

It is a catastrophic disaster. 

The Australian wildfires are currently dominating the news sites, but they have been raging for months now. I’ve been following, with concern, Tweets from friends living through evacuations and the threat of these fires. The sheer size of the damage is incomprehensible:

Here is a map of all the fires burning in Australia.
Here also is a map of Australia overlaid on Europe. #Bushfires #AustraliaFires #vicfires #nswbushfire #NSWfires pic.twitter.com/x35u7etnuB

— Martin (@marty386) December 30, 2019

Authors for Fireys

The writing community on Twitter is joining together under the hashtag #AuthorsForFireys to raise money for the Victoria County Fire Authority. This is a fundraiser which has been granted permission from the CFA.

You can find out all about the fundraiser on the dedicated website: Authors for Fireys, but here is a summary of the process:

• A creator Tweets an item/unique opportunity/writing service they are donating using the hashtag #AuthorsForFireys.
• Users reply to that Tweet making bids in Australian Dollars. Bidding continues on that Tweet thread until auction end time.
• The creator messages the winner of the auction.
• Winner of the auction then donates directly to the CFA. They must provide proof of the donation to the creator.
• When this proof is received, the item or service is dispatched/arranged/etc.

Couldn’t be simpler!

So, what kind of items are being auctioned?

All sorts! From signed copies of books, original artwork, stacks of books – to opportunities such as being written into a future book, appearances, Skype calls – and services such as editing and critiquing. If you’re in Melbourne, you can even bid on cake.

Here’s a round-up of some of the amazing things on offer from people we think you may be interested in, but please do check out the hashtag #AuthorsForFireys for more.

Bundles of Books/ Signed Books

Fantasy Bundle

Sam Hawke, author of City of Lies, is hosting an auction for a huge bundle, including personalised signed copies of:

• The Traitor God by Cameron Johnston
• The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso
• Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri
• Torn and Fray by Rowenna Miller
• We Ride the Storm by Devin Madson
• Bloodchild by Anna Stephens
• Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter
• Conspiracy of Truths by Alexandra Rowland
• The Books of Babel trilogy by Josiah Bancroft
• The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H. G. Parry
• Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen
• The Book of M by Peng Shepherd
• The Bone Ships by RJ Barker (plus original artwork of Xus by Tom Parker)
• and finally City of Lies by Sam Hawke.

That’s EIGHTEEN books! Click HERE for link to Tweet. 

SPFBO 5 Finalist Bundle

The SPFBO 5 finalists have grouped together and are auctioning signed and personalised copies of their books:

• Kalanon’s Rising by Darian Smith
• Never Die by Rob J Hayes
• The Sword of Kaigen  by M. L. Wang
• A Sea of Broken Glass by Sonya M. Black
• A Tale of Stars and Shadow by Lisa Cassidy
• Blood of Heirs by Alicia Wanstall-Burke
• Blade’s Edge by Virginia McClain
• Spark City by Robert J Power
• Fortune’s Fool by Angela Boord
• Beggar’s Rebellion by Levi Jacobs

Signed Books

LEIGH BARDUGO is auctioning a signed and personalised first edition of Six of Crows plus a full set of the original face cards illustrated by Kevin Wada.

Bloomsbury Australia are auctioning a deluxe illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, with a signed book plate from illustrator Jim Kay.

A Limited Edition signed and numbered hardback of Crow Shine by ALAN BAXTER

AMIE KAUFFMAN is auctioning a signed ARC of Aurora Burning

MARGARET STOHL is auctioning a frankly massive bundle of Captain Marvel items (including signed books)

A signed, doodled, 1st edition set of the NEVERNIGHT trilogy by JAY KRISTOFF

SAM HAWKE is offering City of Lies in your choice of format and cover, personalised  AND you or the enemy of your choice can be poisoned in Hollow Empire.

DAN HANKS, recently acquired by Angry Robot Books, is auctioning a signed copy of CAPTAIN MOXLEY & THE EMBERS OF THE EMPIRE (when released in Sept) AND he’ll name a character in it after you!

THE BOOK FAIRIES are auctioning a copy of Little Women signed by Emma Watson. 

Editorial Services

Award-winning fantasy author JEN WILLIAMS is offering a critique of your first three chapters.

ANNA STEPHENS has two auctions here, Auction 1 is 1x 5,000 words story/novel opening critique with detailed feedback. Auction 2 1x 1 hour Skype chat for discussing your story/plot/character issues. Good for wider manuscript surgery.

SAM HAWKE will provide feedback on your query letter and first 5 pages and answer any questions you have about the process of querying agents.

DAN HANKS is auctioning a full manuscript assessment in 2020 (under 100k words)

JOANNE HARRIS will read and evaluate your synopsis and the first chapter of your manuscript, and give you a 1-hour feedback session on Skype

Unique Opportunities

STATE LIBRARY VIC (Melbourne) has two opportunities available, a World of the Book Curator tour and a Special White-Glove tour at the library.

Independent booksellers READINGS are offering a consultation with their powerhouse events guru Chris Gordon, so you can pick her brilliant mind on how to run the perfect literary event.

STEWART HOTSON is auctioning either a skype discussion of something sword related OR a critique if a fight scene.

If you would like to donate directly to the CFA without bidding on an auction, you can find details of how to donate HERE.