As a follow-up for the message I posted yesterday, I'm posting an update e-mail from the same source:

Metsy Hingle and her family managed to evacuate. Her father-in-law died the day they were evacuating (natural causes). As a result of the hurricane, her husband's first cousin died, and her godson is missing. Please keep Metsy in your thoughts and in your prayers.

Below is the most recent list of authors who've checked in and authors still missing. If you have any word on any of the authors listed as missing, please email me.

CARAVAN...

Our caravan will be traveling to Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisana to deliver supplies to churches who are sheltering and caring for the hurricane refugees and who can help get supplies further into the devestated areas.

We have had a LOT of offers from readers and authors willing to meet us along the caravan route with donations. In fact, many more offers of donations than we have people able to drive in the caravan to take it all down there.

So I'm looking for a semi truck - they can haul more than probably 20 mini vans worth of supplies, but cost only about 3x as much gas as my big old car.

If you know of anyone who is an owner operator, or if you know someone who owns a trucking company who could donate a truck and driver, please email me.

DONATIONS NEEDED:

For those willing to meet the caravan, I have put a list of things that are needed in the areas we'll be delivering donations to on the donation page at http://www.theromanceclub.com/hurricane (click on the link for the caravan)

FUNDS RAISED SO FAR...
We are now at approximately $800.00 in monetary donations.

We are only 4 authors shy of raising another $1000.00 through Voice America (that goes directly to our relief efforts, over and above anything they give as a corporation!)

If you'd like to donate money, go to http://www.theromanceclub.com/hurricane

If you'd like to be part of the author group raising money for vicitims of the hurricane through Voice America (and get some book promotion in the process), go to http://www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net/hurricane

If you want to be part of the author group advertising on Voice America, it's only $147.00 for the 3 month promotion (Dec 12th - Mar 6th).

The more authors who participate, the more we'll raise! We only need 4 more authors to raise $1000.00! But...

If we get 30 authors: the donation to our effort raises to $2,000.00 and it's a 6 month promotion for the authors participating (Dec 12th - June 5th)

If we get 45 authors: the donation to our effort raises to $3,000.00 and it's a 9 month promotion (Dec 12th - September 4th)

And even though I know the authors participating in this fundraiser are doing so because they want to help, because it's advertising, the $147.00 is tax deductible.

Thanks again for all your help!

Laura

To donate money: http://www.theromanceclub.com/hurricane
To be part of the author group to raise $1000.00 or more: http://www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net/hurricane

www.theromanceclub.com
www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net

Authors we are looking for word about - if you've heard from them since the hurricane, please let us know!

Austin, Deann
Bogolin, Carol
Bosarge, Mimi
Buffinet, Jaquie
Carmichael, Giselle
Clay, Ann
Dark, Victoria
DuBois, Vicki
Earnshaw, Donna
Garza, Dawn
Horne, Jed
Landry, Sandra
Leighton, Anne
Light, Tori
Noel, Lisa
Raspberry, Dawn
Smith, Kitty
Talley, Wuanita
Thibodeaux, Bobbie
Vawter, Carl
Widmer, Mary Lou