Authors help kids at Xmas

As humanists and artists of the written word, authors are also well known for having a soft spot for charities.

That’s why Rick Lauber and Alison Neuman have joined forces to once again put on a special event at Audreys Books next weekend. Authors for Altruism has something for everybody: a spate of celebrated local authors, some great goodies up for grabs, and the soulfulness of fundraising for a prominent community organization. As the authors meet the public and do some readings from their works, bids come in for silent auction items and all the money goes to 630 CHED Santas Anonymous.

“It gives the opportunity to local authors to get together and showcase their book titles in support of a good cause,” Lauber said, adding that it’s starting to grow in popularity.

This is the third annual Authors for Altruism, which in the past has supported the Rainbow Society of Alberta, the Alzheimer’s Association (of Alberta and Northwest Territories), and the Alberta Caregivers Association.

“We’ve chosen different charities for each year, just to mix things up a little bit,” he added. “This year we’re going with the 630 CHED Santas Anonymous. It’s a wonderful cause. They provide a Christmas for many who otherwise wouldn’t have a Christmas.”

Lauber is the author of the Caregiver’s Guide for Canadians while Neuman has penned a few titles including Searching for Normal and Ice Rose. Marty Chan is also getting in on the goodwill game as he prepares for a new novel to be released this fall.

“It’s a great cause. It’s a chance for authors to show that we’re as much a part of the community and that we want to give back. I think that’s always a good thing to have,” he said. “Any chance we get to do that is a great thing.”

In exchange for being allowed to participate, each author is asked to contribute $1 from sales of each book to the pot. The proceeds from the silent auction are then added in for good measure. In previous years, that amount has topped $1,000. Lauber suggests that it should be pretty easy to match or exceed that.

Considering the value of several of the auction items that amount could be much higher this year.

Those items include a behind the scenes tour at CORUS Entertainment, a photo shoot with Buzz Photography, a five-page manuscript review with a literary agent, lunch meetings with either Linda Cameron of the U of A Press or Netta Johnson and Julie Yerex of Stonehouse Publishing, and a conversation with Glen Rollans of Brush Education Publishing. A Celebrity for a Day door prize is also available.

Joining Chan, Lauber and Neuman are other featured authors including Alison Clarke, Kenna McKinnon, Christine Falk, Brenda Currey Lewis, and Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail, plus illustrator Katherine Restoueix.

Authors for Altruism runs Aug. 15 from noon to 3 p.m.

Audreys Books is located at 10702 Jasper Avenue in Edmonton. For more information, call 780-423-3487 or visit the event’s Facebook page.