Charitable Contributions

By Allison Brennan

Three weeks ago, I had a new release: ENTANGLED. It's a digital-only paranormal/urban fantasy anthology. 

All proceeds from ENTANGLED will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  What makes this amazing is that all eleven authors who contributed to the anthology all donated our time and talent to benefit a cause we believe in. No one tossed out a story thinking it didn’t matter because it was for charity; every author took the time to craft a tale to please their readers, as well as new readers. The stories, the cover art, the formatting, the accounting--all donated.

The women involved are truly amazing in their generosity and enthusiasm for this project. We all know women who have had this dreadful disease. We all know women who have survived. We all know women who haven’t. 

I especially want to single out Stacia Kane for her poignant forward. In part:

“What we can do, though, is hope. We can hope that one day our children or our grandchildren will be able to think of breast cancer the way we think of illnesses like typhoid fever, that once killed thousands but are now essentially eradicated and/or curable. There are doctors and scientists and really scarily smart people out there working hard to try to make that so, to re-write our world so “breast cancer” becomes maybe a little more serious than a cold, but with the same prognosis: Yeah, you might feel kind of tired for a couple of days, but you’re totally going to be fine after that.”

Here’s the summary of the anthology:

HALLOWEEN FROST by USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep (author of the Mythos Academy, Elemental Assassin, and Bigtime series) — It’s Halloween at Mythos Academy, but Gwen Frost and her friends are in for more tricks than treats when they run into a mythological monster intent on killing them.

THE FAT CAT by Edie Ramer (author of Cattitude, Galaxy Girls) — In a battle for the souls of seven women, a wizard has the god of war on his side; all the witch has is a fat, black cat.

MEDIUM RARE by Nancy Haddock (author of the Oldest City Vampire trilogy) —What’s spooking the spirits of St. Augustine? As the witching hour of Halloween approaches, ghost seer Colleen Cotton must team with a by-the-book paranormal investigator to locate the one ghost who can save the city’s specters. If she fails, her own great grandfather’s spirit may be lost forever.

SWEET DEMON by Misty Evans (author of the Witches Anonymous series) —When Chicago’s vampire king insists Kali Sweet join his empire, the vengeance demon must rely on her ex – the half-human, half-chaos demon who left her at the altar three hundred years ago – in order to escape the vamp’s clutches.

SIAN’S SOLUTION by Dale Mayer (author of the Psychic Visions series) — When a vampire discovers the human man she loves has been captured and hung in a blood farm, she goes against her own kind and risks everything to save him.

A BIT OF BITE by Cynthia Eden (author of NEVER CRY WOLF and ANGEL OF DARKNESS) — A killer is stalking the streets of Crossroads, Mississippi, and it’s up to Sheriff Ava Dushaine to stop him. But when suspicion falls on werewolf alpha Julian Kasey—Ava’s ex-lover and the man who still haunts her dreams—Ava knows that she’ll either have to prove his innocence…or watch the whole town go up in flames.

SINFULLY SWEET by Michelle Miles (author of the Coffee House series) — When Chloe bakes a little magic into her pastries, she attracts the attention of Edward, the sexy half-demon, half-witch, who’s come to warn her those who murdered her sister are now after her.

A NIGHT OF FOREVER by Lori Brighton (author of A Night of Secrets and To Seduce an Earl) — Who is Aidan Callaghan? Mary Ellen James is intent on uncovering the truth about the mysterious man, but as she soon finds out, some things are best left buried in the past.

FEEL THE MAGIC by Liz Kreger (author of the Part of Tomorrow series) — Jenna Carmichael’s magical attempt to rectify Jessica Manfield’s birth identity takes an unexpected turn when the past comes back to haunt her.

BREAKING OUT by Michelle Diener (author of the Tudor-set historical suspense novel In A Treacherous Court) — Imprisoned in a secret facility, powerful telekinetic Kelli Barrack and two other ‘special’ inmates grab a chance to escape, only to confront their worst nightmares on the outside.

GHOSTLY JUSTICE, an all-new Seven Deadly Sins novella by New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan (author of the Seven Deadly Sins series) — Demon hunters Moira O’Donnell and Rafe Cooper are dragged into the dangerous world of nocturnal predators to find “Ghostly Justice” for a virgin sacrificed to an ancient blood demon.

The reviews have been great ... All Things Urban Fantasy said: "Like a great buffet, this anthology gives you the chance to taste a little bit of everything. Short and sweet, these stories did a good job drawing me in, setting the hook, and adding books to my to be read pile." The Good, The Bad and the Unread gave it an A+. And Smexy Books gave "Ghostly Justice" an "A" calling it "dark and gritty."

If you like paranormal romance or urban fantasy, you can’t go wrong with ENTANGLED. I’m giving away a digital copy of ENTANGLED to one lucky commenter. If you’d like to check it out, you can buy it for your e-reader or computer at Amazon, BN.com, or Smashwords.

And I wanted to share with you one more really cool thing: my friend Philip Hawley, Jr. has digitally released STIGMA, his debut novel, for $2.99. STIGMA first came out in 2007 and I loved it. Philip is a pediatrician and also is an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. I greatly admire his dedication to his career, as well as his talent as a great storyteller. Trust me: you won't regret reading this book.

See what others have to say:

"STIGMA pulses with tension and drama. Philip Hawley has written a top-notch thriller!" --Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author

"STIGMA is an explosive, page-turning thriller with depth and emotional complexity. Hawley is a master storyteller." --Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author

"STIGMA is a blast of a read from start to finish. Phil Hawley is the real deal and the thriller world has an authentic new voice." --John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author

"Philip Hawley delivers a rare combination of taut plotting and brilliant writing. Sit back and enjoy. Phil Hawley is for real." --Ridley Pearson, New York Times bestselling author

"Action-packed . . . rich with authenticity. Philip Hawley tells a great story." --Jonathan Kellerman, New York Times bestselling author

"Destined to be a classic . . . upon finishing I closed it up and said 'Perfect!' " --Terry Lewis, book critic, The Other View

I'm also giving away a digital copy of STIGMA to one lucky commenter. Check it out at Amazon. 

Tell us about the a charity you are passionate about, that you’d donate your time, treasure and talent to support. Remember, two free e-books!

Comments

[Reine]

Allison, it does my heart good to see this. I'll buy the e-thology to donate. Good cause and sounds like terrific reading!

[Alafair Burke]

This is wonderful. Congratulations!

[Tammy Cravit]

What a great book, and a great cause. I'll definitely be buying a copy!

As for causes I'd donate to? My local rape crisis center, or RAINN, for sure. Or a domestic violence organization.

[Allison Brennan]

Thanks gals. :) I had fun doing something a little different, and for a worthy cause.

[Edie Ramer]

Allison, we were and are thrilled that you participated. And you didn't just send in a short story, but a novella! As one reviewer said, just your novella is well worth the $2.99 price.

Stacia's words moved me, too. The best foreword that I've read. And I'll check out Stigma. Sounds interesting.

[David Corbett]

There are few projects as gratifying as one like this. Congratulations on work not just well done, but wisely done.

[Barb Han]

This sounds like a wonderful project to be part of. I can't wait to read read it. Thanks to everyone who contributed for such an incredible cause!

[lil Gluckstern]

Being a survivor of breast cancer means I want your book. Another charity close to my heart is a group called Coastside Hope here in Half Moon Bay, CA. They have clothing dives, hygiene drives-for those things people forget to donate-food drives, etc. What is nice is that a lot of retired folks help out, and businesses will also contribute. It's nice to be part of a community that works for others.

[Allison brennan]

lil -- What I love about the drives like Coastside Hope is that even people who don't have extra money can be a big part of giving back to those who are in need. Most of us have extras--clothes, food, books--that we can part with. Whenever I clean out my closet (or the kids!) I always find things they've outgrown, or that I bought but never wore, shoes that were outgrown before they wore them more than a few times. (Yeah HMB! I'm originally from San Carlos, and my grandpa had a cabin on Kings Mountain, on Star Hill Road, in Woodside.)

BTW folks, Edie did SO much work on this antho, backend stuff that I never even considered needing done. She's also my former critique partner way back when, instrumental in getting my book THE HUNT ready for publication. Edie, you'll love STIGMA. If Phil was a woman, it would have been marketed as romantic suspense. I really loved it. But because Phil is so dedicated to pediatric medicine, it takes him a long, long time to write a book. It's worth the wait -- I know he has another great story (or three) to tell!

[Reine]

My special charity is my old school library.

[Allison Davis]

For my (new) sister in law, my mom, my youngest cousin and scores of friends, I'll buy the book and share with all. My sisters runs an NGO that works one on one with street kids in Haiti and teaches them photography. Their photos have been on Lede Blog (NYC) and the Globe and Mail has hired some of her kids to take photos. For $250 you can send a kid to school for a year who wouldn't otherwise go. And my sister takes the money to the mom and knows the kid. Save the world, one kid at a time. www.zanmilakay.org. Easy to be passionate about these kids.

You are setting an excellent example of giving back and paying forward. thanks much.

[Alexandra Sokoloff]

The anthology sounds terrific! And I'm thrilled that I can get Phil's book for my Kindle, too.

My favorite charities are Equality Now, NOW, Planned Parenthood, and Children of the Night, an LA-based organization that rescues US teens and children in prostitution.

http://www.childrenofthenight.org/?gclid=CIXzqevV3KsCFUgZQgodGx3RPQ

http://equalitynow.org/english/index.html?gclid=CPXl9v7V3KsCFQl1gwodu3L6Qw

[PD Martin]

What a great cause. And I LOVE the cover too. Stunning.

My favourite causes are the Anti-Cancer Council, Red Nose Day and the Heart Foundation. We also sponsor a child in a Korean orphanage.
Phillipa

[Troy Lambert]

I usually read Murderati on my Kindle, so I seldom comment here. I was compelled this time for two reasons. First, I bought the anthology--and it is great so far. I admire the cause and those who gave to it.

Secondly, in the same spirit, I am giving away the proceeds from my short story collection "Broken Bones" in October to a local food bank in our area: the Shoshone County Food Bank. The event is called Feed the Hungry, Feed Your Soul. A couple of local businesses in Wallace Idaho are partners as well. Even if you do not live in our area you can help.

Every paperback of the book sold in October results in $1 donated to the cause regardless of where it is purchased. Also $1 goes to the cause from every eBook sold in October regardless of where it is purchased. So look for "broken Bones" on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBook, and Smashwords. Buy a book and donate to the cause. Feed the Hungry, Feed Your Soul.

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=223831017673545

[Michelle martin]

I love that some of my favorite authors donate their time and talent to such a worthy cause. Since I'm unemployed right now and don't have much extra cash, I give time. I volunteer at a local school (in the library!) and I volunteer with Safe Kids an organization whose mission is to prevent unintentional childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and under.

[ferragamo womens shoes]

Thanks a lot
http://www.ferragamosaleshoes.com/
http://www.hvacdistribution.com/