We’re already well into May, and I’ve done no summary of last month’s A to Z blogging challenge. Actually, the culprit is Smith, who took over the blog for the whole of April, and left without writing his report. He’s now in Madagascar, where eventually he got round to sending an email, and then we hooked up by Facetime.
I don’t want to be too critical – on the whole he did a very good job. He finished the challenge for a start, with every story in the Cat Tales anthology getting its own post, and after a while he overcame his spoiler habit. But he could have been a lot better in seeking other A to Z participants and commenting on their websites. I think he found it all rather overwhelming.
Nonetheless, he joins me in thanking his supporters, foremost among them Sue Ranscht, who reblogged every post and encouraged her followers to support the two charities, Cats Protection and the Against Malaria Foundation, by buying a copy of the anthology. Sue, by the way, is currently running a delightful series of bite size instalments about Elliot, an intrepid, lovable snail who braves a dizzying sequence of calamities in his search for love and adventure. Check it out – I guarantee you’ll love it.
But what of the results? How much money did we raise? Well, there were 8 purchases through the website and 4 via Amazon, generating a total of $15.68. Not a huge amount, I admit, and Smith was a little down in the mouth when he told me. I was quick to console him though: on the one hand selling books is hard (there so many), and on the other, raising money for charity is hard (there are so many). I told him people can be wary, often with good reason, of donating to charity, and he was right to stress that the Against Malaria Foundation ranks consistently as a top charity in Givewell’s cost effectiveness table, offering donors an outstanding opportunity to accomplish good with their donations.
And the fact is, I said, that the money raised will buy 6 LLINS (long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets) each of which will protect on average 2 people for 3 to 4 years. That’s a dozen cases of malaria avoided. Moreover, I added in an attempt to boost his spirits further, I’ll double that sum myself, so 24 people who might have caught malaria won’t. Thus I managed to cheer him up, and he promised not only to stay in touch but to send me some pictures of his travels. I look forward to sharing them with you.
Sincere thanks, then, to all who bought Cat Tales. Although the price on Amazon has now gone back up to $3.99, for the next three days it will still be possible to get it at for just $1.99 by clicking the button below. Also available in print (black & white, $9.50).
I’ve got mine and have read a couple stories so far. I love it, Curtis and authors—thank you!
Thank you, Leigh. Glad you like it. There’s a wide variety of stories in there, so some are bound to appeal more than others. But overall, I’m sure it’s a good collection. Enjoy!
Hi Curtis – it’s a great cause … and every little helps – so very good luck with the more … cheers Hilary
Thanks, Hilary. When the next anthology comes out, it’ll be an opportunity to run another promotion, so it’s not yet the end of Cat Tales!
Thank you for the acknowledgement, Curtis. I was happy to do it — especially to benefit two excellent charities. I think most authors are uncomfortable about promoting their own work, and though I count myself among them, my story is in Cat Tales, so, like my fellow Cat Tales’ authors, I have an interest in helping the book gain as wide a readership as possible. I believe it was a small but important thing I could do to help. There is no reason the editor of the anthology (or his brilliant surrogate) should bear that burden alone.
Thanks, too, for linking to Elliot’s Adventures. Our earnest little hero is growing a modest circle of devoted followers, which is both gratifying and humbling. Your support is very special to me.
Your support not only helped spread the word but also made the challenge a little less challenging. Thank you.
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