Liz' Post reproduced below and here's a link to it - click here to go to her blog
Sharing good fortune with those in need 08/07/2013
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I've been reading a lot lately about authors contributing portions or even all of the proceeds from the sale of some or all of their works to certain causes. Kim Fielding, for example, donates 100% of the proceeds from her three book series: Stasis, Flux and Equipoise to Doctors Without Borders, and Alp Mortal donates 100% of the proceeds from the sale of his books to a charity that is raising money for a new school room for orphans in Nepal. Other authors contribute to causes as well, and there are too many of them to list here, but I want to mention one other author who has always donated a portion of his book proceeds to charitable causes. Brandon Shire is passionate about helping LGBT homeless youth, and he recently started a fundraising campaign for "Lost N Found Youth," an Atlanta nonprofit agency working to take homeless LGBT youth off the street.
You can read about Brandon's campaign and contribute to it directly here:
http://giveout.razoo.com/story/Mm-Romance-Fans-For-Lgbt-Youth. But if for whatever reason you don't feel comfortable contributing to the fundraiser directly, I want to give you another option. During the months of August and September, I will donate 50% of the proceeds form the sale of my stories to Lost n Found Youth. That goes for any sale at any outlet where my stories are or will be available and it will include the new LGBTQ YA novel that will be released later this month.
But that's not all! My friend Alp Mortal has recently released a wonderful modern-day fairytale m/m romance called "Squat" that features two homeless young men who first find each other and then find a way to share what they have with others. Now, Alp already donates he proceeds of his books to another cause, but this story is so beautiful and so appropriate for this fundraiser, that I will to donate fifty cents per copy for up to 100 copies of "Squat" sold in August and September to Lost n Found Youth as well.
Just think, with single purchase of this ninety nine cent title you will be contributing at least eighty five cents to two worthy causes!
Why at least? Well, I'm fortunate enough to work for a company that matches employee contributions to charitable organizations of at least fifty dollars, which means that if the total of my contributions from the sale of "Squat" and my own books reaches that magic number, the contribution to Lost n Found Youth will actually be doubled. (This is the main reason why I will probably need to contribute directly to Lost n Found Youth instead of going through Brandon's fundraiser.)
So remember: I will contribute to Lost n Found Youth fifty percent of the proceeds from every copy of my stories sold anywhere they are available in August of September. I will also contribute fifty cents for the sale of each of up to 100 copies of Squat sold in in August and September. And if the sales are high enough to bring the total contribution over $50, then my employer will match my contribution, effectively doubling it. If you've already purchased copies of the stories and liked them, tell your friends or buy them their own copies :)
To donate directly to Brandon's fundraiser, go to: http://giveout.razoo.com/story/Mm-Romance-Fans-For-Lgbt-Youth and to donate directly to Lost n Found, go to: http://lostnfoundyouth.org/support-us/donate/
I know times are hard for everyone and some of us may not be able to make financial contributions. If you're not in a position to buy books or contribute directly, please help us spread the word so others out there who do have the means to contribute know about these opportunities. Thank you in advance for your help and for being an advocate for LGBTQ youth.