Blot Spotlight: Read for Relief

Good morning, Lurkdom!

The other week I mentioned Hurricane Irene in passing. I'll admit it was in a very snarky way. That's because right outside of Cambridge and Boston nothing happened, but that doesn't mean Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene didn't destroy other areas. It did.

That's why it's great that Erin Bowman, Tracey Neithercott, Sarah Enni, and Caroline Richmond got together to start Read for Relief.


These auctions are a great way to help and get something in return. You can bid on query and manuscript critiques, ARCs, books... the list keeps on growing.

If you write YA and are in need of some serious crit help, I definitely suggest you go bid on the group critique that me and the other Weekend of Awesome ladies teamed up for. Below you'll find the description that's directly from the site.

6 YA writers and critique partners come together to give you a critique package that will make your manuscript submission-ready.  (NOTE: Manuscript must be YA and ready for critique by March 30, 2012.)

The package includes:

  • 1 query critique: Pam Harris
  • 1 synopsis critique (1-2 page limit): Holly Dodson
  • 1 first pages critique (10-15 page limit): Marquita Hockaday
  • 1 first 50 pages critique: Alicia Gregoire
  • 1 full manuscript (up to 90K words) “in-depth” critique: Katharine Owens
  • 1 full manuscript (up to 90K words) “big picture” critique: Erinn Manack
About the critiquers:
  • Pam Harris is a school counselor by day and YA writer by night. She is a contributor to Paper Hangover and is represented by the lovely Sarah LaPolla at Curtis Brown, Ltd. You can learn more about her on her blog and on Twitter.
  • Holly Dodson is Super Mom, YA writer, and eater of many Sweettarts. She is a contributor to Paper Hangover. You can learn more about her on her blog and on Twitter.
  • Marquita Hockaday is 20-something, constantly reading or writing YA, throwing in time to teach history to our youth (saving them essentially) while stalking the finest literary agents and Hollywood actors. You can learn more about her on her blog and on Twitter.
  • Alicia Gregoire writes edgy YA fiction while combating the machinations of her two cats. You can learn more about her on her blog and on Twitter.
  • Katharine Owens is a YA and MG writer, mom, professor, environmental nerd, amateur naturalist, and lover of all things bug. You can learn more about her on her blog and on Twitter.
  • Erinn Manack is a YA writer, middle school teacher, and a contributor to The Patch. She’s written five books but has beta read many more. You can learn more about her on her blog and on Twitter.

Bidding ends Friday, September 16th, 2011 at 10:00 PM EST. Click here to go bid.