In response to the devastation on Puerto Rico caused early last week by Hurricane Maria, a group of authors, editors and literary agents has created Publishers for Puerto Rico, which is supporting two groups: Unidos por Puerto Rico (United for Puerto Rico), created by Puerto Rico's first lady, Beatriz Rosselló, to help hurricane victims, and ConPRmetidos, a Puerto Rican organization dedicated to helping and developing Puerto Rican communities around the world that has created a relief fund to help Puerto Rico in the wake of the hurricane. #PubforPR emphasizes that donations should be made directly to the two organizations.
#PubforPR is raising money by holding an auction, which opens this coming Monday, October 2, at 9 a.m. Eastern, and closes on Thursday, October 5, at 10 p.m. Eastern. Items for auction (some of which are available only to U.S. residents) include manuscript consultations, illustration artwork, books and ARCs, signed books, a year's membership in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, a group writing retreat in Maine, evenings and visits to literary agents, the promise to have a character named after the highest bidder in Rainbow Rowell's next novel, and more.