Authors Sign On for Books4Barack

By Bridget Kinsella -- Publishers Weekly, 9/22/2008 7:30:00 AM

Since novelist Ayelet Waldman launched Books4Barack on September 3, the long-time supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has raised almost $120,000. The began when Waldman (author of Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, Daughter’s Keeper and The Mommy Track Mysteries) e-mailed a few politically like-minded writer friends to see if they wanted to donate signed copies of their books to entice people to donate to Obama’s campaign. “It went viral,” Waldman said, thanks in no small part to her husband Michael Chabon and friends like Amy Tan who helped spread the word. The story found its way to the blog and listserv worlds.

“The original plan—to auction a handful of signed books at a Barack Obama campaign fundraiser—took on a life of its own, mobilizing writers from all over the country, yielding over 750 books, and requiring its own Web site: www.Books4Barack.com," Waldman wrote in a second e-mail sent this weekend to a wider list or friends and media. Now through October 1 (or until the books run out) anyone who donates $250 or more on the Books4Barack site will receive a tote bag of 10 randomly selected books, many of them rare and first editions.

“Your bag could contain a signed first edition copy of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, a signed first edition copy of Stephen King's Hearts of Atlantis, or a fine collection of poetry by a writer you've been waiting to discover,” Waldman explained. The 750 authors involved so far are as varied as Dennis Lehane, Jhumpa Lahiri and Lemony Snicket. Waldman, working with volunteers, will begin shipping book bags with the Books4Barack logos September 26.

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