I know I've mentioned that the royalties I receive from the sale of Unleashing The Storm will go to various animal charities, so I thought I'd share which ones every once in a while.

Baghdad Pups will be getting a nice chunk. What a fantastic organization! They rescue animals from Iraq — animals troops have befriended and are desperate to not leave behind. Animals, especially dogs, are horribly abused in that country, but they give so much love to the soldiers who take care of them. These guys bond with their pets, and having to leave them to God-knows-what is torture.

So here's one of my charities. I hope you'll check it out! Baghdad Pups

As many of you may know, author Jo Leigh lost her husband this year to cancer. Theirs was a story of reunited lovers worthy of a romance novel. The loss of her husband hit her hard, both emotionally and financially. (authors are self-employed, so often have no medical insurance.)

In an effort to raise money to help her pay off those medical debts, the romance community has once again banded together and an auction is being held. Check out all the wonderful items here: http://www.forjoleigh.com

Just imagine what great Christmas presents these items would make! There are autographed books, fun items, and lots of critiques being offered by published authors, agents, and editors. Stephanie and I are offering a critique, as well — for the price of one, you'll get two opinions. :)

So check out the auction and be sure to spread the word to any loops, groups, or blogs you might be on.

And I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

From The Redroom.com:

"Patry Francis is a talented author whose debut novel, The Liar’s Diary, came out in hardcover from Dutton last spring. The trade paperback release is January 29th, but a few weeks ago, Patry was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. She's had several surgeries, and her prognosis is good, but given that Patry won't have much energy for promoting, a number of bloggers are banding together to do it for her."

I'm not a Red Room blogger, but this is something really special, so I'm going to do my best to help. Please visit Patry's website, and check out her book at Amazon. It looks really good!

Sending out best wishes and prayers, Patry!

I mentioned this yesterday, but wanted to make sure it got its own post. :)

This cookbook is just too cool! It's a "troop project" in which all proceeds will go to shipping items to overseas troops. To read more about it, visit Samhain or Lori's website.

Contributing authors include:

Jim Alexander, Susan Andersen, Liz Andrews, Cynthianna Appel, Becky Barker, Jules Bennett, Lucinda Betts, Toni Blake, Allie Boniface, Denysé Bridger, Gemma Bruce, Jaci Burton, Stella Cameron, Mary Campisi, Tori Carrington, Cindy Carver, Billie Warren Chai, Celine Chatillon, Colleen Collins, Debby Conrad, Jodi Lynn Copeland, Sydney Croft, Cindy Cruciger, Paige Cuccaro, Bianca D’Arc, Gia Dawn, Sylvia Day, Jamie Denton, Danielle Devon, Roseanne Dowell, Christine Feehan, Kate Fellowes, Holly Fitzgerald, Suzanne Forster, Jenny Gardiner, Amber Green, Tilly Greene, Heather Grothaus, Rosey Haggerty, Karen Harper, Ingela F. Hyatt, Larissa Ione, Marcia James, Nicole Jordan, Sylvie Kaye, Susan Kearney, Mia King, Karen Kendall, Susanne Marie Knight, Jayne Ann Krentz, Rosemary Laurey, Kathleen Lawless, Jo Leigh, Toni Leland, Julie Leto, Cathy Liggett, Patricia Lorenz, Larissa Lyons, Allie Mackay, Donna MacMeans, Catherine Mann, Janice Maynard, Cheyenne McCray, Amanda McIntyre, LuAnn McLane, Patrice Michelle, Cindi Myers, Rhonda Nelson, Brenda Novak, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Michelle M. Pillow Mary Jo Putney, Anne Rainey, Tonya Ramagos, Joanne Rock, Patricia Sargeant, Melissa Schroeder, Shana Schwer, Jill Shalvis, Jennah Sharpe, Suzanne Simmons, Catherine Spaulding, Michele Stegman, Kay Stockham, Karin Tabke, Jean Marie Ward, Ann M. Warner, Nancy Warren, Carys Weldon, Sue-Ellen Welfonder, Diane Whiteside, Lori Wilde, J.C. Wilder, Brenda Williamson, C. J. Winters, Justine Wittich.

Remy, from Sydney Croft's Riding The Storm, contributed a yummy (if potent) cherry bounce recipe, and I thought I sent in a recipe for Mexican lasagna, but I think it was another cocktail recipe. Shocking, I know.

Order Now From Amazon!

I "met" Ellen Fisher a few years ago, back when I first started a blog and she came to speak up on a controversial topic. Right away, she struck me as intelligent, fun, and friendly. When she started her own blog, she didn't just talk about writing, but also about her family, which she clearly adored.

Later, when I was working on Snowbound, a story in which the hero is recovering from cancer, we discussed the subject, one that we were close to, because our husbands were both diagnosed with cancer in their early twenties. Sadly, Ellen's husband's cancer returned, progressed quickly, and he passed away yesterday.

Please visit her blog and read her story, and keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Many of you know that last August, hurricane Katrina kicked my family's butt. Hard. I'd lost all hope for…well, anything and everything. We had nothing to our names but what we evacuated with, and we were in desperate need for even the basics like toothpaste. The writing community came together, and so many hurricane victims, including myself, were helped by the massive efforts. I will never forget, and I will never turn my back on a writer in need. Know now that if ANY of you find yourself in a situation where I can help in any way, I will.

Right now, there's a writer who is in need (EC, Loose-ID, Changeling author.) And there's an organization that has formed to help others, not just a single author who has fallen on hard times. From the website:

Natural disasters like floods, fires, and disability often hit without warning, leaving chaos in their wake. When a crisis hits our friends, we all want to help. The Save The Quiet Kitty Fund is here to help authors in crisis.

From time to time, many of us have organized a short term pool to help an author in crisis — short term crises that called for short term solutions. The Save The Quiet Kitty Fund is a designed to be a longer term solution.

It's a GREAT idea. Check it out and help if you can.

And I know I haven't said it lately, but thank you again to everyone who came through in my time of need. I owe you.