Two years ago, All About Romance spearheaded a benefit to aid Katrina victims. As a recipient of Katrina charity — and once again, I cannot thank everyone who helped enough — I can tell you that AAR, romance readers, authors, and the publishing industry did a wonderful thing.

And they're doing it again.

This year, they are holding an ebay auction to benefit Hands On New Orleans, a highly rated charitable organization dedicated to facilitating volunteerism in the city. Their partners are Home Depot, Coca Cola, the Corporation for National and Community Service, Cisco Systems, and FedEx, to name just a few, and their current projects include restoring houses that remain uninhabitable, street and parks clean-up and restoration, and support for local food banks and animal shelters (my personal "pet" charity. *g* )

I wish I was a bigger name so I could donate, but I can still help. I can bid on some of the wonderful items that will be up for auction, and I plan to! The Gulf coast was so devastated by Katrina — my husband just returned from a trip to our house in Mississippi (which is ALMOST repaired,) and he was shocked at how bad the area still looks, two years later.

So check back with AAR on October 15th, and take a look at all the items up for bid, including signed, out of print titles, and ARCs from authors such as Meg Cabot, Nora Roberts, Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas, Angela Knight, Lisa Marie Rice, Elizabeth Hoyt, Loretta Chase, Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas, Teresa Mederios, Mary Jo Putney, Rachel Gibson, Liz Carlyle, Jaid Black, Lisa Marie Rice, Angela Knight, Linda Howard, Anne Stuart, and Marsha Canham.

Aspiring authors, some fabulous editors and authors have come forward to offer critiques: Cindy Hwang from Berkley; Erika Tsang from Avon; Abby Zidle, Kathy Sagan, and Jessica Zita from Pocket; Angela James from Samhain, and authors Linda Howard, Mary Balogh, and Anne Stuart.

It's a great cause, so mark your calendars!