RELEASE DAY!!

*EDIT: Kindle version (US) now available! :)

It's the official release day today! It's been a whirlwind of a time, with edits and promos and blog tours, and the day is finally here! :) And here is our latest status:

The print version of Stories for Sendai has been available on Amazon for a few days now. We've encountered some glitches with the Kindle version, which somehow keeps failing at the review stage without giving us a reason why! :( So please be patient while we keep plugging on that...

See the new-fangled thermometer on the right? Help us raise the mercury all the way to the top! For every sale of the print version, $2.24 will go towards funds in aid of Japan's quake victims. This is 100% of the proceeds, minus the cuts taken by Amazon and Createspace.

As of today, Stories for Sendai is #20 in the Hot New Releases bestsellers list for Genre Fiction Anthologies!! Overall in books, we're a less impressive #58,164. Let's try to get Stories for Sendai to climb higher! If you're planning on getting a copy, why not buy it TODAY to help us rush the charts and move us up the lists?

And don't forget to email us a copy of your receipt to be in the running for awesome prizes! Check out the COMPETITIONS page--one entry per receipt!

There's been quite a bit of Twittering about the anthology in the past few days, and we're really grateful to everyone who's been re-Tweeting and promoting Stories for Sendai to their followers. Now comes the big question: could we get #StoriesforSendai to actually trend? *gasp* With your help, we'll find out!

I'd like to thank everyone for their support so far. We're halfway through our blog tour, so I hope you'll continue to join us the rest of the way! With your help, we can make this project a success!

How to Donate Wisely--and Grab Our Badge!

There has been a tremendous outpouring of donations worldwide to charity organisations involved in aid and rescue efforts in the aftermath of the Japan earthquake and tsunami, and a heap of earthquake appeals have cropped up in the past few weeks. While this demonstrates the innate generosity and empathy of the human race, the vast range of organisations to donate to, and the many ways to donate (PayPal, in person, by text) could be overwhelming. Which organisation would make the most of my donation? Which method of donation is most effective? Donating by text is becoming increasingly popular; it's one of the easiest ways to donate, but is it the best way?

Here are a few pointers to ensure your donation goes where you intend it:

• You can't go wrong with donating directly to the big names: the Red Cross, Save the Children, International Medical Corps., etc.
• Donate directly to the organisations rather than through a group soliciting on a charity's behalf, as such groups often take a percentage cut of contributions.
• Be careful of charities you've never heard of; check them up on watchdog sites such as Charity Watch.
• Be super-cautious of so-called 'charities' that contact you directly for donations, e.g. by phone or text. Legit organisations will not do that.
• Can't decide on which charity to give to? Global Giving is a project which disburses funds to aid and rescue efforts on the ground that needs it most. They ensure that at least 90% of your contribution gets to organisations at ground zero within 60 days, and the percentage to cover overheads is well below the average charity.

Finally, why not get something for the money you donate by taking part in a charity auction? Write Hope has got some awesome lots comprising signed books, manuscript critiques, and lots more! Bidding starts today, so check them out now! All proceeds go to their chosen charity Save the Children.

Oh, and congratulations to Authors for Japan. At the close of their charity auction, they have collected a whopping £10,962.25 for the British Red Cross! Well done, guys, and kudos to everyone who made a bid for a good cause!

So if you're in the giving mood, why not contribute a story for our anthology, and then get all your friends and family to buy a copy? :) Also, please try and spread the word, and feel free to grab our temporary badge below. I say 'temporary' as our resident designing genius Fena is still working on a super-awesome one, and this is a lame attempt on my part...:P

Announcement!

Welcome to Stories for Sendai!

One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded hit the city of Sendai in the Tohoku region of Japan on Friday March 11. The magnitude 9.0 quake unleashed a deadly tsunami that slammed into Japan's east coast, leaving a swathe of devastation in its wake. Thousands of people lost their lives, and many are still missing or injured. Thousands more have been left homeless and destitute.

As a testament to the generosity of the world's citizens, emergency appeals have been swiftly set up in the aftermath of the quake, but I'm sure many of you, as we did, had the same thought: our donations seem so puny. There must be some other way we could make a difference!

With that in mind, STORIES FOR SENDAI was born!

We are compiling an anthology of inspirational short stories loosely themed around the strength of the human spirit. All proceeds will be donated to GlobalGiving in aid of victims of the earthquake and tsunami. GlobalGiving will disburse the funds to relief organisations and emergency services on the ground, including International Medical Corps. and Save the Children.  

But that's not all!

Aside from raising funds to support aid efforts, we also hope that our combined messages of strength in the face of adversity, of silver linings in storm clouds, will shine a light in these dark times, providing a brief respite in a time of crisis.

If you have an inspiring story to contribute, we would love to hear from you! Please check the submission guidelines page. To find out more, visit the Who We Are and our FAQ section.

Feel free to re-post this and help spread the word! Thanks!