Children in Read is an initiative that allows authors to donate a book (or books) to one of the best-known charities in the UK – Children in Need, through an on-line auction.

First and foremost, this is not just about books written for kids – it is very much about books written for all ages and tastes, and across pretty well EVERY genre.

These are the genres they currently divide books into:

Children’s Laureates                     Autobiography/Biography                       Children

Christmas                                          Contemporary                                                 Cookery

Crime Thriller                                   Educational                                                      Fantasy

History                                               History Fiction                                                Horror / Paranormal

Humour                                             Mystery Thriller                                              Poetry

Romance                                           Science Fiction                                                Sport

Suspense Thriller                             T.V. & Film                                                       Young Adult

Multiple books                                Dr Who

For authors, I think it’s a superb cause. You get YOUR book into the hands of someone who really wants it. It costs you 1. A book, 2, A Jiffy-bag, and 3. Postage.  AND you raise funds for a very highly regarded charity.

All you need to do to donate is to let Paddy know the title and give him an Amazon link to your book. He will put up a page for your book. This was mine for Heart of Stone

https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/childreninread2019?cid=1191#buzz_expend_81373

As you can see, you get links to your Web page and your Twitter handle, plus your bio, cover, headshot and, of course, the blurb for your book.

The Auction closed at 11 pm on the Friday of Children in Need, and I was advised by a DM on Twitter from Paddy of the address of the winning bidder on the following Tuesday.

Children in Read itself gets excellent sponsorship from a company called Construction Impact Framework; they sponsor the website and system architecture – and well done them.

Paddy Heron, who runs the event, tells me that some people start sending him books early in the year; their bid drive really starts in July, though. Next year I will put an alarm call out in late June that its all kicking off soon!

And finally, congratulations to ALL my fellow authors who donated or bid for books. In the words of Young Mr Grace, “You’ve All Done Very Well!” and raised over £8500.