An auction of signed books, experiences and mentoring sessions from the British literary community to raise money for Ukraine has raised £37,000 in its first week.
Lots include lunch at the Ritz with Pillars of the Earth author Ken Follett, the chance to name characters in new books coming from crime writer Peter James and comedian Lenny Henry, a signed, limited edition of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl’s memoir, and a 1945 first edition of Nancy Mitford’s novel The Pursuit of Love. Douglas Stuart is offering two tickets to the launch event in April for his new novel, Young Mungo, along with a signed, dedicated first edition of the novel, his hotly anticipated follow-up to his 2020 Booker prize-winning debut, Shuggie Bain.
With almost 350 lots, the Book Aid For Ukraine auction still has a week to go and expects to raise tens of thousands more for refugees fleeing the Russian invasion.
Literary agents are offering the chance for hopeful authors to get their manuscripts read, authors such as Erin Kelly, Charlotte Levin and Sarah Hilary are giving mentoring sessions, and there is a lunch date and signed book on offer from the BBC’s Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen.
The auction was organised by Hayley Steed, a literary agent at the Madeleine Milburn agency, who was inspired by the auction organised by publisher Phoebe Morgan last year to raise funds to send Covid vaccines to India.
Steed said: “I was watching the news about Ukraine and feeling powerless, and wondering what we could do as a books industry and community. Phoebe’s auction was hugely successful and I thought we might be able to do something similar for Ukraine.
“So many people are feeling the same way and it seemed like this was the perfect chance to direct that energy into doing something positive.”
She put out a call on social media and was astonished by the response, receiving more than 200 emails overnight offering lots for the auction. Publishing house Pan Macmillan has also said it will match all bids made on lots involving its authors.
Steed said: “It’s going so incredibly well, far better than I expected. When we started I hoped that we might raise a five-figure sum but it’s far exceeded my expectations. It would be fabulous to get to £50,000 now, or even more.”
Among the most hotly contested lots currently are a written critique of the first 25 pages of a novel from literary agent Juliet Mushens, (current bid £540), 10 signed copies of the latest Viz comic annual, , and a signed book and 45-minute tarot reading from astrologer Jessica Adams, for which bidding has passed £2,000.
Money raised will go to British-Ukrainian Aid, which “offers assistance to vulnerable individuals who have been physically, mentally or socially disadvantaged, including the injured and wounded, orphaned children, elderly people, internally displaced persons, refugees and families who have lost their main earners”.
The auction runs until midday on Monday 20 March.
