Kara Leonardo has been a long time reader, fan and supporter of Lesbian Fiction. She belongs to many Yahoo Groups, FaceBook and many individual author groups all in support of Lesbian Fiction. Many of you are already familiar with Kara and have probably received “virtual hugs” from this kind and gracious lady. She is very supportive of authors and always has an encouraging word for everyone. Some of you may or may not have noticed Kara’s absence on the various groups she belongs to, so here is “the rest of the story”…
On February 11, 2012, Kara and her partner, Stephanie Marvel, were involved in a motor vehicle accident. Stephanie was driving and their car was hit head-on by another driver. Stephanie was killed on impact and Kara sustained a fractured arm, multiple fractures of her leg and pelvis along with internal injuries. Kara was in and out of the ICU a few times before landing in a regular room and ultimately transferring to a rehabilitation facility at the end of March. She is learning to walk again with the use of a walker and will soon be ready for discharge from rehab. This is where her situation becomes even more difficult… Kara relocated from Illinois to Delaware to be with Stephanie… When she is discharged from rehab, she will have no place to go. She has a community of friends in Delaware and would like to remain there, but her only alternative may be to return to Illinois and live with family there.
Here is where you can help… This site has been set up as a fundraising site to benefit Kara Leonardo. Many Lesbian Fiction authors and others have graciously donated books and other “amenities” that will be auctioned here on this site. Please be assured that 100% of the proceeds will go directly to Kara to assist her with getting settled wherever she may choose. The auction will be open to receive bids through midnight (CDT) August 5, 2012. All of the items to be bid on will be listed on this site as a separate “blog” post. Check the Master List page to get to each of the posts. Bids will be placed in the “comments” section of the post on which you wish to bid. The winner will be determined by the highest bid listed at the time the auction closes and, should there be a rush of last minute bids, times will be determined by the WordPress time stamps on the entries.
PAYMENTS and DONATIONS: The organizers of this fundraiser, Roselle Graskey and Sharon Baughman have been able to provide a link to PayPal to make payments and donations easier. You can find the link on the top right side of the screen. If you have any questions, please reach out to Roselle or Sharon.
We realize that these are difficult times, but please remember that even the smallest donation can have a significant impact. Pay it forward and happy bidding!
Roselle Graskey: rosellegr1@yahoo.com
Sharon Baughman: medexam14@yahoo.com
Wrap it, I’ll take it!! Bidding $50 on “Bluest Eyes in Texas”.
Hi Jess — Thanks for bidding! But you probably need to move your bid to the actual book, If you click on the book name you will be able to bid there. If you leave your bid here on the main page, you may get out-bid. If you need help you can email me at amugnier@hotmail.com.
I posted on the Bluest Eyes in Texas thread for you. Needed to make sure everyone who wants to bid knew you had put down your claim!
Grateful for your help. Now I’ve got it figured out!!
Hi there. Is there a “share” link for just donations? Something we can pass on to friends and family that is not interested in Lesbian Fiction?
Absolutely! If someone is here on the site, there’s a link on the top of the right hand side. You just need to click on “Make a donation to the PayPal account” link.
If you want to email it out or post it, you can use this link: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8D7B6MKFNDYZY
Thanks!
Made a donation to help. I love this community.
Thank you Brandi! This community has and continues to amaze the organizers of “this little project” every day. The generosity of all that are participating (donors and bidders) has exceeded our expectations. Your contribution really does make a difference!
I have a author’s copy of my new book I’d like to donate…
Is it too late?
I’d like to contribute a book, but am not sure how to make that happen. The book is one of the only remaining copies of Nothing But The Girl, edited by Susie Bright and myself. It’s the paperback edition (published in the UK with some different images from the US version because they have different obscenity laws!). It’s shrink-wrapped, brand new, and I will happily ship anywhere in the US. Jill Posener
Please contact either Roselle or Sharon regarding donations. Their email addresses are listed at the end of the post above the comments section.
Thanks for all of your support!
Due to the overwhelming response to this auction, and considering that our web goddess does have her own life to lead, we regretfully must decline any further donations of auction items, with the exception of those we have already accepted. Thank you for thinking of us, and please know that every item offered even those that we can’t accept are being placed on a list that will be presented to Kara so that she knows just how many people wanted to help her in this time. With much love & appreciation — Roselle, Sharon, Cheri & Allison
Did you get my auction items listed? I emailed about them last week. Thank you.
Pol,
We did get your items listed. If you check out the master list, you’ll see them listed along with links to see the posts and comments associated with them.
Thanks for your donations!
Thank you for your response
I’ll be heading to paypal then. I wish you amazing success with the auction and your recovery.
Roselle and Sharon -
Have you thought of reaching out to the organizers of Womens Week (October 8-14 in Provincetown) to do some fundraising for Kara?
this has been such an amazing event and I feel honored to have been a small part of it!!!
Is there any way to change a bid? I bid on Bluest Eyes In Texas but I just received that book as a gift. Can I move my bid for the same amount to another item?
Chris, we would love to let you switch your bid. However … We have no way to contact quickly the person who bid previously to you on Bluest Eyes, and I know that when she was outbid, she went and bid on some other items, so I don’t know if she would still be interested, and I can’t make that decision for her. I am sorry — I think you are stuck with it.
Thank you lady’s, for all your hard work
thank you!!
Great work, everyone! Can’t wait to see the grand totals!
hi i was wondering if i just pay for my bids using the pay pall link all together or for each individual item?
Whichever is easier for you is fine with us, thanks! Either way, PLEASE include in the comments your screen name if it is different from your billing name, and the title of which book/books you are paying for — that will make follow up for us MUCH easier. We will be sending “payment due” notices probably tomorrow so please excuse us if we send you one — there will be additional information on how we will put each bidder in touch with the author. Thank you again, and CONGRATS!!
I didn’t see a comment space available on the PayPal page, so I followed up with an email to both of the addresses above.
Roselle Graskey: rosellegr1@yahoo.com
Sharon Baughman: medexam14@yahoo.com
Thanks again for everyone’s hard work! Peace, y’all.
Thanks, Sue — Ro did receive your email & forwarded it to me. We’ll be sending out more info tonight or tomorrow to each high bidder.
Hi there. I think I missed the boat on the auction but is it still possible to donate something through Paypal? It won’t be much but my partner and I would like to give something. Thanks and please let me know.
You can absolutely contribute through PayPay. There’s a link on the top right side. Please shoot one of us an email – Ro’s and Sharon’s emails are on the Home screen – if you have any questions.
Thanks!
Of all the books I won, I would like Arbor Vite,The House on Sandstone and The Bluest Eyes In Texas. The rest I would love to give to KARA
With love
Holy cow, Ramona, thank you on her behalf! With all the books you won, that is incredibly generous. I am sending out notices with payment due & other details about arranging for shipping to each high bidder today. When each author contacts you, for the books you want to donate, you can tell them to ship the books you want to give to Kara to Roselle, who is collecting all such donations to send them all at once to Kara once she is settled in an apartment. I have your email and will send you Roselle’s address in a private message. Once again, THANK YOU!!! I hope we are able to meet one day so we can thank you in person.
I would be honored. Thank you.