Saturday 6 March 2010

100 Stories for Haiti

What can I say. Six weeks after Greg McQueen woke up and decided to do something, it’s here. The book. It’s REAL. I’ve been dipping in and out and there is a fantastic variety of stories in there – all sorts and styles.

But six weeks! I still can’t believe it. From conception to birth in one and a half months.

I’d been watching the news when Greg’s call came – horrified, upset, wanting to DO something other than just sit and watch and feel guilty about moaning about a bit of snow that had caused – well no more than minor disruption. I suspect that’s how most people felt.

The images stay with us don’t they? Most of us will never see tragedy first hand on such a huge scale. And it’s easy to push those images to the backs of our minds as other news takes over. But in Haiti the tragedy goes on.

Estimates of how many people died vary, but the figure seems to be somewhere between 220,000 and 300,000.

Over 300,000 people were injured.

And over a million people are homeless and of those less than half have a tent or tarpaulin for shelter. And it is coming up to the rainy season. In about three months the hurricane season will begin.

You don’t need much of an imagination to think of people who have lost everything, not just homes, but whole families. And now they are living in crowded, unsanitary conditions. Just makes you stop and think doesn't it - after everything they've been through so many people still don't have the luxury of a scrap of material over their heads to keep the rain off.



It rather puts things in perspective doesn't it.

Okay, buying a book isn’t going to make it better, but as they say, Every Little Helps.

The book is available direct from Bridge House, in bookshops, online stores and as an e-book from smashwords.



http://bridgehousepublishing.co.uk/default.aspx

14 comments:

  1. Oh, you have your copy already? (Wails with over-excited impatience.) Been watching out for postmen for the last 2 days, but still no delivery for me...

    ReplyDelete
  2. A very moving post, Teresa. I'm sure you'll have persuaded anyone who hasn't ordered a copy to do so without dealy.

    XX

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glynis Scrivens7 March 2010 at 07:08

    Did you receive a complimentary author copy, Teresa?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mine arrived Friday, Joanne, but I know others who are still waiting.

    Thank you, Suzanne x

    No, Glynis, I put in my order as soon as it became available from Bridge House. Seems to be better to order direct from them than going through Amazon - more money goes to the Red Cross if you buy through Bridge House too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Meant to say I planned to read one story a day starting at the beginning, but once I got stuck in yesterday I ended up reading several!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Me too, Teresa, I sat on a train yesterday and read all the stories by people I know through blogging etc. I also read any stories where the title or first line caught my attention. Ended up reading about half of them - what a variety! (Loved yours, by the way.)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I read about twenty of them before I could put it down. It's a great collection of stories - some quirky, some sweet, some funny - really something for everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It looks like a fantastic book. Brilliant idea.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you, Womag. I'm trying to go through them in order and for once I've started at the front. I usually read things - well not novels of course, but magazines and books of short stories back to front for some reason.

    It's like a box of chocolates isn't it, Bernadette - without the calories!

    I still can't get over so many stories in one book, Helen!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Paula Williams8 March 2010 at 14:20

    That's odd, Teresa. I read magazines 'back to front' as well. I thought it was just me! I'm left handed and can also do mirror writing - my husband says something's wrongly wired in my brain.
    Looking forward to receiving my copy of 100Stories.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This sounds very interesting thanks for sharing! I would be truly honored if you gave your poetic advice on my blogs of poetry and follow them if you like.

    http://thehumanicana.blogspot.com/

    http://humanicanagold.blogspot.com/

    If you found my poetry interesting I would love it if you followed my blog of Idealism and justice.

    http://terrandaily.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm glad I'm not the only one, Paula!

    Thank you Average Terran - hope you will tell your readers about the book.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm so glad I stopped by. My family has already donated to Haiti, but as soon as I read about supporting by reading a book, how how can anyone not say no? :)

    ReplyDelete