Books for Ukraine

EDIT: BOOKS ARE ALL GONE. FORM IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY. IF YOU HAVE SLIPPED THROUGH THE NET SOMEHOW AND HAVE MADE A DONATION BEFORE THE FORM CLOSED PLEASE EMAIL MARY(AT)QUICUNQUEVULT(DOT)COM AND WE’LL SORT YOU OUT!

Hello. Here’s a thing I’m doing again. That will, as ever, be done slightly haphazardly.

If you’d like to get a signed and personalised (though, I hasten to add, not annotated—that takes me forever and I still owe two people annotated editions from the last time I did something like this. So sorry, they are on their way, I promise) copy of one of my books in return for a donation to a charity supporting Ukraine (and the cost of postage) … then you can do that while I have copies of books available.

Normally I don’t feel comfortable selling signed copies of my work because the publishers give me the books for free (so it feels wrong to then try to flog them on), international postage is expensive, and also I have no idea what an appropriate price would be. However, I do have some spare copies of my books sitting around my house, and I feel this is a fair way to use them.

What I can’t guarantee, however, is copies of particular books to particular people. I have a muddled collection of my back catalogue available so it’s going to be something of a lucky dip. I realise that might be disappointing if you have a particular favourite you’d like a copy of but … well… this is for charity.

Please also do be aware that I only have limited books available. I will update the page when I’m out but please do check that I still have books to offer before you go making any donations. Although, obviously, you can donate to charity … y’know, just because.

This is also very much a one book per person type arrangement. So please do not sign-up multiple times, even if you’ve made multiple donations.

How much is this going to cost?

Well, it’s a little bit of a pay what you can. I’m going to ask you to make a donation to a Ukraine-supporting charity of your choice and my minimum recommended donation is the equivalent to $25 in your local currency.

Obviously, if you can afford to give more I would encourage you to do so, but that’s entirely up to you. If you’ve already donated to a charity supporting Ukraine then you can use that as your donation for this.

I’m afraid I’ll also need you to cover the cost of postage. For what Royal Mail considers a small parcel, tracked and signed for (assuming a book plus packaging weighs less than 500g) it works out as something like:

• £10 if you’re in the UK
• 20 Euros for Europe
• $25 (or local currency equivalent) for worldwide

How does it work?

1. Make a donation to a charity working to support Ukraine. I’ve made some suggestions below but you can absolutely choose your own, although I do reserve to reject donations to institutions that don’t reflect my values.
2. Fill in this form [link removed because no longer taking submissions]. The form will ask for proof of donation (among other things) but please feel free to block out, you know, bank details and things for your safety.
3. Once I’ve got your details and I’m comfortable with the organisation you’ve chosen to donate to, I’ll send you a PayPal link to cover the postage and then I’ll prepare a book for you and pop it in the post as soon as I can.

Why Ukraine?

I think the answer to that is self-evident.

What charities do you recommend?

Again, these are just suggestions.  You’re very welcome to choose a charity of your own, as long as it’s currently doing work in support of Ukraine. If you’d like to recommend a charity for my list just let me know.

• Disaster Emergency Committee (the UK government matches up to £20 million donations)
• UNHCR UK
• UNHCR US
• Save the Children
• International Rescue Committee
• Doctors Without Borders
• UNICEF
• Voices of Children

Doesn’t this work out being a pretty expensive way to get a book?

Yes, but non-signed versions of my books are also available world-wide. This is for charity. And also entirely optional.

What books do you have?

I have copies of most of my recent books, including Something Fabulous, Boyfriend Material, the Kate Kane series, The Affair of the Mysterious Letter, and Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake. My supplies of Ardy and Spires are somewhat limited but I’ve got a few copies knocking around.

Why don’t you do auctions like a normal person?

Because auctions make me uncomfortable. Obviously things like this come down who has money going spare but at least this way it’s the same amount of money for everyone and I don’t like the idea that only the people with the largest disposable incomes can access a book I’ve signed.