Adopt a Wolf for Xmas

December 16, 2016 at 3:13 pm

Down in Candy Kitchen, New Mexico is the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, a refuge for wolves and wolf-dogs and other canids (dingos, New Guinea singing dogs, coyotes, even a fox called Romeo) that Parris and I have been helping out for years.

We’ve just helped them put together a new fund-raising film, and I thought that some of you might like a look. The film is by Elias Gallegos and Andy Atkins.

<lj-embed id=”863″/>

If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for the guy on your list who has everything, why not make a donation to Wild Spirit in his name? Or better yet, adopt a wolf for him… or her. Our own association with Wild SPirit began many years ago when our friends in the Brotherhood Without Banners made Parris a wolf mother.

You can learn more at their website: https://www.wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org/

Tags: charity, wild spirit wolf sanctuary, wolves

Ice Buckets!

July 27, 2016 at 12:04 am

Remember all the madness of the Ice Bucket Challenge that swept the world not so long ago?

Sure you do.

If not, here are some reminders:

<lj-embed id=”755″/>

<lj-embed id=”756″/>

<lj-embed id=”757″/>

There were more. Hundreds more. Thousands maybe. But you get the idea.

Silly, right? Celebs, regular people, rich people, poor people, men, women, all dumping ice on their heads and squealing and shivering… and for what? Some cynics compared it to stuffing phone booths or swallowing goldfish or doing the macarena.

Well, not so fast. Turns out all that silliness made a difference.

Read it here: http://nydn.us/2arKgDf

All those buckets of ice may have helped put the freeze on ALS. No, it’s not a cure… but it’s one battle one in the war against a truly horrible disease.

And I am so pleased that my friends and I could do our tiny little bit, with all the others around the world, in bringing this about.

Tags: charity

Pat Conroy Literary Center

June 16, 2016 at 12:06 am

Pat Conroy was one of the great novelists of the last half-century.

Regular readers of this Not A Blog know what a huge fan of his work I am. No, he did not write science fiction or fantasy… but (surprise!) despite my love for our genre, I read a lot of stuff outside of it. And once I had sampled Pat Conroy, I read every book of his eagerly as soon as it came out. THE PRINCE OF TIDES is probably his masterpiece, but I loved BEACH MUSIC and THE LORDS OF DISCIPLINE and THE GREAT SANTINI and THE WATER IS WIDE as well. Oh, and his non-fiction memoir, MY LOSING SEASON, another engrossing read.

The movies based on his books were pretty damned good as well, even if the film version of THE PRINCE OF TIDES did omit… well… the prince of tides. SANTINI is the best of those. Amazing performance by Robert Duvall, once of the best of his career.

A couple of years ago, I had the honor of meeting Pat, and hosting him for an author event and booksigning at the Jean Cocteau Cinema. It was a rare privilege, and one I will always remember, and I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to learn that he’d read and enjoyed my own books.

Pat passed away in March… but his books will live on, and so will his memory.

In his memory, his family has now establishing a Pat Conroy Literary Center in his beloved home town of Beaufort, South Carolina. You can read about it here:

http://patconroyliterarycenter.org/

A worthy project, I think. I’ll be donating. I urge all of you who love good writing to do the same.

Tags: author events, charity, jean cocteau cinema, jean cocteau cinema bookstore

Help Fight Cancer

April 11, 2016 at 7:33 pm

R.A. Salvatore has organized a “Bookworm” drive to help fund cancer research.

Donate… and you can maybe win a big box o’ signed books, including some of my own.

Only a few days left.

You can see all the details, and make a donation, at:

http://www.seecaityrun.com/bookworms-unite/

Tags: charity, signed books

Fundraiser Continues

June 16, 2014 at 11:06 am

Over at Prizeo, my fundraiser on behalf of the Food Depot and the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary continues to soar. As I write, my fans and friends have donated $390,000 — and we still have 33 days to go!!

<lj-embed id=”449″ />

The grand prize — the visit to Santa Fe and helicopter trip to the wolf sanctuary — will be determined at the end of the fundraiser, by a drawing. Everyone who donates will have a chance to win.

A lot of the secondary prizes and extra rewards have been snapped up, however. Have no fear! We're adding more. I am donating more books and collectibles, two more breakfasts (one at San Diego Comicon, one when I am in NYC this October), and even a couple pair of my infamous suspenders (braces to you Brits). So keep a careful eye on the Prizeo site. We plan to add new prizes every Wednesday, for as long as the drive is ongoing. More details can be found at:

https://www.prizeo.com/prizes/georgerrmartin/a-wolf-sanctuary-tour-and-helicopter-ride

Current Mood: null null

Tags: charity, wolves

Holy Direwolves, Batman!

June 6, 2014 at 2:44 pm

The response to our fund-raising campaign on Prizeo has been nothing less than mind-boggling.

One day into the campaign, the original $150,000 goal and the subsequent $200,000 goal have both been met and surpassed. As I type, donations stand at $231,000, and we have raised the goal to $400,000. And we still have 58 days to go!

Iphone_pictures 150

Every donations helps, whether large or small. You guys have made me very proud.

Once again, the link is
https://www.prizeo.com/prizes/georgerrmartin/a-wolf-sanctuary-tour-and-helicopter-ride

I am told this is the fastest-rising campaign in the history of Prizeo.

Current Mood: null null

Tags: charity, wolves

Me and the Wolves

June 5, 2014 at 10:46 am

How would you like to visit Santa Fe, spend a day with me, see my collection of toy knights and medieval miniatures, sample some green chile and carne adovada, then take a helicopter down to Candy Kitchen, New Mexico and the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary to meet the Westeros pack?

Well, now's your chance.

I've teamed up with the good folks at Prizeo.com to raise some funds for two of my favorite charities — the aforementioned Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, and the Food Depot here in Santa Fe, where they feed the hungry people of Northern New Mexico. Win the grand prize, and we'll fly you in from wherever you may be in the world for the day described above. Every donation has a chance to win… but there are all sorts of other cool premiums and prizes as well, for various levels of donations. T-shirts, signed maps, signed books,a signed script, breakfast at worldcon or comicon. You can die horribly in WINDS OF WINTER… and I'm even donating my well-worn Greek fisherman's cap!

. westeros_pack_interim

For more details, go to
https://www.prizeo.com/prizes/georgerrmartin/a-wolf-sanctuary-tour-and-helicopter-ride

Win or lose, it's all for a good cause, or rather two good causes.

Help the wolves, and feed some hungry people.

You'll have my thanks.

Current Mood: null null

Tags: charity, wolves

A Time for Wolves

February 19, 2014 at 1:10 am

Friends, fans, and autograph collectors… here's your chance. We're doing another great fundraiser for our friends at the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary down Candy Kitchen Way, and for "the Westeros Pack" http://www.wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org/westeros_pack.php

For one week only, we're offering all sorts of signed GRRM and ICE & FIRE books and other collectibles will be available for those who help out with donations large or small. For more details, go to http://www.wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org/game_of_thrones_westeros_pack_charity_auction.php

We were going to start the drive at midnight tonight… but we've decided to add even more prizes, giveaways, and signed books, so it will take another day or two before the fundraiser goes live. Once it does, it will run for a week.

Watch the Wild Spirit site for more details. And once the flag goes up, give generously.

It's for the wolves.

Current Mood: null null

Tags: charity, wolves

New Mexico Film Foundation

February 9, 2014 at 11:13 pm

Making movies is an art, a science, a business… but most of all it's a challenge, especially for young film makers, independents, minority members, and all those who find themselves outside Hollywood and the studio system.

The New Mexico Film Foundation is a brand-new non-profit organization whose goal it will be to help New Mexico film makers with a mutual support, education, networking… and grants. It's headed by Dirk Norris, a former member of the state Film Commission, and a long time member of the local and state film community.

RIght now Dirk is trying to raise some start-up funds with an Indiegogo campaign. You can find the details here:

http://igg.me/at/nmfilmfoundation/x/969552

Go check it out, and if you have a few bucks, give. Robert A. Heinlein once said he could not possibly pay back all those who helped him when he was starting out, so he believed in paying forward, and helping those who came after him. That's what the New Mexico Film Foundation is all about.

It's a good cause, and we may get some good films out of it.

Current Mood: null null

Tags: charity, films

Last Day for Pearl Auction

November 30, 2013 at 10:33 pm

The auctions for Janis Ian's Pearl Foundation fund-raising drive, including those for the items I donated, have entered their final day.

There's some great stuff here, including items by Neil Gaiman, Pat Conroy, Harlan Ellison, Jane Yolen, Ray Bradbury, Orson Scott Card, and many others, and the Pearl Foundation is a terrific cause… so here's a great chance to add some wonderful books to your collection and do good at the same time.

My own donations are a script from GAME OF THRONES, signed by the entire Stark family:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/George-R-R-Martin-orig-pilot-script-GAME-THRONES-signed-all-Starks-/200988947831?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ecbdff577

Also, a presentation copy in slipcase of the Subterreanean Press limited edition of A DANCE WITH DRAGON, illustrated by Marc Fishman and signed by both of us:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/George-R-R-Martin-signed-personal-presentation-copy-DANCE-DRAGONS-/200988953490?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item2ecbe00b92

And finally, a set of hardcovers for A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, all five volumes published to date, to be autographed and personalized on request:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/George-R-R-Martin-signed-hardcovers-all-five-SONG-ICE-AND-FIRE-novels-/200988772976?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item2ecbdd4a70

So go ye forth and bid! Bid often! Bid high!! Come out, come out, you snipers, do your worst, and raise some pearls for Pearl.

Current Mood: null null

Tags: a song of ice and fire, charity, collectibles, cool stuff, game of thrones

Not a Blog

Adopt a Wolf for Xmas

Ice Buckets!

Pat Conroy Literary Center

Help Fight Cancer

Fundraiser Continues

Holy Direwolves, Batman!

Me and the Wolves

A Time for Wolves

New Mexico Film Foundation

Last Day for Pearl Auction

Latest Month

Recent Posts

Syndicate