Animals in Need
Astrid supports many animal welfare groups and her latest work is with the plight of bears -- whether the dancing bears or the moon bears or bears left in concrete pits because the zoo no longer has the funds to look after them ... If you want to know more please go to the WSPA site. So many bears, so little time -- but the same could be said of all neglected and abused or exploited animals.

Anything that anyone can do for any animal is welcome and sometimes it is just a click away. Feed an animal in need:

Astrid is running a fund-raising raffle for "Bears in Romania":

WRITERS FOR BEARS RAFFLE
Bears in Romania are facing a bleak winter in unprotected concrete pits while they wait for new housing. For more information about the campaign please go to: wspa.org.au/appeal.asp. The WSPA is urgently seeking funds to re-home the bears and to this end a writers' raffle has been organised with the following prizes kindly donated by authors. All proceeds go to the WSPA Romanian Bears.

Tickets: $5 each or 3 for $10. Raffle closes: 15.4.08.

Payment: cheque or money order to:
Gillian Curtin
PO Box 514
KAPUNDA, SA 5373

Paypal: gerdahaveman@yahoo.com (please put "bears raffle" in subject header).

When purchasing tickets please give full name, snail mail and email addresses and phone (for prize notification). Good luck with the raffle and thanks so much for helping the bears and WSPA.

1st Prize: manuscript assessment by Karen Miller:
Karen is an internationally acclaimed, best-selling speculative fiction writer and will "assess any length of manuscript, but one volume of a series only. I'll do a max 30 min. phone call to discuss said ms, and a follow-up max 5 page feedback letter. I'll take on any genre except porn."

2nd Prize: new paperback copy of "Firebirds Rising" - (nominated for Best Anthology at the World Fantasy Convention) -- an anthology of 523 pages of original science fiction and fantasy edited by Sharyn November and with stories from writers including Kelly Link, Diana Wynn Jones, Charles de Lint, Alan Dean Foster, Tamora Pierce and Alison Goodman. (Alison will personally sign the book to the winner).

3rd Prize: manuscript assessment by Astrid Cooper:
Astrid will assess and edit the first twenty-five pages of a manuscript, plus a copy of your choice of any one of her published works (whether electronic or print).

4th Prize: an autographed copy of each of the following print books: "Amaryllis" and "Shrinking Violet". Tricia McGill

5th Prize: 2 e-books by Julie D'Arcy: "Cross of Tarlis" and "Night's Eternal Promise".

6th Prize: 2 e-books by Hazel Statham (Georgian Romance, "Dominic" and Regency Romance "My Dearest Friend" (not available until January, 2008)

7th Prize: Rowena Cory Daniells: 2 books in the Last Shimmaron series (together with supporting animation).

8th Prize: Sally Odgers, copy of e-poetry book, SPINNING PEARLS.

9th Prize: Velvet cushion cover with gold Celtic "knotwork" design.