If anyone here is going to the Eastercon (Paragon) then I'd appreciate more books for Oxfam.

Several people donated some excellent books at Redemption which have been sold to raise money for Oxfam's work. It's an easy way to raise money to help some of the world's poorest people have water to feed their animals, and grain and tools to grow crops. Oxfam's work is very much about helping people to help themselves. Their disaster relief work tends to be the best publicised, but there is ongoing work in disease prevention, craft workshops for the disabled and so much more besides.

Sales of books at Redemption raised around 137 pounds, but the books donated have raised even more money since; a particular thank you to the fan who donated all the Patricia Cornwall paperback novels in such lovely condition - they went like hot cakes. So did the hardbacks on decorating and many of the SF novels.

Old books on topics like birds and railways never go out of fashion. Books of plays, history books, travel, etc and lots and lots of paperback novels. Collectables (Observer books, first editions, - anyone got a first edition of Enid Blyton?, books on specialist subjects, etc) will be properly valued. Most of our books sell for around a pound or two, but we recently sold one for 40 pounds. That'll pay for a whole year at school for a third-world child.

I'll be selling books at Eastercon as well, so if you're there, come and have a browse.

Judith