Another Wave of Literati Rally ‘Round Obama

Last Friday, GalleyCat readers learned about the YA authors who support Barack Obama in this year’s presidential election. Over the weekend, we got word that Ayelet Waldman (left) had launched Books for Barack, a fundraising drive to which dozens of authors have contributed signed books, including several first editions and other collectible items. Originally, Waldman planned to conduct an online auction, but when she emailed fellow writers soliciting donated items, she was quickly overwhelmed by the arrival of more than 750 books.

So the plan’s changed: Now, if you donate $250 dollars to the Obama campaign through Waldman’s fundraising account—she and her husband began fundraising for Obama in 2007—she’ll send you ten books at random. You might get a signed first edition of Stephen King‘s Hearts of Atlantis, or a complete boxed set of Lemony Snicket‘s A Series of Unfortunate Events, or the latest books from Dennis Lehane, Tobias Wolff, or Jhumpa Lahiri… (And, yes, Michael Chabon is contributing a signed hardcover first of the Hugo- and Nebula-winning The Yiddish Policemen’s Union.) Within 36 hours of the drive’s launch, 34 readers had made donations… that’s nearly half the inventory, right there, but Waldman emails that she’s still receiving new books.

Naturally, as LA Times book blogger Carolyn Kellogg noted before Waldman’s drive had officially launched, if any authors are making a similar online push for John McCain, we’ll go ahead and mention that, too, provided somebody mentions it to us.

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