Hey Folks,
This was passed to me through one of my readers so I’m sharing it here.
Art Mills, award winner author of The Empty Lot Next Door, is stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan and requesting print books for himself and his fellow troop members. He tells me most of the books are old and worn-out, indicating people read them and hand them to others.
I sent him a box of 12 books and he wrote me:
I placed the books on a book shelf and people rushed right to them. It’s nice to know people back home still care after ten years. Thanks!!!!
Yes, we do care! Please donate a copy of your book (or ARC) so Art can put it on their barren shelves. If you send more than one copy it will be donated to another troop through Books for Soldiers.
And, it’s okay to enclose a letter of thanks, or if you have a child have her or him draw a picture or write a letter. It is a lonely world in Afghanistan and if we can bring a smile or tear to our soldiers it will be a reminder to them that we do care.
Please send your donation to:
Reader Views
Books for Soldiers
3267 Bee Cave Road, Ste 107-380
Austin, TX 78746
We use candy for packing so if you’d like to donate a bag of candy as well, that would be terrific. The candy should be something that is wrapped individually, e.g. tootsie rolls, mints. (Not chocolate – it melts while sitting on the tarmac.)
Thanks! I know your book will be well received!
Irene
PS – if you have any military/war themed books, either your own or those you have read, please send them as well. Surprisingly those themes are well received.
Paranormal Erotic Romance by Sascha Illyvich 
I used to be in the military and letters/pictures/books and the candy mentioned are all well recieved by the troops. It gets lonely and it does lift spirits to get them, especially since some of these Marines/soldiers have been there for a while.
Patricia
(former Marine)
I appreciate the fact that our troops do what they do for us, many of whom are total strangers. They’re protecting my freedom and I’m grateful every day of my life for their presence. Thank you Patricia, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks for letting us know, Sacha! Are they open to all kinds of books or only novels? And what kinds of novels? Thanks again!
In my research: http://www.writersfunzone.com/blog/2011/07/17/where-can-i-donate-my-old-books/, I also found Operation Paperback (http://www.operationpaperback.org/) will send books overseas to our troops.
Right now paperbacks, collections, novels, you name it. If you mean e-books, not sure how they’d get them but the contact info can help you. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I have BOXES of old romances, most read only once. They’d like those? Best use I can think of for them since I’m not going to open a book store
yes there are a LOT of military that read romance AND we DO have proud women in our Armed forces!