Business in Henley - Authors auction new characters

Best-selling authors auction new characters for autism charity

If you are a fiction fan who has dreamt of appearing as a character in a best-selling novel…your chance has finally come! Literary lovers around the world have the opportunity of a lifetime - to have their favourite author name a character after them in an upcoming novel.

The unique fundraiser, which is the brainchild of Henley based charity Autism Speaks, will take place on eBay.

Jodi Picoult, Louis de Bernieres and Patricia Wood are among the fifteen top-selling writers from across the globe taking part in the event titled ‘Authors for Autism Research’, and all funds raised at the online auction will aid the charity’s bio-medical research into the causes of autism.

Philippa Stannard, Head of Donor Development at the charity, said Autism Speaks was delighted with the response to its event, and that the chance to take a starring role on the literary stage had set literary pulses across the globe racing!

Philippa said: “We are thrilled to be hosting ‘Authors for Autism Research’ and very grateful to the busy authors who are generously giving their time and energy in supporting us in raising the profile of the causes of autism.

“Autism currently affects 1 in every 100 children in the UK, yet it remains one of the most significant but least researched developmental disorders. Autism Speaks has set itself the task of achieving major research breakthroughs within ten years.”

Autism Speaks Chair and well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley said: “Four times an hour every working day, a child or adult is diagnosed with autism in the UK. Yet autism receives only a fraction of the research funding of much rarer conditions such as childhood leukemia or cystic fibrosis. Autism Speaks is working to change this, and fundraisers such as this one will really help get people talking about why."

The list of authors taking part in ‘Authors for Autism Research’:

Lee Child
Louis de Bernieres
R.J. Ellory
Christine Feehan
Ken Follett
Esther Freud
John Hemry
Melissa Hill
Marti Leimbach
Susan Lewis
Toby Litt
Elizabeth Moon
Jodi Picoult
James Sallis
Darren Shan
Fiona Walker
Patricia Wood

Make your offer - last day 2nd April 2008 - Authors for Autism.