Many gave what they could after the Route 91 shooting. Artists donated proceeds from Nevada-themed tattoos to the Victims’ Fund. Local breweries like CraftHaus donated beer for fundraisers. Restaurants made food deliveries to first responders. And the list goes on and on.
Local author Crystal Perkins wanted to do something to support her city, too, but her unique talent is writing suspenseful romance, horror and young adult fiction. How could she help? After discussions with other writers, Perkins found her way: curating a charity anthology of short stories and nonfiction by authors connected to Las Vegas. In the span of one month, the book Vegas Strong came together.
The roster of 19 authors includes notables from all corners of the local literary community: award-winning dark fantasy author Mercedes M. Yardley; prolific children’s and YA author Lindsey Leavitt; novelist Brian Rouff, who donated an excerpt from his new book, The House Always Wins; indie publisher Ni’cola Mitchell; EatMoreArtVegas.com theater critic Paul Atreides; lawyer and novelist Jessie Humphries; and paranormal romance author Sam JD Hunt. The forward is written by EMT Mathew Kaufman.
The anthology is available through Amazon. It costs $5 for the e-book and $15 for a paperback, with all proceeds benefitting the Code Green Campaign, a nonprofit organization offering mental health services and support to first responders.
Portland, Oregon-based publisher Image Comics is also working on a planned charity anthology, with proceeds earmarked for the Victims’ Fund. After recovering from the initial shock of the tragedy, curator and comic artist J. H. Williams III—best known for drawing Batwoman, The Sandman: Overture, Promethea and others—decided an anthology was the best way he could help. “[The shooting] broke my heart,” he said in a press statement. “Las Vegas is my home.”
Titled Where We Live, Williams hopes that this book will “start a real conversation on avenues for preventing this sort of violence from happening again in the future.” It will explore topics related to mental health; guns and gun violence; the NRA and the Second Amendment; compassion and community; and safety versus freedom.
It’s too soon to buy this book, but not too late to submit contributions. Visit imagecomics.com for more information.
