Friday, May 7, 2010

Do the Write Thing

I'm going to hijack the blog for a moment (sorry Helena) to talk about something that is not paranormal in nature, even if it is horrific.

Starting May 1, 2010, Nashville was hit with a series of storms that dropped a record breaking amount of rain (over 13 inches) on the city. Within days, many parts of the city were underwater. This includes the Grand Ole Opry, Opryland, the Nashville Symphony Hall, the downtown area, and many private homes. At least 28 people have been confirmed dead due to the storms and subsequent flooding.

Aerial view of the flooding, covering roadways

Multiple areas were evacuated, many people being
removed from their flooded homes by boat or jetski

This is the view inside the Opryland hotel. The damage is so extensive the RWA National Convention scheduled there for the end of July has already been relocated.


Downtown, some roads are still closed.

While Nashville is not my hometown, I have lived here for several years. I work here. I own a home here. Many of my friends, if not my family, live in Nashville and the surrounding areas. I can tell you first hand, the devastation to the area is immense. I was lucky, my house was untouched. Many others were not so fortunate.

If you are able to donate in anyway to the disaster recovery efforts, I urge you to do so. If you're wondering where to donate, I have a suggestion for readers and writers.

A few local authors have created an auction site called Do The Write Thing For Nashville. This auction is offering up all kinds of goodies to readers and writers alike. There are autographed books, critique services, editors, agents, and authors (oh my!). All proceeds are going to help those devastated by the floods.

Whether you donate or bid on the items donated, you are helping people who truly need it.

Thank you.

I now return you to your normally scheduled and snark-filled paranormal blog.

~Lily

5 comments:

SIN said...

LIly I agree with you that we all must help one another in our in our times of need and i for one and doing my best. My heart goes out to everyone in Nashville.

Vamps R Us said...

I completely support any efforts to help. I am beyond glad that you got out of it unscathed. I heard the mall is closed until christmas...thats crazy.

SIN said...

Oh WOW Lily I had no idea you was so close and I am glad to hear you was missed by that "TRAIN". We must believe that everything does happened for a reason even though we may not understand. It is hard to be happy you was missed by a hair and sad to know that your neighbors are going through something bad. We must all have faith that everything will work it self out.

Anonymous said...

(Comment originally posted May 8, 2010 at 10:14 AM. Reposted due to account error)

Thanks guys, you're the best :) This is why I believe in, well, if not "fate", than the concept that everything happens for a reason. I had absolutely NO REASON to be out of town that weekend, bopping around Chicago on the BF's (Is there a statute of limitations and/or age restriction on that term? I don't like the word fiance')search for the world's best hotdog. It was irresponsible and childish...and completely kept me from going insane, which is what would have happened if I'd been in Nashville while everything was going down.

I still can't really believe how bad it is in places, places really, REALLY close to our house, and yet my street was untouched. I'm grateful, but in an odd way I feel like I was *just* missed by an oncoming train. It's a strange feeling.

Anyway, I'm going to the JR Ward booksigning today, and I'm going to have her sign a copy of Lover Mine to donate to the Do The Write Thing auction. I figure that way the donation will able to raise more money than what I'm able to donate, and someone gets a signed copy of Lover Mine. Everyone wins! :)

Anonymous said...

(Comment originally posted May 12, 2010 at 10:34 PM. Reposted due to account error)

Yep, I moved to Nashville in 2008 and we purchased a house just 5 miles away from Opryland last November. Almost too close for comfort, but we were so lucky.

My heart goes out to everyone who's been hurt and/or lost property.

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