Showing posts with label New Sun Rising. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Sun Rising. Show all posts

Saturday, April 27, 2013

New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan – charity status

When we all set about this project, you the contributors, all the people behind the scenes right from the very beginning, the team that brought the project to fruition, and you the readers of New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan, it was in order to help those affected by the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

We pledged all royalties from the book, paperback and kindle, toward the relief fund run by the Japanese Red Cross Society.

A little over two years on, we are pleased to report that we have sent two donations to the Japanese Red Cross Society. Amazon won´t let us divulge sales numbers and earnings, but to give you an idea, we hope to have made total donations of 500 Euros by the next deadline in 2014. 

In 2013, bank charges in Japan were waived, and members of the editorial team covered the outgoing bank charges as part of an extra donation. Unfortunately, sales in the UK were not high enough for us to access those royalties, but there is still time. Donations to the Japanese Red Cross Society relief fund can now still be sent with bank fees waived in Japan until 31 March 2014.

The original cut-off date was 31 March 2013, so the extension shows that there remains work to be done to help those affected and unfortunately probably already forgotten.

We also sent a copy of the anthology to the Japanese Red Cross Society for their offices and so they could see the work of the many contributors from all over the world.

Sales are slowing down now, but we have still registered sales this year, so when the money comes together before next year´s deadline, a further donation will be made. Members of the Editorial team will cover the outgoing bank charges so that we can honour the pledge we all made.

Since New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan will remain available beyond any bank fee waiver deadline, we will continue to send monies from the sale of the book to the Japanese Red Cross Society, since we are convinced that the effects of the disaster will make themselves felt for a long time. So we are on board for as long as it takes.

Thank you all, for your support!


Extracts from the letters from the Japanese Red Cross Society (18.04.2013):
"This is the Japanese Red Cross Society and would like to express our sincere gratitude for your donation to the disaster victims who were affected by the earthquake and tsunami in 2011. ...
Thank you once again for your generous and continuous support and cooperation."

"We hereby acknowledge, with sincere gratitude, receipt of your contribution for those affected by the Japan’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant disaster. Based upon decisions made by the Cash Grant Allocation Committee, your donation will be distributed via the appropriate prefectural and municipal governments to support the recovery of those affected by this devastating disaster."

Extract of message (15.02.2013): 
" Today we have received your book and we thank you for introducing it to us.
We will surely enjoy reading it and feel your warm heart supporting the
affected people.

We deeply appreciate your kindness and passion for this incredible project.

Best wishes,
Organizational Development Department
Japanese Red Cross Society"

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Calling artists and writers with work accepted for the anthology

We would like to remind all contributors who had work accepted for New Sun Rising: stories for Japan and who have not yet sent back their contracts, bios and pix to do so as soon as possible and before 31 March 2012.

31 March 2012 is the cut-off day for determining the look of the final layout for almost 400 pages!

Layout work will begin on 1 April 2012. Although 1 April is widely considered as April Fool´s Day, we prefer to think of it as the start of Miyako Odori ("Cherry Blossom Dances"), an annual geiko/geisha dance celebration in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. While the term geisha means "artist" or "person of the arts", the more direct term geiko means essentially "a child of the arts" ....

And so we call out to the five missing artists, children of the arts, creators of the following works accepted for the anthology:

  • Blossom Tree (b/w photograph)
  • Calligraphy (black on white background with black border and stamp;

The meaning of the calligraphy is: "不撓不屈 (ふとうふくつ)
どんな困難に出会ってもけっして心がくじけないこと。futoufukutsu
No matter what difficulties you encounter, never let your heart/mind/spirit falter."

  • Cherry Blossom (pencil drawing, initialled CE)
  • Japanese Blockprint (geisha indoors, white on dark teal-blue background, intialled DS)
  • Kitsune2 (ink, fox against rising sun)

Artists are requested to contact the Editors (newsunrisingeditors[at]ragingaardvark[dot]com) and send high resolution (300 dpi) copies of their artwork.

Contracts will be sent on receipt of notifications.

Please share widely so that we may be able to find the five outstanding artists by deadline.

Many thanks!


Prize-winning photographer, Ronnie Niedermeyer, has kindly allowed us to use one of his photos on this blog.


Sunday, May 1, 2011

New Sun Rising on the Word Count Podcast

The fantastic RB Wood generously devoted an entire episode of his podcast to the New Sun Rising project. The special Word Count Podcast for Japan has a lengthy (girthy) interview with Frankie and a selection of readings from the book: stories, flash, poems, and haiku.

You can it via iTunes or download it as an mp3. Links are on RB's page:

The Word Count Podcast for Japan

Leave a comment letting us know which is your favorite excerpt from the book.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Cover Art!

I know everyone has been dying to see it, so here it is, the beautiful cover by Daniel Werneck for New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan:


If you'd like to see some of the rough sketches from Daniel's creative process, they're in his Flickr stream.

(I love it so much!)

Also! Interview on Fictionaut with the lovely Katrina Gray!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Update and Artwork from Japan

First, I want to say thank you so much for all your submissions. It is way, way more than we expected, or could've anticipated. Our volunteers are finishing the second read through this weekend, and we all really appreciate your patience.

via @LouFreshwater, Immense paper cut tapestries by Tomoko Shioyasu


That's paper!

If you're in New York, you can see it in person between now and June 12th at Japan Society. From now until June 30th, 50% of admissions and tickets go to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Video, Love.

You guys, I love you so much right now. All of you. There has been so much support, I think we've got enough editors. It's volunteer, and life comes up, so if people have to drop out, I will ask again. But for right now we're okay.

What we need, now, is your work -- and your word of mouth. But Greg really says it right here:




Did Greg inspire you to send us something? Well, That Girl Tyson has you covered. She's done a video of our submission guidelines:



You guys are so awesome.

Thank you so much.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Questions about Submissions (1)

I'm getting a lot of questions about submissions--thank you so much, guys, for being excited about this project and so generous with your work.

(And to the people that are getting in touch with me, saying "I don't have any work, but is there anything I can do to help?" -- you rock. If I haven't already put you to work, I'll be in touch shortly. ;)

I've updated the guidelines slightly. We'll look at slightly longer stories--up to around 7,500 words.

The previously published question

For the people that have been asking, we will consider previously published work. Just tell us where and when. We're biased toward previously unpublished work, but I don't want you to hold back sending us something awesome because it was in a now-defunct webzine three years ago. I don't consider work posted on your blog or in an online workshop published.

The simultaneous submission question

Please don't do this to us. It is so much work, going from idea to book in a matter of weeks. Submissions are only open until 11 April, you'll hear from us within 6 weeks for sure. I have nightmares about having to root through our submissions, finding withdrawals, and scrambling at the last minute to readjust the book around gaping holes where someone else has scooped up a work we love. I know it's hard, but please be patient.

Artwork and Photos

As much as I would love beautiful color artwork and photos, it adds a layer of complexity in the "printing" and we just do not have the time. It is okay to attach your art submission--.png, .jpg, or .gif format. Please select one to send--your best, your favorite, something that you feel embodies Japan.

I love the offers to select anything we'd like from your photo blog or your Flickr album; by all means, if you would like to extend that offer, mention it with your submission. (This also applies to people who use their blogs as a place to post poetry or stories.)

But.

We are working really hard on the submissions coming into our email, and some of you are amazingly prolific. We just do not have the time to browse hundreds or thousands of your photos. Have pity, at least send us a sample so we can see what your work is like. If what you send is great but just doesn't quite fit, then we know there's more on offer and we'll get back to you about it.

And thank you guys, again, for all the work you are sending our way. You are amazing.

-Frankie

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

By the skin of my teeth

I cannot believe it is only Tuesday. Well, Wednesday now. A few hours in.

This project, it started out on Sunday afternoon with just the slip of an idea for this thing, and you guys reached out with open arms and embraced it.

I am overwhelmed, I do not have words for how grateful I am to all of you. Maybe I would be able to find them if I were not so tired, but I doubt it. Sometimes the magnitude of a thing defies expression.

The facebook page is up, finally. (I swear, I meant to do it yesterday, but I just didn't get there.) I was getting ready for bed. Then I realized I forgot to blog about some other fund-raising projects for charities working in Japan.

I thought about going to bed anyway, but I don't know when I would find the time. And it's too important to get lost.


There's the Authors for Japan auction going on. They have some fabulous stuff. Like a signed copy of The Man Who Painted Agnieszka’s Shoes and the original cover art. (Dan Holloway's encouragement and support was instrumental in starting the New Sun Rising snowball on its journey down the mountain.)

Go. Look. Spend unwisely.

Also in author related fundraising, Stella Deleuze is giving 100% of the sales from her Kindle book to the British Red Cross. Go on, check it out.


(Now I'll go to bed. I promise, Sessha.)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Origins

On March 11, 2011 a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck the north of Japan. In the wake of one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in the history of Japan, a state of nuclear emergency was declared, forcing the evacuation of thousands more.

The world watched, stunned.

We wanted to help. Just giving money didn't seem like enough.

The idea for New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan, a collection of stories and poems and art honoring and celebrating Japan, was born.