Authors team up in relief effort

In a literary version of Live Aid, the 1985 two-continent rock concert that has funneled $144 million to African famine relief, U.S. and U.K. authors hope to raise money for Indian Ocean tsunami victims through a book collecting first chapters of their works-in-progress.

The paperback book, called “New Beginnings,” will be published March 3 -- World Book Day -- in the United States, Great Britain and Germany. The project was put together by London literary agent Jonny Geller through Bloomsbury books.

The list of participants covers a wide range of styles, from horror master Stephen King and legal-thriller Scott Turow to literary voices Maeve Binchy, Ian McEwan, Margaret Atwood and Nick Hornby. At least 13 authors have agreed to take part.

Bloomsbury will donate all revenues for the book, which will list for $8.95 in the U.S., to the Disasters Emergency Committee.

“It is a privilege to be in a position to offer our services in the name of such unfathomable need,” Bloomsbury USA publisher Karen Rinaldi said in a statement. “It has been heartening to witness the quick and universal support of authors, publishers, agents and booksellers.”

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Scott Martelle