Thea Lim's Book Auction to Support Prisoners Offers Books Lovers a Great Way to Do Good

Today, September 28, marks the beginning of a unique fundraiser. The brainchild of Scotiabank Giller Prize-nominated author Thea Lim, the Book Auction to Support Prisoners is an online auction of books and literary goodies from Canadian authors. 

Including more than 70 autographed and special editions of books in all genres, the auction benefits Book Clubs for Inmates, the COVID 19 Emergency Prisoner Support Fund run by the Toronto Prisoner’s Rights Project, and the Jail Accountability & Information Line (JAIL) run by the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project. 

All books were donated directly by the authors, and some book purchases include fun bonuses for the winning buyer like custom illustrations, a video chat with the writer, and more. Notably, acclaimed author Eden Robinson has donated an unreleased manuscript complete with copy edits, of her forthcoming Return of the Trickster.

Some of the participating authors whose books are available for purchase include: Esi Edugyan, Sheila Heti, Dionne Brand, Heather O’Neill, Tanya Tagaq, Robyn Maynard, Mona Awad, David Chariandy, Iain Reid, Ian Williams, and Waubgeshig Rice.

The auction organizers have stated that the fundraiser is responding to conditions in federal and provincial prisons, in particular the mass incarceration of Indigenous and Black people; the higher risk of COVID-19 in prison and the resulting worsening conditions; and the fact of more than five recent prison strikes in Ontario alone, protesting lack of clean drinking water, lack of soap, dirty clothes, and inedible food.

If you're looking for a practical way to take action, bidding on a book is a great opportunity to score great reads for a good cause. The auction runs from September 28 to October 4, so get your bids in by Friday evening.