HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Murder By The Book is a privately owned book shop in southwest Houston. The team that works there knows the damage storms can do. The store flooded three times in the last two years. The pictures of the shop from the aftermath the Memorial Day and Tax Day floods are worth a thousand words.
So after Harvey, the owner, McKenna Jordan, knew she had to author something that could help others. In addition to opening her doors in the days after the flood to offer people a dry place to sit, have cold drinks, and get free WiFi, she wanted to do more.
"I started a charity called Book Lovers Care," Jordan explained, "in an attempt to get book lovers, authors, fans in the book community to help with Harvey, Maria, and Irma."
She solicited donations of unique book-related items. The response was overwhelming. The entire stock room in the back of the store is now teeming with donations.
"Most of it is collectible, one-of-a-kind," said Jordan. "We have limited editions. We have some pretty terrific signed things. "
They are things one can't get anywhere else, including special marketing materials, advanced reader copies, and rare, autographed books.
"Lee Child has signed, 'Thanks for helping Book Lovers Care.' We also have signed Richard Ford books. We have a signed first edition of Life of Pi," said Jordan. "We have limited edition Sherlock Holmes, limited edition Game of Thrones, we have a signed first edition of Twilight."
Here's a link to the auction site which is open from Tuesday, December 12, 2017 to Sunday, December 18, 2017. And anyone who wins an item also gets a gift card to the store.