Here at Smart Bitches, we’ve examined a slew of material since last Monday, from novels to anthropology texts to poems, and we’ve discussed authors, editors, publishers, writers, scientists, ethnographers, Native Americans, and of course, Bitches.
But as Paul Tolmé pointed out in his article in Newsweek, there’s one party that hasn’t gotten enough attention.
The ferrets.
Tolmé‘s article about the black footed ferret focuses on the loss of their habitat, the prairie, and the programs working to bring them back from near extinction.
The black footed ferret is officially classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as extinct in the wild, though breeding and repopulation programs have been successful. Defenders of Wildlife classifies the ferrets as an imperiled species.
And then came this morning’s email: Nora Roberts has volunteered to match up to $5,000.00 USD any donations made by Smart Bitches readers to Defenders of Wildlife, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that works to preserve not just ferrets but endangered wildlife across the US, most particularly that species much loved by paranormal romance writers: the wolf.
Are you outside the US, but want to increase Nora’s gift? Please feel free to make a donation to the local wildlife charity of your choice.
To qualify your donation for Nora’s matching gift, please email me at sarah@smartbitchestrashybooks.com with a screen cap or PDF of your donation receipt. You can block out your personal deets if like. I’ll total up the collective donations and keep y’all appraised of the totals.
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books LLC, will kick off the donations with a $100 pledge. Nora’s offer to match expires 31 January 2008, so please get your donations in by then.
Updated to add: We have cleared
$1000 $1500 $2200 $4900
in total Smart Bitch Reader donations. Way to go!
Updated 18 January 2008, 6:00 pm EST: WE have REACHED $5,000.00 – and then some. Way to go Bitches!
I only realized after I made a donation that I could’ve adopted an animal. What a cute idea! Maybe I’ll do that as a gift for a family member.
I don’t see this as an apology at all. As others have said, it’s a way to do something positive—for a very worthy cause—in response to a negative situation. I think Mr. Tolmé‘s article in Newsweek was witty, to the point, and completely fair. And if this book was his introduction to the genre, who can blame him for getting a negative opinion of romance novels? I can’t.
The apology has to come from Edwards and, to a lesser degree, her publishers.
First we save the ferrets…
next …the WORLD!!!
WWND!
Applauds the community !!
Played follow the links and found my way here.
Donation of $25.00
For the ferrets
You know… maybe we should be having a “design a t-shirt” contest. Anyone?
Ocy said: You know… maybe we should be having a “design a t-shirt†contest. Anyone?
I think that’s a great idea! I second the suggestion.
I’m laughing hysterically at the idea of a “Ferrets against plagiarism” t-shirt. I love Kalen’s design, only I couldn’t use something that has the word “bitch” on it in class.
I’ve added to the donation tally. I adopted a penguin to give to my mother since she’s fascinated by the creatures. Also, I didn’t want to get into a wrestling match with Kalen over any ferrets.
I’m so glad Nora proposed this. As others have said, it’s a great way to turn a lot of negativity into something positive and non-profits like this need all the help they can get.
Now if we can just figure out how to get Mr. Tolme to read some good romances.
Chryssa
verification word—himself54.
Ah yes, inspiration comes in interesting forms. So, if “himself”, Mr. Tolme, is reading any of these comments, I’ll kick in another donation if he agrees to read an SB recommended romance and report back in.
Because I obviously have too much time on my hands:
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/members/products/preview.aspx?s=ciaralira.0
Nora you are Awesome.
aaaaa, if only I could spell. Let me fix that. how embarrassing!
Here we go: http://www.cafepress.com/ciaralira
![](http://images.cafepress.com/product/215043925v1_240x240_Front.jpg"/)
And to think I was worried about spelling ferret incorrectly!
Ciaralira, that link takes me to a sign-in screen, not the actual items.
oye.
Just made my donation and forwarded my email to Sarah.
So are the ferrets now the smartbitches mascot?
Now lets see if Nora can introduce the ferrets into the In Death books. Maybe Roarke drags Eve to a save the ferrets fundraiser?
Oh, holy jumping wowzer! I gotta get me one of those tee-shirts!
They RULE!
I want a tee or a tote,too!
And Roarke can’t fund the ferrets; he’s already sponsoring Save the Moles. They’d eat us!
Query: Does the matching donation work only for Defenders of Wildlife? They don’t have adoptable ferrets. What if I gave my money to http://blackfootedferret.org/adoption.html instead? Would that still count?
Note: You can get a really adorable plush ferret (though not black-footed) for $55 from the Smithsonian Store.
I dedicate this latest book cover to Paul Tolme
http://bunionblog.blogspot.com/
.
.
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(These things are getting WAY to addicitive.)
Shannon, the Beastmaster? ROFL There’s nothing like 118 minutes of Marc Singer without a shirt.
Karmela, I noticed Mr. Tolme’s hawtness. I’ve been trying to figure out how to Photoshop a kilt on the man since breakfast.
Nora, it’s repetitive I know, but you rock.
Thanks for keeping us informed SBs. Off to adopt a beluga whale.
I’ve been a member of Defenders since forever. I think I even remember seeing the ferret story. Got a couple of pens, my calenders, a key chain, a book mark, a backpack, a wolf that if you squeeze it’s sides it howls, and a polar bear (I think I got it from them; it may have come from World Wildlife Fund). I guess a ferret would be cool. Or an owl or lynx. Friday, Friday…
You know, Defenders is working to save several species. I say go with your favorite. You could even donate the amount of one of CE’s books times two or three or four. Pretend you’re taking money away from her to save cute, furry creatures.
You wouldn’t mind, would you Nora?
My god, the feeling I got this morning when I woke up and checked the site…all warm and fuzzy. Isn’t this a great thing to do? Isn’t La Nora fab? Isn’t this site great? Aren’t you proud to be here and be doin’ for the ferrets?
I swear, I had this image of the Bitchery and ferrets creeping out of undergrowth, joining hands in a circle and singing, “Can you feel the love tonight” a la Disney!
And here I was, thinking I couldn’t be more impressed with LaNora after the fantastic ‘bite me’ comment…guess I was proven wrong yet again.
Well done Nora. Thanks Smart Bitches.
Off to make my donation.
I couldn’t give much, cause I’m a broke college student, but I gave a little. Thanks to Nora for matching my contribution. It’s really nice that something good is coming out of this.
-Cheers!
“Karmela, I noticed Mr. Tolme’s hawtness. I’ve been trying to figure out how to Photoshop a kilt on the man since breakfast.”
Owie my sides! I would love to see this. I also want one of those totes, or a shirt with Kalen’s logo, or or or….
On a slightly related note, I’m currently reading a book by (hang on while I did it out) Julie Kenner called Aphrodite’s Passion where the hero’s sidekick is, believe it or not, a talking FERRET named Elmer. Talk about timing.
Ok, those t-shirt designs are brilliant! Gotta get me one. Did you create the art yourself, Ciaralira?
I am a lurker here, but I felt compelled to leave a message on this thread. As an aspiring biologist who works with and takes care of many animals, I am so happy to see something positive resulting from this terrible situation.
I just wanted to say thank you to the Smart Bitches and Nora Roberts for their generosity! I sent in my donations this mornings and adopted my very own ferret.
Ok, I couldn’t help myself. Ciaralira inspired me. My design’s not as freaking fantastic as hers, and there are no t-shirts or totes, but I had fun with it, and I’m going to stick it anywhere friends and family might see it. The ferret will seduce them to our cause! Or… something like that.
…it bears an uncanny resemblance to a lolferret, doesn’t it? Hmm…
I designed the art.
Obviously this design would need Sarah and Candy’s permission to be made into a tee-shirt.
Does WWND have a question mark after it?
Okay, I see Ferret Art as the wave of the future!
You guys are so damn clever!
For lovers of ferrets in romance: I must point you to My Sweet Folly by Laura Kinsale.
I can’t reread Kinsale often enough. And here’s another excuse: Toot the ferret.
Ciarlira, can you do kids’ tees? I would buy them for my two grandbabies in a heartbeat.
I donated! I got a windbreaker! I am filled with yay! Alas that my employer doesn’t match donations, but La Nora’s match is totally rockin’ and made of fantastic.
For anyone who wants to research another terrific charity (not for Nora’s match because that’s clearly a specific thing), I’d point you toward my favorite charity—www.heifer.org. You actually send real animals to specific people, with training, and it makes a huge difference in their lives. The story that made me start donation to them was about how a donation of $20 worth of chickens ended up reforming an entire community and building a school. Yes, a SCHOOL.
Inspirational, people. I love that charity. Can’t wait to get my DoW windbreaker and wear it proudly!
Ok, got paid- adopted a Snow Leopard.
( Well we can’t let the Ferrets have all the fun can we????)
LOVE those shirts!
Ciaralira that design is wonderful. I love it.
I like ferrets. A lot.
Some of my best friends are ferrets.
My great-grandma was a ferret princess.
I used to housesit for a friend who had a couple of ferrets and they were swell creatures. A joy to be around, both of them.
However, am I the only one who thinks it might be more appropriate to donate to, say, American Indian College Fund, or Oyate or Institute of American Indian Arts? The offensive stereotypes of Cassie Edwards’ work have a real impact on people’s lives in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. These organizations do work that can help mitigate that impact.
I’m not The Nora who can match funds, but I can say that while the ferrets are certainly cute and no doubt deserving, my money is going to help the folks depicted so offensively in so much of Edwards’ work.
ROFL! The glasses and the WWND necklace just make that for me. Ciaralira, you crack me up.
Hey Nora!
I added baby & kid gear on cafepress. You can find it here: http://www.cafepress.com/ciaralira
I haven’t uploaded the “Smart Bitch” Ferret yet though, because I’m not sure if Sarah and Candy would be okay with using their website on it. (what do you think?)
cheers,
Ciara Stewart
Ciaralira, that SmartBitch ferret rocks—but personally, I think that WWND demands the “?”
[I gotta get a mug with that once you get the SBs approval, btw]
Ciana, thanks!
My grandbabies will be sporting anti-plagiarism ferrets!
Sarah granted permission for the “Smart Bitch Ferret” so here it is: http://www.cafepress.com/ciaralira2
I find Cafe Press difficult to navigate, but it’s the only site I know of where you can upload an image and get easy one-off printings. Hope it works for you! If you want only the picture so that you can print it yourself or whatever, ping me and i’d be happy to send it to you (ciaralira.wordpress.com).
Thanks again Nora!
I hope you’ll leave the first one up for a few days, at least. (I really can’t have Bitches on my t-shirt, either, as much as I HEART them.) I have to sweet talk the hubby some more. The first conversation went like this:
Me: I need more money for gas.
Him: I just gave you gas money.
Me: Yeah, I gave that to the ferrets.
He’ll be thrilled to know he has to buy me a Ferrets Against Plagiarism sweatshirt. *g*
Both are online.
Ferrets against Plagiarism: http://www.cafepress.com/ciaralira
Smart Bitch: http://www.cafepress.com/ciaralira2