The fund raiser is back on!
For those who didn’t hear, Uncle Hugo’s Bookstore, which has been serving Minneapolis since 1974 was totally destroyed by arson a couple nights ago. Don Blyly is the owner, a Minneapolis local, and all around nice guy.
Alexi Vandenburg launched a Gofundme the next morning (which I donated to and promoted) but then he put it on hold at Don’s request as he worked some things out and figured out how to proceed. The fund raiser has been turned over to Don’s son Sam to run (I don’t think Don does much of anything involving computers) and is now live again.
On a personal level, Uncle Hugo’s is how I got my start as a writer. Don Blyly read my first self-published book, and told Toni Weisskopf that it would be a perfect fit for Baen. I’ve signed books at Uncle Hugo’s I believe almost every book tour I’ve done, every year. There was always a wonderful crowd of locals and people who drove in from all over the region. Even during a blizzard people still turned out.
Losing Uncle Hugo’s sucks, but a lot of readers, fans, and people in the publishing business know Don and will want to help him rebuild. So please share that link. Thanks.
I’m curious: Would he accept donations of books also? Could be just as useful as cash if the shelves need filling.
Logistically I don’t think he can yet.
From what I read, maybe? But definitely not right now because there would be no where to store them.
I turned out for the one in the blizzard, and the one next year when I was still suffering from the SHOT Show crud. That place was very special to me, and it’s a hard loss. I spent days in there, and that’s where I first picked up Larry’s book as well as many other great authors.
I bought one of the self-published original run of MHI from there a long, long time ago (and, I think, wrote the first non-5-star review… so apologies on that count).
@correia45 – you thought about raffling a gun or some more red shirt names for their benefit? I’ll kick some money over on gofundme, but you might get some more traction that way.
And while you are there you can add to the $500,000 that gofundme corporate has generously donated to get arsonists and looters out of jail. https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/justice-and-equality
There will be, I’m sure, times and places for those of us with boxes of old bound friends to donate them to re-fill both Uncles’ used book shelves. There’s a lot of work to be done before that can begin (of course, you can be selecting, sorting, and filling boxes, just don’t bring or send them yet.)
Thank you, Larry, and the other authors, and my fellow readers, for your thoughts, words, and deeds.
I’ve never been there. But Larry signed books there, and I got a hardcover MHN, autographed to my then-15-year-old girl. (At my request, Larry even drew a cartoon of a girl riding a banshee and waving a handgun. Larry, you rock – big time. And if you haven’t seen the photo of my girl, holding up your book and grinning a mile wide, ask and I’ll send it to you.)
Many thanks for updating us about the fundraiser – I’ve been waiting for that. Will donate at once. And if Don ever DOES need donated books, I’ve got a lot I’m willing to donate.
Just posted on Twitter; hopefully the post gets a boost as well; the old one is still getting shared around.
Donation sent. I never have, and doubt I ever will, have a chance to visit / shop at Uncle Hugos, but I know that the ILOH is the only writer he’s helped. I only wish that instead of sending money we could have stood outside the store and prevented this.
need a counter-rioting flash mob app
My fiance and I met you Larry and Mike on your last book tour there. Sad day for the store to be gone.
Out of curiosity, is Uncle Hugo’s named after Hugo Gernsback, the Hugo Awards, both, or neither?
It’s a tragic loss. but we can take some solace in the knowledge that burning down science fiction bookstores will end racism forever.