Agatha finalist Jane K. Cleland brings us an irresistible new blend of coziness, crime, and collectibles... The autumn foliage is in full fiery glory on a beautiful day in the little coastal town of Rocky Point, New Hampshire. Josie Prescott arrives at the town's renovated lighthouse to conduct an antiques appraisal and is horrified to discover the bludgeoned body of her neighbor Zoë's beloved nephew, Frankie. The owners of the lighthouse are avid antiques collectors, and Josie soon begins to suspect that a scrimshaw tooth from their collection may be the key to solving the crime that has shaken Rocky Point, and broken her dear friend's heart.

The Big Book of Benefit Auctions is the ultimate step-by-step handbook on how to plan and have a successful and effective auction. Auction committees will find it an invaluable reference as it provides all the tools they will need for complete auction planning and management. From setting the goal for the event, to organizing the committee, procuring auction items, building the audience, preparing the catalog and through auction night cashiering (check out) services, everything you will want to know about the auction process is readily at your fingertips in this resource guide. The book will not only contain important "how to" information, it will also explain why some decisions and activities are not only good practices, they are essential to having a well-run and efficient event. Also, the book will discuss important strategies for maximizing revenue at your event, and will cover common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Auctions are unique in the world of special events. They contain core elements of other fundraising events, but a critical factor is that they also must procure auction items to match their clientele and then motivate those bidders to buy. True success requires the application of creative strategy to every facet of the event, as well as the use of organized systems to stay on track. Auction Fundraising Simplified shows how to think outside the box, provides examples and worksheets, and will help add thousands of dollars to the bottom line. Contained within these pages is information about: Skills needed to be a successful auction director Insider tips and strategies for "thinking outside the box" Identifying auction demographics and laying a strong foundation Examples, systems, timelines, and worksheets for all auction elements Choosing an effective auctioneer Determining what committees are needed and how to keep them on track Ideas for recruiting sponsors, donors, and attendees Targeted procurement techniques for obtaining auction items Packaging auction lots for the highest sale Catalog writing processes and tips to save time Negotiating contracts with venues, caterers, suppliers, and others Food and beverage suggestions for menu planning and service Ways to market and promote your auction Creating site plans and logistics schedules Contracting for production (stage, sound, lighting, visual media, entertainment) Using volunteers for maximum effect Pre- and post-auction activities The easy-to-read format and systems in Auction Fundraising Simplified have been successfully used by auction managers of all skill levels and by academic institutions as a teaching tool. We guarantee this book will pay for itself many times over in time and financial gain.

In a climate in which community services funding is more and more scarce and the causes are getting more and more urgent, grassroots fundraising is the brightest light at the end of the tunnel. The easiest grassroots fundraiser is a benefit auction, and this book offers tried-and-true methods for putting on a wildly successful event. In this comprehensive, step-by-step guide, author Sandy Bradley draws on her many years of experience as an organizer and auctioneer for nonprofits and arts organizations.

There has never been a greater need for raising the funds necessary to promote the causes that will help build a sustainable future. In Money for the Cause: A Complete Guide to Event Fundraising, veteran nonprofit executive director Rudolph A. Rosen lays out field-tested approaches that have been among those that helped him and the teams of volunteers and professionals he has worked with raise more than $3 billion for environmental conservation. As Rosen explains, fundraising events can range from elite, black-tie affairs in large cities to basement banquets and backyard barbeques in small-town America. Money for the Cause runs the gamut, demonstrating methods adaptable to most situations and illustrating both basic and advanced techniques that can be duplicated by everyone from novice volunteers to experienced event planners. Each chapter begins with a pertinent, real-life anecdote and focuses on major areas of event fundraising: business plans and budgets, raffles and auctions, tax and liability matters, contract negotiation, games and prizes, site selection, food service, entertainment, publicity, mission promotion, food and drink service, and effective team building and use of volunteers. The author applies each topic to the widest possible range of events, providing practical detail and giving multiple examples to cover the differences in types of organizations and their fundraising activities. Whatever the funding objective may be, Money for the Cause: A Complete Guide to Event Fundraising is both a textbook and a practical reference that will be indispensable to anyone involved in mission-driven organizations, whether as a volunteer, a professional, a student, or an educator. To learn more about The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, sponsors of this book's series, please click here.

A surprising number of women in their 40s, 50s and 60s are deciding to reconnect with horses. The author shares learning from her own journey, from horse people she interviewed for the book and from experts who helped her along the way. Riding Horseback in Purple is a compelling read for animal lovers, regardless if they dream of getting a horse.