Hi, everyone. This is PJ, writing today about a place that is dear to my heart. Sanibel Island is a beautiful island in the Gulf of Mexico known for its welcoming, laid-back atmosphere, shell-filled beaches, and glorious sunsets. The photo above is of the lighthouse on Sanibel, as it appeared prior to Ian's arrival. Sanibel sits just off Ft. Myers, in Southwest Florida, in the area that last week took the brunt of the devastation from Hurricane Ian. It's an area I know well, having lived in Sarasota for many years. In fact, Captiva Island, at the far tip of Sanibel, is where my late husband and I honeymooned. It's also a region where friends and family still live, several of whom have been personally impacted by Ian's devastating winds and water. Today, I'd like to share a post from author Hope Holloway. If you're a regular here at The Romance Dish, you've read my reviews of the books in Ms. Holloway's Shellseeker Beach series, which is set on Sanibel Island. She not only creates engaging characters and heartwarming stories she also captures the unique atmosphere of Sanibel Island as it was before last Wednesday.
From Hope Holloway, author of the Shellseeker Beach series
As a writer of stories set on the glorious slice of paradise known as Sanibel Island, my heart is truly broken. I can barely watch the images from the southwest coast of my state, stunned by the total devastation Hurricane Ian caused this week. In particular, Sanibel, which was essentially the site of landfall of this powerful storm, has been rendered uninhabitable.
Like others, I feel helpless at a time when all I want to do is help. Therefore, I have pledged to donate a portion of every book sold in the Shellseeker Beach series to Sanibel Island relief efforts. My goal is to raise $10,000 but who knows? Maybe we can go higher. I am reaching out to the contacts I've made on Sanibel, specifically bookstore owners, to structure a donation that is Sanibel-specific. I am also watching the mayor's communications for updates on the J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge to determine how they are handling donations. The island is closed due to the damaged causeway. But I will reach people, and I will help as I can. I hope you will, too.
If you would like to make a donation to any and all of the thousands of Floridians affected by the storm, I urge you to do so by clicking any of these links, or a charity of your choice.
The Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/
The Florida Disaster Fund: https://www.volunteerflorida.
The Salvation Army: https://disaster.
Samaritan’s Purse: https://samaritanspurse.org/
Global Giving https://www.globalgiving.org/
And if you’d like to donate through Hope Holloway’s sales, you can take a fictional trip to Sanibel Island with the first book in the Shellseeker Beach series. You’ll have to pretend there hasn’t been a hurricane, but I promise an emotional and unforgettable visit. Again, I’m pledging to donate a portion of every sale of every book in the series (digital, paperback, and Kindle Unlimited) directly to Sanibel Island: https://amzn.to/3SLxLE3
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! For more information and donation updates, visit www.hopeholloway.com
I hope that all of you who are able will consider making a donation, either directly to the agency of your choice or by purchasing one of Hope Holloway's Shellseeker Beach books. Every amount donated, no matter how small, is desperately needed and I am sure will be greatly appreciated by all those - some of whom have lost everything but their lives - who have been impacted by Ian's wrath.
Have any of you been impacted by Hurricane Ian?
Have you ever visited Sanibel Island?
Three people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, October 6 will each receive a print copy of the first book in the Shellseeker Beach series, Sanibel Dreams.
U.S. only
Must be 18
Void where prohibited
My brother and his girl friend live in Coral Key. They are fortunate. They have been gob smacked, but they are so much better off than many others. I just bought the first two books in this series. All I can afford. Thanks for the opportunity. I hope that your very generous offer is successful and you reach your goal. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI vacationed on Sanibel Island with my family when I was in High School, 20+ years ago. I have fond memories of walking on the gorgeous beach searching for sea shells. My heart goes out to FL.
ReplyDeleteI have not been impacted by Hurricane Ian, but a friend's parents lost their home.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Sanibel.
Denise
Laurie Gommermann
ReplyDeleteI have never been to San I always or Csptiva Island
ReplyDeleteSorry babysitting and grandchild hit my arm. Anyways never been to either Sanibel or Captiva. My relatives are in Cape Coral. Luckily only minimal damage. We live on the Atlantic side. I have been through 3 hurricanes. Thinking of everyone who has been impacted.
DeleteEvery donation is appreciated!
I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited Sanibel several times. Even having seen the videos of the aftermath I cant believe it. Being a Michigander, I am fortunate not to have experienced a hurricane. My prayers and best wishes to all of those affected by this storm.
DeleteVisited Sanibel and Captiva, staying at Ft. Myers Beach, several times with my family when I was a teenager. I remember shelling with my mother and a family friend and bringing home a big bucket of shells. I was saddened to see the destruction in Florida. Several co-workers are still without power. I am in Virginia where we had some high winds and quite a bit of rain. Still breezy here today ....
ReplyDeleteI vacationed years ago on Sanibel and Captiva. Wonderful setting. Florida is my favorite place to go for a holiday. Such a sad time now and so much destruction. I have never lived where there are hurricanes.
ReplyDeleteWe have visited much of Florida but not gone out to Sanibel or Captiva. My husband's family lives in Orlando. His brother had a large branch just miss his house. They took some water damage to the interior walls from wind driven rain getting in through the eves. Our niece's area had flooded streets but I don't think her house took any damage. We have a 92 year old friend who lives inland a bit from Bradenton. They got some strong winds, but he only lost a few shingles. His son lives closer to the coast and took more damage. In 1978 we were camping along the Maine coast and were to camp on the Gaspé Peninsula coast. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ella moved in and we ended up pushing inland. It didn't help much. We finally found a campground about 1 in the morning. No one spoke english. We were put up our pop-up camper in driving wind and rain with a 3 and 4 year old. Memorable. When I was in the Philippines, I was caught in a rather severe typhoon. They didn't bother to warn anyone it was coming and people had gone in to work, then were sent home. By the time I got to the neighborhood where I was staying, the water was mid-calf dee, the wind and rain was severe. By the time they finally heard me yelling (no electricity so no bell) to be let in through the gate & into the house I was soaked all the way through.
ReplyDeleteI'm from Jacksonville Fla, so I've been through so storms. Some bad ones when I was very little , so I ve been told.
ReplyDeleteI'm new to this author. But sounds like I need to start reading her
I live in the Long Island area of NY and we do have bad hurricanes from time to time. One was several years ago, Hurricane Sandy which hit on my bday, did a lot of damage to some areas, we just lost our power for a bit and had some branches down. It took a lot of people to get things back to normal; many people lost their homes.
ReplyDelete