Acclaimed authors Zadie Smith, Margaret Atwood and Ian McEwan are among writers offering members of the public an opportunity to name characters in their forthcoming novels through a charity auction.
The initiative is part of a literary festival organised by Freedom from Torture, a UK-based organisation supporting survivors of torture.
The festival is scheduled to take place at the London Library on November 11, bringing together authors, poets, artists and survivors for readings, creative activities and fundraising.
More than 75 writers and artists are supporting the event, with proceeds intended to help the organisation continue its work with survivors of torture.
Other auction prizes include original artwork by illustrator Quentin Blake, a rare book of Mary Wollstonecraft stories illustrated by William Blake, and a book club visit from author Louise Doughty.
The event will also feature a poetry competition exploring the experiences of torture survivors. The entries will be judged by Booker Prize-winning novelist Alan Hollinghurst and poet Rachael Allen.
Author Tracy Chevalier, known for Girl with a Pearl Earring, is among those taking part in the character-naming auction.
Chevalier said she had initially been nervous about allowing strangers to choose names for characters in her books, explaining that names carry particular significance for writers.
However, she later found the experience rewarding after using a winning bidder’s name for a character in one of her novels.
The festival also seeks to provide survivors with opportunities to share their experiences through writing and public readings.
Freedom from Torture said the literary programme was inspired in part by its Write to Life creative writing group, which supports survivors in developing and sharing their own stories.
The auction brings together literary fundraising and public participation, allowing readers to contribute to a charitable cause while taking part in the creative process behind fiction.
