The kind and talented historical fiction author Kate Quinn  and her heroic servicemen of a husband (aka. Overseas Gladiator) suffered a house fire this week. Everyone, including the dog, was lucky to escape alive, but Kate was hospitalized briefly after having been blown down the stairs in a backdraft. She's recovering now but the damage to the house was extensive. Her author friends in the historical and romance communities have banded together to raise money to help her replace all she's lost.

(In the meantime, if you love Roman praetorians and empresses--and who doesn't?--you can also help while getting a great book by pre-ordering her forthcoming novel, LADY OF THE ETERNAL CITY .)