After floods damaged his home in Austin over a week ago, writer Steve Niles and his family have had to move out and into a friend’s guestroom. The comics community have immediately gathered around to help out in the immediate aftermath of the flooding, and Matt Miner has today launched an eBay auction to raise funds.
Among the items up for grabs are signed work from Chris Burnham, Greg Pak, and Frank Barbiere; original art from Phil Noto and Dick Ayers; and the offer of script reviews from Scott Snyder and Ron Marz.
Miner, a friend and co-worker with Niles, says that he’ll keep the auction running for as long as creators send him items. If you are such a creator, you can contact Miner to arrange things. The eBay auction will run in waves, with a number of items available right now. Amongst them are the chance to have your script reviewed by writers including Scott Snyder and Ron Marz.
You can also find items donated by James Tynion IV, Ed Brisson, Jamie Rich, Chris Ryall – who has donated an original page from 30 Days of Night – Kelly Williams, Peter Krause…. so many people. Go take a look at what’s on offer.
You can also donate straight through PayPal to [email protected], if you would so prefer. Niles has also encouraged donations for The Red Cross, to assist others who were affected by the floods.
Hey, so I’m posting this anonymously, as I don’t want to make a huge thing about it. But I less than a foot away from Steve Niles when he made some comments about how wealthy he was after selling the film rights to 30 Days of Night. He was talking to people from Space the Toronto based Sci-Fi channel. Think of how many people suffer accidents like this on a regular basis, and there is no one to come to their aide. I understand why, as comic fans we rally to the aide of favoured creators, but I question why no one wonders about their financial truancy? I’ve myself a millionaire (and I only say this as I heard it directly from his mouth), and then turned around asked for financial aide a few years later… I feel very odd about this entire thing, and really wanted to speak out. Primarily because, as said, I was less than a foot away from him when he made all kinds of “look at how rich I am now” comments, once upon a time.
Sorry… bad grammar…
“But I STOOD less than…”
“I’ve NEVER CALLED myself a millionaire”
Wow, harsh. I did read it stated in a previous Beat piece (that is linked in this piece) that Niles had no flood insurance, just for the record. While I have no knowledge of Niles financial status, I can say that flood damage can be extremely costly (and I live in Austin. It got pretty extreme for a few days, there.) to the point of total loss, even for people “with money.” Now, I’m not saying you’re wrong, but we don’t know what Nile’s money has been tied up in since 30 Days and how much has been washed away. Maybe, a simple statement as to how the donations will be used, and what loses are being recovered is in order, but I doubt he’s accumulated enough wealth to be financially invincible, in the face of something like this.
Steve Niles wouldn’t be accepting help if he didn’t actually need it. I’ve known Steve since we were practically teenagers and he’s had good years and bad years, but he’s by no means wealthy. Selling a movie deal (that’s split with a publisher) doesn’t make you rich for the rest of your life, sorry.
And Steve has done so much to help other comics people in need that it’s really appalling to have people accuse him like this.
Dude, 30 days of NIght came out like 10 years ago, and I’m sure Steve made some good money from it, but that kind of money doesn’t last that long.
No one has a gun to the head of anyone to force them to help out. Lots of people don’t have home insurance. To those who want to help someone who has gone out of his way to help others, the door is open.
Dudette, according to IMDB, 30 Days of Night came out 6 years ago, and spawned a couple of sequels (the most recent being 3 years ago). There was also “Remains,” a film produced from Niles’ graphic novel 2 years ago. And according to Wiki, a number of projects that have been optioned, but not yet produced. All of this in addition to his comics work. You are correct though that no one is forcing anyone to give their money to the celebrity who must have made at least enough on those projects to have afforded some home owners insurance.
Niles may not be wealthy, but I’d bet he has more money and prospects than most of the people donating art and material to his charity auction. Based on his own statements, it doesn’t seem that he needs money to feed, cloth, and shelter his family (which would be a worthy cause). He only mentions lost “stuff” — particularly a “scrapbook full of original art.”
or does he just want to replace some “stuff,” he lost, that he’ll no doubt earn enough to replace in a few years.
Did Niles really have a bunch of original art (Kirby ,etc) when he was asking for dog chemo money like that guy is saying over at BC? Does he still have art he could sell?
Oh , and I am just asking, not accusing.
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