'QuakeBook': Japan disaster spawns a whole new kind of publishing

Mere weeks after the devastating earthquake and tsunami killed well over 10,000 people in Japan, a book created to raise funds for survivors is set to hit Kindles, iPads and e-book readers.

The book -- called “2:46”, the exact time that the deadly disaster struck the country's northeastern coast -- includes contributions from Yoko Ono and sci-fi writer William Gibson.

The project started as a plea on Twitter that morphed into an entirely new kind of publishing.
Within a week of the first tremors on March 11, a group of -- until then, largely unconnected -- Tokyo bloggers and Twitter users began an ambitious project to both produce a creative documentation of the disaster and raise funds.

Fast forward seven days to March 25 and the collection of short stories -- “2:46”, or #QuakeBook from its Twitter origins -- was ready to hit the digital presses and speed funds to the Japanese Red Cross.

A Tokyo-based British blogger -- later project leader, known as Our Man In Abiko -- sent the first Tweet, which quickly drew in dozens of international writers, artists, translators, helpers and contributors.

“He was stunned by the response,” says Roberto DeVido, one of the group’s organizers.
Within hours he had received dozens of photos, illustrations and 250-word mini-essays from people hoping to express their feelings and sympathy.

“He quickly realized this could be a book,” adds DeVido. “And then he realized it could be sold to benefit the victims through raising money for the Japanese Red Cross.”

The book comprises some 30,000 words spread over dozens of pen portraits of life immediately after March 11.

The writers include people from many from parts of the world who were also affected, as well as Japanese.

Yoko Ono got in touch -- through Twitter at first, then by email -- and wrote a prescient contribution. Renowned sci-fi novelist William Gibson also submitted an original short story to the cause after being given a three-hour deadline by Our Man in Abiko.

Others like media professional Yuko Kato felt a need to explain Japanese stoicism to the world.
“I think that the people really suffering up north are a very proud and persevering, tough people,” says the Tokyo resident.

“In front of the cameras -- especially foreign cameras -- they might smile and say they are all right... but even though they may look calm, inside they are just really hurting.”

The QuakeBook team has set up distribution with Amazon, among others, and is currently taking the details of anyone keen to buy a copy when it goes on sale. A print edition, and a second QuakeBook, are in the pipeline.

Information about obtaining a copy is on the QuakeBook blog and there’s information on the progress of this spectacular team effort on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn as well.

Update: QuakeBook is now available as a multi-platform e-book through Amazon.