Authors offer immortality in Web auction

How much would you pay to be immortalized as a zombie in a Stephen King novel or a good guy in a John Grisham thriller? King and Grisham are among 16 authors selling the right to have a character in a book named for the buyer to raise money for the First Amendment Project, a California-based nonprofit group that promotes freedom of information and expression. Details of exactly what each author is offering have been posted on Internet auction site eBay and the auctions will be held between September 1 and September 25, the group said on Tuesday. King said he was offering the chance to name a character in a novel called "CELL," to be published in 2006 or 2007. "Buyer should be aware that 'CELL' is a violent piece of work, which comes complete with zombies set in motion by bad cell phone signals that destroy the human brain," King said. "Like cheap whiskey, it's very nasty and extremely satisfying," he said on the site, adding that if the buyer wanted the character to die, it must be a female name. David Greene of the First Amendment Project, which provides legal representation in freedom of expression cases, said fans had already shown significant interest. ...more
ebay link