For those of that might be interested, I have a couple appearances coming up in the next couple of months. You can see details on the tour page.
I’ll be adding more dates to the tour page as new things get scheduled. I’m cutting down on my conventions a little this year because of Oot. But I will be attending PenguiCon this year. (And San Diego Comic Con, if I can somehow get hold of a badge.)
Plus, I’m thinking of taking a little road trip.
You see, Sarah has a family wedding that she really wants to go to down in Virginia Beach. Since I’m not thrilled with the thought of taking Oot on a plane, we’re going to be driving down.
This means I’m going to be traveling through a big piece of the US I’ve never visited before. And whenever that happens, I wonder if there might be a bookstore or a library in the area that would be interested in hosting a reading/signing….
The wedding is on the 21st of March. That doesn’t leave us a lot of time….
So here’s the deal.
Here are the two potential routes I can take down to Virginia beach:
(Click to Embiggen) You can also go look at the google map directly if you follow THIS LINK.
If you live in this part of the country and want to help set up a reading/signing there are two options.
If you happen to own, manage, or work in a bookstore or library somewhere on this blue line, and you’d like to set up a reading/signing, you should drop me a via the contact form on the webpage.
If you don’t manage a bookstore or a library, but you still want to help lure me into your neck of the woods, you could go ask your local bookstore/library to see if they’d like to host an event. Then, if they’re interested, you can have them drop me a line. Again, using the contact form.
I know this is a relatively tight timetable, but I think we can make it work.
As an added incentive, if we do set up a reading or two, you can be relatively sure that you’ll get to hear a bit of The Wise Man’s Fear, as well as get a sneak peek at The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle.
(I’m so friggin excited about this book.)A few helpful tips:
1. If you post a comment below that says, “Come to Cleveland!1!!!” it will not in any way facilitate my coming to Cleveland.
Like I said above, I need to get in contact with someone who has the authority to set up an event.
1b. Ditto about sending me the phone number of a local bookstore. I just don’t have the time to call 100 places and track down the two or three that might be interested. It’s way better if YOU call them and ask them. Then, if they’re interested, you can send me a message with their contact information.
2. Please take note of the blue line in the map above. If your hometown/bookstore isn’t on that blue line, it’s going to be a lot harder for me to make the trip. I’m spending 40 hours driving down and back to Virginia. Since I have my baby with me, I’m not eager to add a long side trip.
2b. New York and Boston are not close to the blue line, just in case you were wondering.
2c. If you want to lure me off the blue line, it will probably require some manner of lavish bribe or exceptionally exciting venue.
2d. I will make one exception to 2c. If there’s a willing bookstore in Canton, OH, I’ll make the trip. Because it will give me an excuse to wear my Jayne hat, and sing “The Hero of Canton” at the reading.
3. Your house is not a viable venue for a reading. A good venue should have seating for at least 40 people and hopefully some way of selling books. A nearby coffeeshop is also a plus.
I honestly have no idea if this will work. But I’m guessing out of the thousands of people who read the blog, at least a few of them have to work in bookstores and libraries. I love doing readings and signings, so I’m hoping we can set up at least a couple appearances so I can meet some of y’all down there in the southeast.
Rest assured I’ll post up a blog as soon as we manage to set anything up.
Thanks for your help,
pat
151 Comments
lols looks like I won't have to try and badger Jo-beth! Yay for them being on top of things! I hope they get it worked out! They were super awesome when Sanderson was here… I hope they give you many bribes Mr. Rothfuss. If nothing else I can bribe you with yummy cakes and distractions for Oot while you are here!
(And for all those with advice on driving, cloth diapering is not that bad on the road, unless you are planning on being on the road for over a week with no way to wash the dipes! Then definitely go with 'sposies. And I don't know how many times we pulled off to the side of the road and I bf'd then popped the girl back in the seat! We never had any problems…
We've done 3 car trips to pick up my husbands parents from the airport… With first daughter at 2 months old and then again at 11 months old, and with second and first daughter at ages 3 months old/2 yrs and will be doing it again this summer!)
Another vote for southern route here. I'm also in the Cincy area and frequent a Hole-in-the-wall bookstore run by little old ladies. They would scowl at me over their Nora Roberts books at the very mention of inviting such riffraff like yourself to their establishment. Maybe Stephen and I can gang up on one store and get them to send an invite your way.
Hey Pat,
I would like to second Nick's suggestion for Anderson's in Naperville, IL (suburb of Chicago). It's a great family-owned bookstore and is always doing cool stuff. He said he sent them a message so hopefully it'll work out. And I can't believe I missed Neil Gaiman there!
COME TO LEX-VEGAS!!!! I'm just a bored, average, liberal arts college student in Danville, Kentucky (Centre College, right between Lexington and Louisville). If you journeyed anywhere through Kentucky, it is pretty safe to say I would consider class attendance that day optional. This might hurt my GPA, but my spirit will rest easier after hearing some of TWMF and seeing you in person!!!!
So I guess Australia is too much of a detour huh…
… You're book is my favourite book ever… Really amazing…
Psyched as for the Wise Man's Fear..
Just thought I'd let you know..
Oh Hallelujah! Both blue lines pass reasonably close to where I live in South Bend, IN… Here's praying that a bookstore nearby will set up a reading/signing!!! (Will make a few phone calls tomorrow… :) I'd settle for Chicago or Gary, IN… (in case anyone in those areas runs a local bookstore and is reading this :D )
I haven't commented before, but I keep up with your blog. I read NOTW about a year and a half ago and twice since. I absolutely LOVE the book, and recommend it to everyone! I'm very patient…(well, not really, but I have a little one of my own to keep me busy in the meantime) :) I'm savoring the anticipation for the second book, and looking forward to reading NOTW again soon!
Oh…and best of luck on the long road trip. We took a similarly long trip with my little boy when he was so small…in fact, I read NOTW for the first time while we were on that trip! Cheers! Alice R.
You should come to New Zealand. It's hardly out of your way. Only about 25-30 hours by plane…
awww man… sounds awesome.
Hey Pat, do you think you ever might make it to Japan? I mean, the cover art for the book here is freakin awesome, and I'll bet a signing here would be pretty cool. You'd be a massive celebrity simply because youre American, white, and have an epic beard to be rivaled only by Gimli in the Lord of the Rings…. but I digress… point is, itd be awesome if you could come to japan
I live in New Jersey, but I worked at Barnes and Noble for 3 years. I know how easy this would make the event planner's life. I am taking a road trip to Florida on the 12th and driving back on the 19th. There is a Barnes and Noble in Richmond, Virginia that has no events planned for the 19th besides weekly storytime. This Barnes and Noble is located at:
Libbie Place
5501 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230
804-282-0781
I can try calling them if nobody else lives in the area.
~Keith
kampfer@optonline.net
I mean, I'm really not on your route at all, but not that far off, but I do leave very close to a Canton, MI. Just saying.
Chesterfield Town Center
AT&T Store WiFi
11500 Midlothian Tnpk Space 440
Richmond, VA 23235
804-794-6640
Might be better because they have no events posted for 3/20/10 (Saturday)
Great, now I've got the "Ballad of Jayne" stuck in my head.
I hope it's through Kentucky you go. I no longer live in Louisville, but I'd definitely make the 2 hour drive to get there and see you. Or Lexington, even.
Canton, OH checking in here. I'm going out today to some local booksellers to see if I can get any to get on the Bandwagon!
I just sent you the contact info via your contact page for the Canton, ohio Borders bookstore after speaking to them. I really want to hear that song!
…hmmm I am not quite sure if Stuttgart (Germany) is e x a c t l y on your route. But maybe if you take a really SMALL detour. Ok, and you have to think about the travelling-by-car-thing… but otherwise it would be a great idea to step by in Stuttgart!!!
Paris,
Did you talk to the one on the Strip? I just talked to the manager, and he said I was the second person to mention Pat today!
Yes – I talked to the one at the strip. Then I forwarded the phone number and contact names to MR. Rothfuss.
Sorry to interrupt!
GRRM just got the greenlight from HBO for the GoT series!
You're next Pat!
:::::sigh:::::
Sometimes I have living in New York.
I've emailed a couple local Richmond Va bookstores – hopefully Pat will be visiting soon!
Cleveland-area Rothfuss fans!
Here is the text of the message I sent to Joseph Beth books at Legacy Village (5 mins from my house!):
Patrick Rothfuss, author of The Name of the Wind, one of the best fantasy novels written in the last decade, is looking to travel to the Cleveland area on his way to a family wedding. He has asked fans (via his blog at http://www.patrickrothfuss.com) to contact local bookstores to see about arranging an author event, including a reading from his latest book, Wise Man's Fear. Please, please, please take a moment to fill out the contact form on his website to see about getting this fresh young talent to our area! Thank you!!!!
Contact form:
http://www.patrickrothfuss.com/content/contact.asp#q9
Amazon page for The Name of the Wind:
http://www.amazon.com/Name-Wind-Kingkiller-Chronicles-Day/dp/0756405890/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267572788&sr=1-1
J-B's Contact page is at http://www.josephbeth.com/ContactUs.aspx
Let's get Pat to Cleveland!!!!
I used to live in Lexington, KY and there is a very nice bookstore there: JosephBeth. Depending upon the route you choose, I may just have to make a road trip myself.
The I-64 route is definitely more scenic. I love driving through the Appalachian mountains in eastern Kentucky. I've driven across large parts of Ohio and Indiana and you are not going to see anything but barren corn fields.
And now for my shameless city plug… come to Lexington, the Athens of the South. I've already contacted the Lexington JoBeth and they are hoping to get in contact with you. Whichever route you decide to take, thanks for taking time to stop and see your fans on your personal time!
"2c. If you want to lure me off the blue line, it will probably require some manner of lavish bribe or exceptionally exciting venue"
Pax east the 26th, in boston though… 60k people so you might be interested
HOW ABOUT
you come to Sussex, UK?
It'll be worth it. It has the word 'sex' in it, so it's automatically awesome.
Please? :)
I have to leave my vote for the northern route, Pittsburgh specifically. Pat, my friends and I have contemplated on more than one occasion road tripping to see you but it would be that much better if you happened to road trip to us!
On a side note, to the southerns who are trying to sway Pat by telling him the weather in the north is terrible… you are aware he lives in Wisconsin, correct? I'm pretty sure when you move there local authorities give you 8 inches of snow with which to decorate your yard…
You know what? Screw it. Both routes go through Richmond, which is only about 100 miles away from me. As soon as I know when you'll be in Richmond, Pat, I'll plan to go to your appearance and pay proper obeisance to the Beard. Hopefully, Oot will also grow a huge thick beard like his dad. (Now I'm picturing Oot with a huge bushy beard. Too cute!)
I actually live in Virginia Beach, so this is great news for me! I'll try and drop news of this around at some of the bookstores around here, so maybe you could actually do a reading here.
In case no one has sent you a deluge of e-mails and such about this already, Gabe of penny-arcade fame was 'tweeting' about your book and adores it.
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8247/imagehx.png
God knows if you read all your comments– but on a completely unrelated note, are you as excited about this as I am?
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/.a/6a00d834518cc969e201310f542962970c-800wi
!!
notonly were the folks at penny arcade tweeting about TNoTW, they put in a good word in their blog.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/
Will you ever have a reason to go through the south Texas area?
I don't suppose I could entice you to come to St. Cloud, MN? I work for the Great River Regional Library system up here and it would be awesome to have you come sometime.
Any chance they still have that ferry from Milwaukee to Michigan running? You could avoid half of Ohio that way.
I'm now considering moving to Canton, OH and opening up a bookstore, if it would mean you would come to do a reading….just as soon as I find it on the map…
bugger. I read your little 'excerpt' from your book and like the PA guys I kinda find it fascinating. Now I'm going to have to track down the book and read it.
You may not know this but I have a backlog. Not just books to read, but also Green Lantern, Japanese comics and video games. I have enough entertainment for three straight months and after your little excerpt suddenly you jump to the top portion of my list. Thanks a lot man. Thanks a lot.
Penny Arcade loves "The Name of the Wind"
Penny Arcade loves “The Name of the Wind”
http://www.penny-arcade.com/2010/3/3/name-wind/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pa-mainsite+%28Penny+Arcade%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
http://www.penny-arcade.com/2010/3/3/name-wind/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pa-mainsite+%28Penny+Arcade%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
A recommendation for when you're in Virginia Beach: whether you take the northern route or the southern rouit, eat at the Jewish Mother! It's just a couple of blocks from the ocean on 3108 Pacific Ave, and they make the most awesome sandwiches and chocolate shakes in the region.
http://jewishmother.com/pitas
To be honest I'd never heard of you before Penny Arcade's recent conversion of Gabe by your talented pen (or whatever enchanted word-smything device you employ). But after reading just a sampling of your blog (that kept me up til 2am bless you >_<), I actually can't wait to read your book. And uh, I'll keep that advice about quality time with woman and child in the forefront =D
Incidently, you wouldn't by chance be heading into the Canadian North anytime soon? Visiting hockey teams are nice company but we tend to treat those who come holding pens rather than hockeysticks a little less savagely.
Patrick, everyone seems to be leaving out a certain something in their posts.
Remember, you're a successful, talented writer driving across country (and heading steadily south) with his entire family. This just reeks of "Stephen King plot".
So drive careful. Because if you don't finish this series, I shall be very, very cross.
More importantly, your families safety aswell.
If you hear dueling banjo's, it's probably already too late.
The March 4, 2010 6:46 AM comment was made by me. Sorry, it didn't sign me in the way it was supposed to, and I apologize for the double posting.
But seriously.
Very Cross.
Come to Cleveland!1!!!
Kind of agree with the note on Tucson. Junot Diaz was here not TOO long ago and not long after David Sedaris was here. What I agree with is that none of MY favorite authors come through here. We have a fancy book festival and outstanding springtime weather, too!
Normally I would say "Why oh why would you go through Kentucky?!", but I am pretty sure that 80 is a toll road, so I would go on the southern most route. The one that goes through Indianapolis.
This advice has nothing to do with the fact that I am currently at college in Indiana. :)
@Jesse: Because Kentucky is a beautiful state with a scenic rolling country side?
Until you get near Ashland and the refineries start popping up right along the interstate anyway.
Come to Joseph Beth in Lexington, Ky. I think Ky has a thing for you Pat, as a friend of course. Everyone I talk to here loves your book. It would be packed. Think about it, mull it over, then let me know what date you'll be there.
Shit! Over a month late reading your blog. Never in a million years thought any author would contemplate stopping in WV for a book signing. If only I didn’t force myself to stay away from your blog so I feel less like a stalker!
Darn, I now regret putting off reading your book for so long. I missed a chance to see you in my area…