Coming Soon: Worldbuilders 2010

Well folks, November is fast approaching. I can see Thanksgiving on the horizon, and beyond that the Holidays are slouching toward us like some huge beast, drunk on eggnog.

This has always been my favorite time of year. I like the cool weather. I like the smell of fallen leaves. I like not having to worry about mowing my lawn.

But lately, fall has has become my favorite time of year for a different reason:

Those of you who have been reading the blog for a while should remember Worldbuilders. For those of you who are new to the blog, here’s how the whole thing works:

1. Authors and publishers donate books.

2. I put the books up on the blog, and we all bask in the warm glow of their radiant awesome.

3. You donate money to the Worldbuilders team page on Heifer International’s website.

4. I (and hopefully a few other helpful sponsors) match a percentage of your donations.

5. You get a chance to win some cool books.

6. Heifer International uses the money to make the world a better place.

See? Simple.

If you want more details, you can check out last year’s fundraiser over here. If you’re curios as to how all this started, you can read this blog here.

Over the last two years we geeks of all creeds and nations have banded together and raised over $250,000 dollars for Heifer International. I heard a rumor that this makes us pretty awesome.

This year, I’m hoping we can can do it again, except even bigger.

I’m posting up this pre-fundraiser blog for a couple reasons:

First, to let people know that yes, we are doing it again this year. I’ll be posting the official Worldbuilders kick-off blog around November 10th.

Second, I’m looking for a little help.

Normally I spend a lot of time gathering donations for Worldbuilders. I wheedle and schmooze authors at conventions. I hit a mailing list or two. I try to convince publishers that donating some books to us, would help raise awareness of those books, in addition to making them look extraordinarily generous and cool.

But this year I haven’t gone to many conventions. In fact, I haven’t done much at all over the last six months except revise Wise Man’s Fear and desperately try to avoid being a crappy, absentee dad.

Don’t get me wrong, we’ve got a few shelves of books already, with more coming in every day. We’ve even got a few new publishers donating this year. But still, I’m only one guy, and I’m not terribly well connected in the publishing world. So I thought I’d make an open request for donations here on the blog.

So. If you’re an author, and you’re willing to donate a couple signed books to a good cause, drop me a line at paperbackcontest [squiggly atsign thinger] gmail.com and I’ll give you all the details.

Now that I think of it, you don’t really need to be an author to donate. We’d love to get donations from anyone. So if you’re a publisher, an editor, a small press, a bookseller, a collector, or just someone who wants to help out, feel free to drop me a line at paperbackcontest [squiggly atsign thinger] gmail.com. The more the merrier.

Lastly, if you happen to know someone you think might be interested in donating, you’d be doing me a great favor if you brought Worldbuilders to their attention and let them know we’d love to have their support.

(I’m guessing the best way to show them what we do is to link them to the central blog for last year’s fundraiser.)

Thanks in advance everybody. I’m really looking forward to November 10th…

But for tonight, I’ve got more revision.

Wish me luck,

pat

Later Edit: Oh man. I just had an awesome idea. If you do a webcomic and you’d like to help out. Drop me a line at the above address. Even if you don’t have any print books to donate, drop me a line if you’d like to help out. Seriously. This might be cool.

This entry was posted in baby ducks, cool things, Worldbuilders 2010. By Pat51 Responses

51 Comments

  1. Posted October 25, 2010 at 12:17 AM | Permalink

    Oh man. It’s really hard not to talk about the stuff that’s already been donated….

    • Andres J.
      Posted October 25, 2010 at 5:54 AM | Permalink

      good luck pat!

  2. saintburns
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 12:22 AM | Permalink

    November is also exciting because of NaNoWriMo! (Which is National Novel Writing Month) I get to try and write a 50,000 word novel in a single month. Then in December I get to recover!

    (http://www.nanowrimo.org/ for information overload)

    • SavvyP
      Posted October 25, 2010 at 1:22 AM | Permalink

      Liar. You do not get to recover in December. You get to edit in December. You get to rest in January. :) Also, NaNo is pure awesomesauce.

      • saintburns
        Posted October 25, 2010 at 1:26 AM | Permalink

        I rest first and then edit later. Then rest some more and try to regain the social skills I lost while keeping up my word count.

      • lvdpal
        Posted October 25, 2010 at 3:31 AM | Permalink

        What is this thing called edit? *is a Wrimo too*

        • saintburns
          Posted October 25, 2010 at 7:26 PM | Permalink

          it is the mystical process of re-reading all of the words that you’ve written and making them sound pretty. This is an illegal process during November but fair game during December.

          • SavvyP
            Posted October 25, 2010 at 8:12 PM | Permalink

            And also not to be spoken of during the sacred month that is November.

    • bremon
      Posted October 25, 2010 at 2:27 PM | Permalink

      Ohh….Nanowrimo.
      I am so excited for nanowrimo this year, because it’s my first year in college and I DON’T have class from 7ish to 3
      :D
      I’m fairly sure that everyone I know wishes that nanowrimo would just HAPPEN already…
      in most cases not because they want to do it, but because I will be insane and will STOP TALKING ABOUT IT.
      Yeah. I’m *that* person.

      • saintburns
        Posted October 25, 2010 at 7:29 PM | Permalink

        Ha yeah I know what you mean. Though I wasn’t nervous about nano until one of my writer friends started stressing about it. Lucky for me though almost all of my friends do nano so if I talk about it too much it’s only because we’re discussing plot points or something.

  3. brian199
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 12:30 AM | Permalink

    Hehe Pat if you can talk about it then how about you allude to it.

    IE:
    So I can’t tell you about this set of books but it is about as awesome as my own book.

    or

    Some of these books are such a great read and fantastic to just have that I would give up “such and such”

    • Posted October 25, 2010 at 12:34 AM | Permalink

      Some of the donations are so awesome that they’re like awesome covered in awesome.

      My descriptive prowess is kinda lackluster lately, all my good words have been funneled into book two…

      • brian199
        Posted October 25, 2010 at 12:37 AM | Permalink

        Or so awesome you can’t even begin to describe them for fear of not showing how awesome they are :)

        Glad to have you as a writer Pat and one of the few who actually take time out of their day to converse with your fans.

      • Tuor
        Posted October 25, 2010 at 7:49 AM | Permalink

        seems like a pretty good description…awesome covered in awesome is about the best a person could ask for.

  4. Kyle F.
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 12:35 AM | Permalink

    And so risk making myself look like an ass . . . “I hit a mailing list or two. I try and .”

    Anyway, got a lot of birthday money and leftovers from graduation sitting right next to me on this desk. Chance to make me feel better about myself while donating money and maybe get a book on the return? Yus please.

    Also, will there be any betting on individual items like there was last year?

    • Posted October 25, 2010 at 1:31 AM | Permalink

      Yeah… I wondered what came after that “and .” as well.

      Was it a case of accidental deleting? I have a touch pad on my laptop and have accidentally deleted text when my hands have brushed the pad and highlighted what I just wrote without me noticing. When I continue writing, the highlighted text gets deleted and replaced by my new writing. It happens mainly when I’m tired and my hands are drooping. It’s very annoying.

  5. Walnutbutter
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 12:39 AM | Permalink

    We still havent heard about the results of the more interesting prizes from last year!

  6. ccomer38
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 12:43 AM | Permalink

    good luck!
    can’t wait for worldbuilders.. I got that sweet poster last year.. maybe i’ll win something in the raffle this year! and i got to feel good about myself being selfish buying stuff for myself :)

  7. Posted October 25, 2010 at 1:29 AM | Permalink

    Yay!!! Lucky for me I had just found a jar this weekend to start collecting change in. I want to give someone a goat! (course they may end up with chickens, since I’m a poor college student. But dream big and all that).

    Good luck with revisions :)

  8. SavvyP
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 1:49 AM | Permalink

    This is all pretty awesome. And equally as awesome the fact that I am finally employed. Which means moola. Which means an ability to contribute.

  9. Liam
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 1:59 AM | Permalink

    Silly Pat, Thanksgiving has come and gone :P

    • Shadow
      Posted October 25, 2010 at 8:26 AM | Permalink

      You know I was thinking “Thanksgiving was last month, whats he talking about?” ;-P

    • Little My
      Posted October 25, 2010 at 9:36 AM | Permalink

      Oh, I’m sorry. In MY house we’re going to be postponing Thanksgiving until MARCH 2011!!!

  10. begna112
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 2:12 AM | Permalink

    There is this app on the iTunes app store that the developer says all the proceeds will go towards WorldBuilders. Its called Rothfuss Reader or something like that. Do you know anything about it Pat?

    • Posted October 25, 2010 at 1:35 PM | Permalink

      Ah hell. Yeah. I know about that. The guy is really cool. That’s one of the dozens of blogs I haven’t had the time to write this last year….

  11. lvdpal
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 3:33 AM | Permalink

    Pat, I could donate some buttons if you’d like. I’m not much of a designer, but maybe we could use some of those designs for the t-shirts? Anyway, just a wild idea.

    (In case you like it, I have a button-making machine for 38mm buttons.)

  12. Lomky
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 6:18 AM | Permalink

    I just wanted to say I love the recent trend of shorter but frequent updates.

  13. rhodery
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 6:37 AM | Permalink

    Not only is the fundraiser pretty awesome, the blog entries describing the donations are great too. In particular the last year’s interviews with Brent Weeks and Peter V. Brett were pure awesomeness. Those interviews were actually what got me reading both of those guys. Can’t wait to see what this year holds.

  14. Daniel
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 8:28 AM | Permalink

    Just last week we got the Heiffer catalog in the mail, and my wife was browsing through it. She commented “Look at this charity, you can actually donate animals to needy people!” I said “Yeah we actually donated a goat last year, for Pat Rothfuss.” “How cute! What did he name it?” she replied.

    • Mickey
      Posted October 25, 2010 at 9:32 AM | Permalink

      Gotta love that dead-pan wifely humour !

  15. gkidd1985
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 10:39 AM | Permalink

    So Pat, are you gonna be donating some copies of “The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle?” Not that it will change my mind about donating, I love Worldbuilders, just curious is all.

  16. TangentialMind
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 10:42 AM | Permalink

    Ohhhhh! I hope he does the Golden Ticket again this year! More than anything else, I want that- and I mean anything.

  17. Sokol
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 11:33 AM | Permalink

    Pat is saving us from being blinded by overexposure to sheer awesomeness.

    Thanks for keeping us safe, Pat.

  18. justajenjen
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 12:16 PM | Permalink

    I’ll hit up my friend Barb and see if she wants to donate her new book. I’m sure she will. She’s pretty awesome. I’d link her site, but I don’t know what the rules are about pimping out my author friends.

  19. bremon
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 2:30 PM | Permalink

    I would donate stuff if I had anything to donate.
    My eternal regard?
    Colorful erasers?
    Doodles?
    My jade plant?
    *shrug* oh well.

    …I love WorldBuilders….
    :D

  20. Little My
    Posted October 25, 2010 at 6:30 PM | Permalink

    Hey, for Worldbuilders, would it be too limiting or pigeonholing or something to have a section for cool books for kids? How fun would it be to put together little groups of books for nerds-in-training? You had that really great mini-list of books every YA should read, and maybe some of your favorite authors or friends could recommend their own mini-lists. Then some cool fanpersons could send or fund each set so that it can be auctioned off. Great holiday gift for a kid. I mean, there were nearly 500 comments on that blog, at last count; seems like there might be a lot of interest. . .?

    • Kyle F.
      Posted October 26, 2010 at 1:24 AM | Permalink

      Well, the biggest issue I see with that is . . . you’re not gonna know if you win anything until everything is over. Unless we’re doing an auction – and then what would they have, a vintage, signed version of Coraline or something? Unless the kid knows Neil or whoever the author is, they would probably just go ‘oh’ when told about it, so the target audience for that sort of auction would be really small, I imagine – would be a different version of the more typical fundraiser for kids books.

      In which case the last fundraiser ended some time in January. Put that on top of the fact that you’re not sure whether you’re getting a book or not and it’s not a great way to get a nice read for your kids when the holidays come around. It’s more to donate stuff and get goats. The books are just a bonus that might not even come.

      • Little My
        Posted October 26, 2010 at 6:32 AM | Permalink

        Hmm, maybe you’re right. It would work better if it ended earlier, and if people could put their bid in for something specific. I actually think it would be great if more items could be bid on specifically, but I think this was all discussed last time. And I guess you don’t want it becoming a popularity contest between those authors kind enough to donate.

  21. justajenjen
    Posted October 26, 2010 at 11:00 AM | Permalink

    Yay! My friend Barb said she’d be interested. She’s doing her day job right now so I told her I’d pass this along.

  22. jose
    Posted October 26, 2010 at 5:07 PM | Permalink

    Greetings from Spain.

    First I apologize for grammatical errors. Are due to the translator of Google …

    Secondly, I apologize for making this post here. I do not know if there is another more appropriate place to do it.

    I read your book “The Name of the Wind.” And it’s my favorite book. Although I’m young, I read many books, among the most notable (in my opinion) “The Doctor”, “The Pillars of the Earth,” “Mysterious Island” … But this I automatically became my favorite.

    An interesting fact I’ve read it three times in less than 6 months. And I liked and engaged all three, even knowing the final.

    This book is one thing that I call “details.” “Details” refers to the ability of an author to avoid mistakes, especially in the psychology of the characters or unrealistic aspects that humans have to describe and tell you something, because of our nature.

    An example is when you try to elicit information Kvothe in a tavern before going to Trebon. Fails, you’re not right. As in reality, where everything goes as we want.

    I could say more, if the right place. It even happened to me a few ideas by reading the book …

    Of all the gods that we have had so far, I ask that is more influential than your second book will not disappoint me.

    A hug!

  23. a58hobbit
    Posted October 26, 2010 at 11:14 PM | Permalink

    I sent a message to a webcomic author who I used to date. Brawl in the Family. I don’t know what he has to offer, but you said webcomics and that’s my connection!

    BTW, I love worldbuilders. I never actually got to take a picture of me with my winning book (leather bound necronomicon). It’s my prettiest book! I always tried to donate to a charity every year and now that I can possibly get a reward for it… all the better! I just donate a little more to cover the shipping costs.

  24. Celt42
    Posted October 27, 2010 at 2:56 AM | Permalink

    Do you already have any books donated by Diana Gabaldon? I’ve noticed that she’s pretty good about donating signed copies for charities. I thought about donating the one book I have by her that’s signed, but I’m sorry, I just can’t bring myself to part with it!

  25. Oatmeal
    Posted October 27, 2010 at 11:49 AM | Permalink

    I’m so excited! I’m really looking forward to participating this year. Thanks for being the coolest author ever Pat!

  26. pdxtrent
    Posted October 30, 2010 at 6:53 PM | Permalink

    Pat,
    My work is gearing up for our 2011 donations thru the United Way, I can select where I want my donation to go, and because of your focus on Heifer, I picked them as one of my two charities.
    Is there any way I can send you my confirmation of donation and get the donation to count?

    • Posted November 2, 2010 at 12:58 PM | Permalink

      I’m afraid not. Worldbuilders can only count donations made directly to us, or on our team page on the Heifer International website.

  27. nightshade
    Posted November 2, 2010 at 5:46 PM | Permalink

    Finally finished reading the entire blog from start to finish. (kinda sad, but it only took 4 days) After viewing all of the previous WorldBuilders campaigns, I wished I could have started reading sooner. Mainly because I just became unemployed for the first time in 11 years and without seriously screwing up my budget, will not be able to donate. Which I’d seriously consider doing if I didn’t have a mortgage.
    ;)
    Anyway, I hope there will be the Poor-Boy Raffle of some kind this year. Not a deal-breaker, just hope. :)
    Good luck on the compaign this year and thank you for 4 days of laughter and geek-snorts.

    • nightshade
      Posted November 2, 2010 at 5:49 PM | Permalink

      Ugh, much apologies if my comment above confused and/or annoyed people. There was supposed to be a before the wink emote.

      First time commenting and neglected to read the freaking HTML instructs right below this box. N00b. :(

      • nightshade
        Posted November 2, 2010 at 5:50 PM | Permalink

        (/pity party)

  28. chat
    Posted February 26, 2012 at 3:39 AM | Permalink

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