What’s that you say? You’d like to make the world a better place while simultaneously winning fabulous prizes?
Well today is your lucky day.
Heifer International is my favorite charity. It helps people raise themselves up out of poverty and starvation. All over the world Heifer promotes education, sustainable agriculture, local industry, and clean water.
They don’t just keep kids from starving, they make it so families can take care of themselves. They give goats, sheep, and chickens to families so their children have milk to drink, warm clothes to wear, and eggs to eat.
I think this is something we can all get behind.
If you’re wondering *why* I’m doing this, that information is OVER HERE. This blog gives details on *how* the donation drive will work.
You’ve got two options for donating. Please read things all the way through before making your choice.
I’ve created a webpage OVER HERE on Heifer’s website. For every dollar you donate there, I’ll donate a dollar too.
It works like this:
Elegant in its simplicity, no?
After a month’s time, on December 11th, we’ll have a drawing for prizes. I’ll use the information from the Heifer site to get the donation totals. For every 10 bucks you’ve kicked in, your name will get entered into the drawing once.
So if you’ve donated thirty bucks, your name would go in three times. Think of it as buying tickets, if you like.
When I started this fundraiser, I thought it was mostly going to be for my readers and people on my blog. So most of the prizes centered around my book (as you can see below.) But the fundraiser has grown since then, and we’re getting new stuff from generous donors all over the world. Stay tuned for new stuff.
Added Nov 18th – We have a bunch of signed books and ARCs OVER HERE.
Added Nov 20th – More signed books and ARCs OVER HERE.
Added Nov 24th – Signed manuscript of Enemies and Allies OVER HERE.
Added Nov 26th – More signed books and collectibles OVER HERE.
Added Dec 1st – Signed books from Bad Moon Press OVER HERE.
Added Dec 2nd – Signed books and prints from Peter S. Beagle OVER HERE.
Added Dec 3rd – $8000 of signed, limited-edition books from Subterranean Press OVER HERE.
Added Dec 9th – More signed books, ARC’s, DVD’s, and other cool swag OVER HERE.
- 40 color maps of the Four Corners. Signed by me.
Drawn by my friend, Nathan Taylor. Nate is also the illustrator who drew the black and white map that ended up in the book. This is the color version, so you can see some of the detail that’s not available in the book, including some of the political borders.
- 40 Copies of The Name of the Wind Movie Poster. Signed by me.
Also drawn by Nathan Taylor. He was fantasising about them making a movie out of the book, and drew this as a mock-up of what the movie poster might look like. I love Kvothe’s expression. It really captures a key piece of his personality.
Nate and I are also working on a not-for-children children’s book together. So here’s your chance to get hold of some of his art before he gets super famous….
- 90 Copies of the DAW sampler. Signed by me.
DAW put this out earlier this year as a promotional item. It’s got teaser pieces from all sorts of upcoming DAW books, from authors like Tad Williams and Mercedes Lackey.
It also has a chapter from The Wise Man’s Fear.
- 25 signed hardcover copies of the Name of the Wind.
The 5th printing with the sexy new cover.
- 5 copies of the College Survival Guide. Signed by me and the illustrator.
My first publication. The first four years of the humor column I wrote for the local paper, along with illustrations and annotations. Only 500 copies of this were printed, so they’re hard to come by these days. Perfect for reading on the toilet.
- 5 First edition copies of the Name of the Wind. Signed by me.
With the old out-of-print cover. You wouldn’t believe what some people are charging for these things out there.
- 6 Copies of Tales of Dark Fantasy. Signed by me.
This is the Subterranean Press anthology that printed my short story, “The Road to Levinshir,” which is an excerpt from The Wise Man’s Fear.
It also has some great stories by folks like Tim Powers and Kage Baker. It’s a beautiful hardcover book, and the cover price was $40, and that was back before it sold out.
- A signed copy of the first printing UK hardcover.
There aren’t many of these in existence the simple reason that I don’t live in England. Plus, you know how everything sounds way cooler when it’s pronounced in an English accent? Well this book is WRITTEN in an English accent. How cool is that?
- 2 Copies of the original galley proofs of The Name of the Wind. Signed by me.
A galley is an early version of a book that publishers occasionally print in order to promote a book. There weren’t that many of these printed, and the last one of them I saw on e-bay was going for over a hundred dollars. The few signed ones out there are going for more than that…
- A copy of the UK galley proof. Signed by me.
I’ve only seen about ten of these, so a signed one is probably a bit of a collectible item.
- Two advance reading copies of The Wise Man’s Fear.
I need to stress that this book is not ready to read yet. Not. Ready. To Read. Yet. That means you can’t have it right now. (This picture is a cruel lie.) But here’s the deal, if you win this, I’ll make sure you get a copy as soon as it’s ready to show around, before it officially hits the shelves.
- An early editorial manuscript of book one.
A proto-version of The Name of the Wind, printed out on my trusty HP printer, and marked up as part of my ongoing editorial process. Includes the now absent first chapter of the book, as well as a hundred other small differences. A similar item sold for 1000 bucks over in England a while back, and the one they have now is going for more than that. So odds are, if you don’t want it, you can sell it to someone else who does….
Two things:
- Make sure you donate on MY PAGE. Otherwise I won’t know you donated, won’t have access to your e-mail, and won’t be able to include you in the fun.
Or, as I like to think of it, the Christmas Present Option.
Over the last couple months, people have been contacting me, asking if I’m still signing books like I mentioned in my blog from long ago.
The simple answer is, “yes.” You mail me the book, something cool, and a check to cover return shipping, and I’ll sign your book.
But right now, in honor of the Heifer fundraiser, I’m willing to streamline the process. Rather than you buying a book, finding something cool, packaging it up, and paying for shipping both ways, you can just mail me a check and I’ll send you a book signed however you like. Then I’ll ship it right back to you, carefully packaged and in time for Christmas.
Here’s a list of the books I’ve got stockpiled here in my house. (For more detailed descriptions, look above.)
- New – Signed color version of the Four Corners map. $40
- Signed hardcover (5th edition with the new bluish cover) – $45
- SOLD OUT Signed copy of Your College Survival Guide – $65
- SOLD OUT Signed copy of Tales of Dark Fantasy – $75
- SOLD OUT First Edition Hardcover – $85
- SOLD OUT Signed galley proof – $250
- SOLD OUT – An ARC of book two – $1000 (Not now. When it’s finished. Details HERE)
- SOLD OUT – I will give you feedback on your manuscript – (Details HERE.)
For the most part, these prices are double what these things cost me, plus a little to cover shipping. I can get a 5th edition hardcover for 20 bucks, so they’re up there for 45. The anthology I can get for 35, so they’re going for 75….
The reason for this is that it’s in keeping with me matching donations. If someone buys a book from me for 20 dollars and then I donate the money. They really haven’t
donated. They just bought a book. Follow me?
If you’re going with option two, please follow these directions.
1. Write the following information on a 3 x 5 note card:
A) Which item you want.
B) EXACTLY what you’d like me to write in the book.
I have no problem personalizing books, but please be specific about what you’d like. Asking for a quote from Bast is fine. Asking me to wish someone luck in their own writing is fine. “Happy Birthday Schmendrick.” “To the best lover I’ve ever had.” It’s all good.
But if your card says, “write whatever you want.” I will write, “Whatever you want” in the book. Seriously.
C) Your return address.
D) Contact information. Either a phone number or an e-mail address where you can be reached.
2. Include a check. Make it out to me because I’ll be using a couple bucks from each one to cover postage.
3. Mail the note card and the check to:
Pat Rothfuss
P.O. Box 186
Stevens Point, WI 54481
If you live outside the US and want to buy a book, follow the instructions I’ve laid out in THIS BLOG. International shipping is expensive, and you need to fill out your check a certain way or my bank won’t cash it.
- If you’d want to buy something AND do the lottery, that’s fine. So if you send in a check for 85 dollars, and specify that you’d like a copy of the College Survival Guide, I’d mail you that book, then match the extra twenty dollars and throw your name in the hat twice when we did the drawing.
- If you’re an author or some other interested party who would like to donate something other than money to the cause, feel free to drop me an e-mail at Paperback.contest (squiggly at sign) gmail.com
Additional questions? I might have answered them HERE or HERE or HERE. Please read through those FAQ’s before you e-mail me.
That’s all for now. If you have any other ideas for things that might make good prizes, feel free to leave them in a comment below.
And one more time, here’s the link to MY TEAM PAGE.
Hopefully yours,
pat
66 Comments
This is fantastic timing! My mom has just requested that in lieu of Christmas gifts, we purchase something in her name from Heifer International – as she did for us one year.>>I plan to involve my young daughters in the selection process.>>Thanks for the matching program, Pat!
You are so awesome, it’s, uh, awesome.
Woo Hoo! >>I have to admit. I’m geeky excited about this….
Wowzers. I was planning on donating to World Vision (87% goes to the donation), but I might seriously consider Heifer Int’l now. This is great, Pat.
Wow. Your going to match your fans. That’s big. Huge even. That sealed the deal for me.>>I also had an idea for a prize. Could you see if you could get a DAW sampler signed by all of the authors. or close to it?
OH MY GOODNESS. THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!>>i’m like hyperventilating i’m so excited.[i’m also excited i spelled hyperventilating right on the first try.] it’s like the best thing i’ve heard all week, and i just found out i did well on my super ridiculous Texas History midterm, so that’s saying something.
I’ve been waiting for this post all day Pat!>>“20 Copies of The Name of the Wind Movie Poster. Signed by me.”>>My heart started racing when I read this…but alas, then I read the rest of it…>>“Also drawn by Nathan Taylor. He was fantasising about them making a movie out of the book, and drew this as a mock-up of what the movie poster might look like.”>>Maybe there is something you aren’t telling us Pat?
Hmm… is there any way we could double dip, so to speak, with this? For instance, sending a check to you for $75 dollars, could we then get a signed 5th edition book along with three lottery tickets? >>Also, shame on you for not letting us force you to be creative with what you write in the books. I can tell, I’ll write ‘Please add a piece of advice from Kvothe to your inscription.’ And you will write ‘A piece of advice from Kvothe’ and I will feel terribly cheated. >>I’ll let others tell you how amazing it is that you’re doing this. You don’t need it from me.
Lucid: Including extra in the check you send would be just fine. Then I’d just match that money and throw your name into the mix when the time for the drawing rolls around.
Love the idea of this contest. Donated right away. Hopefully I win something, but if not i will be okay with it.
Man, i hate living so far away. Option 2 is fan-bloody-tastic, but it would take a million years to get my card from the UK to you. And that College Survival Guide is near impossible to get hold of over here. Bah, that’s it, I’m moving…!!!! :p>>Oh well, donations it is….
Darn it, Pat, yer a genius.>>I gotta tell ya, I’ve only got eleven days left in the Navy and my brain is crazy on fire (still looking for that elusive thing they call a job…), but I’ll be darned if I’m gonna let a buncha landlubbers beat me outa this here contest. Game on, matey! Arrg!>>So yeah, I’m in.
Pat, I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve put links to this on my Myspace blog and on my facebook reading group. I did leave a comment on your status asking permission… :s>>Just let me know if it’s a problem. Thanks. Louise x
What a beautiful thing you’re doing, Pat! What a great way to spread hope at this time of the year! >Am planning to give each of my two granddaughters $25 so they could choose baby ducks or chickens or bees for some children not so fortunate as they are.>Will be looking into donating to your team page. I’m proud to know you!>Ancient Reader
This is a good deed.>>Pat, hat’s off to you, mate.>>Is it a crazy random happenstance that I got my first credit card yesterday? No, it’s not.>>Seeing as how I had a bacon sandwich for breakfast, I just bought a pig because I wanted to see that counter break $1,000.>>HOORAY! It broke $1,000.>>So the donation is open till early December? I’m thinking if I hold off on a few all-too-selfish indulgences (primarily beer and pizza), my fiance and I will put in for a Heifer at the end of November.>>Is that the case, Pat, or is it all over once you hit your fundraising goal?>>Either way, a worthy, lofty cause is being undertaken here. Further kudos to you, Pat, and further still.>>@ Sailor Matt: Oh stick to the ocean, my friend, where you are safe.
Your awesomeness knows no bounds!
This blows. I’ve tried to buy a goat using my Visa debit card and it isn’t happening. I put the right information in but it keeps coming back with a problem. I think I’ll need to send a check.>>Well done on the idea Pat. Truly a marvellous thing. One would say that you’re Mom was not the only one of your family with a heart as big as a sky.
@Captain Joe: Game on, ol’ boy! This old swabbie won’t go down without a fight. The Jolly Roger is goin’ up!
volunteering for secretarial duties to help with this huge plan of yours. vx
Joe: I’ll match whatever people donate. Initially set it at 5,000 bucks because I really wasn’t sure if people would be interested. >>But now, because people are awesome, I’m thinking of raising the bar.
Pat,>>Would you be willing to add the early editorial copy as a “sure thing?”>>How about $500?>>-C
Pat, are you capping the donations/ matching at the $5000 shown on your site?>>Because if you are, by my math there are 98 prizes, and will be 500 or fewer tickets in the drawing, giving a 1 in 5 (OR BETTER) chance of winning.>>What a prize rich environment…
Whoever posted just before me, “C”, be more reasonable. I think it is AMAZING that Pat is putting up the sure things at effectively the same price as if you bought them quickly online. Sure if you shop around you can get them somewhat cheaper, and if your motivation is just to have the book you should do so.>>He is giving this money to charity, not profiting from it. That means this is really him generously giving away a bunch of HIS stuff. Pay full market for it, don’t cheap out at half of market. The intent here is to give to charity. Charity fund raisers usually significantly mark things up, he hasn’t particularly. People usually give to Heifer with NO expectation of getting anything back. What Pat has set up is a sweet deal you can feel good about, and then have a 20%-ONE HUNDRED percent chance of making off with awesome loot. I find your comment offensive. Pat’s put up a link indicating that the item can be sold for $1000. Remember Pat could just put the darn thing up on e-bay wait until it fetched $1000 and then give that to Heifer. He’s made this way cooler than that. Please respect that.>>Pat, feel free to shoot this down, I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but I felt like it needed to be said and that you shouldn’t have to.
Alexis,>>Thank you for the lengthy reprimand. Merely pointing me toward the market value, which I did not see when I skimmed the post, is sufficient. Unnecessary criticism of me aside, your underlying point is right. So, I’d consider giving more than $1,000 if I had certainty of the item.>>My main question was really whether that was possible though. I really don’t have nearly as much interest in most of the other prizes, even though my contributions might give me a lot of tickets.>>Thanks,>>C
Now now. We’re all friends here. >>C- why don’t you drop me an e-mail. Either off the contact form on the webpage, or at the Paperback.contest e-mail I mention above. If you’re really interested in buying an early manuscript to support Heifer, I think we can probably work something out.
Agreed. I just meant to ask a question, not start or get into an argument. Good luck, Alexis.
Pat,>>What are the chances that you would be able/willing to add signed copies of the Four Corners Map to the present selection under Option 2?
Hi Pat, funny there’s no ducks to buy on your team page! I bought honey bees instead…I love this organization too. Good job!
C,> I feel sheepish. I apologize for jumping on your honest mistake. >Good luck to you too,>Alexis
I donate to HI every year and I like to get the cards to give as gifts. How does that work by donating to your site? Or is it one of those “if you checked my link it would have all the answers” sort of thing?
I have but one question remaining.. I’m in the UK, so i know you said email to discuss postage, but i’ve never bought anything from America before. How does it work with conversion to English pounds? Anyone know?
I think that 1.62 in American money is equivalent to a pound, you might want to double check though.
April 7, 2009….Book Two
Alright i’ve pitched my part in to this amazing idea. : )>>Maybe someone in need will find it useful
I second Dopplestern’s idea: “to add signed copies of the Four Corners Map to the present selection under Option 2”.
Hmmm…. Okay. I’ll have to think about what a fair donation for the maps/posters would be, but I’ll add them up in option two as soon as I figure that out….
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I work for Heifer and give $10 every week and have done so for 7 years. Unlike most donors, I have seen first hand how my money has changed lives. I am more than happy to contribute another $10 this week to support your efforts.
My check for $75.00 plus a little extra is on the way. I will be fed-exing it Thursday morning, please oh please still have a first edition on hand. I lent my copy to an employee who quit before returning my copy, and alas I was very sad. I have puchased 14 copies in mass-market to give away, because I recieved my copy from a friend who thought I would enjoy it.
Okay, that was my post that was deleted, and I’m okay with that. It’s Pat’s place and his right to do so… I suppose I should get a blogging identity, as much as I have started reading the page (and I’ve already read the book three times, which for me personally is a collosal achievement). Anyway, on a very personal note, Pat, I truly respect what you’re doing. While your execution of philanthropy is different than mine, I think that our hearts are both in the right place (generally), though we approach it differently. In all honesty and in my opinion, the worst thing a person could do is decide to give no money to any charity instead of giving to HI. That being said, keep up the good work Pat (blogging, writing, book tours, etc.) Oh yeah, come down to Fort Myers this winter – I keep requesting you via Eventful, but I am not sure how effective that is.
Hey I was wondering if the 1st editions are 1st printing? Also I have a fifth print new cover, how much would it cost to get that signed mailed etc.>Thanks pat, love your writing>Scott
What a great idea and I’m delighted to donate.
I just visited Pat’s website for the first time today (Only 300 pages into INOW and HUGE fan already) and was happy to not only read about the cause, but donate as well. I think it is terrific what you are doing Pat, and any “prize” you award is more than generous. The thought of getting a map or poster is unreal! Great writer, huge heart makes me think of one of my favorite song lyrics…”nothing left to do but smile…smile…smile”!
Heifer International is one of my favorite charities too. I am very happy to get chickens or pigs for Christmas or Easter each year (as in a picture of them). I have forwarded this to my husband and told him to use the Christmas option so not only do I get a great NOTW product, I also still get my pigs or chickens. SUCH a wonderful idea.
I <3 the idea too. Even if I don't win anything, it's just great to be reminded to help others!
Wonderful! >>For the past couple of years, I’ve given Heifer gifts for all occasions, from graduations to birthdays to Christmas. I like to pair the Heifer gift with a physical representation of it — for example, a honey cookbook, jar of honey, homemade beeswax soap, and some Amish honey candy along with the “gift of bees.” One of my favorites was giving the “knitting basket” as a combination high school graduation and Girl Scout gold award congratulation gift to a friend’s daughter who, for her project, founded and coordinated our local “Caps for Kids” program. I also gave her an actual knitting basket with cotton yarn and various sizes of needles and other supplies. >>I’m unemployed now, so can’t afford to give as many Heifer gifts (or anything I have to pay for – my gifts this year will be mostly things I’ve knit and handmade soap) as I would like this Christmas. One of the worst things about our horrible economy is how charities and non-profits are suffering… But it is a good feeling to know that what I can’t afford to give will be made up for in some way by your matching donations — so that if I can only give $10 this year, at least it is really $20.>>Thanks, Pat!
PS I am going to forward your generous offer to members of my Pax Christi and to my favorite nuns, most of whom also support Heifer.
http://tinyurl.com/5jafsu>>(I made a shorter link to the team donation page, to make it easier to cut and paste into e-mails, etc.)
Hi,>>Not to be a nay-sayer, but as a vegan and an animal lover (as well as environmentalist), I can’t say as I’m thrilled by the Heifer International project. While I commend reaching out and helping others, giving them cows does not seem like the best solution (sustainability-wise, health-wise, and ethics-wise). Eating lower on the food chain is best way to go, and as many people might not realize, cows only produce milk after they have given birth to a calf, so there is a continue need to produce baby cows. I don’t think we need to export American dietary habits, look what it has done for us. Please consider healthier and more animal friendly ways of eating.
D.S. While I’m sure that you have the best of intentions in making your post, I’m afraid your ignorance is showing. >>First off, Heifer has been actively promoting sustainability for 60 years. >>Second off, being vegan is more of an American dietary habit than anything else. These people can’t go down to the corner store and buy a package of tofu or some portabella mushroom caps. A lot of them can’t go to the store and buy beans because they are poor. Desperately poor. >>People have been raising goats for 10,00 years because goats can graze anywhere, and they help add protein to a diet that would otherwise be lacking. Children’s diets are improved by the addition of goat’s milk. Protein and calcium. Sheep provide wool for blankets and clothes for people who can’t buy a cotton poly blend shirt down at the Gap. >>Now I’ll agree with you. Here in the US big cattle farms are bad for the environment, and refusing to eat meat because of that is a moral stance I can respect. >>But you have to realize that being vegan is a luxury of the affluent. You love animals. Great. But the truth is, if you’re an American, odds are you’ve never been genuinely hungry or had to watch your child grow up malnourished. Milk from goats and cows distributed by heifer provides a sustainable, environmentally-sound solution to this problem. >>I’m guessing your heart is in the right place. If you do a little more in-depth research, and think things through. I’m sure you’ll realize that Heifer is a charity that actually supports your values.
I have such a wonderful group of fans.
Pat, as a Heifer Volunteer Coordinator for the Midwest Region, I would like to say Thanks for all you are doing to raise awareness and money for Heifer. I am not a very skilled internet person, but you inspired me to set up a Team Heifer page as well. I am asking people to consider feeding the “Unseen Guest With the Empty Bowl” as if that person was sitting at their dinner table with them each day. It’s great that the internet allows us to hook up with new potential volunteers and donors in this way. Thanks for all you are doing, Barb
Great idea! I was looking for a place to make a donation for the holiday, and running across your blog made the stars allign. I donated what I could! >Thanks,>Robert B.
This is excellent. Heifer International is also one of my favorite charities, one of the best. What a great way to start the holiday season!>>Nancy
Sweet… My wife’s favorite charity. You’ve given me a good excuse to give what I can, and the one sheet of paper showing the donation will be my wife’s favorite gift, guaranteed.
This is such a great idea. I have never understood why some people put so much energy into things that don’t make a difference or have a negative impact. Pat, what a great model by example you are. I have decided on option 2. I put in the mail a money order for a signed copy of the NAME OF THE WIND green man edition. Pat, this is the only way I know of to contact you to let you know the check is on the way.>>Paul
This is such a rare and generous thing to do, Pat.>>Hey, if I go for option two, where you sign whatever I like on something I purchase, would you write out the first chapter of The Wise Man’s Fear? ;)
Dude – if you were able to match $40k, this brings donations to $92.6k – which, when looking at their ’07 Annual Report, is almost 9.5% of their total general, unrestricted contributions for ALL OF LAST FISCAL YEAR.>>Damn. Now <>that’s<> making a difference.
Are you going to do this again before the book comes out? I already donated to HI, yearly (it’s all my husband ever wants for Christmas). But if you’re going to do this contest again, I’d gladly donate more to have your matching dollar for dollar.
thanks for you..!
I am so mad that I missed out on this! I have several ARC’S that I would LOVE for you to sign and would happily donate to your favorite charity in order to get this done. Heck, I even have a special “gift” for you, Pat!!!! PLEASE let me know what I can do to get my precious books signed, kind sir! THANK YOU!! And have fun in London! Sincerely, Pamela at [email protected]
“There aren’t many of these in existence the simple reason that I don’t live in England. Plus, you know how everything sounds way cooler when it’s pronounced in an English accent? Well this book is WRITTEN in an English accent. How cool is that?”
As someone who lives in England (and speaks in the accent all the time) I would like to communicate two messages:
1. Your blog above made me smile
2. You are welcome to come and live over here! Then you can get a copy of the British version of your book any time!
I seem to recall you or another author auctioning off the chance to be a character in one of your books…how about that for an auction prize :)?
Think about it, Kvothe smiting a Dragon named Steve Bennet.
Love the idea of this contest. Donated right away. Hopefully I win something, but if not i will be okay with it.
What a great idea and I’m delighted to donate
Alright i have pitched my part in to this amazing idea.
Could you see if you could get a DAW sampler signed by all of the authors. or close to it?