Personalized books for sale

[This is a blog about the Worldbuilder’s fundraiser. If you don’t know what that is, you can get the details HERE.]

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 for return postage, and I’ll sign your book.

But for the Worldbuilders fundraiser, I’m streamlining the process. Rather than having you pay shipping both ways, you can just buy a book, I’ll sign it however you like, then I’ll ship it back to you. Hopefully in time for Christmas.

I can inscribe any of the following books however you like and mail them off to you.

These are anywhere from the second printing to the 6th printing. All of them have the cool new blue cover. Signed however you like.

  • Your College Survival Guide.

This book was my first publication, and it’s a shameful piece of my sordid past. It’s a collection of of humor columns I wrote for the college paper between 1999 and 2003. Columns dealt with pressing philosophical issues such as the fast zombies/slow zombies debate as well as everyday problems like how to bribe your professor or start a career as a prostitute.

The book is full of illustrations by BJ Hiorns, the same guy that illustrates my blog. It also contains annotations where I explain how some columns got written, the lies I told, and what sort of trouble various jokes got me into

Only 500 copies were printed, so the Guide is hard to come by these days. Collectors sell them for as much as 200 bucks. Myself, I think it’s perfect for reading on the toilet.

  • First edition copies of the Name of the Wind. [SOLD OUT]

I’ve got about 20 of these. Some with the green man cover (above) some with the Fabio, and some that have been re-covered with the blue jackets. You wouldn’t believe what some people are charging for these things out there.

I can sign this however you like, but make sure to specify in your order which cover you’d like.

Edit: As of December 3rd, I’ve run out of the first editions. They went WAY more quickly than I’d ever guessed. If I can find some more, I’ll put them up here again. But for now we’re sold out. Sorry.

If you mailed in your order, and it’s postmarked on the 3rd or earlier, I’ll should have enough books to cover your order. But if your mailed-in order has a later postmark than that, we’ll contact you contact you and see what you’d like done with your check.

  • Tales of Dark Fantasy.

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’s a beautiful hardcover book with stories by folks like Tim Powers and Kage Baker. The cover price was $40, and that was back before it went out of print. Now it’s hard to find one for less than 80 bucks.

  • Original galley proofs of The Name of the Wind.

A galley is an early version of a book that publishers occasionally print to promote a book. This version of The Name of the Wind came before the final edits, so there are about 5000 small changes I made before publication, as well as two chapters that I re-wrote almost entirely.

There weren’t that many of these printed, and I have a handful that I kept for sentimental reasons. The last one of them I saw on e-bay was going for over a hundred dollars, and that was a year ago. The few signed ones out there are going for more than that

  • Please be aware that I have limited copies of these. So they might sell out kinda fast depending on how many people are interested.

For the most part, prices for the books are double what they cost me, plus a little for packaging. I can get a 6th edition hardcover for 20 bucks, so they’re up there for 45. Tales of Dark Fantasy is out of print, and would cost me 50 bucks off Amazon, so they’re going for 105….

The reason for this is that it’s in keeping with the fundraiser 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?

And remember, all the money goes to Heifer.

* Signed hardcover – $45

* Signed copy of Your College Survival Guide – $85

* Signed copy of Tales of Dark Fantasy – $105

* Signed First Edition Hardcover – $145 [Sold out.]

* Signed galley proof – $255

You can pay one of two ways:

  • By Mail:

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 before I make the lump donation to Heifer at the end of the fundraiser.

3. Mail the note card and the check to:

Pat Rothfuss
P.O. Box 186
Stevens Point, WI 54481

Rules for International orders:

If you live outside the US and want to buy a book, the rules are a little different. International shipping is expensive, and you need to fill out your check a certain way or my bank won’t cash it.

It costs me about $25 dollars to ship a book internationally. Every additional book in the same package adds $10 to the cost of shipping.

So here’s what you do:

1) Add the extra 25 dollars (or more, if you have more books) to the prices I’ve listed above.

2) Add three bucks to cover the fee that the bank is going to charge me to cash your check.

3) Convert it into your local currency. (euros, pounds, rupees, whatever)

4) Write me a check using your local currency. (This is important. Don’t write me a check in dollars if that isn’t what they use where you live.)

5) Mail it off to me with the other information I’ve asked for written on a notecard.

  • By Paypal

You can pay online with paypal. But make sure you include your contact information and detailed signing instructions with your order.

Note: When you pay on paypal. Make sure you include how you want me to sign the book BEFORE YOU COMPLETE YOUR TRANSACTION. Seriously. Look around, find the little area where you can add extra instructions and put your signing instructions in there.

Edit: Please visit us at The Tinker’s Packs to buy signed books online.

That’s all we’ve got for now, folks. Hopefully before too long we’ll have t-shirts and posters for sale too. Keep an eye on the blog.

Want to go back to main page for Worldbuilders? Click HERE.

As always, special thanks to our sponsor, Subterranean Press.

(All Hail Subterranean Press!)

This entry was posted in signing books, Subterranean Press, Worldbuilders 2009By Pat25 Responses

25 Comments

  1. Zack Truel
    Posted December 1, 2009 at 11:22 AM | Permalink

    Cool stuff here! A little out of my price range right now, but I am sure many people will buy and you will raise lots of money! :)

    Great work Pat.

  2. koshr
    Posted December 1, 2009 at 11:33 AM | Permalink

    this thing is meant only for rich people isnt it -_-.

  3. nicolajane
    Posted December 1, 2009 at 11:59 AM | Permalink

    love the way you guys only think in terms of your money and not what that money cam do !

  4. Anonymous
    Posted December 1, 2009 at 12:08 PM | Permalink

    Koshr: You’re not terribly clever, are you? A charity is for *poor* people.

    On the other hand, buying rare, signed books does tend to cost money. You see, the point of the charity isn’t to give you a book, it’s to feed people and make them more independent.

    Besides, if you hadn’t noticed, you have a chance to win all of these books (And a lot more) for a simple donation of $10.

  5. PirateSel
    Posted December 1, 2009 at 2:06 PM | Permalink

    Can international types order using Paypal?

    Would it work out at $70?

    I’m thinking all my Christmas monies will be going towards this if so. :)

  6. Piratesel
    Posted December 1, 2009 at 2:35 PM | Permalink

    Ah, I was being dumb, figured it out.

  7. Anonymous
    Posted December 1, 2009 at 5:57 PM | Permalink

    In for a signed 1st edition :)

    glad to help a charity plus satisfy my selfish side by getting a coveted book

  8. Scott
    Posted December 1, 2009 at 9:57 PM | Permalink

    If you happen to run out of first editions can we donate the $145 and send you a first edition to sign?

  9. Jo
    Posted December 2, 2009 at 1:37 AM | Permalink

    Hey, so I bought a signed 1st ed and I’m wondering how exactly I would write that off for tax deduction. Since the purchase doesn’t say anything about donation, I’m wondering about receipts, etc.. Also, would the write off total be the $145 or like half that which would be the cost of the book or what?

  10. Anonymous
    Posted December 2, 2009 at 2:45 AM | Permalink

    By quote from Bast, does that mean we have to pick one, or you have one that you will use?

  11. Pat
    Posted December 2, 2009 at 2:48 AM | Permalink

    It’s best if you pick one. But if you just say you want a quote from a character, I can go from there….

  12. Pat
    Posted December 2, 2009 at 2:50 AM | Permalink

    Scott:

    Sure. That would work out just fine.

  13. Nanopy
    Posted December 2, 2009 at 3:45 AM | Permalink

    Pat,

    Is there a way to contact you to be sure that the item I send you a check for will be available once my mail actually gets to you?

  14. truckyforme
    Posted December 2, 2009 at 7:45 AM | Permalink

    I´m in for a 1st edition, despite being a cold drop and a stupid, anxious donkey!!!!
    Everybody please be aware of the little message on paypal saying: “Add additional information for the seller..”. I was looking for a small area and didn´t see the message…

    P.S. Maybe a special clarification for anxious donkeys like me would be fine, Pat.

  15. Andrew
    Posted December 2, 2009 at 10:49 PM | Permalink

    pat u are my inspiration to become an author and this idea of charity goes with my catholic school education lol

  16. daredevl07
    Posted December 3, 2009 at 8:58 PM | Permalink

    Are the $45 hardcovers sold out already? Paypal just sent me a reversal of my payment.

  17. Ketutar
    Posted December 8, 2009 at 12:27 PM | Permalink

    I’m sorry, Patrick, for this rant, but if you read it, you’ll understand why I felt it was necessary to post.

    to Anonymous yapping at Koshr:
    I think you should apologize.

    I am a poor person. I cannot afford buying any of this. I would like to, because even when I’m poor, I’m not cheap.

    I cannot buy chicken, goats, heifers nor anything else from Heifer International, because I have no credit card, and Heifer International doesn’t accept Paypal. It doesn’t matter if it was a question of “only 10 dollars” or what ever.

    Also, I must be “not terribly clever” either, as I can’t find the “simple $10 donation”.

    I know YOU don’t ever need to think about these things, but the only poor people on this planet are not those to whom Heifer International buys chicken. Some of them are actually among us, people whom you bash on the internet every day. Just because one is on-line, doesn’t mean one isn’t poor. In fact, a lot of people on-line don’t even have a computer.

    When one is poor, every dollar counts. I could put my 10 dollar on a CHANCE to win something, or put it on something I can be sure of I get. I tend to buy such stupid things like food, clothes and soap with my money, not rare, signed books. Also, usually I have to wait until I have fed the family for a month, before I know if I HAVE 10 dollars to be put on something else, like buying lottery tickets – even when the profits go to something as wonderful as Heifer International’s work to help people help themselves.

    I love books and I appreciate a first edition signed copy as much as anyone else, but I very seldom BUY books. I read library books. Because I do, I was very excited to read about the lottery and would love to participate in “this thing” (the on-line charity event), and I am sure Koshr was just as disappointed as I was to realize that that is not possible – because I am too poor.

    I’m really happy for you and everyone else, who don’t even need to consider much to buy these things and I’m really happy for every dollar Heifer International gets, but I’m not at all happy about your attitude. I am very offended by your inconsiderate, stupid words to Koshr. You might not be a millionaire, but you’re still rich compared to us.

  18. Anonymous
    Posted December 8, 2009 at 1:08 PM | Permalink

    Ketutar:

    You make an interesting point, but at the same time you seem to be guilty of some rather staggering egocentrism.

    You say someone who can donate 10 dollars to charity, or buy a 45 dollar book to support a charity is rich compared to you. But you ignore the fact that you are unspeakably affluent compared to most of the people that Heifer International helps.

    I know this is true because you have a computer. I can see by your profile that you have the free time to maintain several blogs, write Harry Potter Fanfic, and participate in NANWMo. One of your blogs is even about about how you’re trying to loose weight. Can you see the irony?

    You also live in Sweden, a country that provides you with wonderful heathcare, and an infrastructure that is the envy of much of the civilized world.

    You might not be rolling around in piles of money, but you have to realize that your life is really affluent compared to a lot of people out there.

    To put it bluntly, the problem isn’t that you’re poor. The problem is that you feel like you don’t have enough to give something to others. That’s not an issue of how much you have, it’s an issue of how much you want to help others.

    I’m a student with 15,000 Euro worth of debt. I work three jobs and I live in a house with 4 roommates to reduce my living expenses. But I know I’m living the good life compaired to many people in the world. I’ve never been truly hungry, or desperate, or helpless. So even I can scrape together 10 dollars to donate.

    Also, I help this charity by asking my family to donate on my behalf for Christmas, and spreading the word to all my friends and my meagre facebook page.

    I haven’t seen you spreading the word on any of your dozen blogs…

    You’re obviously an articulate person, and I’m not trying to start a fight here. I just want to perhaps encourage you to put your energies to use in more productive ways: Helping others and spreading joy rather than getting offended on behalf of some snarky, selfish internet troll.

    Sincerely,

    Ben

  19. Anonymous
    Posted December 9, 2009 at 12:38 AM | Permalink

    HI Patrick.
    The limited leather edition of ‘The Adventures of The Princess and Mr. Whiffle,’sold out before I could press the confirm order button!!
    Very frustrating!
    However would you consider selling some of the 2000 trade print here.
    It would be great to donate and help.
    I would and I am sure others would love to own a signed copy even If It Is not leather!

  20. Roswitha
    Posted December 16, 2009 at 3:57 PM | Permalink

    In response to Jo’s question “Hey, so I bought a signed 1st ed and I’m wondering how exactly I would write that off for tax deduction. Since the purchase doesn’t say anything about donation, I’m wondering about receipts, etc.. Also, would the write off total be the $145 or like half that which would be the cost of the book or what?”

    Jo, I’m not 100% sure on this, but I *think* that, if you are in the U.S., you do not get to take a tax deduction because you received something for your donation (if I bought a membership to a museum or zoo, that would not be tax-deductible). If you made a donation to Heifer without getting the book, then you would certainly be able to take some or all as a deduction.

    Anybody out there have something more definitive to help Jo? Surely we have a tax accountant or two among Pat’s fans…

  21. Ellen
    Posted January 8, 2010 at 11:42 PM | Permalink

    For a tax deduction, you have to subtract from the total sum donated to the organization the fair market value of anything received in return, even if it is a $5 coffee mug. So, for the 1st edition, you can deduct only the difference between the amount of the donation and FMV of a 1st edition.

  22. Ellen
    Posted January 8, 2010 at 11:56 PM | Permalink

    In response to Jo’s question “Hey, so I bought a signed 1st ed and I’m wondering how exactly I would write that off for tax deduction. Since the purchase doesn’t say anything about donation, I’m wondering about receipts, etc.. Also, would the write off total be the $145 or like half that which would be the cost of the book or what?”

    You can take a deduction only for the difference between the total amount you gave to the organization and the fair market value (FMV) of what you received in return. So if you sent in $145 and the FMV of a 1st edition is $100, you can deduct $45 as a charitable donation.

    However, it often happens that the FMV of the thing you receive, such as the 1st edition, is greater than the amount of money you send to the organization. In that case, you don’t get a deduction–you just got a fabulous bargain! The person who is really making the donation (and therefore gets to take a deduction) is the person who sent you the item (the 1st edition) while sending the money on to the charity instead of keeping it as compensation for giving up the 1st edition. Makes sense, right? It’s a classic win-win-win situation because the charity gets money, you get a bargain on an item of value, and the person who donated the 1st edition can take a tax deduction for donating the item.

  23. Dean H. Anderson
    Posted January 10, 2010 at 11:00 AM | Permalink

    I haven’t read your book, and just discovered you are a ‘New York Times best-selling author’ tonite…but being a Wisconsin boy, am proud to see that you’ve done so extraordinarily well! Congratulations. I was also taken by the story out here that because you have agreed to match donations, you’ve “almost depleted your life savings”…really? That’s kind of crazy, and I thought if a ‘NYT best-selling author’ is depleting his life savings for such a good cause, I could afford to donate something. Maybe a goat. Yes, a goat.

    I’m from tiny little Bohners Lake (yeah, like hard-on pond), in the SE corner of the state, near Racine, and now live in Chicago and work for the big ‘O’ (as in Winfrey) as an editor. Also a writer of music for TV and film…so I’ve got something in common with you…Wisconsin boy makes good? Not really. Just Wisconsin boy. YOU have made it good! It must be cool to be famous, with your ‘likeness’ appearing in all kinds of places…your students at University must be enamored with their Prof. Holy cats! You have singularly disproven the old adage: ‘Those who can’t do, teach’, since you do, “do”.

    Congrats again, Mr. Rothfuss. You are an inspiration and a generous soul, and I can’t wait til’ your books become movies – if you need an editor – call me!

    Dean H. Anderson/musicandpictures.com

  24. FattyVM
    Posted February 15, 2010 at 11:58 AM | Permalink

    Patrick (or whoever monitors this page)

    I placed a pay pal order and was charged over a month ago for a personalized signed hardcover NOTW. I was just wondering what’s the turn around on the order. I’m not quite sure who or where I should send this question to, so here’s hoping for an answer.

    I can definitely understand if the process takes a month (or a few.) I just wanted to be sure that I wasn’t just sending money blindly into the abyss.

  25. Pat
    Posted February 15, 2010 at 4:29 PM | Permalink

    Vincent: Send a message to the e-mail listed in the Worldbuilders FAQ. Or send message using the website form.

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