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Back in September, I got a piece of fanmail.
By itself, this isn’t that strange. A lot of folks contact me using the form on my website. A lot. While there are too many for me to reply to personally these days, I do read them all.
One thing I’ve learned by reading these messages is that a lot of different people read my book. Subconsciously, I always expect my readers to be like me. That’s to say I expect them to be youngish college students who are… well… kinda geeky.
(I know that I’m not *really* a college student anymore, but that’s still how I think of myself in my head. After spending 11 years in college, then teaching for a couple years, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to think of myself as anything other than a college student. In my head I’m also still in my twenties. And I’m thinner, too.)
But in the last couple years I’ve learned that not everyone who reads fantasy is a geek. Or at least not the sort of geek that I am. I’ve been contacted by soldiers in Iraq, lawyers, carpenters, politicians, a cage fighter, police, and aerospace engineers.
Well, the last one isn’t so surprising, actually. One of my my best friends in high school grew up to be an aerospace engineer, and we played D&D like nobody’s business.
The point is, by this point I should know better than to judge people by their profession. Geeks come in all shapes and sizes, and people aren’t defined by their jobs.
So back to the story: It’s September of last year, and I get an e-mail from Michael Tremonti. He tells me he’s Mark Tremonti’s brother and publicist. Apparently, Creed was going to be playing a show in Milwaukee, and they knew I lived in Wisconsin. So Michael was just dropping me a line to see if I’d like to come down, catch the show, and maybe hang out a little.
To be honest, at first I was pretty sure one of my friends had made a fake e-mail account and was screwing around with me. That seemed a lot more likely to me than a rockstar out there reading fantasy books. Aren’t Geeks and Rockstars diametrical opposites? Aren’t we supposed to be natural enemies in the wild?
It turns out we’re not. While e-mailing back and forth with Michael, he told me he and his brother used to play D&D in the basement just like the rest of us.
Again, I didn’t believe him. So they sent me this picture.
I am cowed by the might of your geekery, Mark. And I hereby promise never to question anyone’s geek heritage ever again. Not just D&D. But AD&D. That’s the real stuff. Back when the game was badass and you had to roll for things like parasitic infection when you traveled through a swamp.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it down to the show. This was back in September, and Sarah was big with baby. I knew if I drove down to Milwaukee, she’d go into labor. I was absolutely sure of it.
Still, we stayed in touch, and when I was starting to gather prizes for Worldbuilders, I dropped Michael a line and asked if they might be interested in donating a couple of signed CDs or something.
He replied, “How about we just give you a guitar instead?”
“What?” I said.
- One Mark Tremonti Signature Guitar. Signed by Creed.
Thanks so much, Michael and Mark. This is really going above and beyond…
I have to say, all rockstar coolness aside, this is a really gorgeous guitar. Holding it, I was filled with a great desire to rock out.
Here’s the link to the auction.
This sort of thing is kinda unexplored territory for the fundraiser, as until now we’ve focused mostly on books and book-related stuff. So I’d appreciate it if y’all could help me spread the word a little bit. And sooner would be better than later, as the auction ends on January 15th.
Money raised by Worldbuilders goes to Heifer International, which helps people all over the world raise themselves up out of poverty and starvation. If you’d like to donate directly you can head over to my page at Team Heifer and I’ll match your donation by 50%. Trust me. You’ll feel great afterward.
Or, if you want more information about the Worldbuilders fundraiser itself, you can head to the main page HERE.
With thanks to our sponsor, Subterranean Press.
19 Comments
Drat! I went to $150 and then my wallet slapped me. I really want that guitar!
Can the winner post their address and let me know when they’re going to be out?
This is above and beyond cool.
If Mark Tremonti has an inner Geek, maybe you have an inner Rockstar, Patrick? Maybe it’s time to drop the pen and pick up the guitar? ;)
Love Creed, this is cool beyond imagination. My favorite things merging together, Rock and Fantasy.
Thank you, this made my day.
…… holy*expletive* batman!
if anyone didn’t donate by now surely that would throw them over the edge. As Gabriel said that is light years past cool.
*rubs hands in glee*
In it to win it! Or…something like that.
I’ve been outbid on a couple of the other auctions, but there is officially no limit I’ll go to on this one… :-D
CREED, featuring SCOTT STAPP of CREED.
holy…. fuck… WOW!
That IS truly awesome.
Hi. This is really cool. Really.
It put a smile on my face to see that picture of Mark… I just didn’t expect to see it.
With the Guitar, I was just wondering what the shipping costs would be for an Australia? I noticed on the auction page it said it would cost more…
Thanks!
Why can’t you just extend the deadline for this one item since it was added so late?
Creed fans would appreciate it. If it raises money for Heifer, that’s good. It would cost you more (unless you excluded any donations made after the 15th with some sort of disclaimer so people wouldn’t get mad at you).
Just saying. I’m not interested in the guitar (cool though it is and a very nice gesture from the band) and won’t be bidding on it. But I think more time to spread the word could be a good thing (on the other hand, early bidders could lose out).
Anyway, your Heifer work and matching is good stuff. Thanks for that.
Get OUT! I think I just squealed. Out loud. For real. I wish I had a money tree right now.
I don’t know if anyone realizes what he’s auctioning, but usually when someone signs a guitar, it’s something like a Fender Squier which is inexpensive at around $200. This is a Paul Reed Smith guitar which are very high end and this particular model goes for around $3000! I’m not a Creed fan, but I am a guitar fan and that’s a pretty nice guitar.
Wow, this will probably be the biggest item auctioned in the fundraiser this year(unless you were auctioning off Oot which I would not recommend). Not only is the guitar itself worth several thousand, but a Creed fan would be willing to pay even more for it!
creed kicks ass, what an awesome donation. sidebar: i’m a USN sailor, love to read. the name of the wind is the best book ive read in a long time if not ever. read your blog about part two, extremely excited. i’ll wait patiently for another book of the same caliber. you kick ass, thanks for the amazing work.
I don’t believe the guitar in the picture is actually the Tremonti Signature guitar, looks more like the Tremonti SE. SEs are still nice guitars just not worth 3000, more like 500. The same design as the Signature just not quite the quality. Still a great item for a Creed fan though.
AD&D 2nd Ed ftw. Using THAC0 is the way it was meant to be played!
Good grief. A band that contains a D&D geek and a guy who thinks he’s Jesus? It’s amazing their first stage show didn’t result in a matter-antimatter-style kasplosion.
This is really random, but I wonder why a signed Creed guitar versus a signed Alter Bridge guitar… That would have been even more cool.
damn…where are all the guys that are rockstars and inner geeks?!! (apparently, not in NY…)
Anyway, that’s so darn cool of him!
OMFG!!!!!
If you like Creed try Alter Bridge, its even better and Mark’s guitar sound is AWESOME!!!
Its nice to see i’m not the only geek guitar player. haha
Check this (and you tell me if the words are right: I’m spanish…)
http://www.myspace.com/thekillmelater
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