Music, Miscellany, and Signed Copies of The Guild.

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

So Worldbuilders is almost at an end for this year. We’ve got one last blog full of prizes. We’ve got music and some other cool miscellanea, including some signed DVD copies of The Guild.

But first, news:

First and foremost, the deadline: The fundraiser ends on January 15th. You have to donate before then to have a chance at winning the fabulous stuff we’re raffling off.

Second, as I’m writing this, we’ve already raised over 110,000 dollars. That means people have donated twice as much as last year.

This is empirical evidence that y’all are awesome. Seriously. Before I was just guessing, but now I can prove it with math and such.

Thirdly and lastly, a tiny story:

Yesterday Sarah was busy feeding the baby when I walked past her bedroom.

Sweetie?” she called. “Can you do me a favor?

“You can’t afford it,” I said.

I am, of course referring to the recently completed auction for the Golden Ticket. Apparently the thought of winning a favor from me was worth over 15,000 dollars to someone.

This leaves me stunned and more than slightly frightened. If someone paid, like, seventeen bucks for it, I’d feel free to tell them to go screw if they asked for something unreasonable. But for 15,000 dollars, I worry that I might end up being pressured into something morally reprehensible, like kicking a koala bear.

Anyway, I hope the favor granting goes smoothly. Unlike the uncannily timed comic that just came up on Cyanide & Happiness…

Cyanide and Happiness, a daily webcomic
Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Okay. Enough news. On to the prizes….

  • Two CDs of Manticores and Owlbears: Songs of Dragons and the Dungeons in which they dwell! by Daniel Marcotte.

I met Daniel Marcotte at Gencon this year. He was strolling the halls all minstreled up, and carrying a gorgeous lute.

We got to talking and quickly established our mutual geek cred. He gave me a CD. I gave him a book. The rest, as they say, is history.

This particular CD is a bunch of D&D songs played on classical instruments. Fun stuff. Plus, I’ve heard it rumored that listening to Dan the Bard’s CD gives you +1 on your next encounter. So you might want to look into it.

  • Two CD’s of Unicorns and Dragons: Love Songs, Drinking Songs, and Fighting Songs from the Bristol Renaissance Faire! by Daniel Marcotte.

More from Dan. I’d already have a sample of his music up on my webpage right now if I weren’t so busy with book and baby. Hopefully soon.

Not all of Dan’s music is steeped in modern-day Geekery. Some of it is old-school geekery as well. This CD is “Tales of Wizards, Knights, Pirates and Princesses, set to music of the Ap Huw Manuscript (16th c Welsh Bardic Tradition) and transcribed for Renaissance Lute.”

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while might remember these folks from a previous post. If you never saw that blog, you should really click over here and watch the little video. It’s short, and I guarantee you’ve never seen anything like it.

After I gushed about how awesome they were, we actually got in touch. I sent them a copy of the Brazilian translation of the book, they sent me some CDs for the fundraiser.

“They are considered a new phenomenon in the Brazilian guitar. With a mix of perfect technique, infallible repertory and a lot of charisma Fernando Lima and Cecilia Siqueira are winning admirers where they go” Published on “Violao Pro” Magazine, Sao Paulo – Brazil

You can also catch their music on their website and myspace page.

  • Six copies of Only Ghosts Remain by Fermata.
I caught Fermata playing about a year ago at the Afterdark, the local coffee shop here in Stevens Point. It was cool stuff, and it gave me some ideas about what type of music a group of eclectic troupers might play.

I’d have a sample of their stuff up on my webpage too if I wasn’t so swamped…

Review from Sepiachord.com, “Fermata are not most bands and make the smooth mixing of pop elements and folk elements seem easy.There’s a confidence here that makes what they do feel light, effortless. Despite the somber mood they evoke this confidence gives a sense of hope and positiveness to the work. “Only Ghosts Remain” is a chamber pop album for goths-who-smile. This collection proves that all “gothic Americana” doesn’t have to be gutter tales of depravity and desperation.”

You can listen to the music of Fermata at their myspace page.

Another Wisconsin musician was nice enough to kick in a CD of his work:

From Eli August’s myspace page: “Eli August creates music with zeal and energy, focusing on mood, tonality and lyricism. The songwriting mines memories of past regrets and failures to create melancholy aural set pieces that are sincere, passionate and some times dark, but never completely devoid of redemption.”

I guarantee you’ve never heard anything like this stuff. I could try to explain it to you, but I just don’t have the words for it…

Description from SkullsofHeaven.com, “db is a self-taught throat singer, nature mimic, and multi-voiced performance artist […] He has rolled up his sleeves and written lyrics for some of the songs, though he still keeps the emphasis on wordless imaginary flight with his vocal gymnastics. Playing bass, bansuri flute, and percussion he creates menageries of animal worlds with minimal looping effects and expressive feats of multi-tonal singing.”

  • Three CD’s by Janis Ian, Folk is the New Black, The Best of Janis Ian: The Autobiography Collection and Billie’s Bones.

Most folks know about Janis Ian because she’s a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who’s been making music for over 40 years. Fewer people realize that in addition to being a talented musician, Janis is also active in the Sci-fi community.

She contacted me after reading my The Name of the Wind and said some very flattering things. Then, despite her disappointment that book two wasn’t finished yet, she was nice enough to donate some CDs to Worldbuilders.

Blogcritics.org say, “Best Of Janis Ian: The Autobiography Collection is a two-disc retrospective of Janis Ian’s career. All of her hits and well know songs are included as well as some of her equally impressive but not as famous new material.”

“Now I can add another favorite to my Hall of Urban Fantasy Fame: Deborah Smith writing as Leigh Bridger… tense, heart wrenching and lovely.” – Pam Headrick, bookseller – A Thirsty Mind

  • Two copies of Once Bitten by Kalayna Price with signed bookplates.

“Once Bitten is a solid urban fantasy debut with enough original ideas and twists to satisfy readers looking for something different and fresh.” – SciFi Guy Blog

  • One set of the first two books in the Unbidden Magic series, Moonstone and Moonrise by Marilee Brothers with signed bookplates.

“Marilee Brothers’ novel stands out for its humor and Allie’s strong point-of-view as an underdog finding her place in the world. This is another good choice for public library teen/fantasy collections. I look forward to the next title in this series.” – Grinnell College Libraries

  • A copy of Mutant Chronicles by Matt Forbeck. Signed by the author.

From the back of the book: “It will be a dangerous mission. I don’t expect that any of us will survive. But it’s a chance to save mankind, to save our world. Maybe the last chance.”

  • A copy of Blood Bowl: Rumble in the Jungle by Matt Forbeck. Signed by the author.

“The action begins in the very first paragraph. From then on it is non-stop action, adventure, humor, and blood.” — Huntress Reviews

  • A set of two books in Knights of the Silver Dragon, Prophecy of the Dragons and The Dragons Revealed by Matt Forbeck. Signed by the author.

“A thrilling series of adventures that will not only get kids interested in fantasy, but also the Dungeons & Dragons game as well.” — Tim Janson


I’m guessing most of you already know about Felicia Day. She was Penny in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along blog, after all.

However, I’m guessing some of you might be woefully ignorant about the The Guild: Felicia’s brilliant mindchild.

I got these copies of The Guild signed when I was out at San Diego Comic-con this year. I was doing it for Worldbuilders, of course. Not because I have a thing for Felicia Day, and certainly not because of my my burgeoning bromance with Sandeep Parikh.

Whatever my motivation, the result is the same: delightfully signed swag available if you donate at least 10 on my page at Team Heifer before January 15th.

Do it. You know you want to make the world a better place.

Want more details about the Worldbuilders fundraiser? Click HERE.

With thanks to our sponsor, Subterranean Press.

This entry was posted in Felicia Day, Joss Whedon, music, Subterranean Press, Worldbuilders 2009By Pat23 Responses

23 Comments

  1. Anonymuos
    Posted January 13, 2010 at 7:10 PM | Permalink

    I can’t wait for the 15th, it’ll finally be over! No offense, but this donation drive has went on forever. I donated, I’m a good person, I just tired of hearing all the prises… I want witty comments about your life and news on how the book number two is going!

  2. Pat
    Posted January 13, 2010 at 7:12 PM | Permalink

    No offense taken. Honestly, I’m ready for it to be over too.

    It’s like one of my friends said the other day: “So when is your blog going to be interesting again?”

  3. Zafri Mollon
    Posted January 13, 2010 at 7:27 PM | Permalink

    Nice friend there Pat! I didn’t mind the prizes, except for the fact that the more prizes there are the less chances of me actually winning one of the prizes that I want (although my odds of winning SOMETHING are much better now).

    Honestly, the Whedon-related blog post more than made up for the last couple weeks of prize posting. I LOL’d on more than one occasion. This was my favourite.

    “I don’t know what all the fuss is about,” she says. “I watched some Buffy, couldn’t get into it. Firefly was boring. I just don’t get what I’m supposed to be missing.”

    “Well…” I said thoughtfully. “Have you ever considered the fact that you might not actually have a soul?”

  4. Thomas
    Posted January 13, 2010 at 7:31 PM | Permalink

    Trying one last time, even though I’m still off topic…

    Reading some of your older posts, and just wondering, what happened to the book dedicated “To Hell”?

  5. Hex
    Posted January 13, 2010 at 8:08 PM | Permalink

    I agree with “Anonymuos” (really?) and Zafri. This drive has gone on for quite some time and although the prizes are vast and awesome, I am looking forward to Friday. Hopefully there won’t be too much more for prizes. They’ve kinda been dwindling in the prizes of interest – at least for me. Except for The Guild – brilliant work by Felicia. I’ll have to take a look at The Legend of Neil.

    Here’s hoping for soon-to-be more witty and interesting blog! :D

  6. Nadine
    Posted January 13, 2010 at 8:18 PM | Permalink

    Hey Pat,

    Hopefully I’m not ruining a surprise or anything. But I believe that your Golden Ticket was won by none other then Subterranean Press! They announced it via a newsletter this week:

    “Patrick Rothfuss and the Golden Ticket…
    Most times, we get our projects in the regular way, by making an author or agent an offer. Every once in a while, though, we snag something from off the edges of the normal publishing-as-business map. Like, possibly, a favor that’s likely to turn into a future Patrick Rothfuss novella…”

    So hopefully I haven’t ticked anyone off over there *grins* by spilling the beans. Either way, I’d be stokked if that’s the favor they ask for =)

  7. Vulpes Fulva
    Posted January 13, 2010 at 8:24 PM | Permalink

    Pat, I do not envy your next couple of weeks. How in the name of Reorx are you going to sort through the hundreds of people that donated and pick a prize for each and every one of them?

    Plus you have a baby, a house, a Sarah, and all your other normal responsibilities. I will pray for your sanity, friend (right after I pray for getting some sweet-ass swag).

    Word Verification definition: squases – (Noun, Plural) – Square cases, frequently and otherwise known as boxes. “I’m moving to the cubicle across the hall, and I need some boxes.” “Some what?” “Some squases.” “Oh, well why didn’t you say so?”

  8. Anonymous
    Posted January 13, 2010 at 8:57 PM | Permalink

    Hey Pat,

    Just curious if any of this cashola is going to Haiti? I’m thinking they could use just about anything right now.

  9. Zafri Mollon
    Posted January 13, 2010 at 9:35 PM | Permalink

    @Nadine
    Holy S***. What could Subterranean Press possibly ask? The rights to publish something first in some special edition printing? Ask for a novella?
    Subterranean Press has really put a lot into this charity drive!

  10. Anonymous
    Posted January 14, 2010 at 1:13 AM | Permalink

    It’s koala, not koala bear.

  11. Anonymous
    Posted January 14, 2010 at 1:13 AM | Permalink

    Hi,

    OK dont shoot me , but I’ve enjoyed the vicarious pleasure of all the prizes that probably I won’t get ( at least 11000 other tickets in this, after all)
    No my question is totally trivial- Are there any of those cool fortune cookies in the prize pool? Pat teased us all by asking for suggestions for possible fortunes, did any of them get used?

  12. Nadine
    Posted January 14, 2010 at 3:45 AM | Permalink

    @Zafri

    I know right, they are incredible!
    I’m glad that I support them as much as I’m monetarily able whenever a book comes out that I want. They have to be one of the most generous publishing companies I’ve had the pleasure to buy from.

    As for what they’ll ask…oh I can’t wait to see what they come up with =)

  13. Anonymous
    Posted January 14, 2010 at 4:57 AM | Permalink

    Now, I don’t like to speak Illawarra, but I was shocked, I mean how much can a Koala bear?

    -Austen Tayshus

  14. Kendall
    Posted January 14, 2010 at 5:21 AM | Permalink

    I’m not bored by these posts (and Pat manages to be witty in them, BTW ;-). It’s cool to see who’s donating and what. And I get “WTF!!!” moments from things like the Creed guitar, and today’s post ($15,000 for the Golden Ticket? and HOW MUCH raised so far?!. Woah. I get STOKED by this stuff!

    If SubPress announced something in a newsletter then (presuming it’s a public newsletter anyone could sign up for) it’s probably not meant to be a secret or else, you know, they wouldn’t have mentioned it. ;-)

    Anyway, rock on, Pat (literally, with the Creed guitar, until someone else gets it). You’re made of awesome!

  15. Kendall
    Posted January 14, 2010 at 5:23 AM | Permalink

    P.S. I’m totally not surprised if SubPress got the Golden Ticket and uses it to get a novella or something even longer out of Pat. Didn’t they do something similar with a charitable donation once with John Scalzi and got something similar out of the bargain? (Maybe I’m misremembering.)

  16. Mossy
    Posted January 14, 2010 at 5:50 AM | Permalink

    Matt Forbeck’s Blood Bowl: Rumble In the Jungle…I confess, I laughed my socks off while reading the first one, and want to get the rest of the series. That one very much included.

    And the rest, of course. In all honesty, I need to get up off my arse and pitch my meager piggy bank into the pot too, before it’s too late.

  17. Anonymous
    Posted January 14, 2010 at 7:08 AM | Permalink

    i remember when RJ wrote a great book instead of daily updates about fundraisers. Those were the good days

  18. Pat
    Posted January 14, 2010 at 7:21 AM | Permalink

    Oh man… I totally forgot about the fortune cookies. I had a bunch of them made for Gencon. But I was going to make some more for the fundraiser and I forgot with everything else going on.

    Next year…

    Thomas: It’s on one of my shelves.

  19. Dominic
    Posted January 14, 2010 at 7:59 AM | Permalink

    These prizes look amazing. And the amount of money raised is unbelievable, although it does make the smallest most selfish parts of myself feel slightly put out that that really means a decrease in my chances of winning a prize. Then again, if you hadn’t raised so much money you wouldn’t have had so many prizes donated, so I suppose it’s really 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.

    On a side note, I was surfing your site, and I ended up going to this link right here.

    http://www.patrickrothfuss.com/content/note.asp

    When I got there I almost, to put it delicately, had to change my pants. Then I came down from the moon and looked more closely. You see, when you click on that link you’ll see another link that says,

    “On Sale March 27th, Preorder now!”

    No pressure or anything on you Pat, I’d rather you spend a decade on each book than have the Kingkiller Chronicles go the way of the Dune series (quite seriously, tNotW is very comparable to Dune), it’s just looking at that it felt like Channukah, my birthday, and Graduation had come early.

    Cheers.

  20. Nick
    Posted January 14, 2010 at 8:07 AM | Permalink

    Don’t worry Pat, Koalas are evil little buggers, so we won’t look down on you if you were to end up kicking one. :)

  21. Gabriel
    Posted January 14, 2010 at 9:00 PM | Permalink

    Those are some serious numbers Patrick, congratulations!

    Let’s hope Cyanide & Happiness didn’t predict your future there… ;)

  22. Tori
    Posted January 16, 2010 at 4:08 AM | Permalink

    Keeping my fingers crossed for music!

  23. Amy
    Posted February 24, 2010 at 5:57 AM | Permalink

    @Dominic: you had me all excited with your post thinking you'd seen something I hadn't!
    However, that link you saw 'pre-order now' etc mentioning March the 27th is for TNOTW, not WMF. It seems someone has neglected to take the 'pre' off that link and just make it 'order'.

    But we will just keep waiting patiently instead for when the book is ready to come out. :-)

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