So I’ve been slowly digging through my backlog of fanmail. Most of it has been extraordinarily pleasant. There have been a few turds in there, but they’re so rare as to be statistical anomalies.
While reading them all, I’ve also found three letters similar to this one:
Dear Pat,
I read name of the wind long, long ago back in 2007. And I’ve been a reader of your blog for just about as long.
Back in 2008, when the paperback version of The Name of the Wind came out, you did a photo contest. I remember it was a ton of fun seeing all the photos people took of themselves and your book. Do you remember the girls that got naked and painted themselves with your book covers?
So I was mostly wondering, are you going to do a photo contest again? I remember you saying you were planning on it, but that was a long time ago…
Best Wishes,
Sandra
“Do you remember the girls that got naked and painted themselves with your book covers?”
This is perhaps the most ridiculous question in the history of ever. Of course I remember that picture. I still consider it one of the absolute high points of my writing career. The blog I wrote about that picture back in 2008 is as true today as it was back then.
You want to know one of the best things about this picture? The women were honest-to-goodness rocket scientists. I shit you not. They were aerospace engineers.
The truth is, Sandra, I planned on doing a photo contest as soon as the second book came out. But with the chaos of revision followed by the book tour, I just plain forgot about it.
But now my failing memory has been jogged by you and several other diligent readers. Looking over the blogs from the first contest has warmed my heart and reminded me how much fun it was seeing all of those pictures.
Like this one of the most furious baby in the world:
Or the one where someone made pants for my books:
All the entries from Captain Joe. My favoritest fan I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet.
(The name of his steed? Thunderplumb.)
Or one of my favoritest, simplest pictures:
So hell yes. Photo contest. Let’s do it again.
Here are the rules.
1. The picture doesn’t need to include you, but it does need to include the book.
2. Photo manipulation is legal, but by no means required.
3. Multiple entries are allowed.
4. Pictures will be judged on their general coolness. Categories will include anything I feel like, for example: “Most Awesome,” “Most Funny.” “Most Sexy” “Most Dramatic” and “Most Best.”
4b. I reserve the right to add extra categories, remove categories, and pretty much do whatever I like when it comes to the organization and presentation of the pictures.
5. You can’t do anything illegal or recklessly dangerous.
5B. Yes. Even if it’s cool.
5c. Yes. I’m serious. I won’t post up your picture at all if it’s obvious you’re playing in traffic or climbing a fence into a military base. Play nice. Be smart.
6. Winners will win. Winning will include some manner of prize. The nature of the prizes is yet to be determined, but I’ll do my best to make them cool.
7. All photos will be judged in a completely arbitrary and subjective manner.
8. Pictures should be jpgs no larger than 4 megs each. (Lest y’all crash my gmail account.)
9. You have one month to get your pictures submitted. The contest is over April 30th at Midnight.
[Edit April 25th] Contest Deadline Extended! New deadline is May 15th.
For those of you that are interested, here are the blogs that show some of the best pictures from the last contest:
Photo Contest Part I – Shrines
Photo Contest Part II – Babies
Photo Contest Part III – Anthropomorphic and Athletic
Photo Contest Part IV – Celebrities and Foreign Climes
Photo Contest Part V – Driving, Reading, and Animals
Photo Contest Part VI – Miscellaneous
Photo Contest Part VII – Drama
Photo Contest Part VIII – Eros, Filius, and Agape
Photo Contest Part IX – Covers and Cosplay
Photo Contest Part X – The Grand Prize Winner
If nothing else, you really need to check out that last one. The grand prize winner was awesome to such a degree that I’m still stunned by it. Time has not dimmed its luster by one iota. Their prize was that they got to beta-read book two.
How to Submit Your Picture.
E-mail your pictures to the following address: paperback.contest {swirly at sign} gmail.com
If you send a picture to that e-mail address, make sure to include:
- The photo(s). (duh.)
- Your name.
- How you want the photo to be credited, if it’s different than your name.
- Your mailing address. (Where to send your fabulous prize.)
Are you ready? I’m so ready. I think this is going to be awesome.
pat
P.S. If folks want to suggest things that might make good prizes, I’m open to suggestions in the comments below.
93 Comments
Ya know, I’ve done some cool things in my time…
But I ain’t never done anything so cool that multiple, beautiful, intelligent women have felt the need to adorn their nekkid bods with images of my coolness. Wow.
What if I just have the Kindle version of The Wise Man’s Fear??
I was just wandering the internet, reminding myself to take anything I see with a grain of salt, seeing as it is April Fool’s Day. I’m guessing you’re serious about this one though. Because really, why wouldn’t everyone want to do this again?
Also, will there be a Facebook thingy this time? That was pretty cool last time.
Facebook doesn’t have the same sort of convenient picture sharing that it did back in 2008. Back then you could add pictures to an event. Now you can’t…
I was unaware of the book last time. I’ll have to come up with something. Those prizes were
epicawesome.How about a tiny lock of Patty beard? Nothing quite so unique as that. This could be a given with a hand written cert. of authenticity. Cheap, easy, a little creepy, but yeah whatever. You asked for ideas right? I don’t really want your beard Pat, but I bet someone does. Just saying.
Brent
Oh, Pat…
Please don’t tempt me so. I may have t dust off the old camera and see about snapping some shots.
How much full frontal nudity is too much? I don’t think that was made clear last time.
-Cap’n Joe
PS: The level of awesome that is WMF cannot be expressed through mere, pitiful words such as these. Please know that it is loved, and much appreciated. Thank you, Rothfuss.
Also, nothing recklessly dangerous?
Well I’m out of ideas.
Oh I don’t know. I’m sure you’ll come up with something. Remember, the judging is arbitrary and subjective, and I think Pat likes you a bit.
He did said he wouldn’t post pictures of things like climbing into a military base but… well I’m a Marine on Camp Lejeune; would you allow pictures of “sneaking” onto the base since I work in one? I could probably get a couple of off duty gate guards in on it. What do you think Captain Joe, want to come to NC and take some pictures climbing into a Marine Corps base?
Knowing Joe personally I am happy to say there can never be too much full frontal nudity when it comes to him
Heh. Dude…. dude.
Fond of him are you?
I just realized that you have a gunblade in your picture. NOTW + gunblade is just full of win.
I remember doing this the first time. It was so much fun. Took a couple of days and drove around everywhere taking pictures in strange places. I’m glad there is going to be another one. I hope there will be more Thunderplumb.
Wow! My daughter is a photographer! We need to ponder the awesomeness of WMF and come up with something.
AWE – (wait for it…) -SOME.
Aw, geez, Pat. You do know that I’m BUSY, right? And now you want to add this to my schedule?
XD I wish Captain Joe and I weren’t separated by half a planet…..
In all seriousness, I was delighted to read that we’re still cool a couple years later. That rocks.
Laura
Aw c’mon. You’ve already had a month to re-read book two. What else could you possibly have going on in your life?
Question Pat…
They didn’t have your book out here on the release date. Took the slow people at *insert local book chain here* just over a week to get it in. I couldn’t wait, so I bought an e-book reader that I’ve been wanting to read your book on. Are E-book readers displaying your book cover acceptable in your photo contest?
Jesse
I am aware of the fact that many of you out there are what we refer to as “book deficient.”
We’ll probably have to create a separate category for you poor sods. “Most E” or something of the sort.
Yay!
True fans have both. :)
Funny thing – I can’t find a local copy anywhere! I’m probably going to order a copy of both 1 and 2 soon, but it’s just really weird I can’t find a copy. When it made #1 on the NYT list I was like ‘Oh cool… I should even be able to find it now! Even in like, grocery stores!’ … but nope! The stores have that shelf with the top 20 for the week and it never made it up there. The one claiming #1 I hadn’t even seen on the list – at least not in the last few weeks! What gives?
A lot of those “Bestseller” lists don’t have anything to do with the New York Times, unfortunately.
I know this because I was a little disappointed myself when I went into Shopko and my book wasn’t up there at all….
Way too pumped for this. I liked my last entry, even if it didn’t pass the arbitrary judgment ;)
To ponder…. Hrm…. we have a ridiculous number of copies of your books in my house. This could get quite ridiculous.
Are the pictures only to include WMF…ORRRRRR can they include BOTH of your books? Or by doing that does it disqualify?
I have yet to actually READ WMF…I’m having a major surgery in a month..so I’m Saving it Up for then… :)
I know this is off subject and the answer might be hidden somewhere, but are there any maps of the four corners posters left anywhere? I really want one…
Check the Tinker’s Packs storefront.
Your slightly used copy of Dragon Age 2 would make a good prize, particularly if you defaced it somehow. Although, with the tepid reviews it`s been getting, maybe just a keychain or some old batteries would be okay instead.
By the way, I`m loving TWMF so far. The whole bit with Felurian in particular. Pretty steamy stuff. So I guess, by extension my wife is loving the book too, if you know what I mean. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Ahem.
My work here is done…
Heeheef, and I thought my husband was the only one taking tips from Kvothe and Felurian. :o)
That picture of the dude running off the set of Public Enemies made my laughs echo through the library. True story. Lorren’s pissed…
Prize ideas? This is my expertise…
— handmade steampunk jewelry from etsy
— voucher for Amyr tatoo at a big-name tatoo parlor
— a 1-issue comic by you & naten taylor heckling Beowulf or The Edda
— Fresh parmesean cheese from Ancona Italy
— A postcard from wisconsin from you & the ms. & Oot
— A Shaede or a lute-case/box with secret compartment or a cloak with lots of little pockets
— rings of stone, iron, amber, wood or bone (last ones kinda gruesome, but hey, it’s in the verse, so…)
— The full lyrics to Sabien
— A broken tickle-me-elmo (it’d be cheaper than a working version)
— 3 boxes of the macaroni you ate w/ corn
— A fountain pen/sympathy lamp/story-knot that we might find in the stacks
— OH, definitely a story knot, but like a whole story. THAT’d be cheap, and good. like swimming.
— A seedling from some plant you started growing
— one of those hallmark storybooks that record your voice as you read them, normally for grandparents & grandkids, but now for Rothfuss fans to hear him read “the princess and the frog” or w’e
— stuff from the “incredibly bizarre” category on ebay
— signed copy of first rough draft of chapters 7&8 from NOTW
— local wisconsin honey
— some old fishing lure from the early 1900s
— the first book in the Pern series (people’ve read narnia, tolkien, martin, rowling, etc… not many read Pern – including me. Never heard of it until you).
— One red paperclip with the condition that whoever gets it needs to trade up to something awesome and keep us updated on their progress
— An arrowcatch (if the original) or The Bloodless (of 1 of _ )
— A list of your top five favorite poems/songs and why with an analysis of each
— dandelion seeds that were blowing in the wind outside your house
— A set of silver pipes
— A cheesy dollar-store greeting card with the longest string of the most superlative language you can think of to praise the receiver, “Let it be known that Niel is the awesomest…” signed, PR.
— A belt that’s dyed red.
— Scutten in a sealed tankard
That’s all I got for now. (Is there a prize for most photo-contest-prize ideas? Cause I might get more…)
So, I read this blog just before hitting my big, comfy pillow last night. Figures I then spend the next hour or two trying to think up awesome ideas for pictures with my precious books instead of sleeping like I should have been. Well worth the now-prominent bags under my eyes!
Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with! Thanks for bringing this back, Pat!
Wmailed a pic in. Photoshop is fun even if you’re no good at it.
Side note: April 30th is my birthday. This contest would be an awesome birthday win. no pressure.
Haha, it’s my birthday, too. I’m horrible at taking pictures but I sorta have an idea…
Hi Pat! Do the same rules apply as the last competition, that it has to be the paperback edition? cos here in sunny South Africa, we wont get that for a year and a half…
Good to see another Saffa on the blog. I saw paperback editions of NotW in Sandton and Stellenbosch when I was on holiday in Dec. Both were at Exclusive Books, if you are in Joburg try Estoril Books at Fourways Mall.
Yeah, NotW is out in paperback here, but I dont think TwmF will be for a while…I dont even know if the hard back is out yet? I’m going to mission to exclusives tomorrow to find out!
Been calling around, and none of the exclusives have it. Our best bet is kalahari, my friend :)
There is no paperback edition.
I the UK there is.
Sorry, “In”
Sorry again. Just checked and didn´t find a paperback on amazon.co.uk, but I swear I saw it somewhere. So I looked again on the german amazon site and there it is, available already, in english:
http://www.amazon.de/Wise-Mans-Fear-Kingkiller-Chronicle/dp/0575081422/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301726781&sr=8-1
I got a paperback edition in Ireland. It was the only edition the shop was selling.
Yay! for once we’re not the only ones who are lacking :) I will be sure to send in my photo…
I have one, but in Australia. We do things differently here…
Hi,
@Erzberger: This Link is quite tricky. Scroll down a little and you can read that the release date is September 2011, although they write, you’ll get it on Tuesday, if you order now. It’s not supposed to make sense ;) If it would work, I’d be the first ordering!
“Produktinformation
* Taschenbuch: 896 Seiten
* Verlag: Gollancz; Auflage: Trade Paperback. (15. September 2011)”
Living in Germany I bought it on amazon.de (link above in the comment of Erzberger) on March 15th (or sth around that date) when it still had a publishing date in March listed (instead of September as it has now). It arrived at my flat two days later, so I can tell you that a) yes, there is a paperback available out there already (at least it was for me and I have picture proof ;)), b) it is the UK version by Gollancz, London with 994 pages (Idk why they list 896 pages, though) and the cover you can see on the amazon page c) I LOVE it <3
The contest sounds awesome and I'm excited to find a nice way to photograf the book with me or within a nice setting :D
@paperwitch: You’re right!! I ordered it and I got it today :)
Hi Pat,
When you say “picture” do you mean 1 photo or can we do something along the lines of the grand prize winner from last time who used multiple photos to tell a story?
Thanks!
Signed pictures of Oot? (For cutest/babies)
Signed copies of Princess and Wuffles?
Your name as a minor character in the Doors of Stone?
Walk-on part in any future film presentations?
You can expect at least one sad photo from me. Silly Orbit forgot to include 60 pages of my copy of WMF so I might have to include a picture of a tear soaked copy brought on by my inability to finish reading the book in a proper fashion. It won’t only be gloomy photos from me, though. The book is too magnificient for me to stay sad for long.
I HAD to get the new book by Kindle! You know why, because I couldn’t wait to get it!!!! I woke up and ran, well stumbled, to my Kindle and turned it on and started reading. Three hours later I looked up and realized I had to go to work, like in five minutes! I didn’t want to put it down and every spare moment I had it in my hand and was reading. I’m so on this contest! Bring it! Bwahahahaha
So, does jumping from airplanes count as too dangerous for the photo competition?
nah – didn’t think so.
Silly question, perhaps, but is there a minimum age? Only sixteen over here, but still hoping I can submit some photos!
I think beta book 3 would top the list! But I don’t have a signed hardcover of NOTW. Another cool prize could be your name in the next book’s acknowledgments. Lunch with Pat?
If I ever acquire enough coin to buy a racehorse you’d better believe I’d name him Thunderplum.
Thunderplumb.
Potato, potahto…I like Thunderplum!
While excited for the photo competition, I’m here on an unrelated note. Waterstone’s sci-fi, fantasy, & horror section vid! Awesome.
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/browse/science-fiction-fantasy-and-horror/4294965878/
Above Feist even.
Also, #1 and #7 on the bestseller list. Love.
Hi Pat,
Since I was not aware of the first photo contest and I do have a photo I think is more Windy kind, Can I send a photo of the Name of the Wind for this contest ?? Please let me know..
Kalyani
OhOhoh!!!
This will be fun! :)
Visiting my boyfriend for a week tomorrow… *puts book in suitcase*
awesome picture time for us!
Both are in love with your books Pat! :P
Not related to the contest I just thought I would let you know.. I just finished re-reading tNotW on vacation so I went to my local library to finally get The Wise Man’s Fear (I couldn’t bring myself to read my signed copy) and they didn’t have it. It wasn’t checked out, they just didn’t have it. WHAT?! I told them it hit #1 one on the NYT list how could they not have it. I wanted it – a week later they called and said my new book was in, they ordered copies for all the braches. Yeah, now people can get another good book at their local library!
Hey Pat,
A question in reference to rule #1. I am assuming that the book included in the picture must WMF. Or, can it be any of your magnificent books?
~Eric
I just had a quick question for you Pat. After reading the WMF I went back to my book collection and read Tales of Dark Fantasy again.
Why did you change Tempi’s name for “Vashet” in the Road to Levinshir? It would have fit just as well even after finishing WMF? As Kvothe says “I hate not understanding something.”
You might also think of setting up a Q&A for the book!
Some of your Mac & Cheese would be a good prize. Maybe for the winner of a “Most Delicious” or some such category.
Prize idea: a paperweight with a lock of your beard hair in it.
Assuming that ridiculous string of prize suggestions overdid it, may I suggest only one:
A signed photobook with the winning pictures.
also, got caught singing Jackass, Jackass today on campus.
SEE??? Lots of people need a soundtrack CD to go with the books! Should def have a competition for people to write up the words/music that are in the Kingkiller books!
I was looking at Felurian’s song last night starting to put it to music… and I keep stopping myself from writing verses to Tinker, Tanner. I’m a bit of a bard (and even perform at Faires!) so it’s second nature…
why, for what possible reason?
My only hope is that IP’s are logged and all their personal info is plastered all over the place as well ;P
I’m hoping that the powers that be will notice and delete these comments. But either way, I would think that true fans would never actually USE the information. I am a nosy googler as much as the next person but you don’t have to make it any easier for the random wacko to crank call their home, or whatever, by posting it like this.
Posting his mom’s obituary? Real classy move. Not that cretins like you care.
If I win, I’d like to keep Oot please.
Without sounding too much like a scrub, I have a question. Is this contest still with the paperback copy of Name of the Wind? Or are you now doing it with The Wise Man’s Fear? The link still says “paperback.contest …etc”, yet this contest is right after book 2. Is this just like a “round 2” contest, or is it a new one, with WMF?
Hey Pat!
It is possible to receive whatever amazing prize you give out of USA?
I live in Spain, and I wonder it :P
Dani
Wow… I’m guessing what ever was posted got taken down, because the last few comments seemed a bit harsh on Dani from spain. Did someone really post someone’s mothers obituary???
Someone posted Pat’s personal info, his SO’s personal info, and what looked like the results to one of those paid-for ‘people search’ things (blood relatives, births & deaths in family, other stalkery things).
Like I said; hopefully their IP was visible to any admins of this site and will be dealt with accordingly ;P
Awesome! I’m going to take some photos this weekend provided the weather plays nice!
Pat I love the work you are doing, the trouble is that your book will not leave Spain until November .. Well, I congratulate you on your great first book.
I am really excited about this!
I hate to say this… but I only just found out the book is out. I thought it was due to release in August (no idea where I got that from) and was devastated about waiting so long. Imagine my surprise when I found a copy of the book from the library in my mums room. I was convinced she had some sort of boot legged copy!
Anyway I digress. I’ve now ordered two copies and have many ideas of pictures I want to take. HUGE fan. Love your work and that book got me through first year computer science in University! Kept me sane. For that I thank you.
Jenn
Gotta see if I can get a repeat win on this one, that would be awesome. My photos are a sequel to the original.
Prizes? I’d say advance copy of Book 3 when its available would be awesome.
Just submitted my contribution and for once the proverb “Better safe than sorry” does make sense. I planned on linking the pictures in the mail as well es attaching them, just to be sure – and forgot to attach them before sending.
As for the present, maybe a sketch of Kvothe?
It’s always interesting to see how the author imagines his characters. For some reason, I always find myself thinking of Axel from Kingdom Hearts with less spikey hair… O_ô
Pat;
Does this picture contest have any sort of specification on WHICH book we have to take the picture with? I’d like to use my lovely hard-cover of The Wise Man’s Fear…
Also, is it ok if we do something dangerous if we are trained professionals?
Pat;
I was wondering could i still add some photos because I only found about the contest now. Could i possibly add some photos by the 23rd or 22nd?
Thanks
Asiah
can you please email me yes or no on [email protected]
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Pat, persons outside the United States (like Brazil) may participate?
pleeease say yes!!!!
And I think the price might be one Eolian T-shirt with the Eolian Talent Pipes Necklace and the Draccus Poster signed…
Or (to be more audacious ) , one character (on next book of Kingkiller Chronicles or other future book) with the name of the winner (names are important, so it would be the most excited prize ;D)
XOXO
Camila
*prize!