Signed Books From Ireland

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

As you know, most of the books donated to Worldbuilders come from publishers, authors, and the occasional cool bookstore.

Last year that changed a bit when I mentioned that Worldbuilders would be happy to accept cool books from just about anyone.

When I did that, a lot of folks contacted us, pitching in cool books and other assorted geekery (Parts of which we’ll be seeing soon.)

But one person from Ireland went above and beyond. For the last year, Keith Brunkard has been sending a steady stream of signed books to us. Many of them from Irish and English authors.

When we asked him why he was so cool, Keith’s explained that he’s sending books to:

1. Help raise money for Worldbuilders.
2. Give people signed books they might not otherwise have a chance at.
3. Promote writers that he particularly likes.

.

In other news, Keith and his master goldsmith friend Doug have been working with Vincent Chong (who has donated some lovely art prints which we will see later in the blog) and have produced a bookmarker in silver based off of Vincent Chong’s artwork for The Damnation Game by Clive Barker.

Keith would also like to thank The Loft Bookshop, Dubray Books and The Gutter Bookshop in Dublin, Ireland for connecting him with so many of these authors. Hurray for local bookstores!

And now, the books:

  • Limited edition hardcover copy of Down These Green Streets edited by Declan Burke. Signed by many of the authors.

This book is one of 200 limited edition copies of ‘Down These Green Streets’ that were signed by the following authors at the book’s launch on 8th June 2011 at the Gutter Bookshop in Dublin: Alex Barclay, Ingrid Black, Gerard Brennan, Ken Bruen, Declan Burke, Jane Casey, John Connolly, Alan Glynn, Declan Hughes, Arlene Hunt, Sara Keating, Gene Kerrigan, Kevin McCarthy, Cormac Millar, and Ian Campbell Ross.

Down These Green Streets is an excellent, varied collection of essays and short stories, looking at Irish crime fiction in both its historical and present day context, with much of interest to anyone interested in modern day Ireland and its cultural life. It is very much a book to dip into, rather than to read straight through in one setting.” – Laura Root of Euro Crime

  • Hardcover books by Trudi Canavan: Last of the Wilds, The Magician’s Apprentice, The Magicians’ Guild & The High Lord, and The Ambassador’s Mission & The Rogue. All signed by the author.

“Canavan’s Black Magician trilogy took the fantasy world by storm a few years ago, turning her into a Sunday Times best-selling author in almost record time. This prequel, set several hundred years before the events in the The Magician’s Guild, should please her legions of fans, and doubtless add to their ranks.” – Deathray about The Magician’s Apprentice

  • One copy of Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders by Gyles Brandreth. Signed by the author.

“Brandreth and Wilde seem made for one another… the complex and nicely structured plot zips along.” – Daily Telegraph

  • One hardcover copy of The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson. Signed by the author.

“Another masterpiece… How is it possible to read Howard Jacobson and not lose oneself in admiration for the music of his language, the power of his characterization and the penetration of his insight?” – The Times

  • One copy of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. Signed by the author.

“This is what fiction is supposed to do: introduce you to the minds of those you wouldn’t ordinarily meet.”  – Guardian

  • One copy of Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy. Signed by the author.

“Fun and quirky with lots of humor.” – Locus

  • Two first edition hardcover copies of A Monsters Calls by Patrick Ness. Signed by the author.

“A nuanced tale that draws on elements of classic horror stories to delve into the terrifying terrain of loss. . . . In an ideal pairing of text and illustration, the novel is liberally laced with Kay’s evocatively textured pen-and-ink artwork, which surrounds the text, softly caressing it in quiet moments and in others rushing toward the viewer with a nightmarish intensity. A poignant tribute to the life and talent of Siobhan Dowd and an astonishing exploration of fear.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

  • One copy of The Burning Soul by John Connolly. Signed by the author.

“In The Burning Soul, John Connolly has delivered a cracking good tale that seamlessly blends suspense, mystery and just the lightest touch of his signature supernatural ambiance.” – Irish Independent News

“Barry’s famed lyricism generates such emotional engagement that to come away dry-eyed from one of his novels would surely be proof of a stony heart.” – The Telegraph

  • One first edition hardcover of Songs of the Earth by Elspeth Cooper. Signed by the author.

“The novel possesses a compelling, action-packed narrative sweep all its own, an emotional catharsis at once shocking and convincing, and one of the most unsentimental, yet tender, erotic romances to grace the genre.” – Fortean Times

  • One copy of City of Bohane by Kevin Barry. Signed by the author.

“Kevin Barry is unique, a one-man school. His work is hilarious and unpredictable – and always brilliant.” – Roddy Doyle

  • One first edition hardcover copy of The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright. Signed by the author.

“…Enright has established herself as one of the most grown-up of contemporary novelists, one of the few to pay attention to the messiness of ordinary lives, even at the expense of narrative shape. Her new novel is her most mature yet in this respect.” – The Telegraph

  • One copy of The Chosen by Arlene Hunt. Signed by the author.

“A taut, sharp, gripping re-imagining of the serial-killer novel.” – Tana French

“Kiernan shows an acute sense of how to build tension and when to twist the knife.” – SFX Magazine

  • One first edition hardcover copy of Aloha from Hell by Richard Kadrey. Signed by the author.

“As a previous escapee from its infernal regions, James William Butler Stark has had enough of hell, but in this new Sandman Slim novel, this sardonic half-angel decides that he must return to that fiery place to stop an insane serial killer and throw steaming water on a cosmic battle between Good and Evil. Biting humor; an over-the-top antihero and plots to keep you riveted.” – Barnes & Noble

  • One first edition hardcover copy of The Bleeding Horse and Other Stories by Brian J. Showers. Signed by the author.

“Was up late reading The Bleeding Horse, and when it came time to walk around the house checking doors and turning out lights . . . I had to keep nervously looking over my shoulder. So I guess that means the stories work.” -Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy

  • One copy of The Horse Girl by Mary Finn. Signed by the author.

“Mary Finn has written a beautiful tale of an English boy who falls in love with a French girl. It is indeed beautifully written. In addition to being such a great read, The Horse Girl is educational. Do yourself a favor and read this book.” – Teen Reads

  • One numbered first edition hardcover copy of The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Signed by the author.

“Zafón adeptly establishes his characters (including some fun and believable teenage repartee) and makes good use of his setting. His Calcutta has many of the mystical elements that many writers associate with the city, but it also shows the political strain of a city subject to years of hostile colonization and ready to break free. Just as importantly, Zafón delivers moments of genuine horror, as well as expert plot twists that move the story along.” – Publishers Weekly

  • One copy of A Death in Summer by Benjamin Black. Signed by the author.

“Black’s drab Dublin streets are full of perplexing figures, archetypes, as if the characters were stalking through some Jungian map of the unconscious: weakened, dying fathers, good mothers, bad mothers, twins, ‘dark doubles,’ ghosts surging up from the past… His narratives are loaded with poetic devices.” – The New Yorker

  • One limited edition hardcover of Futile Efforts by Tom Piccirilli. Signed by the author.

This special signed edition is limited to 1,000 copies.

“In this disturbing, often grotesque and ultimately mesmerizing collection, Piccirilli reprints 17 stories and 45 poems. Although the star-studded introductions are a nice bonus, Piccirilli’s stories are the selling point, and all are standouts… Piccirilli’s unique mix of gore, violence and a literate style bordering on the lyrical help make this collection one that horror fans will relish.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  • One first edition hardcover of Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie. Signed by the author.

“Luka and the Fire of Life zings along with a palpable sense of Otter-like excess: its exuberance is inextricably linked to its profligacy with puns, rhymes, one-liners and snippets of nonsense. And although one would be amazed at the prodigious child who could follow to the letter its snaky progress, it captures brilliantly that moment when adults enrapture children by behaving like children themselves.” – The Guardian

*     *     *

Remember, for every 10 dollars you donate on the Worldbuilders Team Page, you get a chance to win these books and hundreds of others.

What’s more, Worldbuilders will match 50% of your donations. So if you chip in before January 31st of 2012, you get a bigger bang for your buck.

To see the other books folks have donated, as well as our auctions, and the items we’re selling in the store, you can head over to our main page HERE.

This entry was posted in Worldbuilders 2011By Pat31 Responses

31 Comments

  1. Posted December 9, 2011 at 4:15 PM | Permalink

    I’m always so nervous when I post up a blog and nobody comments on it for more than half an hour. I find myself thinking, “Shit, did I post it up wrong? Did I say something unforgivably stupid?”

    How weird is that? Five years ago I didn’t even have a blog. Now if someone doesn’t comment on a post inside half an hour, I get oddly self-conscious…

    • bradydill
      Posted December 9, 2011 at 4:31 PM | Permalink

      Your effort to fill the silence apparently worked in more ways than the obvious.

    • Widow Of Sirius
      Posted December 9, 2011 at 4:35 PM | Permalink

      This makes me laugh, as when I opened the tab to start reading there were two comments – now there are eight. I think you’re safe :)

    • Posted December 9, 2011 at 6:17 PM | Permalink

      It was a silence of three parts…

    • QWOPtain Crunch
      Posted December 9, 2011 at 7:16 PM | Permalink

      Unless you throw your third book in our faces, I don’t think you’ll ever have to worry about people posting on your blog. We just might be too busy reading your second book for the umpteenth time!

  2. bradydill
    Posted December 9, 2011 at 4:17 PM | Permalink

    “Seven things stand before
    The entrance to the Lackless door
    One of them a ring unworn
    One a word that is forsworn
    One a time that must be right
    One a candle without light
    One a son who brings the blood
    One a door that holds the flood
    One a thing tight-held in keeping
    Then comes that which comes with sleeping.” (705)

    Thought I’d share some awesome lyrical verse from The Wise Man’s Fear. I figured, “this post is awesome, The Wise Man’s Fear is awesome, let’s mix the two together, ay?”

    Those books are really cool. Especially The Forgotten Waltz; that’s one of my favorites.

    See y’all,
    Cinder/Tehlu (Yes I am both, for they are the same person….)

  3. TangentialMind
    Posted December 9, 2011 at 4:23 PM | Permalink

    The Burning Soul looks good. Can’t wait to win something!

  4. sumigo
    Posted December 9, 2011 at 4:30 PM | Permalink

    Very cool group in this post. Tom Piccirilli is my mentor who has critiqued my work in the past, he is a very cool guy and a great writer.

    Signed,

    Brandon fan of all things Rothfuss n stuff.

  5. JenM
    Posted December 9, 2011 at 4:32 PM | Permalink

    Although I have been following your blog for several years, this is my first time posting (I’m shy :P)! But I wanted to relieve some of your anxiety that perhaps your fanbase had been raptured while you weren’t looking :D.

    I look forward every year to this list of swag that you will be giving out! I haven’t won anything yet, but I always find new items for my “to read” list! I’m going to look into Songs of the Earth, and I have had my eye on Trudi Canavan for a while… so it might be time to give one of her books a try!

    Thank you for being you!! You brighten my day.

  6. Widow Of Sirius
    Posted December 9, 2011 at 4:33 PM | Permalink

    I really want too many of these books. I have to wait until January to donate because my first student loan payment is due at the end of the month (which, let me tell you, is terrifying and overwhelming), so THANK YOU for starting later this year so that I could make the deadline!

  7. Mandy Swenson
    Posted December 9, 2011 at 4:39 PM | Permalink

    Ordered the Kindle version of Futile Efforts. I’ll be looking at this list a lot. A lot squared.

    ..and yeah, I know, real books are awesome, “Print fo’ lyfe!” and all that, but my life being what it is, it’s way more convenient to get the Kindle version. Otherwise, I’d need a Minecraft-sized backpack just to get around.

  8. Tinuviel
    Posted December 9, 2011 at 5:00 PM | Permalink

    Your Fans are still here!!!! It’s just finals week…..o.o……
    And looking at all those names makes me want to move to Ireland…..

  9. Bopt
    Posted December 9, 2011 at 5:23 PM | Permalink

    A signed Salman Rushdie book? Random, but awesome! Have you read any Rushdie, Pat?

    • Posted December 9, 2011 at 5:27 PM | Permalink

      I haven’t managed to get around to it yet. He’s on my to-be-read shelf though….

      • Bopt
        Posted December 9, 2011 at 10:08 PM | Permalink

        I know how backlogged you are in reading books, but I can tell you’d love his books. I can’t get you a signed copy of it (unless you want me to sign my copy and send it to you, in which case I would), but read The Satanic Verses if you ever get a chance.

        Also, congratulations on a robust start to this years Worldbuilders!

  10. Mark G. Schroeder
    Posted December 9, 2011 at 5:34 PM | Permalink

    A Monster Calls is full of sparkling and jagged truths. It keeps popping back into my head since I read it, whether I want it to or not.

  11. He without a clever name
    Posted December 9, 2011 at 5:46 PM | Permalink

    I concur (wonderful word) with Widow. I was able to donate in ’09 but had to miss ’10 due to loans coming due. I was very happy to see it going until the end of January this year. Now I can get some cash for Christmas, get it in the account and donate before it’s over. Fingers crossed on making it the end of January for the foreseeable future.

    I love getting to look at the books and get a new reading list for the year, looking forward to seeing all the other donated items as the month continues.

  12. sbeavers
    Posted December 9, 2011 at 8:06 PM | Permalink

    This year I vow to keep up and request interesting sounding books from my library as the blogs come out. Totally fell behind last year, and ended up having to re-read good stuff when I got stuck for new material. Requested 3 of these, and they each had 3 requests already in… coincidence, or a small but intrepid contingent of Rothfuss fans in east central Illinois?

  13. Ronjo I
    Posted December 10, 2011 at 12:26 PM | Permalink

    Looking and salivating, so many great books listed in Worldbuilders. It is time to put my feet on the hearth take the next book off the waiting shelf, make some room. Silver lining to the bitter cold outside.

  14. Little My
    Posted December 10, 2011 at 1:11 PM | Permalink

    Wow, Gyles Brandreth. I remember that name from when I was a kid. We had this great book he wrote called “The Joy of Lex” – a collection of all kinds of unique words, puns, palindromes, and other word-related silliness, cleverly presented. Much fun. I was thinking I need to get it for my kids. . .didn’t know he did fiction, too.

  15. LordZod
    Posted December 10, 2011 at 6:47 PM | Permalink

    Just got my Literary Pinup Calendars and I have to say that I am so excited to give them to my … more literate of friends. On a side note, Pat (if I may be so bold as to call you “Pat”), I want to thank you from the bottom of my giddy soul for taking that picture you did with the new Jim Butcher book. If you hadn’t, I might not have just picked up Storm Front (which is remarkable).

  16. yshapiro
    Posted December 10, 2011 at 6:51 PM | Permalink

    Totally misread that Gyles Bradreth part. Didn’t think he’d be offering a signed Oscar Wilde book.

  17. duke7883
    Posted December 10, 2011 at 9:58 PM | Permalink

    I just had a go through the blog as far back as June and can’t find anything, did the photo contest winners ever get shown?

    • christie
      Posted December 11, 2011 at 1:26 PM | Permalink

      Photo contest winners haven’t been posted yet, but are in the works. For more information, read Pat’s blog dated October 25, 2011.

  18. dancer7887
    Posted December 11, 2011 at 9:32 PM | Permalink

    Hey Pat I just noticed that when I go to the Worldbuilders donation page, it no longer shows the little money thermometer. I love checking every day how much has been earned and was worried that it got moved somewhere else. If so, where? Thanks!

  19. kaleid
    Posted December 12, 2011 at 2:57 AM | Permalink

    Trudi Canavan is cool but is actually from Australia.

    So Anonymous fan donor, you are SUPER cool, not just authors from the Isles, but also the Commonwealth.

    I was at a Shaun Tan (“The Arrival”) signing some weeks ago, and almost got some signed books to send to Worldbuilders- but I was too scared. Next year I won’t be.

  20. kpowell615
    Posted December 13, 2011 at 7:04 AM | Permalink

    I just have to go off subject for a second and announce that Des Moines, Iowa has gone rogue and decided to hold my lovely signed books hostage for three days. Nerd rage is eating my heart. : )

  21. Jen-cha
    Posted December 14, 2011 at 2:35 AM | Permalink

    So, this past year or so of reading your blog, I have always read “Worldbuilders” as WORD builders. I… I am ashamed. And yet, it’s kinda funny… My mind probably just assumed “Word” because of your authorness. X-D

  22. chat
    Posted February 25, 2012 at 1:27 PM | Permalink

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