Following up, Moving on, and the Cuteness of Cutie

Hey there everybody.

Just wanted to let y’all know that we’re working behind the scenes here. Gearing up for what we’ve come to think of as our yearly “packaging party” when we pick the prizes for Worldbuilders, wrap them with loving care, and ship them out to the winners.

But before we actually get to the point where we’re shipping things out, a lot of things have to happen first. We have to rally volunteers. Organize our inventory. Juggle spreadsheets. Mash spreadsheets together until they do what we want.

And to answer a question that gets asked every year: no we won’t be posting up a list of who won which prizes. Not only would it be a lot of work for us, but it would violate the confidentiality of people who donated. We don’t want to do that.

We *will* however probably have some sort of… picture sharing internet thing that people can use to post pictures of themselves with their prizes. Like… flicker? Does anyone use flicker anymore? Fuck. I’m getting to be like that uncle you have that doesn’t understand nobody uses Friendster anymore….

Anyway, my point is that I wanted you to know even though we’re not posting up a blog a day any more, we’re still busy as bees over here.

And by “we” I mean “The Worldbuilders Team.” And by “The Worldbuilders Team” I mean mostly them, not me.

Me, I’m doing my best to gather up the forgotten pieces of my shattered life.

A piece of advice? Don’t try to run a fundraiser, write a novella, and have a baby all at the same time. It’s really not good for you.

So right now I’m trying desperately to catch up on e-mail, re-establish communication with people I’ve accidentally neglected or ignored, pick up projects that I had to lay down half-finished. Sign about 4000 bookplates for the last kickstarter we did, get ready for *another* kickstarter that will be showing up on your radar soon, write a piece of a video game…

Oh. And spend a little time with my family, too. I’ve been rationing my time to them like World War II sugar. Fifteen minutes here. Half an hour there. The occasional dinner. The rare jewel of enough time to watch a movie together. It’s not healthy. That has to change.

Meh. I’m rambling.

My point is… fuck. Do I even have a point to this blog?

Maybe I don’t. Big surprise. Welcome to me.

Maybe the point is that things are happening over here. And when they happen more, I’ll let you know here on the blog. (And on Facebook and Twitter.)

A few quick pieces of news in an attempt to make this blog less pointless:

  • I posted a review of a Roald Dahl book on Goodreads yesterday.

Half the people who read it seem to love it and agree with me. The other half think I’m some sort of monster.

You can read it over here if you like, and make your own decisions.

Which is kind of cool, if you’re the sort of person who is excited about getting verified on Twitter. Which I kinda am.

Verified b

 (This is not encouragement to join twitter. Seriously. Save yourselves.)

Since calendar season is well and truly over, we’re selling the last of our calendars off at 10 bucks each. They’re even less if you buy more than one.

This counts for *all* the calendars, by the way. We’ve got, like, 4 different 2014 calendars in the store this year. So unless you’ve been following the blog obsessively, odds are you haven’t seen all of them.

Also, we have a few things items in the store with only one or two items left. Like the Cheapass game bundle and Chocolate frogs. If people would go in and buy them, I’d appreciate it.

Not only would it let us clean up the store a little, but it would remove the temptation for me to eat those damn frogs every time I go in to work. I’m trying to lose some weight here.

  • Lastly, a picture of the newest Rothfuss.

Because I can’t remember if I’ve shared a picture of him on here yet. And because it’s my blog, and I can show off my baby if I want….

Cutie in car-seat 6 weeks

Codename: Cutie Snoo.

Say it with me now… Awwwww.

  • And one other thing.

I know you can’t technically have something *after* the last thing. But when I called in to check on how many chocolate frogs we still had in the store, Nicole asked me if I was going to mention the coupon code.

“What coupon code?” I asked.

“Our Valentines Day Coupon Code,” she said, somehow making the capital letters clear over the phone. “If people use the code HUGSANDSTUFF they get five dollars off any purchase of $10.00 or more.”

“Why didn’t I already know about this?” I asked.

“If you were following The Tinkers Packs on Facebook, you would know,” she said.

“I am following it,” I said. “I’ve just been busy. Y’know. With stuff.”

“Right,” she said.

“Plus don’t sass the boss,” I said. “Let everyone know that’s a new rule. I am too dignified to be sassed. Plus, y’know, boss.”

So… yeah. There’s a coupon code too. Which means if you want to grab a calendar right now you could get them *super* cheap. Same for the frogs or the games or any number of things we have in the store.

The code is only good until the end of Feb 14th. Which is a fact that I know because I just looked on the Tinker’s Packs Facebook page. Because I *am* following it, Nicole. No matter what you might think.

See you later space cowboys,

pat

This entry was posted in Cutie Snoo. By Pat49 Responses

49 Comments

  1. ktsmom
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 2:10 PM | Permalink

    Oh Pat, how I DOOOOO love you!!! Give Cutie Snoo a nuzzle for me, will you?

  2. DJDubs
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 2:11 PM | Permalink

    Ouch.

    I messaged ya’ll forever ago, begging for a copy of the 2012 pinup (I missed it during 2012) and was told there were no copies left.

    Now, they’re available, but only in the $70 triple-pack that I can’t afford to spend money on.

    I’m gonna go cry now.

    • Posted February 12, 2014 at 12:50 PM | Permalink

      Yeah. We were sold out for a long while. And only now did we discover a single box of them lurking in a closet. They’re the only ones left anywhere, I think….

      We’d sell them off cheaper… but honestly? We lost money printing that first calendar. We didn’t sell nearly enough of them, and we’re hoping to make a little of that money back selling these last remaining few as collector’s items.

      • DJDubs
        Posted February 13, 2014 at 12:58 PM | Permalink

        Yeah, I understand.

        I just can’t afford to drop $70 on them right now, especially since I already have the 2013 and 2014 ones.

        Hopefully you’ll still have some in stock in a month or so, when my finances get back in the position that I’ll be able to.

  3. firebird
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 2:13 PM | Permalink

    Friggen love it when you quote Cowboy Bebop

  4. Nicole
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 2:14 PM | Permalink

    Right.

  5. sandibd
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 2:21 PM | Permalink

    Oh I forgot to buy a calendar!! It’s like buying a car right before tax season. The prices are so good. I must go over and purchase one now! (or more)

    Can’t see enough pics of Cutie Snoo. He is precious. Hey these are your kids, I know, but to up the awwwww factor, do you feel like sharing a pic of both boys together?

  6. padfoot
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 2:29 PM | Permalink

    Hey,
    Just wanted to let you know that the hyperlink for the “Cheapass game bundle” takes you to the chocolate frog one.
    Coolio, byeee

    • Amanda
      Posted February 11, 2014 at 2:42 PM | Permalink

      Thanks. It’s fixed now.

  7. jParker
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 2:36 PM | Permalink

    Has someone been catching up on Doctor Who? Because if I didn’t know better, I’d say Eleven wrote this blog.

    This, of course, would be preposterous.

    It’s obviously Mary Robinette Kowal impersonating Eleven impersonating Pat.

    • Posted February 12, 2014 at 12:51 PM | Permalink

      Heh. I’m at least three years behind on Dr. Who.

  8. Posted February 11, 2014 at 2:39 PM | Permalink

    I had to ask my mom last night if she pulled that Dahl book from my collection as a kid because I hadn’t read it, and…..she totally had. LOL.

    Some people might think you’re a monster, but really, it’s your job to teach your kid to be a good person and apparently my mother agreed that lying and stealing to get what you want is a bad moral ground to present to such a young age. Made me laugh.

    (Plus, she knew I would not be down with tortoise being given away. I still have my bear from age 3….YOU DON’T JUST GIVE SHIT LIKE THAT AWAY MAN)

    • Corinne
      Posted February 12, 2014 at 6:52 AM | Permalink

      *hugs* to your mom.

      • Posted February 12, 2014 at 12:51 PM | Permalink

        It’s nice to know I’m not alone in my irritation….

  9. valentine
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 2:43 PM | Permalink

    Pat (or Worldbuilder’s Team), who pays for the shipping of all these amazing prizes? Is there an opportunity to help subsidize this?

    • Tungil
      Posted February 11, 2014 at 3:31 PM | Permalink

      I was wondering about that as well!

      • Posted February 12, 2014 at 12:55 PM | Permalink

        We pay for the shipping ourselves. It’s one of our big expenses.

        People are always welcome to donate to Worldbuilders itself, too. They money that’s donated on our Team Page goes directly to Heifer, we don’t see any of it.

        But money donated to Worldbuilders helps us do stuff like pay for shipping and keep the lights on.

  10. JeremyM
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 2:45 PM | Permalink

    If you guys need volunteers to come help package and ship stuff I would love to donate my time. I couldn’t donate a lot of money this year, but on my days off I don’t have much going on and I’m not that far away. Is there someone specific I should contact?

    • Amanda
      Posted February 11, 2014 at 3:41 PM | Permalink

      If you email us at questions [@] worldbuilders.org we can add you to the list :)

  11. Fawn
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 2:48 PM | Permalink

    Every time I see that Baby Rothfuss is called Cutie Snoo, I think of Foo-Foo the Snoo from “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut.” Because of the name, not because he looks (or dresses) like a Snoo.

  12. Karissima
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 3:43 PM | Permalink

    Was anyone else reminded of Mr Morton in Schoolhouse Rock? No? Just me? Okay… I’ve never been a huge Dahl fan. I hope you find more time to spend with your lovely family, Pat!

  13. BIGFUDGE
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 4:29 PM | Permalink

    If we had won something, would we know by now or is something just going to show up randomly in the mail one day?

    • kdculb
      Posted February 11, 2014 at 7:10 PM | Permalink

      I have won something the last couple of years, it just shows up in the mail. It comes with a nice letter from Worldbuilders. I hope my streak continues.

      • Posted February 12, 2014 at 12:56 PM | Permalink

        Generally speaking, it just shows up. We don’t contact people first, as it would be a logistical nightmare sending out hundreds of e-mails and then tracking responses.

  14. brotheroflogan
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 4:34 PM | Permalink

    Patrick, I think it is really awesome what you are doing. But I bet many of your fans are wondering, what about “the next book?” I mean, I’m sure the novella and the video game are great projects, but speaking for myself, I want another Kingkiller Chronicle.

    • Posted February 11, 2014 at 4:56 PM | Permalink

      Probably, maybe, just possibly, it will be released in 2015, no promises, keep your fingers crossed. That’s the last update I do believe.
      Should see a few novellas/shorts before we see Day 3. They’ll all be based out of 4 corners though, so…you know, Worldbuilding. At least two are about characters in the Chronicle, so that’s promising to be pretty damn interesting in my opinion.
      There was also a 4 Corners Story in Unfettered if you haven’t read it, I know you can get the e-version still.

      I’m looking forward to his work on Numenera personally, haven’t played a great story based RPG in a while now. His promised storyline/character in that game was the sole driver for my kickstarting it.

      • kdculb
        Posted February 11, 2014 at 7:11 PM | Permalink

        I did not know that short was from the Four Corners. Are you sure?

        • Amanda
          Posted February 11, 2014 at 10:36 PM | Permalink

          Totally sure :)

          • Posted February 12, 2014 at 12:56 PM | Permalink

            I also am sure.

      • brotheroflogan
        Posted February 12, 2014 at 1:58 PM | Permalink

        Numenera? I’ll have to look that up. There are few things better than discovering a new RPG with a great plot.

        • Posted February 12, 2014 at 3:47 PM | Permalink

          Here you are:
          https://torment.inxile-entertainment.com/

          It seems to be shaping up a pretty well. Probably not going to come out before 2015 either though. LOLOL

          • brotheroflogan
            Posted February 12, 2014 at 4:41 PM | Permalink

            That better be one hell of a year. :)

            Pat, what if I said I’d contribute $100 once the next Kingkiller Chronicle’s is in my hand?

          • Posted February 12, 2014 at 6:08 PM | Permalink

            Yep, it should be. I’ve heard some rumors that Winds of Winter might make its debut 2015 as well. *fingerscrossed*

            OH yah, maybe I should mention, rumor has it that the Rogues Anthology will include the Bast Novella, it’s on preorder already if you’re interested.

            Here is a link for it:

            http://www.randomhouse.com/book/221799/rogues-#blurb_tabs

  15. Matt_W
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 5:20 PM | Permalink

    But, but Dahl ain’t meant to be read by adults. Dahl is deliberately transgressive. I had to read his books kind of on the sly. You know, the Classics Illustrated version of David Copperfield in front with The Witches concealed behind its cover. When I was a kid, the books were delightfully horrible — we’d whisper about them during recess. They’re certainly not meant to be read to your kids; they’re meant to free them, in some ways, from your influence. To show our kids that reading can be a peek beyond the boundaries we set — a way to unfetter their imagination.

    And honestly, I find that my kids are harmed more when I shy away from stories rather than read them and have frank discussion about what’s problematic in them. I was reading Goodnight Construction Site to my daughter the other day and deliberately changed all the pronouns for the big trucks and construction equipment from he to she, knowing that she’d catch on. (She’s 6 and a good enough reader to spot the discrepancy.) When she expressed indignation that I wasn’t reading it right, it provided an opportunity to talk about why the pronouns were all he and him in the first place. A couple days later, when she was reading it to her little brother, I noticed she changed all the pronouns too.

    • jaydelott
      Posted February 12, 2014 at 8:37 AM | Permalink

      I love a good subversive story, but I’m with Pat on this one. I have only one concrete memory of my age-appropriate attempt to read James and the Giant Peach: that it was terminally boring. I never read Esio Trot, but I know I can trust Pat to tell the difference between a dark and twisted story and one that simply lacks true substance. I had a very similar reaction when I read “Big Plans” by Bob Shea to my son. God, what an insufferably awful protagonist. I’m a gentle parent, but I think if that were my kid I would beat him.

      My absolute favorite fairy tale as a little girl was Hanzel and Grettle. My mother confessed later that she hid that one so she wouldn’t have to read it again and again and again. I think she was offended that the mother dies at the outset to motivate the plot. But even so, stories like Hanzel and Grettle don’t summarily reward reprehensible behavior. There is pain and suffering for everyone involved, and no one retains true innocence. Little lies have big consequences, and the happily-ever-after belongs to the brave survivors who have successfully navigated the gray between the black-and-white.

      I very much prefer Pat’s somewhat whitewashed version of Esio Trot to the bankrupt version he started with. Subversion without true darkness is not worth the price of admission.

  16. cynrtst
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 5:55 PM | Permalink

    I have Flickr. Flickr would be a good place. Or Instagram. Do you have Instagram, Pat?

  17. isaiasw
    Posted February 11, 2014 at 6:17 PM | Permalink

    Cool, another heart melting post. You know, after I found out about your blog, I feel a lot closer to you, Mr. Rothfuss. And not in that creepy stalker way. More like in that “the author I came to love and admire is actually another human being, who came out to be a really funny and cool guy” kind of way.

    You even took your time (a extremely important resource) to reply to a silly question of mine a while back. Whenever you feel like your blog is pointless, remember how you make your fans feel when you write here. Which is pretty good by the way.

    Let’s see if I get lucky for you to reply again, because I have two questions!

    1) What kind of video game are you working on that piece? Can you share more info?

    2) What animes did you watch?

    Lastly, congratulations on the making of Cutie Snoo <3

  18. Posted February 11, 2014 at 6:27 PM | Permalink

    Pat, I absolutely adore you. It’s always a pleasure reading your blogs. I hope you get to catch up on rest and time with your loved ones!
    Cheers!
    PS I’m reading Name of the Wind for the 6th time 0_O

  19. Posted February 11, 2014 at 8:28 PM | Permalink

    Apropos the matter of happy winners posting up photos with their Worldbuilders swag: Grand idea. We lurves photos of happy people. Not enough of those in the world.

    …But here’s the thing: Photo sites and stuff are all, like, corporate and fragmented now. If it’s Flickr, one must have, or sign up for, a Yahoo! account. If it’s Google Plus, one must have, or sign up for, a Google account. If it’s Facebook, one must have… you know. And Instagram? Fuhgeddaboutit.

    This is making me feel grumpy and might make others feel grumpy, too. People get grumpy when they have to sign up for stuff. Oh, bother. I suppose Facebook might work. Let Zuckerman provide the space. He can afford it.

    • Posted February 12, 2014 at 12:58 PM | Permalink

      Yeah. Exactly.

      We’ll probably have a way for people to just send in pictures too. Then we’ll post them to whatever site we’re using…

  20. alleygirl
    Posted February 12, 2014 at 12:55 AM | Permalink

    Not sure about Flickr, Instagram, etc. I’m sure something tolerable can be found!

    I have donated each year since the beginning, but as of yet, have not been lucky enough to win any “swag”. Always hoping, this will be the year!

  21. gn0mel0ver
    Posted February 12, 2014 at 2:03 AM | Permalink

    Hi! I loved your rendition of the Roald Dahl book. I just finished reading my son (he’s ten) The Magician’s Elephant tonight. He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said it was the best book he has ever read.

    And my husband and I loved it, too. Kate DiCamillo’s words were gorgeous. I just wanted to give another book recommendation for your son.

    Jenni

  22. DancingOnFire
    Posted February 12, 2014 at 6:40 PM | Permalink

    Hey Pat,

    Just saw this today: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/graco-recalls-3-8-million-car-seats-sticky-latches-n27781

    It’s a recall on car seat buckles and it looks like the one in that picture. Thought you might want to know so you can keep your newest addition safe!

  23. PleaseExcuseMyDearAuntSally
    Posted February 12, 2014 at 7:35 PM | Permalink

    Hi Pat!

    I sent you a book to sign as a Christmas present for my boyfriend back in November (to the UW-Stevens Point address). I was wondering if part of your catching up might include signing and returning books:) And also, your kid is pretty cute and your books are pretty neato.

    • Amanda
      Posted February 13, 2014 at 9:36 AM | Permalink

      I just sent you an email – we’ll get this sorted :)

  24. Electrogasm
    Posted February 12, 2014 at 11:38 PM | Permalink

    Another hilarious review Mr. Rothfuss, and thanks for the heads up on every other front.

    Sorry to hear you had too many plates spinning at the same time, hopefully they were Corelle! I don’t know how you do it, when I spend too much time away from my family I start to resent everyone and everything for keeping me separated.

    Your blog doesn’t have to be about anything. You don’t have to justify spending time with your family. If it takes you 15 years to write your story, then that’s how long it takes. It’s your fucking story. I guess we’re all different, but I couldn’t care less what other people think of my career as long as my kids never have to go without a father.

    Thanks for doing so much for everyone, Pat. Just… please don’t destroy yourself int he process.

  25. Max H
    Posted February 14, 2014 at 9:48 AM | Permalink

    Go spend time with you family Pat! We can wait, but each and every one of those moments is one of a kind. And the fact that there is another moment every moment doesn’t make any one of them any less precious :)

  26. Posted February 18, 2014 at 7:38 PM | Permalink

    Hey Pat. Just wanted to say that people still do use flickr. It’s been gaining popularity since it’s updated it’s site and gives it’s users a massive amount of space.
    I would also like recommend to create a hash tag for it and then let people post photos on a couple of social sites with the hash tag. Facebook allows hash tags now and another popular site for this would be instagram. Think about it.

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