Last year I gave C2E2 a try and was kinda surprised how much I liked it. As conventions go, it’s a nice mix of fandoms, with a lot of different stuff going on. It’s busy, but nowhere near as crowded as San Diego or New York Comic Cons.
Plus, it’s in Chicago, so I can pretty much throw a rock and hit it. The more I travel, the less I enjoy traveling. So that’s a big factor for me…
So I’ve decided to head back there again this year. I’ll be doing panels, signing books, and just generally nosing around and enjoying myself. I even get to interview Jim Butcher (details on that below) so I’m thinking I’m going to enjoy this year’s convention even more than I did last year.
At this particular convention, I’m also trying out something new (also below, but not as far).
Something New:
When I go to conventions, I always make a point of doing a signing or two. But this last year or so, the lines for my signings have been *really* long. As a result, they have to cap the lines, which means that after X number of people are lined up, they just won’t let any more people in.
So I try to sign books faster, but that means I can’t spend as much time talking with people as I’d like. And even then people have to stand in line for a long time, and the lines *still* get capped, and some folks can’t get their books signed.
Fast forward to about a month ago, I was contacted by the folks at Gemr. They’re a new company that’s starting up a website that’s…. well… it’s kinda like Goodreads, but for collectibles instead of books. Baseball cards, action figures, rare books…
Pretty much whatever you collect, you can use their service for it. You can show off your stuff, catalog your collections, have folks comment on your items, or even sell your stuff if you’re interested….
Anyway, they contacted me, and were looking to get the word out to people about their new website. They offered to donate money to Worldbuilders if we could help them spread the word.
So we wandered over to their site and mucked around a little. One of the more rare and limited things we’ve ever had was the Cealdish Currency from Shire Post Mint.
(True-Ringing Cealdish Coin….)
So we decided to try it out. We created a profile and entered all the info about the coins: how many there were, what they were made of, all of the relevant information, and then uploaded all of that info into the website.
Okay. I’ll be honest here. Amanda did it all. I was busy doing other things, like writing books.
The good news was that Amanda said it was delightfully easy, and now all the information about the Cealdish currency is out in the world for those of you who are curious about that sort of thing.
Since their site seems pretty cool, and because I like doing stuff for charity, here’s what we’re doing with Gemr:
- First: For every person who signs up for an account USING THIS LINK, Gemr will donate $3 to Worldbuiders.
This means, effectively, that if you go in and create an account on their site, *you* are donating three bucks to Worldbuilders.
That means if 100 of you create accounts, it’s enough money for Heifer International to provide a whole community with clean water. If 500 of you create accounts, it’s enough for Worldbuilders to give struggling families trees that will prevent soil erosion while producing fruits and nuts. If 1000 of you create accounts, we can give 100 families a flock of baby chicks, as well as the training, tools, and materials to house and care for the chickens so they can eat and sell eggs and raise *more* chickens.
And let’s be honest here, I know a *lot* more than 1000 of you read this blog….
But you need to make sure you USE THIS LINK so they know we sent you.
- Second: I’m going to be doing three extra signings at the Gemr Booth at C2E2.
This will give me more time to sign books, take with folks pictures, and meet y’all at the convention. Which is a good thing.
What’s more, if you decide to sign up for their site while you’re in line at Gemr’s booth (#619) Worldbuilders will get credit for those sign-ups too….
The Gemr booth (#619) will have time slot tickets available for my signings there for anyone who wants them. That way you don’t have to waste a bunch of time standing in line, so make sure to swing by and pick one up.
Now, here’s my full schedule at C2E2:
Friday, April 24
1:00 PM-2:00 PM: Signing at the Gemr Booth, #619
2:45 PM-3:45 PM: Cinder Spires Panel (With Jim Butcher) Room S401
4:00 PM-6:00 PM: After Panel Signing with Jim Butcher, Table 18
Saturday, April 25
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Geek Geek Revolution, Room S403
1:00 PM-2:00 PM: Signing at the Gemr Booth, #619
3:00 PM-4:00 PM: Authors of Epic Fantasy, Room S402
4:15 PM-5:15PM: After Panel Signing, Table 18
11:00 PM-1:00 AM: Cards After Dark, 1917 N Elston Ave
The last of these is kind of a new thing, but I think it’s going to be cool.
It’s a ticketed event, since the venue has limited capacity, but the tickets are only $5, so if you want one, grab one over here.
Sunday, April 26
1:00 PM-2:00 PM: Signing at the Gemr Booth, #619
2:30 PM-4:30PM: Signing with Jim Butcher, Table 18
I’ll be seeing a lot of you soon, and thanks to Gemr you’ll have a much better chance of catching me if you’re in the area.
And don’t forget, if you sign up using our special link, Worldbuilders gets $3.
Later Space Cowboys….
pat
40 Comments
Easiest donation every made!
Yeah doesnt come easier than that
I know, right?
Hey! Lookit me! I’m a phila….phala…phla..phily…fa…I donated some money that wasn’t even mine!
My website redesign might need to have some sort of a like button feature for comments such as this…
Sure does need one. I’ve reached for it many times. :)
Pretty sure the word you’re looking for is philanderer. Glad to help.
I think my husband has some cards I might be able to put up on this nifty site. Either way, I registered to give people some trees and water. Thanks for letting us help out!
I clicked the link, then clicked “Log in/Sign Up” and logged in via FB. That counts, right? Worldbuilders got the $3? I didn’t see anything to indicate and since I didn’t really register I wasn’t sure.
Boy… We’ll have to ask about that. Amanda?
Hey guys – this is Dave from Gemr (hence the user name) – we didn’t build in any custom code to acknowledge folks that register via the Worldbuilders link, but we are tracking everyone that comes through via that link. If you want me to confirm anyone in particular to make sure you’re counted, let me know and I can check it out for you!
Dave
Signed up! Now to check out that site, looks interesting!
Done and Done. Looks like a pretty cool idea for a site.
I have the Re’lar set. Is there anyway to know what the worth of the coins are now that (most) have been bought? Like if someone were to auction them with the intention of giving the money to a certain charity?
The best way to judge something like that is typically what they sell for in an auction. But I don’t know of anyone who has auctioned theirs off yet…
Did we do one last year for Worldbuilders, Amanda?
Nope. There were the Three Threes where coin sets were included, but no auctions.
A Re’lar set?!?
I bid 300 quatloos for the newcomers!
There. Now you know how much they’re worth at a minimum.
P.S. Signed up! Best. Cross-promotion. EVAR.
You know, if you have trouble with timing at signings, you could always arrange to have someone there to take pictures of you with your fans. It’s pretty common with metal bands who have VIP meet n’ greets – there’s a signing table where you give an autograph and then someone says “ok go stand with Pat” and then they take the picture. Afterward the pics get uploaded to some page where the fan can download their picture. It’s pretty streamlined and if you have someone at least semi-professional you don’t need to worry about people fiddling around with their cameras or having to take a couple pictures because their equipment is bad. It kind of saves time all around.
I’m more excited to give 3$ to those in need; however, this may come to a surprise as my excitement level for this is 10^9238940234765490309 !!!
Shit in gods beard IM ADDICTED.
I though the link would link to the registration form, but it looks like the registration works through a pop-up window. Just to be sure, as long as you click the “sign up” buttom right after following the special link, the registration would go towards the donation, wouldn’t it?
Correct! The UTM information in the address bar is what’s tracking everything from here. As long as you’re on the Gemr site via the link, the actions taken will be tracked appropriately. Worst case – I can check our system and confirm that you’re signed up.
I’m glad to hear that. If that’s how tracking works then it should be no problem to registrer using facebook or google, which means that it would be easier to spread the world (people are more willingly to cooperate to these kind of things if they just need to log in to one of their accounts in stead of having to create another one).
Thanks for your answer!
I’ve just read the information about the Cealdish currency and I’m a bit curious. Do the drabs offered as prizes on #TheRealRothfuss contest belong to version 1.1, version 1.2 or neither of them? (Since they were a prototype, maybe they were some kind of version 1.0?).
They were version 1.1, the original original drab ;)
Thanks Amanda!
Just signed up for an account! This is great news! I’ve been going back and forth for the past few weeks whether I should skip your interview of Jim Butcher and wait in-line the entire time to get the opportunity to meet you. Now it sounds like I may be able to do both! It’s a true C2E2 miracle!
Shoot me a message on twitter so I can make sure to set aside a ticket for you on whatever day you want to get something signed. @d_morton
Or actually – just email me (davemorton at gemr) would be the easiest way.
Don’t skip the interview. It’s going to be a good time….
Thank you Dave! And thanks for the tip Pat! Looking forward to meeting you both! I’m so glad I’ll actually have a time window and wont have to drag my Wise Man’s Fears hardcover throughout the con every day!
Is Devi……Auri’s sister?
The gemr site’s register/login isn’t working for me on Android, FYI. Tried using the “feedback” link in the nav to let them know (they mention it on the login/register pop-up)… but you have to be logged in to use it.
May want to let them know, so World builders doesn’t miss out on any possible registration donations. This was from trying to register directly, rather than via Facebook, btw.
I’ll let the dev team know tonight. Can you email me with your name so I can track down the bug? Davemorton at Gemr.
Talked to our Android developer – he said it’s a bug that’s currently being worked on. At the moment if you go to the Gemr website on an Android (not using the Gemr app) there is an issue when you sign up. If you want to shoot me an email I can ensure that you’re credited for signing up for Worldbuilders!
Done. It would be super-marvy if we got a count on the total donations raised by this means, somewhere down the line.
I will now go poke about the gemr website and see what’s what.
Just wondering but are you planning on coming to Pheonix anytime soon? It would be awesome because I’m always hearing about these amazing conventions that you’re at and I wish I could go
Done. Yea Worldbuilders, but I’m still not sure what gemr actually does. Entering things into the search function links me back to the featured stuff on the front page. I’m not really sure of the purpose of it either. For charity you have my attention, gemr why should i participate/go back?
Very cool of Gemr to make this offer. Plus it looks like a cool site. I registered and I´ll check it out when I come back from work.
That was the easiest contribution I’ve ever made!
Patrick and everyone in the comments… You just helped me start drawing again. Yes! What does drawing have to do with this blog post? Nothing at all! That sure is magic!
Now seriously. I’m touched by how much stuff you’re able to move around besides writing the books (with the inexorable help from Amanda, surely). Thanks for all of this. Wordlbuilders, all this care and GREAT BOOKS. Man, I’m proud to be alive!