Category Archives: appearances

“Kansas City, Here I Come…”

You know what I learned today? Kansas City isn’t in Kansas. It’s in Missouri.

Now I’m all for people having fun with names, but honestly? There’s a little something called truth in advertizing too….

I learned this interesting fact because I’m going to a convention down there this weekend (Memorial Day weekend.) I’m Guest of Honor at ConQuest.

And just so Kansas won’t feel sad, I’m going to be doing a reading/signing there too. It’s the Thursday before the convention (the 23rd) at Mysteryscape in Overland Park.

So, you have been warned. Grab me when I’m in the area, because I don’t know when I’ll be back again….

(Note: Please don’t actually grab me.)

Edit: Just to make it clear, I’m also doing readings and signings at the convention itself all weekend. Plus at the convention I’m going to be on a bunch of panels about writing, worldbuilding, humor, etc etc.

The main reason I’m in town is because of the convention, and if you want to see a lot of me, that’s the place to go.

(Note: “By see a lot of me” what I really mean is “See me a lot.”)

I’m doing the bookstore event for people who don’t like conventions, can’t afford them, or who are busy over the weekend.

Just to clear that up.

*     *     *

In other news, I did something horrible in Florida.

Or rather, I tried to do something nice in Florida and I screwed it up.

Earlier this month when I did a signing in Bradenton, we ran out of books. I felt bad about that, as some folks had driven for hours and weren’t going to be able to buy books and get them signed.

So I told people that if they wrote their names and e-mail addresses down, we’d contact them and arrange to sell them some signed books for what they’d have been able to buy them for at the store.

I passed around the notebook, about 30 people wrote down their names….

…and now I can’t find the list.

I’ve looked everywhere. It’s not in my luggage. It’s not in the store. It’s not where we were staying in Florida, or in the car we drove around in….

It’s just gone.

I feel really bad about this, and I want to make it right, so here’s what we’re going to do…

We sell a bunch of stuff in The Tinker’s Packs, T-shirts, jewelry, posters, and signed copies of my books.

Because all the money from The Tinker’s Packs goes to charity, we normally charge more than the cover price of the books. But for the folks who were in Florida, we’re going to charge the cover price and eat the shipping cost ourselves.

(I’d love to give you even more of a deal, but the books actually cost us money….)

So. If you were at that signing and you didn’t get a book, here’s what I’d like you to do.

1. Go onto The Tinker’s Packs.

2. Order whatever books you like.

3. When you go to Paypal, click on the “Note to seller” field.

Paypal-Checkout-pic-arrow

(Click to Embiggen)

4. Type in “I was in Florida”

5. Type in whatever you’d like your personalization to be.

6. Complete your order.

  • Note: The total will not be right.

7. When we process the order, we will refund some of your money.

If you want to buy some other stuff too, nothing would make me happier. Worldbuilders appreciates your support. But I’m afraid you’ll have to pay regular price for the other stuff.

What’s to stop *everyone* from jumping in and claiming they were at the event to get cheaper books?

First, we *will* be mailing this stuff to you. So if you say you were at the signing, then ask us to mail something to Ireland… Well… we’ll be a little skeptical.

Plus there’s the whole human decency thing. My readers have shown themselves to be cool, caring, generous folks. You’d have to be a bit of a wanker to try to screw a charity that’s trying to feed hungry kids, and my readers aren’t like that.

Right? Right.

*     *    *

Lastly, since we’re on the topic of the store….

We have a few new items in there, for those of you who haven’t peeked in for a while.

The newest and coolest of those are the signed copies of Beatrice’s Goat.

BeatricesGoat

This is the book that first sold me on how cool Heifer International was. I like it so much I recorded a video of me reading it to Oot a while back.

The books we have in the store right now are extra-cool because they’re signed.

But wait. They’re even cooler than that. They’re not just signed by the author (Page McBrier) Not just signed by the illustrator (Lori Lohstoeter).

These copies are signed by Beatrice Biira herself, the woman the book was based on.

Beatrice has grown up since the book was published in 2001, and she’s gone on to great things. She got her BA, then went on to get her Master’s degree. (And I’m willing to bet money she got better grades than me when she was doing it.)

Suffice to say that we only have a limited number of these books. If you want one, you might want to grab it quickly.

*     *     *

Finally, we’re probably going to pull the calendar out of the store pretty soon, since the time for buying calendars is pretty much past. For those of you who want one as a collectable, or who are like me and tend to be forgetful about things like buying calendars: fair warning. In a week or so, we’re probably going to take it down.

But for now it’s still there, and it’s at half price.

That’s all for now, folks. More news soon.

Cool news.

Soon.

pat

Also posted in my dumbness, The Tinker's Packs | By Pat44 Responses

Signing in Arkansas and the Taste of Tears

First and foremost, I’m going to be doing an event in Little Rock, Arkansas this week. 7:00 on Thursday the 9th.

Here’s the Facebook Event if you’re interested in more details. Or you can click on the “Tour Schedule” tab up above there…. 

I’m actually doing the event at Heifer International’s headquarters: The Heifer Village.

If you’re planning on going, you might want to drop a line to the folks at Heifer (501.907.2697 or email heifervillageregistration [squiggly atsign thinger] heifer.org) It’s a free event, but if you call ahead, your name will be on the guest list, and you get to feel cool. (And it will help them prepare.)

There will be books. I will be there too. I will talk. I will read and answer questions and be witty to the best of my ability. I will then sign books.

The event will be more fun than the above paragraph implies. It’s just that I’m a little tired right now, because I just got back from a little vacation. I got to spend 6 whole days with Sarah and Oot and my dad. Something that I don’t think has happened in years.

It was a nice time, which means there aren’t many interesting stories to tell. I’d post pictures of Oot being cute, but when I’m having a good time, I generally prefer to keep having it, rather than stop having it so I can take a picture.

amazing-animal-pictures-29

(Instead, here is a picture of a giraffe licking a squirrel.)

I went to Busch gardens where I saw one of those cat-bear things. I went to the ocean for the first time ever and got to taste it. (Saltier than I expected.) I touched a crocodile. (Softer than I expected.)

Oot also displayed much bravery at the pool, dunking his face and making an honest attempt to float on his back. He was quite a civilized little man through the whole trip, polite and well-behaved even when he was tired or hungry. I am endlessly proud of him and love him beyond my ability to express with words.

See? Lovely to live through. Boring to talk about.

I just wanted y’all to know why I’d gone quiet for more than a week, and give folks a heads-up about the Arkansas event, as I don’t know when I’ll be back down in that neck of the woods again.

I’ll be posting blogs more often now that I’m back on the clock.

Stay tuned….

pat

Also posted in Oot | By Pat36 Responses

Upcoming Appearances – 2013

Okay folks, convention season approaches, and I’ve got a lot of stuff coming up this year.

So I’m going to list my current schedule here for those of you who might be unaware of the fact that I actually post my Tour Schedule up online. Or for the people that are unaware that I post my upcoming events on my facebook fan page.

Or for those of you who are… y’know… just kind of lazy.

A lot of the events I’m going to are conventions where you can see me on panels, get your books signed, and maybe see me do to a reading.

Generally speaking when I go somewhere, especially somewhere new, I try my hardest to schedule an out-of-con signing so that folks who don’t want to go to the con (or who can’t afford it) can still catch me when I’m in town.

But this weekend, March 9-10, I’ll be in Tucson for the Tucson Festival of Books. And this time I *won’t* be doing a signing outside the event because the festival is 100% free and open to the public. So if you’ve ever wanted to hear me talk about writing or get your book signed, this is a great opportunity to do so.

If you’re interested, here’s my full schedule (which is also available on the Facebook event).

Saturday March 9

  • 11 AM – Signing for Mostly Books – Booths 127-130
  • 12:30 PM – Signing for Mysterious Galaxy – Booth #301
  • 2:30 PM – Panel: Beauty with a Bow and Arrow – UA Mall tent
  • 4: 00 PM – Signing at University of Arizona Bookstore’s tent

Sunday May 10

  • 11:30am – Panel: Worldbuilding –  Koffler 218
  • 2:00 PM – Signing at Poisoned Pen – Booth #230-231
  • 4:00 PM – Panel: Epic Fiction – Koffler 204

Note: There will be half-hour signings after all of my panels, too.

Pat giving hug

(Yes. I still give hugs.)

I’m regularly sent messages that say “WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO MY CITY!” when I was there just two weeks earlier. So I’d like to remind all of you now: I have a Tour Page here on the website, and I also have Facebook Events for pretty much everything I do.

Did I mention that already? Yes. Yes I did. But it bears repeating because people constantly ask me what my tour schedule is.

But y’know, because I’m from the Midwest, I was raised to be extra accommodating, so I’ll list my upcoming events here anyway, for those of you who happen to be click-phobic or something.

  • ORANGE, CA

March 28, 2013
Reading, Q&A, and Signing
Barnes & Noble Orange
791 South Main Street, Suite 100
Orange, CA 92868
Facebook Event

Yes, I will be at WonderCon. I don’t have any panels scheduled as I’m mostly just going to hang out.

But I will be joining the Tabletop crew on Saturday to celebrate International Tabletop Day. Because that’s going to be awesome.

  • NORMAN, OK

May 3-4, 2013
Oklahoma Writers’ Federation Conference
Norman Embassy Suites Hotel
2501 Conference Dr
Norman, OK 73069
Facebook Event

  • LITTLE ROCK, AR
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Reading, Signing, and Q&A
1 World Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72202
  • KANSAS CITY, MO

May 24-26, 2013
Guest of Honor at ConQuesT 44
Kansas City, Missouri
Facebook Event

  • COLUMBUS, OH

June 13-16, 2013
Origins 2013
Greater Columbus Convention Center
400 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Facebook Event

  • SAN DIEGO, CA

July 18-21, 2013
San Diego Comic Con 2013
111 W. Harbor Dr.
San Diego, CA 92101 
Facebook Event

  • INDIANAPOLIS, IN

August 15-18, 2013
Gen Con 2013
Indiana Convention Center
100 South Capitol Ave.
Indianapolis, Indiana 46225
Facebook Event

  • SAN ANTONIO, TX

(Cancelled.)

  • BRIGHTON, ENGLAND

October 31 – November 3, 2013
World Fantasy Con 2013
Hilton Brighton Metropole
Kings Road, BN1 2FU Brighton
Facebook Event

And that’s everything we have firmly scheduled right now. As I’ve said, I’ll probably be scheduling non-convention events in Indianapolis, Columbus, and Kansas City. And more in England, too. Since I don’t get over the water very often. Those will be showing up… you guessed it. On my tour schedule.

Last, I have a request.

Can we *please* not have a hundred comments down below saying things like, “but when ru comign to Scranton?!?!!!”

Here’s what you should consider before you post a comment like this:

1. Generally speaking, I do these events out of the goodness of my heart.

I like to meet my readers, sign books, and talk about writing. I like hanging out with geeks and being part of the community.

2. I try to go new places every year so I can be available to people in different parts of the country. (And the World).

That’s why I’m hitting Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma this year. They’re all states I haven’t been to yet.

3. These events take a lot of time and energy.

The events I’ve listed up above are an expenditure of eight weekends of my life. Long weekends, most of them. Probably close to 35 days.

4. My time and energy are not infinite resources.

When I post something like this, what I’m doing is saying, “Hey guys. I’m willing to offer up 10% of my year making myself available to you. Let’s get together and have fun.”

Can you see how it might be disheartening for me to post that up and have the response be dozens of comments effectively saying, “I’m upset! I’m unhappy! I want more! I want more!”

Similarly disheartening comments include things like: “I have to work Friday night, can you do a second event on Saturday afternoon?” or “Columbus is 50 miles away! Can you come to Sulfur Lick instead?”

I know it comes from a place of love. I really know that.

And I know sometimes enthusiasm leads us to do silly things. I vaguely remember my mom telling me a story about how she once wrote a letter to the Beatles, sending them some song lyrics and asking them to record the song and send a copy back to her.

And I’m *very* aware that this is some serious first-world-problem shit I’m talking about here. I’m very lucky to have a readership as enthusiastic as y’all.

But I’m just being honest here. Comments like this make me weary. They make me think dark thoughts like, “Why do I fucking bother going to these lengths when all people do is bitch and moan and ask for more?”

Should you feel bad if you’ve made a comment like this in the past? No. Not at all. That’s not what this is about. There’s no reason you could know comments like that started rubbing me raw years ago.

That’s why I’m mentioning it here. So you know. Time and again, my readers have proven themselves to be gracious, lovely people. Especially the ones who take the time to read the blog. So I’m guessing if I let you know this bugs me, you won’t do it any more.

Oh sure, I’ll still have to deal with it on facebook and twitter (whenever I finally decide to join) but hopefully I won’t have to deal with it here in my own blog.

Okay, ramble over. I’ll see some of you soon in Tuscon, assuming my gimping, crutchy self makes it there despite the incoming storm.

Be good to each other,

pat

Also posted in conventions, How to Avoid Being a Dick on the Internet | By Pat124 Responses

Upcoming Appearances: Toronto and San Francisco

Just so you know, I’m going to be doing a couple signings in the next month. So if you happen to live near Toronto or San Francisco, you might want to catch me while I’m there, because who knows how long it will be before I’m back…

TORONTO, CANADA
November 5, 2012 at 7pm EST
Reading, Q&A, and Signing
Indigo Bay & Bloor
55 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M4W 1A5
Canada
Facebook Event

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA
November 19, 2012 at 7PM PST
Reading, Q&A, and Signing
Borderlands Books
866 Valencia St.
San Francisco CA 94110
Facebook Event

As always, I’m announcing these kinda late in the game. So if you know of anyone in the area that might like to know about these, I’d be obliged if you’d clue them in.

Also, if the gods smile on us and the printing goes smoothly, I might have copies of the 2013 calendar available up in Toronto. Fingers crossed.

And, speaking of the calendar, George R.R. Martin just revealed his pin-up on his blog. You can head over there and check it out if you’d like a sneak peek.

pat

Also posted in conventions, Worldbuilders 2012 | By Pat27 Responses

Coolness….

So I’m up in the north woods of Wisconsin right now. One of the few places on earth without cell phone coverage or easy wifi access.

I was hoping to post up a different blog today containing some cool news, but due to the fact that I’m working on a netbook and using using borrowed wifi right now, I think I’m going to have to postpone that until Monday.

Instead, today I’m going to do two things:

1. Let y’all know that we have finally settled on a venue for my upcoming Reading and Signing in Chicago.

August 30, 2012 at 7PM
Reading, Q&A, and Signing
The BookMarket Bookstore
2651 Navy Blvd.
Glen Town Center, Glenview, Il 60026
Facebook Event

And before you start to quibble, I know that Glenview isn’t *technically* Chicago. But it’s pretty much Chicago.

Most importantly, it’s got enough space to comfortably hold everyone that might show up to the event. It’s no good me doing a reading and Q&A if half the people that show up have to stand out in the parking lot because the store can’t hold everyone…

So…. yeah. I’ll be there. You should be there too. I might read a new story nobody has ever heard before….

2. Here’s something awesome that a friend made me recently. I just had to share it.

(Click to Embiggen.)

How cool is that?

I have awesome friends….

Y’know. Over the years, a lot of people have given me a lot of cool stuff. Would y’all be interested in seeing it if I posted pictures up here on the blog? It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for some time….

If nothing else, posting pics of those things might help tide y’all over until I can finish wrangling the results of the photo contest. (Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about that.)

What do you think?

pat

Also posted in cool things | By Pat64 Responses

Upcoming Events

I’m doing to be doing some traveling in the next couple weeks. (I’ll be in Indianapolis, Chicago, and Seattle.) I figured I’d pass along my schedule so y’all are properly clued-in and can stop by my events if you want to.

Also, if y’all happen to know someone who might be interested in hitting one of these events, you’d be doing be a great favor to me if you passed this info along.

There are few things I hate more than coming back from a city where I just did a couple of events, (let’s pick Seattle, just as an example) then coming home, looking on my facebook wall, and seeing that someone has written, “When are you coming to Seattle??!!1! :)”

Also, for those of you that can’t make it to one of these events, I’m going to be stopping by The Signed Page while I’m out in Seattle. So if you’re dying for a signed book, you can order one from them and they’ll ship it out to you no matter where you live.

Okay. On to the events:

*INDIANAPOLIS EVENTS*

  • Reading and Signing at Indianapolis Central Library.

Thursday, August 16 – 7:00 pm
Central Library
40 E. St Clair St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Facebook Event

Over the years I’ve really come to appreciate having a nice space to do a reading, and this library is a great venue. It’s got lovely auditorium seating, and a great AV setup, which means I can possibly do a storytime-style reading of The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle for the whole audience.

Books will be available for sale on site, thanks to the lovely folks at Big Hat Books.  And after my reading/Q&A I’ll be signing books until everyone’s happy or they throw us out of the library.

I’m mostly hitting Gencon as a geek this year, hanging out with friends and playing games. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll be able to sweet talk my way into true dungeon, which I’ve always wanted to try but never managed to play.

Aside from my personal geekery, I have a few panels, a reading and a signing. (See below).

At other times, I’ll just be lurking around the show. If you’re hoping to run into me, your odds are much better at places like Badali Jewlery (Booth 530) and Geek Chic (Booth 1811).

Also, I’ll be hanging around the Game Salute (Booth 1033) where they’ll be selling signed copies of my books. If you swing by on Saturday between 1:00 and 2:00, I’ll personalize a copy for you if you’d like.

Thursday, August 16 – 1 PM
Room 244
Panel: Painting With Words

Thursday, August 16 – 2-3 pm
Room 244
Panel: Make ‘Em Laugh

Thursday,  August 16 – 4-5 pm
Room 244
Reading with Elizabeth Vaughn

Friday, August 17 – 1-2 pm
Signing at the autograph tables.

Saturday, August 18 – 1-2 pm
Signing at booth #1033.

*CHICAGO EVENTS*

  • Reading and Signing at Northwestern University

Thursday, August 30 – 7:00 pm
Reading, Signing and Q&A 

[Edit: We now know where the signing is!

Current location:
The BookMarket Bookstore
2651 Navy Blvd.
Glen Town Center, Glenview, Il 60026]

Here’s the thing, we know I’ll be doing a signing on August 30th at 7:00 PM.

But we’re not quite sure where it’s going to be yet. We’re hoping it will be in the Thorne Auditorium at Northwestern University, but we don’t have  confirmation on that yet. If we can’t get the auditorium, we’ll be doing it in an alternate venue.

As soon as we know for certain, we’ll post up the information here and on the Tour Page.

 

I’ll be bumming around Worldcon with my whole entourage, (Sarah, Oot, and a couple of my lovely assistants as well.) I heard a rumor that we might even be dressing up on one of the days. But that was probably just a lie….

Thursday, August 30- 4:30-6:00 pm
Autograph Session 1
With Anne Lyle, George R. R. Martin, Jean Johnson, Lawrence M. Schoen, Lillian Cauldwell, and Maurine Starkey

Friday, August 31 – 12-1:30 pm
Panel: Beyond the First Two Pages.

Saturday September 1, 11:30 am-12:00 pm
Reading Room: Addams

 

*SEATTLE EVENTS*

  • Kris and Scott’s Scott and Kris Show Live!

Sunday, September 2 – 6:30pm doors open, 8:00pm show
The Triple Door
216 Union Street
Seattle, WA 98101

I think this show is going to be a good time. Scott (of PVP) and Kris (of Chainsawsuit) are doing a pair of shows over PAX weekend, and they’ve invited me to be part of the festivities on Sunday.

Want more details? Listen to the dynamic duo themselves….

I think I’m going to need some caffeine in my system to keep up with these guys.

If this looks like your kinda thing, you can buy tickets here.

 

  • Reading and Signing at the University Book Store

Monday, September 3 – 7:00 pm
University Book Store
4326 University Way NE
Seattle, Washington 98105
Facebook Event

The last time I did a signing in Seattle was about a year and a half ago, and so many people showed up that I didn’t leave the store until nearly 3:00 AM.

This time, since we’re not doing the event the same night as my book release, I think we’ll have a much more modest crowd. That will be nice, as it means most folks will get to sit in chairs, and I’ll have more time to just hang out with people and chat while I’m signing books.

That’s all we’ve got through the end of September, folks.

Share and Enjoy,

pat

Posted in appearances | By Pat40 Responses

Comic-Con Schedule

This is my fourth year attending San Diego Comic-Con. And every year, something happens immediately before my trip, as if some cruel deific being were trying to prevent me from getting my geek on.

The complication this year? Rabies.

But that, as they say, is a story for another time. Suffice to say that I refuse to be thwarted, and am currently at ComicCon, preparing to lave myself geek culture.

Whenever I go to ComicCon, I prepare a list of things I’d like to do in my head.

Some of these are simple things. Friends I’d like to get together with and chat. Booths I’d like to visit. Presents I’d like to buy for people.

Other things on my list are more…. esoteric. It’s almost like the entire con is a game. Or a safari. And I get points if I see certain things on my trip. Like, say, a 300 pound guy with a beard dressed up as sailor moon. If I put that on my list, then see it at the con, I’d get, like, 35 points. More ordinary things, like spotting Stan Lee would only get me 5 points. (15 if he’s not doing a signing, or some other event.)

Then there’s things I hope to do at the con. The top of the list is, of course, Meet-Joss-Whedon-Then-Become-Best-Friends-and-Totally-Hang-Out-In-A-Tree-Fort-Together. That’s worth so many points that I would actually level up on the spot, perhaps with embarrassing consequences.

So far I’m doing pretty well at 78 points, with the big score being the fact that I got to hear John Scalzi sing “Somebody that I used to know” in the style of Fred Schneider from the B 52s while accompanying himself on the ukulele.

And listen. I know that sounds like some bullshit thing that I made up, but it really isn’t. I swear. It really happened. It’s printed indelibly on my on my heart and mind. Fire could not burn it from me.

Anyway, if you happen to be one of the 120,000 + people here at the con this weekend, here’s some of the stuff I’ll be doing, if you’re hoping to catch me here.

Thursday, July 12, 7:00-11:00pm
W00tstock

I’m just doing a little walk-on with the aforementioned John Scalzi. But if last year was any indication, it’s going to be a hell of a show.

There *might* be tickets available here.

Friday, July 13, 2012 3:30-4:30PM
Panel: THE CROWNLESS AGAIN SHALL BE KING:
Comic Con room 6A

Legendary editor Betsy Mitchell gets epic with panelists Brandon Sanderson (Alloy of Law), Raymond E. Feist (A Crown Imperiled),Robin Hobb (City of Dragons), N.K. Jemisin (The Inheritance Trilogy), Christopher Paolini (The Inheritance cycle), Rachel Hartman (Seraphina), Patrick Rothfuss(KingKiller Chronicles), Heather Brewer (The Legacy of Tril), and Lynn Flewelling(Casket of Souls). 

Friday, July 13, 2012 5:00-6:00pm
Signing  with the panel from Epic Fantasy War
Autograph booth AA9

Saturday, July 14, 2012 11:00am-12:00pm
Geek and Sundry Panel
Indigo Ballroom in the Hilton.

(I’m not on this panel, but I’m going to be there. For reasons that must remain secret for now….)


[Edit: One more event!
Saturday, July 14, 2012 5:30-6:30pm
Spotlight on John Scalzi
Room 7 AB

I’ll be moderating this one.]

Other than that, I’m just going to be skulking around the con, looking for trouble. If you can’t get into my panel, then you have a decent chance of running into me in places like the Badali Jewlery booth (#530) or Geek Chic (131-133). I also tend to lurk around the Mysterious Galaxy booth a lot, I can’t remember the exact number of it, it’s somewhere in the 1000’s, but they have signed copies of my books there, and if you happen to catch me while I’m passing through, I’d be happy to personalize one to you.

And, of course, if you see me walking around the con, feel free to say hello.

Okay, I’m off. Wish me luck….

pat

 

Also posted in a few words you're probably going to have to look up, conventions | By Pat33 Responses
  • RSS info

  • Visit Worldbuilders!

  • Our Store

  • Previous Posts

  • Archives



  • Bookmark this Blog!

    (IE and Firefox users only - Safari users, click Command-D)