Category Archives: Worldbuilders 2012

Published: December 17, 2012

More Guest Appearances and Delicious Comics

 

This is a Worldbuilders Blog.

Okay folks, we’re in Non-Denominational-Holiday crunch-time here. So I’m going to pass along a few vital pieces of news about the fundraiser, then get straight to today’s donations.

1. I’m well aware that I owe y’all some payoff after hitting our first two stretch goals. And our 150K goal of an interview and open to the public Q&A with Amber Benson is looming on the horizon.

Rest assured, I’m getting those blogs ready. But right now isn’t the best time to post them because….

2. It’s almost Christmas. So if you’re thinking of ordering gifts like some t-shirts, signed books, or the 2013 fantasy calendar, through The Tinker’s Packs, you might want to order sooner rather than later so we can get stuff in the mail to you….

2b. There’s new stuff in The Tinker’s Packs today. Stuff I haven’t talked mentioned or described on the blog yet.

2c. Why haven’t I mentioned it on the blog yet? Because today we’re showing off stuff awesome webcomic creators have donated. Not only do we have unique art and doodle books. But some of these fabulous webcomic creators are auctioning off cameo appearances in their comics, much like our  authors did a couple days ago…

3. Also because we’re perilously close to Christmas, we’ve launched some auctions early. That way you can bid now and (hopefully) get things in time for your non-denominational holiday of choice.

For a peek at all the Worldbuilders Auctions, click here. There’s all manner of unique geek swag up for grabs. Seriously.

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Remember that while a few of the items below are being auctioned off, most of them are going into the Worldbuilders lottery. That means for every 10 bucks you donate to Heifer International over on the Worldbuilders Team page, you get a chance to win these cool books as well as thousands of others.

Plus, you get to make the world a better place, too.

Let’s not forget about that.

(Click to Embiggen. It’s worth it.)

If you’re an avid reader of webcomics, you may have heard about Webcomics Rampage down in Austin. Some of the coolest webcomic artists around attend it, and this year, everyone who went made a poster just for our fundraiser. It’s 22″ x 28″ of unadulterated awesome.

Well… I won’t lie to you. Some parts of it might be slightly adulterated, especially the part with Pintsize from Questionable Content.

It’s a way cool artifact of webcomic fandom.  If you’re interested, you should bid on its auction over here.

  • A set of Volumes 1 – 4 of Shortpacked! by David Willis. Signed and doodled by the artist.

Each copy of these books has a doodle in it – check them out.

“Dave Willis has the unique ability to deliver the most deceptively evil punchlines with the most charmingly innocent illustrations.” – Brad Guigar

  • A copy of Volume 1 of Dumbing of Age by David Willis.  Signed and doodled by the artist.

“If you enjoy Willis’ other webcomics, or if the only reason you don’t enjoy them is because you can’t catch up with all of them, “Dumbing of Age” provides a fresh start with worn characters.” – Comics Alliance

  • A set of Volumes 1 & 2 of Wasted  Talent by Angela Melick.  Signed and doodled by the artist.

I’m particularly fond of these doodles, as well.

“Angela Melick’s a mechanical engineer as well as an amateur cartoonist, and many of the entries in her Wasted Talent webcomic focus on the small joys of efficiency and rooms filled with geeky coworkers…. It’s by no means an in-depth look into the life an engineer, but it’s a delight to see Melick so delighted with her career” – Lauren Davis

  • A copy of the choose-you-own-adventure book Trial of the Clone. Signed by the author: Zach Weinersmith of SMBC.

Okay. This is a really cool thing that Zach Weinersmith of SMBC dreamed up. It’s not just a choose-your own adventure story (though that would be cool enough. It’s a gamebook too.

Here’s a quote from their online store:

Trial of the Clone is a choosable pathway gamebook that allows the reader to make choices, interact with the world, and otherwise navigate through over 500 scenes and thousands of potential pathways. Readers can choose to simply read through the story or interact more fully with the book’s game by keeping track of statistics, items, and battles.

So yeah. This is cool. Between you and me? I just went and ordered 15 of them to give away as Christmas gifts to my geek friends.

“GWS is the comic for that that enjoy a good dildo joke and farty cat humor sandwiched between excellent character development and compelling storytelling.” – Erika Moen.

There are so many doodles...

I’ve been a fan of Questionable Content for years. Years and years.

Honestly, I’ve been a fan of a lot of these comics for years, but Questionable Content holds a special place in my heart because…

Honestly. I don’t know why. I just really love it. I’m considering going over to the team page and donating some money just so I’ll have a chance to win these doodled books myself.

What the hell. I think I will….

  • Auction: A set of Volumes 1 – 8 of Penny Arcade.  Signed by Tycho and Gabriel (AKA Jerry and Mike).  Includes a sheet of Penny Arcade stickers

Penny Arcade is one of the best nerd comics out there, and they’ve got a charity of their own, so it’s nice that they could spread the love and give us some books to auction off.

“If Pantheon is just another superhero book, Tiger Woods is just another golfer.” Wizard Magazine

  • Auction: A copy of Depressing Comic Book and a plushie from Cyanide and Happiness.  Signed by Rob DenBleyker.

This book isn’t for the faint of heart.  Half the reason we put it into an auction is so a poor, unsuspecting grandma doesn’t open it up and have a heart attack.  Gram-Gram might not be able to handle this comic.

Which is why so many of us love it.

You know you want the book and the butt-signed plushy too. So bid on it over here.

  • Auction: A set of Volumes 1 -4 of Super Stupor by R.K. Milholland.  Signed by the artist.

I think I’ve been reading Randy’s comics longer than anyone else’s on this blog. While I’ll always be a fan of Something Positive, I am rather fond of his new venture: Super Stupor, to0.

“If I were to try to sum up Randy Milholland’s comics in just a couple of words, I think the words ‘delightfully twisted’ would work nicely.” – Tangents Reviews

These are seriously awesome comics.  Bid on them, and they could be yours!

  • 9 sets of Omnibus Volumes 1 & 2 of Gutters. Signed by Ryan Sohmer.

These are gorgeous, Mammoth books. And our lovely sponsors over at Blind Ferret have given us a bunch of them for our lottery.
“The Gutters is truly a unique webcomic beast… At the end of the day, the combination of a rotating art cast with Sohmer’s wit and criticism of the comic industry equals a damn funny webcomic that had the Unshaven Comics crew doing spit takes while we roamed through the archives. ” – ComicMix
  • Auction: A set of Omnibus Volumes 1 & 2 of Gutters.  Signed by Ryan Sohmer.

These books are cool enough that we’re going to throw a signed pair up in an auction so you can win them for yourself.

The winning bidder will appear in a future HijiNKS ENSUE comic. You will also get to suggest topics for the final comic (tv shows, movies, geekisms, etc) that you are interested in.

The winning bidder will also receive an 11X17″ print of their comic signed by the artist.

HijiNKS ENSUE is an online comic that delves into the deepest recesses of geek pop culture searching for funny. Casual geeks and obsessed fanboys alike can appreciate HijiNKS ENSUE’s unique perspective on TV, movies, sci-fi, technology and the internet. Ed Brubaker once said HijiNKS ENSUE “is like Doonesbury for nerds.” This was probably more of a compliment than an insult… probably.

To bid on this guest appearance head over here.

  • A set of Volumes 1 & 2 of Hijinks Ensue by Joel Watson. Signed by the artist.

I could get gushy about Joel’s comic, but why listen to me when you can listen to Wil Wheaton instead?

“Every time I read HijiNKS ENSUE, it’s like Joel shoved his hand into my brain, yanked out one of the geeky things that floats around in there, and turned it into a comic that I wish I’d written myself. And it’s hilarious every. Single. Time. HEY JOE GET OUT OF MY FUCKING HEAD.” – Wil Wheaton

  • Auction: Joel Watson Print – Signed by the artist.

I feel like I should mention that Joel has been a great help to Worldbuilders this year. Not only has he sent us books and cool art (see above.) but he helped coordinate donations from a lot of the webcomic creators you see here in this blog.

Plus, he was cool enough to donate a signed copy of his Game of Thrones inspired art, too. You can bid on it here.

  • Auction: Joel Watson Wil Wheaton prints – Signed by the artist.

The staff here at Worldbuilders guesses Wil Wheaton might want to buy one of these just to keep them out of the wrong hands. Any hands, really.

You, however, should bid on them over here so you can add them to the Wil Wheaton shrine you’ve built in your closet.

  • Auction: A Cameo appearance in the webcomic The Wizard of Quippley by Adam Casalino.

Adam Casalino will Tuckerize you! (Which isn’t really as dirty as it sounds.) That means he will incorporate your name into one of his up-coming comics in his webseries: ‘The Wizard of Quippley.’  Become a mighty dwarf of legend, or perhaps a dastardly wizard, or even a strange, far-off land.  Be forewarned, your name may be subject to Adam’s typical absurd comedy (let’s face it, it definitely will be).

To bid on this awesome tuckerization from this handsome man, go here.

A cameo in the fabulous comic Looking for Group. The winner will get “Fwooshed” by the undead sorcerer Richard.

Looking For Group is a fantasy-based webcomic that updates twice a week. Written by Ryan Sohmer and illustrated by Lar deSouza, it has been ongoing since 2006.

You know you want a piece of this action. Go bid over here.

  • Auction: A set of Volumes 1 – 11 of Girl Genius.  Signed by Phil & Kaja Foglio.

If you don’t know Girl Genius, your life is a sad, sad thing, and you pretty much have to bid on these so you can remedy it.

So.  Do yourself a favor.  Go bid on this over here.

The winner will see her or his name (or the name of a designated driver, fiancee, creditor, beloved pet, etc.) appear within the Girl Genius comic story sometime within the next calendar year. The details are nebulous. Perhaps you will become the proprietor of a shop in Mechanicsburg. Perhaps you will be a walk-on character with lines. Perhaps you will die a heroes death, or go into that sweet good night sniveling like a punk. Perhaps you will become a reoccurring villain, or a last minute love interest (tricky, if we’re talking about your pet here). The possibilities are endless, mostly because we’re making this stuff up as we go along.

You know how much I love Girl Genius.  I even appeared as a Doctor in it once.

I’m not saying it was the high point of my life or anything. But it was probably up there in the top ten. Along with having sex and that one time I ate an entire cake.

So… yeah. So you should definitely go bid on this over here.

*     *     *

You have to admit that there’s enough coolness in this blog to cook your brain like a toad thrown into a volcano.

Remember that you can view *ALL* the current Worldbuilders auctions here on e-bay.

Or, if you’d like a chance to win these books and thousands of others, you can donate on the Worldbuilders Team Page, over at Heifer international. For every $10 you pitch in, you get another chance to win something cool.

If you want to see the other items that have been donated to Worldbuilders, or learn more about the fundraiser itself, you can head over to the main page.

Also posted in a billion links, Webcomics | By Pat10 Responses
Published: December 13, 2012

Signed Books from Awesome Authors

 

This is a Worldbuilders Blog.

Okay. Before we look at today’s books, I’m going to tell a little story. Because that’s what I do.

The truth is, yesterday I was right on the edge of burning out on the fundraiser. I was running on about two hours of sleep, worried about the holidays, and stressed because I’m behind on about fifty different things.

I don’t talk about it a lot, but it takes a lot of frantic behind-the-scenes juggling to make Worldbuilders happen, and even with the great team that helps run things, it can get a little overwhelming at times.

So there I was, exhausted, trudging through an interview I’m doing with Fantasy Lit about the fundraiser, the calendar, and what Heifer International is all about, when I draw a blank, and can’t remember if a flock of chicks costs 20 bucks, or 30.

So I wander over to Heifer’s website, into the “Gift Catalog” section, and I see that they’ve added stuff since I’ve been there last time. You can still give money for goats and baby ducks, but now I see “The Gift of Clean Water – $300.”

I click on it, and I see this picture.

And I just start to cry.

Now I’d like to claim it’s because I was worn down and low on sleep. But that wouldn’t be the truth. Ever since Oot was born, I’ve become incredibly soppy, and I cry the drop of a hat whenever I’m confronted with stories about kids.

My mom used to be like that. We’d see a telephone commercial where a kid calls home for Christmas, and she’d get all weepy. I’d roll my eyes at her and say, “It’s a *phone* commercial, mom.” And she’d laugh, saying, “You don’t know what it’s like.”

Now I know what it’s like.

I mean, look at that kid. He’s like, “Yeah! Clean water! This is AWESOME!”

And you know what? It is awesome. It’s the best thing I’ve seen all day.

There’s something else I haven’t seen on Heifer’s page: “Family Farm Care Package – $72.”

So I click on it.

The description reads:

“This gift will help a struggling family boost the productivity of their farm and increase their income. Training in soil conservation, irrigation and marketing will be combined with seeds, saplings or livestock so smallholder farmers around the world can transform their failing farms into dependable livelihoods”

I probably spent half an hour wandering around the Heifer site, looking at pictures. Afterwards, I didn’t feel burned out at all. I felt excited about getting back into the fundraiser.

So I figured I’d share some of the pictures with you. Just to remind you what we’re *really* doing here. When you donate on the Worldbuilder’s Team Page, you’re not just signing up to win some cool books. You’re making the world a better place.

And if you’re wondering, a flock of baby chicks is only $20.

Ah fuck. I’m crying again.

Let’s look at today’s books so I can get control of myself, okay?

*     *     *

Today we’ve got another batch of books donated directly from the authors themselves.

I love it when authors send us books, because they always show up signed. And sometimes, as we can see below, they show up signed PLUS…

  • A first edition copy of The Night Circus. Signed and doodled by Erin Morgenstern.

I’ve never met Erin personally, but she was cool enough to send along some first-edition hardcovers of her bestselling debut novel: The Night Circus. What’s more, she clearly cares about the cause because she took the time to doodle a little kitten sitting on the text of the copyright page, stars doodled all over the place, plus her beautiful signature and a rubber stamp of the circus tent.  It’s awesome.

“Erin Morgenstern has created the circus I have always longed for and she has populated it with dueling love-struck magicians, precocious kittens, hyper-elegant displays of beauty and complicated clocks. This is a marvelous book.” – Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler’s Wife

  • Auction: A first edition copy of The Night Circus. Signed by Erin Morgenstern. Includes pen drawings and a rubber stamp from the author.

Because Erin was nice enough to send us a couple of these, we figured we’d put one up in an auction, too.

“Brilliantly detailed worldbuilding and complicated characters makes this an engrossing read.” –Laura Anne Gilman

“You know you’ve always wanted to read about an angry vampire slicing other vampires in half with a katana. Don’t deny it. –  Heather Watson

  • A hardcover copy of Wheel of the Infinite. Signed by Martha Wells.

“The vividly imagined Celestial Empire’s peril is made all the more dramatic by the characters’ sarcastic, reasonable conversations, and by their very human responses to inhuman dangers; there is real reading pleasure here.” – Publishers Weekly

  • A set of The Cloud Roads and The Serpent Sea. Signed by Martha Wells.

“Wells merrily ignores genre conventions as she spins an exciting adventure around an alien hero who anyone can identify with.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  • The Wizard Hunters, The Ships of Air, and The Gate of Gods.  Signed by Martha Wells.

“A vastly entertaining and refreshingly different fantasy adventure with a surprisingly satisfying conclusion.” – Locus

“James Calbraith’s writing is reminiscent of a classic, epic fantasy – immersive, and detailed to the letter. The real-world cultures he draws from are incredibly well-researched and truthful, and yet well-balanced with the fantasy elements he sprinkles in between. An intriguing and impressive series.” – Ben Galley

“Durham has created a richly detailed alternate reality leavened with a dollop of magic and populated by complicated personalities grappling with issues of freedom and oppression.” – Publishers Weekly

  • A set of Never Never Stories, Million Writers Award: The Best Online Science Fiction and Fantasy, and Million Writers Award: The Best New Online Voices.  Signed by Jason Sanford.

“If you’re new to [Sanford’s stories] then this is a very highly recommended collection indeed.” Jim Steel

  • 2 copies of Henry Franks.  Signed by Peter Adam Salomon. Each with a signed promo postcard (leaning against the book).

“Salomon’s Frankenstein homage churns through its often confounding but highly unnerving plot like a slow nightmare–readers won’t be entirely sure they even want to know how it ends. The scenes are clipped, the dialogue spare, and the prose rewards meticulous reading, making this debut the thinking teen’s horror choice of the year.” – Booklist (starred review)

  • A giant set of Black Jewels Books: Tangled Webs, Shalador’s Lady, The Shadow Queen, The Invisible Ring, and Twilight’s Dawn.  Signed by Anne Bishop.

“Bishop will draw you into her world like a spider and never spit you back out — it is like an addiction. I am not a re-reader, but I re-read this book simply because I love her characters and the depth she gives them — along with the mystery she is able to weave around each — leaving you guessing until she’s ready to tell you what she wants you to know.” — SFRevu

  • 3 copies of Bridge of Dreams.  Signed by Anne Bishop.

“With a well-paced mystery, likable characters, and fascinating world building, this is a fun read.” —Booklist

This is a collection of three short stories by Anne Bishop, James Alan Gardner, and Anthony Francis.  So much bang for your buck!

Pat’s Note: This is an ARC for Written in Red, so not only is it a bit of a rarity. But this is a pre-release ARC, which means that if you win this book, you’ll get a chance to read Anne’s newest book before it hits the shelves. Then, if you’re in the mood, you can go taunt people on goodreads about your insider status. 

“[Bishop’s] worlds are so fully realized and three-dimensional, they jump right off the pages.” – Fresh Fiction

  • A set of The Winds of Khalakovo and The Straits of Galahesh.  Signed by Bradley P. Beaulieu.

“Well worth exploring… Beaulieu [depicts] a strange culture [with] a remarkable fantasy/magical reality feel.” – Glen Cook, author of The Black Company

  • A copy of Shadow Ops: Control Point. Signed by Myke Cole.

Despite the fact that Myke is a relative newcomer to the publishing world, he’s made a bit of a splash, with Fantasy Faction listing his next book as one of the 10 most anticipated books of 2013.

I read his this book, his debut novel, about a month ago and really, really enjoyed it. It’s well worth your time. (You can see my full review on Goodreads if you’re interested.)

“Blackhawk Down meets the X-Men, Military Fantasy like you’ve never seen it before!” – Peter V. Brett

  • Auction: A copy of Shadow Ops: Control Point. Signed by Myke Cole.  Comes with a challenge coin.

Those of you who watched the Author D&D video may also recognize Myke’s name. He was the GM, and he did an awesome job wrangling all the other authors.

As a cool promotional item, Myke as donated a Challenge Coin with this book. He describes them thusly: “They’re somewhere between a medal and a shinier, cooler version of business cards.”

To make sure this ends up in the hands of someone that will love it, we’re going to auction it off.

To bid, head over here.

“At over 600 pages, Epic: Legends of Fantasy will definitely get you your money’s worth and the seventeen stories inside will help satisfy your epic fantasy cravings, or possibly leave you wanting more.” – SFF Chat

This anthology includes works from Sanderson, Martin, LeGuin, and tons of other prolific authors.  I snuck my way in there, too.

If you want this multiple-signed copy all to yourself, head over to the auction and bid.

*     *     *

Every 10 dollars you donate on our Team Page gives you the chance to win one of our fabulous prizes, many of which still haven’t been revealed.

All the auctions Worldbuilders is currently running are over here.

Or, if you want to see the other items that have been donated to Worldbuilders, or learn more about the fundraiser itself, you can head over to the main page here.

Also posted in mom, Oot, the longest fucking blog ever | By Pat25 Responses
Published: December 11, 2012

Cameo Appearances in Upcoming Books

This is a Worldbuilders Blog.

And now we have something completely different. Something different and filled with unprecedented cool.

Some authors refer to this sort of thing as a Tuckerization (for historical reasons). Others think of it as a cameo appearance or giving someone naming rights to a character.

But ultimately, it all boils down to the same thing: you’ll be getting to make a guest appearance in an author’s future books.

This is, in some ways, a chance at immortality.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what sort of a rare opportunity this is. Authors occasionally do this sort of thing for a friend, or as a joke, or *rarely* as a sort of promotional thing. But these are rarely auctioned off, and I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of a bunch of them being put up for grabs at the same time….

Now, before I list the auctions individually, I’m going to have to put on my dad voice, look at you all seriously, and tell you to *please* read each of the descriptions carefully.

Each author is handling their auction in their own way. What’s more, they’re each offering something slightly different.

For example, trying to get your D&D character’s name into Mary Robinette Kowall’s book probably isn’t going to fly. But I bet Ernest Cline would go for it…. Hell, knowing him, he might prefer it.

Okay. Enough caveats. Let’s move on to the awesome….

Ernest Cline Writes:

“To help raise money for Worldbuilders, I’ve decided to follow Patrick Rothfuss’s lead and auction off a chance to suggest a character name in my next novel, which I’m currently writing. But please notice that I said “suggest” a name. If you suggest something crass like HotCock007, Heywood Jablome, or Ann Coulter, I reserve the right to veto it and implore you to make a different suggestion. We’ll work something out. This is a speculative fiction novel set in the present day, so I’m relatively certain I’ll be able to sneak just about any kind of name you suggest into the story. If you win the auction, I’ll give a minor character in the book your first name, your last name, your AD&D character’s name, your dog’s name – whatever you want. But be warned: this character may die a horrible death shortly after their introduction.

Let the bidding begin!”

To bid on Ernest’s truly awesome tuckerization, go here.

Gail Carriger is pleased to offer a Fantasy Hat Cameo for inclusion in one of her up-coming Parasol Protectorate universe novels. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the 2013 Worldbuilders fundraiser.

Gail will work with the winner to describe a hat (or sketch, or photo, or real life headpiece) to appear in a Parasol Protectorate Abroad or Finishing School book. Put a bonnet on a vampire queen or a steampunk topper on your favorite drone. Who knows, if it’s truly outrageous, perhaps even Ivy herself will give your hat a twirl.

Contact details with Gail to be set up following the auction.

To bid on the most awesome hat option, click here.

Hugo-award winning author Mary Robinette Kowal will tuckerize your name into a forthcoming piece of fiction. What does this mean? It means that she will work your name into a story or novel depending on what your name is and which project it seems to fit best into. She’ll also send you a signed manuscript before publication.

To bid on this tuckerization and manuscript (!) head over here.

  • A tuckerization to appear in the next Marla Mason novel by T.A. Pratt.

T.A. Pratt Writes:

“I will use your name, or a name we mutually agree upon, for a character (or something else) in my next Marla Mason urban fantasy novel, Bride of Death. In the past I’ve named henchmen, murder victims, sailing vessels, and curses after people (or their loved ones), so I’m flexible, and will do my best to accommodate any reasonable requests. We’ll work out the details after you win.”

To bid on potentially naming a curse after your mother-in-law, head over here.

Name a murder victim!

Jaime Lee Moyer is offering you the chance to name a murder victim in the third book of her series, working title Against A Brightening Sky. The winner gets to choose the name, age and gender of a murder victim for Against A Brightening Sky. The book is a ghost story murder mystery set in 1919 in San Francisco, so please keep the time period in mind when choosing a name. Moonshadow or Timelord Dane might be a difficult fit.

The winner’s murder victim can briefly return from the dead and make an appearance as a ghost as well. Just let Jamie know when you give her the name.

Who doesn’t want to name a murder victim after themselves? Or better yet, an ex-lover or arch-enemy.

To bid, head over here.

  • A cameo appearance in a future book by Patrick Rothfuss.

(Me.)

Here’s the deal. If you win this auction, you’ll win a chance to propose a name for book three. If the name you’re proposing sounds great to me, then huzzah.

If not, the two of us will talk it over.

For example, maybe you want to get your girlfriend’s name into book three because she’s a big fan, and you’re hoping it will get you that threeway you’ve always wanted. But her name is “Veronica” and that doesn’t quite feel right for my world.

So we start talking it over. Maybe we can use her middle name instead. Maybe we use her nickname and I tweak the character’s description a little bit so that it more closely resembles her. (Though I’ll probably do this a little bit anyway.)

Maybe I put a little twist on the name. “Veronia” for example, would be fine for my world. I like that name a lot, actually.

Or maybe you decide you’d rather use your own name after all. And it turns out that works wonderfully, because your name is Ferrel and that’s exactly the sort of name that would fit on a Vintish Courtier, and I happen to be tweaking the Vinish section of the book right now anyway….

What I’m getting at here is that we’ll negotiate until we’re both happy with the addition to the book.

So if you’re interested, you can bid on it over here.

  • LOTTERY ADDITION: A cameo appearance in a future book by Patrick Rothfuss.

(Also me.)

Because I spent 9 years as an undergraduate, I know what it’s like to not have a lot of folding money.

So, in addition to the auction above, I’ll throw one cameo appearance into the Worldbuilders lottery as well.

That means for every $10 you donate to Heifer International on our Team Page, you get a chance to get your name in my upcoming book, *as well as* the chance to win some of the cool books donated to this year’s fundraiser by so many cool authors, bookstores, and publishers.

Now let me stress again, that this doesn’t just mean you get to jam any old name you want into my book. We’ll negotiate something.

I feel the need to stress this, as I fear having a conversation like this on the phone:

Me: Congratulations! You won the auction!

Winner: Yay! I want to put my D&D character’s name into the book!

Me: And that name is….

Winner: Studd Beefcake.

Me: …

Winner: He’s awesome. He’s a dual class fighter/ranger. That means so long as he’s only wearing leather armor…

Me: I don’t think the name Studd Beefcake will fit smoothly into the world I’ve created.

Winner: How about my other character? Grignir Theqjirn’ateth.

Me: I beg your pardon? I think there was some static on the line…

Winner: Grignir Theqjirn’ateth. He’s a dwarven monk.

Me: Do you…

Winner: Stunning Fist!

Me: Yes. Stunning Fist. Do you have any ideas for names that aren’t your D&D characters?

Winner: Well… We could use my son’s name…

Me: That sounds great. What is it?

Winner: Drizzt.

Me: I think there are copyright issues involved…

Winner: Drizzt Do’Urden RULES! Wooo!

That said, I’m more than willing to negotiate. (See the above description.) Provided you’re not entirely insane, I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out….

*     *     *

If you’d like to see all the auctions Worldbuilders is currently running, you can find them over here.

Or, if you want to see the other items that have been donated to Worldbuilders, or learn more about the fundraiser itself, you can head over to the main page here.

Posted in Worldbuilders 2012 | By Pat18 Responses
Published: December 7, 2012

Books from Gollancz, Exterminating Angel Press, and AudioGo

This is a Worldbuilders Blog.

Gollancz has been a big supporter of Worldbuidlers for the last several years. They’re a huge UK publisher, so it’s worth noting that everything from them is the UK edition, which automatically makes it 6 times fancier.

  • 5 box sets of the the Sookie Stackhouse Novels paperback box set by Charlaine Harris.

“Harris does an admirable job of creating a heroine who’s not only interesting but completely believable in a world of the strange and the different. Natural and humorous dialogue and a nicely paced plot.” – Publishers Weekly

“Enthralling . . . a story so packed with thrills, comedy, drama and a bit of red herring that the result is apt to satisfy the most discriminating, and hungry, reader.”— The Denver Post

“Sanderson’s saga of consequences offers complex characters and a compelling plot, asking hard questions about loyalty, faith and responsibility.” – Publishers Weekly

  • A full set of the Gollancz 50 Top Ten: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick,The Book of the New Sun: Shadow and Claw by Gene Wolfe,  I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, Dune by Frank Herbert, The Time Machine by H. G. Wells, Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, Eric by Terry Pratchett, Hyperion by Dan Simmons, Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, and Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

 

For it’s 50th’s aniversary, Gollancz polled its readers, asking them to vote on their best titles over the last 50 years.

They printed the top ten books in special retro editions, five sci-fi, five in fantasy. To my delight, The Name of the Wind was one of the five fantasy picks.

These editions are out of print now, but you can win the full here at Worldbuilders by donating to Heifer International.

 

  • Auction: A full set of the Gollancz 50 Top Ten: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick,The Book of the New Sun: Shadow and Claw by Gene Wolfe,  I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, Dune by Frank Herbert, The Time Machine by H. G. Wells, Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, Eric by Terry Pratchett, Hyperion by Dan Simmons, Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, and Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

And for those of you who simply HAVE to have it.  We’re throwing a set up in an auction over here.

And now, some books from Exterminating Angel Press:

  • 2 copies of The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines by Mike Madrid.

“…Even as it delivers its clear-eyed critique of the way mainstream superhero comics have alternately eroticized or deified female characters, The Supergirls gleefully celebrates the medium itself, in all its goofy, glorious excess.” — NPR

“The Supergirls is a long overdue tribute to the fabulous fighting females whose beauty and bravery brighten the pages of your favorite comics.” — Stan Lee

  • 2 copies of 3 Dead Princes: An Anarchist Fairy Tale by Danbert Nobacon.

“Even as an adult reader, the story is interesting and intelligent enough for you to find it worth your while.” — Graham Storrs

  • 2 copies of Dirk Quigby’s Guide to the Afterlife: All You Need to Know to Choose the Right Heaven Plus a Five-Star Rating System for Music, Food, Drink, and Accommodations by E. E. King 

“Impish and delightful—a hilarious Zagat’s Guide to Heaven!”—Ray Bradbury

  • 2 sets of Snotty Saves the Day: The History of Arcadia and Lily the Silent: The History of Arcadia. Signed by Tod Davies

“Dressed up with footnotes, scholarly introductions and a bibliography, as well as lovely line drawings by Gary Zaboly, Snotty’s story seeks to prove that fairy tales rank with quantum mechanics in their ability to establish parallel worlds.”—Publishers Weekly

  • Auction: One set of Snotty Saves the Day: The History of Arcadia and Lily the Silent: The History of Arcadia. Signed by Tod Davies.  Also comes with an adorable teddy bear.

Who doesn’t want an adorable teddy bear with an adorable t-shirt on?  To bid on him and his friends, the books, click here.

From AudioGo:

  • A copy of The J. R. R. Tolkien Collection (BBC Dramatization) by J. R. R. Tolkien.

I’ll be honest with you, this set is cool enough that I considered stealing it rather than putting it in the fundraiser. True story.

  • A set of Immobility by Brian Evenson, Dreadtime Stories: Volume One, and Dreadtime Stories: Volume Two.  All narrated by Malcolm McDowell.

“Evenson is stunning, a postapocalyptic Dashiell Hammett, in this blistering tale. I read Immobility from cover to cover without stirring from my chair, and I imagine most readers will share that fate.” – Jesse Ball, Plimpton Prize–winning author of The Curfew

  • A copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: The Complete BBC Radio Series by Douglas Adams 

“It’s not just that these are even better than the novels, The Guide, originally conceived as a radio show, still works best in its original medium. All these discs are worth listening to, especially if you have a long commute. Adams’ life was too short, but he left us with enough funny, startling, and original ideas for several lifetimes.” – Tom Marcinko

  • 2 sets of Batman: The Lazarus Syndrome: A BBC Full-Cast Radio Drama and  Superman: On Trial: A BBC Full-Cast Radio Drama by Dirk Maggs

“An interesting, if slightly quirky, audio play about The Dark Knight, as it is the villain’s motivation that drives the tale.” – Tim Knight, Hero Press

“An amusing audio play, well worth the time.” – Brendan’s Reviews

  • A set of Sherlock Holmes: The Rediscovered Railway Mysteries: and Other Stories by John Taylor and The Adventures of Sexton Blake: Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatization by Dirk Maggs

 

I’ve talked on the blog before about how much I loved this production of Sexton Blake. Not only can you get this hard-to-come-by BBC production here, but the Sherlock Holmes audiobook is read by Benedict Cumberbatch himself. As such, it’s very much worth your time….

  • Auction: A set of Sherlock Holmes: The Rediscovered Railway Mysteries: and Other Stories by John Taylor and The Adventures of Sexton Blake: Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatization by Dirk Maggs

Make your ear holes happy by bidding on this lovely prize over here.

  • A copy of Doctor Who: The New Adventures: Two Exclusive Audio Adventures Starring the Eleventh Doctor

Come on.  It’s Doctor Who.  Do I really have to tell you?  By donating just $10 to the team page, you will have a chance to win an audio recording of two episodes of Doctor Who that have never aired on TV.  I think that’s worth it, don’t you?

  • Auction: A set of Doctor Who: The Lost TV Episodes: Collection 2: 1965-1966 and Doctor Who: The New Adventures: Two Exclusive Audio Adventures Starring the Eleventh Doctor.

“DOCTOR WHO – THE LOST TV EPISODES (COLLECTION TWO: 1965-1966) is, like the first collection, a remarkable anthology that demonstrates the enduring quality of the series in delivering agreeable stories for all generations both past, present and future.” –Eye of Horus

That’s right.  Multiple lost-to-television episodes of Doctor Who, all for your listening pleasure, if you bid on our auction over here.

*     *     *

Remember, for every 10 dollars you donate on our Team Page, you get a chance to win these books and many, many more.

If you’d like to see all the auctions Worldbuilders is currently running, you can find them over here.

Or, if you want to see the other items that have been donated to Worldbuilders, or learn more about the fundraiser itself, you can head over to the main page here.

Also posted in all sorts of different types of books, audiobooks | By Pat10 Responses
Published: December 5, 2012

Even More Signed Books from Cool Authors

This is a Worldbuilders Blog.

Today we’ve got more books donated by the authors themselves. Gaze on them with wonder and delight…

Some of them we’re putting up for auction along with a select few other books.

But the vast majority of them are joining the hundred of books that will be given away lottery-style to everyone who donates on our Team Heifer page.

Right. On to the books….

  • Auction: A set of Inda, The Fox, King’s Shield, and Treason’s Shore. Signed by Sherwood Smith.  Includes a hand-drawn map and 5 hand drawn pictures from the author.

“Intricate and real…Filled with magic and glamour…Characters spring to life with humor… Complex and compelling.” – San Jose Mercury News

Pat’s Note: Over the years, authors have donated some really cool stuff to Worldbuilders. Rare editions. Editorial Manuscripts. Cool memorabilia….

But this year, Sherwood has really raised the bar. She went above and beyond.

Along with the full set of her signed books, she’s send along several hand-drawn illustrations. What’s more, she has included a huge map of her world that she’s drawn and detailed with colored pencil and metallic pens.  It’s 20×30, so we’ve included a book for scale in the picture.

 

(Click to Embiggen.)

I really can’t begin to describe how cool all of this is. To say that it’s “one of a kind” is really understating things. This is a profoundly unique effort of love and geeky craft. I’m honestly amazed that Sherwood was willing to put in all the time and effort that it took for this.

So. First and foremost. I want to say: thanks so much Sherwood Smith. You are awesome. You made my day by donating this.

Secondly, we want to make sure this ends up in the hands of a true fan, so we’re auctioning it off.

To place a bid, or if you just want to see more pictures of Sherwood’s art, head on over here to the auction.

  • A hardcover copy of Year Zero: A Novel.  Signed by Rob Reid.

Pat’s Note: I caught Rob’s presentation this year at Wootstock, and it made me laugh so hard milk came out my nose. And this is the odd thing: I hadn’t even been drinking milk at the time….

Seriously though. He’s a brilliantly funny guy, as you can see for yourself on the video of him at Wootstock…

“Reid’s extreme imagination never wanes as he builds an entire universe solely on how alien societies would react to our music and culture. Nothing is typical or obvious. Reid uses the lens of an outsider to unleash a sarcastic—and hilarious—rant on how obsessed we are with technology and greed.” – Associated Press

  • Auction: A hardcover copy of Year Zero: A Novel.  Signed by Rob Reid.

“Fans of Douglas Adams will rave about this smart, funny satire. Debut novelist Reid, founder of Listen.com, has crafted a masterly plot that deftly skewers the American obsession with music, money, and power. Fast paced and original, this is highly recommended.” – Library Journal (starred review)

If you’d like to bid on this auction, head over here.

“Patterson’s story about vampires and slayers is unlike any other you have read before. His characters have depth & personality. Their histories are fascinating and leave you eager to turn the page to learn more about them.” – Books and Beyond

  • A hardcover copy of Nightspell.  Signed by Leah Cypess.

“Transcendent and triumphant.” –Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A magical and entertaining waltz across the fairy forests and dark moors a just sideways step or two from Haworth Parsonage.” – Ian R. MacLeod, World Fantasy Award winner and author of The Light Ages

  • 2 sets of Syncopation: A Memoir of Adele Hugo and The Stolen Goldin Violin.  Syncopation signed by Elizabeth Caulfield Felt, Stolen Golden Violin signed by Elizabeth Caulfield Felt, Andy Felt, Craig Felt, and Tom Felt.

“The author does an excellent job of presenting Adèle to the world as a woman ahead of her time yet held back by the social conventions of the era. A very enjoyable read.” – Historical Novel Society

Pat’s Note: I met Blake at World Fantasy Convention this year, and I have to say, not only is he a hell of a nice guy, but he’s got one of the most heart-stoppingly beautiful books I’ve ever seen. If you’re a book geek, then this is a book to geek-out over. It has serious solidity to it, genuine heft. A lovely cover and gorgeous paper.

These might seem like small things if you’re not one of us, but like I said, if you’re a geek for books, you notice this stuff. I wish half my editions were as nice as this…

“Hausladen weaves a story that is as believable as it is complicated, and as compelling as it is entertaining.” – Windy City Reviews

“Cooper puts a science fiction spin on the life of Eva Peron in this fast-paced, teen-friendly series starter. –Publishers Weekly

  • Auction: A set of The Creative Fire and an ARC of The Silver Ship and the Sea. Signed by Brenda Cooper.

“This is an adventure story, because life on this planet can be treacherous, but it is also a story about the relationships between insiders and outsiders, between adults and the teens who are about to surpass them, and between people who need each other in order to survive.” – Sarah Flowers.

The signed ARC makes this pretty collectable. So we’re putting this set into an auction over here.

“The plot twists, the casual wit and the enjoyable characters will satisfy fans. The shocking occurrence 100 pages from the end is a good indication of Willis’s power as a writer. “- Publishers Weekly

  • A set of Passage and Doomsday Book.  Signed by Connie Willis.

“An intelligent and satisfying blend of classic science fiction and historical reconstruction.” – Publishers Weekly

  • Auction: An Australian edition of Doomsday Book.  Signed by Connie Willis.

Pat’s Note: This is a bit of a oddity. One of Willis’ most acclaimed novels… the Australian edition. When I read the back cover, the voice I heard in my head belonged to Crocodile Dundee.

Since we’ve already got one Doomsday book in the lottery, let’s auction this one off.

  • Auction: A copy of Miracle and Other Christmas Stories.  Signed by Connie Willis.

“This is a collection that will entertain readers both in and out of season; and as a stocking-stuffer for SF fans, it’s a merry delight.” – Publishers Weekly

Need a Christmas gift for the Connie Willis fan in your life? Look no further. You can bid on the auction over here.

  • A set of Best Short Novels 2006 and War of the Worlds: Global Dispatches.  Signed by Connie Willis.

“Martians! Percival Lowell may have been responsible for bringing them to Earth; Teddy Roosevelt evidently bagged one in Cuba; H.P. Lovecraft may have been one; and both Albert Einstein and Emily Dickinson seem to have played a role in defeating them. In this collection of stories that complement H.G. Wells’s classic novel, these and other speculations are entertained by such well-known SF writers as Mike Resnick, Walter Jon Williams, Robert Silverberg, Connie Willis, Barbara Hambly, Gregory Benford and David Brin.” – Publishers Weekly

  • Auctions: 2 copies of Even the Queen & Other Short Stories on cassette tapes. Signed by Connie Willis.

Upside: These several of Connie’s Hugo and Nebula Award winning stories read by the author herself.

Potential downside: They’re cassette tapes. So we’re auctioning them off to make sure they can get into the hand of people who can actually listen to them.

Side note:  New copies of these are selling for 90 bucks and up on Amazon. So they’re fairly collectable too.

To bid on these go here for the first auction and here for the second.

  • A set of first editions of Fire Watch, Inside Job, D.A., and Remake.  All signed by Connie Willis. 

(Click to Embiggen)

Pat’s Note: All of these editions are signed, and they’re all out of print. What’s more, Fire Watch and Inside Job are both numbered, limited edition copies.

We could easily put these up in the auction and make a couple hundred bucks off them maybe much more. But instead I think I’d rather leave them in the lottery instead, so anyone can get lucky and win them, even if they only kick in ten bucks….

“Willis turns cherished SF themes completely inside out.” – Publishers Weekly

*     *     *

Remember, for every 10 dollars you donate on our Team Page, you get a chance to win these books and many, many more.

If you want to see the other items that have been donated to Worldbuilders, or learn more about the fundraiser itself, you can head over to the main page.

If you’d like to see all the auctions Worldbuilders is currently running, you can find them over here.

Posted in Worldbuilders 2012 | By Pat9 Responses
Published: November 30, 2012

Professional Critiques for Aspiring Authors

This is a Worldbuilders Blog.

At its heart, Worldbuilders is a charity for people that love books.

Given that so many of Worldbuilder’s supporters are readers, it’s not terribly surprising that a lot of them are aspiring writers as well.

Every year we run a few auctions where authors and editors offer to give folks critical feedback on their unpublished manuscripts. Generally speaking, every year, they’re some of our most successful auctions.

Since people seem to like them so much, this year we’re delighted to offer more critiques than ever before. We have an even dozen read-and-critiques being offered by skilled industry professionals: authors, agents, and editors.

First, I really want to thank everyone who is donating their time and talent to these auctions. You are all shining examples of humanity.

Second, I’d advise you to read the details of each auction carefully. Each of the critiques below is different, some are for the first 15,000 words of a manuscript, others are for anything up to 100,000 words. The different professionals have different skill sets and are offering different things.

Third, some of the folks below have laid out some guidelines in terms of when and how quickly they can offer their critiques. I’m going to add a general caveat on top of that, asking that you respect the fact that all the professionals below are busy people. That means if you win a critique with them, you’re going to have to work with them to schedule a time that works for both of you.

So, please be understanding. Besides, you rush a miracle man, you get lousy miracles.

If you win my critique, for example, it can’t happen until mid-February at the very earliest. I’m busy with revisions, and I simply won’t have time before that.

Fourth, when the auctions below mention that they’ll read “X pages” of a manuscript, assume they’re talking standard manuscript format. That means, generally speaking, double-spaced, 12 point courier font, one inch margins.

Finally, if you’re an aspiring author, but you don’t have the cash to win one of these auctions, don’t despair. I’m going to be throwing a *second* read-and-critique of my own into the lottery. That means if you donate at least $10 to Heifer International over on the Worldbuilders Team Page, you have a chance to win my critique, as well as over a thousand cool books and other goodies…. (more details below)

Also, need I mention that a professional critique would be an excellent gift for that hard-to-shop-for aspiring author in your life? It would. It seriously would.

Okay, on to the show:

  • A critique of the first 20,000 words of your manuscript by literary Agent Matt Bialer.

Matt Bialer (literary agent) will read and evaluate the opening chapters of one manuscript (up to 20,000 words) within three months of submission, not including the last few weeks of December. He will read and critique, and help the author think about the issues that could be raised by editors at publishing houses.

He will write a general evaluation of the book, both strengths and weaknesses, but line editing is NOT included. If the book is fantastic or has the potential to be fantastic then offering representation is not out of the question — but representation is not a guarantee.

Pat’s Note: Matt is my agent, and I really can’t say enough good things about him. He worked with my The Name of the Wind before we sold it to a publisher, and his advice was invaluable. He knows the genre inside and out, and he gives great editorial feedback.

To bid on Matt’s read and critique, head over to the auction.

  • A critique of a sci-fi/fantasy short story up to 30,000 words by award-winning author Brenda Cooper.

Award-winning Pacific Northwest writer Brenda Cooper will read and critique a science fiction or fantasy short story up to 30,000 words.   Her novel-length work is primarily science fiction written for nine to ninety year old readers, and her short stories range across genres and age-groups.

Brenda Cooper writes science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories. Her most recent novel is THE CREATIVE FIRE, which came out in November, 2012 from Pyr. Brenda is also a technology professional and a futurist.

In addition to the critique, Brenda will provide a copy of her latest novel, The Creative Fire.

To bid on Brenda’s read and critique, head to the auction over here.

  • A critique of the first 100 pages or 3 chapters of your novel by author Scott Lynch.
Scott will review one piece of writing, preferably a section of a novel-length work, up to 100 pages or three chapters. This work should be double-spaced in a common electronic format such as Word or TXT/RTF. Scott will provide a detailed overall response to the piece and cover specific topics such as plot, character, dialogue, theme, and other aspects of narrative craft. Line and copy editing will be strictly at his option. This critique cannot begin before January, 2013 and will probably require six weeks from receipt of manuscript.

 

To bid on Scott’s read and critique, head to the auction over here.

 

  • A critique of the first 100 pages of your novel by author Joshua Palmatier (aka Benjamin Tate).

Joshua Palmatier (DAW Books author of the “Throne of Amenkor” trilogy and the “Well of Sorrows” trilogy written as Benjamin Tate) will read and evaluate the first 100 pages of your novel within 3 months of submission.  The manuscript must be in standard manuscript format (typed, double-spaced, 12 pt font, etc).  He will write a general evaluation of the novel’s opening and mark up the manuscript using comments and track changes in the document itself, although this will NOT be a formal line or copy edit, simply commentary at specific points of the manuscript.

Joshua Palmatier has five dark, epic fantasy novels published by DAW, four short stories in various anthologies, and has co-edited two anthologies with Patricia Bray.  His experience is mostly with all forms of fantasy, science fiction, and horror.  His intent will be to offer editorial advice on how to improve your novel and to use his experience as both author and editor to make it the best it can be.

In addition to the manuscript review, Joshua will provide the winner with two signed, personalized editions of his books:  WELL OF SORROWS and AFTER HOURS:  TALES FROM THE UR-BAR.

To bid on Joshua’s critique, head to the auction over here.

(This is Patricia, not Joshua, obviously.)

Joshua Palmatier and Patricia Bray (co-editors of the DAW Books anthologies AFTER HOURS:  TALES FROM THE UR-BAR and THE MODERN FAE’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING HUMANITY) will each read and evaluate your short story (up to 7500 words in standard manuscript format) within six weeks of submission.  Each author will write a general evaluation of the story and mark up the manuscript using comments and track changes in the document itself, although this will NOT be a formal line or copy edit, simply commentary at specific points in the short story.  Patricia Bray is the author of six fantasy novels from Bantam Spectra and has published numerous novellas and short stories in various anthologies.

Joshua Palmatier has five dark, epic fantasy novels published by DAW and four short stories in various anthologies.  Their experience is mostly with all forms of fantasy, science fiction, and horror.  Their intent will be to offer editorial advice on how to improve your story and to use their experience as both authors and editors to make it the best it can be.

In addition to the manuscript review, they will provide the winner with two signed, personalized editions of the books:  THE FIRST BETRAYAL by Patricia Bray, WELL OF SORROWS by Benjamin Tate (pseudonym of Joshua Palmatier), and AFTER HOURS:  TALES FROM THE UR-BAR.

To bid on Joshua and Patricia’s read and critique, head to the auction over here.

Bradley P. Beaulieu is pleased to offer one story or chapter critique of up to 7,500 words. Brad will draft a formal review that will cover such things as how well the story opens, complicates, and closes, how well the characterization works, dialogue, tone, pacing, tension, and a host of other issues. Essentially, he’ll provide a formal review on the positives and negatives found in the story.

Bradley P. Beaulieu is the author of The Winds of Khalakovo and The Straits of Galahesh, the first two books in The Lays of Anuskaya trilogy. The concluding book in the trilogy, The Flames of Shadam Khoreh, will be released April of 2013. In addition to being an L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Award winner, Brad’s stories have appeared in various other publications, including Realms of Fantasy Magazine, Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, Writers of the Future 20, and several anthologies from DAW Books. His story, “In the Eyes of the Empress’s Cat,” was voted a Notable Story of 2006 in the Million Writers Award.Mailing details and contact with Bradley will be set up following the auction.

To bid on Brad’s read and critique, head to the auction over here.

Laura Anne Gilman, the former executive editor for Penguin/NAL/Roc Books, and author of over twenty novels, will read and evaluate your submission packet (cover letter, synopsis, and first three chapters up to 15,000 words).  She will read and critique, with an eye toward catching – and keeping- an editor or agent’s attention, and help you create hooks that will encourage the reader to ask for “more, please!”  She cannot promise to provide any introductions to agents or editors…but she won’t rule it out, either, if you knock her socks off.

Laura Anne Gilman spent fifteen years on the editorial side of the desk, including 6 years running the Roc SF imprint, before becoming a full-time writer in 2003.  She also runs d.y.m.k. productions, an editorial services company.

Pat’s Note: This is something really cool folks. I would have given a kidney for something like this during the two years I spent trying (and failin) to get an agent to look at The Name Of the Wind.

To bid on Laura’s read and critique, head to the auction over here.

D. B. Jackson, who also writes as David B. Coe, is the award-winning author of more than a dozen novels and the occasional short story.  His most recent novel, THIEFTAKER, written under the D.B. Jackson pen name, is the first volume of the Thieftaker Chronicles, a series set in pre-Revolutionary Boston that combines elements of urban fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction.  The second volume, THIEVES’ QUARRY, is currently in production and will be published in 2013.

Writing as David B. Coe, he has published the LonTobyn Chronicle, a trilogy that received the Crawford Fantasy Award as the best work by a new author in fantasy, as well as the critically acclaimed Winds of the Forelands quintet and Blood of the Southlands trilogy. He has also written the novelization of director Ridley Scott’s movie, Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe.  David’s books have been translated into a dozen languages.D.B./David co-founded and regularly contributes to the Magical Words group blog (http://magicalwords.net), a site devoted to discussions of the craft and business of writing fantasy, and is co-author of How To Write Magical Words:  A Writer’s Companion.

To bid on Brad’s critique of up to 25,000 words of your manuscript, head to the auction over here.

  • A critique of the first 100 pages of your manuscript by editor David Pomerico.

David Pomerico is an Acquisition Editor at 47North, where he works in all the wonderful sub-genres that make up science fiction, fantasy, and horror.  Still, his passions definitely lie in the realms of traditional fantasy, space opera, military sci-fi, and dystopian novels. Before joining 47North, he was an Associate Editor at Del Rey Spectra.  Some of the great authors he’s been lucky enough to work with include Ari Marmell, Peter F. Hamilton, Sarah Zettel, Chris Wooding, Felix Gilman, Jeff Grubb (and many more that he’d love to list), and future projects by Dana Cameron, Jason Sheehan, Mark Barnes, Jeff Wheeler, SD Perry, and Aaron Pogue (again, among many, many others!).

He’s offering a detailed critique and commentary (but not a line edit) for the first 100 pages or so of your manuscript (double-spaced, please—and no margin shenanigans!), which he will get back to you within three months of receiving the manuscript. While he could possibly be blown away and want to make an offer on your book, this isn’t guaranteed (otherwise this might be a really pricey auction!).

To bid on David’s read and critique, head over to the auction over here.

  • A critique of a novel up to 100,000 words by author and editor John Helfers.

John Helfers is an author and editor currently living in Green Bay, Wisconsin. During his sixteen years working at Tekno Books (the largest commercial book packager in the nation), he co-edited more than twenty short story anthologies, as well as overseeing many others for publishers in all genres. He has worked with many well-known authors and co-editors, including Lawrence Block, Larry Bond, Elizabeth George, Dale Brown, Stephen Coonts, Nelson DeMille, Charlaine Harris, John Jakes, Anne Perry, Jeffery Deaver, Michael Connelly, Walter J. Boyne, Harold W. Coyle, Mercedes Lackey, Margaret Weis, Kevin J. Anderson, Ice-T, Richard Belzer, and Max Allan Collins.

He has also edited more than forty novels by such authors as Doug Allyn, Brendan DuBois, James Patrick Hunt, and Jean Rabe.  He has also published more than forty short stories in anthologies such as If I Were An Evil Overlord, Time Twisters, and Places to Be, People to Kill. His fiction has appeared in anthologies, game books, and novels for the Dragonlance®, Transformers®, BattleTech® and Shadowrun® universes. He has written both fiction and nonfiction, including the third novel in the first authorized trilogy based on The Twilight Zone™ television series, the YA novel Tom Clancy’s Net Force Explorers: Cloak and Dagger, and a history of the United States Navy.

Again, this is for a complete edit of a novel (up to 100,000 words, including line-edit and editorial comments.) This will be done within six months of receipt of the manuscript after the auction is completed.  The manuscript must be supplied in electronic format (MS Word preferred).

 

Pat’s Note: You see that thing up there that I made red? That’s big. Nobody else here is offering you line edits.

 

To bid on David’s read and critique, head over to the auction over here.

 

  • A critique of the first 75 pages of your novel by author Jamie Lee Moyer.

Jaime Lee Moyer is offering a read and critique of the first 75 pages of your finished novel. While she won’t line edit for grammar, she will comment on plot, pacing, character arc, voice, how well the “hook” or opening works, how well the story sustains her interest, and give overall, general impressions of the story. Critique will be done in MSWord via track changes, but please use a readable font and double-space your work. The critique will be returned to you within three months, edit letters and deadlines allowing.

Jaime Lee Moyer is a speculative fiction writer, poet and recovering editor. Jaime is the author of Delia’s Shadow, the first in a three book series coming from TOR beginning in September 2013. Delia’s Shadow won the 2009 Columbus Literary Award for Fiction, administered by Thurber House and funded by the Columbus Art Council. She doesn’t take herself nearly as seriously as that credit implies. Jaime’s short fiction has appeared in Daily Science Fiction, Lone Star Stories, and two of the well-respected Triangulations anthologies. She was the editor of the 2010 Rhysling Anthology for the Science Fiction Poetry Association, a poetry and short fiction editor for a semi-pro zine for five years. For a short period of time she read slush for a literary agent, and has critiqued more novels and short stories than she wants to count.

To bid on Jamie’s read and critique, head to the auction over here.

Patrick Rothfuss (international bestselling author, lover of women, and hirsute iconoclast) will read your manuscript and give you critical feedback. (Up to, say, 250,000 words.) We’ll schedule this based on when your manuscript will be ready and my own schedular constraints.

I’ll read through your manuscript, scrawling notes and dirty words in the margins, then I’ll call you on the phone and we can discuss it. I won’t write you up a detailed critique because that’s not how I roll. But we’ll probably chat on the phone for a couple of hours discussing the various strengths and weaknesses of the book, your writing craft, and I’ll offer any suggestions I might have.

If I think your book is super-awesome, I might be willing to pass it along to someone. But be very aware that what you’re buying here is a critique, not a blurb or an introduction to the publishing world. A critique.

Mailing details and contact with Patrick will be set up following the auction.

To bid on Pat’s critique, head to the auction over here.

  • Lottery Item: A critique of your entire manuscript by Pat Rothfuss.

(That’s right, ladies. All of this, and brains too…)

Here’s the deal. I’m well aware of the fact that a lot of authors are starving-artist types. I spent more than a decade below the poverty line working on my books before I was published.

I know those people can’t afford to blow a bunch of money on an auction for a critique, and I feel bad about that.

So this year, I’m throwing a critique into the lottery.

Here’s how it’s going to work. For every $10 you donate to Heifer International over on the Worldbuilders Team Page, you have a chance to win my critique, as well as over a thousand cool books and other goodies we have listed on our main page.

Unlike the books though, who go to pretty much anyone that wins. This prize will be selective. I’m going to call whoever wins it, and if they’re not an aspiring author who wants help with a manuscript, we’ll draw another name. We’ll do this again and again until it ends up in the hands of someone that can use it.

So if the auctions are out of your reach, pitch in on our team page. The more you donate, the more you’re likely to win.

*     *     *

If you’d like to see all the auctions Worldbuilders is currently running, you can find them over here.

If you want to see the other items that have been donated to Worldbuilders, or learn more about the fundraiser itself, you can head over to the main page here.

 

Also posted in Revision, the business of writing, the craft of writing | By Pat29 Responses
Published: November 27, 2012

Signed Books from Cool Authors

This is a Worldbuilders Blog.

Every year, we get a bunch of books donated by the authors themselves. And this year is no exception…

All of the books below are signed by the authors. What’s more, some of them are limited edition, rare, or cool in their own beautiful snowflake way.

As always, most of them are going in the lottery, so you can win them if you donate at least ten bucks over on the Worldbuilders Team Page.

But we’re throwing a few of them up into into our auctions too, in case you’re into that sort of thing.

This is a pretty, pretty book. One of the limited editions Subterranean Press put out that’s now out of print. I was going to throw it up in an auction… but then I decided to leave it in the lottery, where anyone can win it. Because I love you.

“Vivid, brutal, and thematically rich, this captivating title is sure to win teen fans for the award-winning Bacigalupi.” – Lynn Rutan

This book is a little extra cool because it’s an ARC (Advance Reader’s Copy). These books tend to be pretty collectable especially when they’re signed by the authors. (As you can see from the auction we’re currently running with some of Abercrombie’s books.)

“Beautifully written, filled with high-octane action, and featuring badly damaged but fascinating and endearing characters, this fine novel tops its predecessor and can only increase the author’s already strong reputation.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Honestly, after reading these blurbs, I’m going to have to check these books out for myself. Obviously I’ve been missing something good….

“Lost Everything doesn’t offer sermons or solutions, just a poignant, poetic, devastating way of pondering the questions. Grade: A” – Jason Heller, Onion A.V. Club

“[Liberation is] a heady stew, a road novel shot through with mysticism and a love of freedom that soars over the pages.” – Cory Doctorow

  • A paperback set of Agents And Adepts, Talking to Trees, and The Crystal Throne. Signed by Kathryn Sullivan.

“Great characters, a fascinating world, a scary villain, griffins and talking trees, what more can a reader ask for…?” – Carrie Masek,

  • A set of Rats and the Ruling Sea, The River of Shadows, and The Red Wolf Conspiracy. Last two signed by Robert Redick.

I got to meet Robert this year at World Fantasy in Toronto. We had a great panel together where we talked about the wanderer as archetype, and he impressed me enough that I’ll admit to having a bit of an author-crush on him right now. It happens.

“Insane god-kings, miniature warriors and sentient animals fight over a powerful ancient artifact in Redick’s dramatic, complex debut. Both adult and young adult readers will find much to enjoy in this tale of sea-faring and bloody diplomacy.” – Publishers Weekly

“Readers with the fortitude to take the plunge stand to be rewarded with what may go down as one of the most ambitious, redefining forays into epic fantasy of all time.” – Eldon Thompson, author of The Divine Talisman

  • White Dragon, The Destroyer Goddess, and In Legend Born. Signed by Laura Resnick.

“[About In Legend Born] For action-packed storytelling filled with prophecies, plot reversals, and conflict-haunted heroes, this is as good as it gets.” – Philadelphia Inquirer

  • Vamparazzi, Unsympathetic Magic, Doppelganangster, and Disappearing Nightly.  Signed by Laura Resnick.

“Fans of Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series will appreciate this series’ lively heroine and the appealing combination of humor, mystery, and romance.”- Library Journal (starred review)

  • A hardcover set of Metal Fatigue and The Resurrected Man. Signed by Sean Williams.

“Once you step into William’s meticulously, but effortlessly, created world, you will not be allowed to leave until the danger is past. Don’t worry, though, you won’t want to, no matter how complicated things get.” – Lisa DuMond

  • Fatal Alliance and The Force Unleashed II. Signed by Sean Williams.

“[About Fatal Alliance] With so much riding on its shoulders, the book demands an unusual gift for cracking good space opera, and that Williams possesses in full measure.” – Roland Green, Booklist

  • Auction: A set of Fatal Alliance and The Force Unleashed II. Signed by Sean Williams.

Sean was nice enough to send us two copies of these, so one’s going into the lottery, and putting the other up in an auction.

So if you have a rabid Star Wars fan in your life, you might want to head over there and make a bid. Christmas is right around the corner…

  • A paperback set of Iron Druid Chronicles: Hounded, Hexed, Hammered, Tricked, and Trapped. Signed by Kevin Hearne.

“Kevin Hearne breathes new life into old myths, creating a world both eerily familiar and startlingly original.”—Nicole Peeler, author of Tempest Rising“A witty new fantasy series.”—Kelly Meding

  • Auction: A paperback set of Iron Druid Chronicles: Hounded, Hexed, Hammered, Tricked, and Trapped. Signed by Kevin Hearne.

For those of you that have a thing for sexy redheaded protagonists, we’re throwing a second set of Kevin’s books up for auction over here.

  • A paperback set of The Tainted City and The Whitefire Crossing. Signed by Courtney Schafer.

“In every way more robust and assured, [The Tainted City] doubles down on grand stakes while keeping the pressure on personal ones….Schafer’s definitely a writer to watch, and I for one look forward to doing so.” – Liz Bourke

  • Auction: A paperback set of The Tainted City and The Whitefire Crossing. Signed by Courtney Schafer.

Look how sweet… she even said thanks for supporting us!  Now you know you have to have it, so to place your bid, head over here.

  • A first edition copy of Ready Player One. Signed by Ernest Cline.

I’ve talked several times about on the blog about how much I enjoyed this book, so I won’t go on and on…

Suffice to say that I’m terribly fond of both Ernest Cline and his book, and not just because he’s the reason I first got invited to Wootstock…

“Enchanting…Willy Wonka meets the Matrix. This novel undoubtedly qualifies Cline as the hottest geek on the planet right now. [But] you don’t have to be a geek to get it.”—USA Today

  • Auction: A first edition hardcover of Ready Player One. Signed by Ernest Cline.

Did I already mention that Ernest Cline gave away a freaking Delorean with clues hidden in his books? Yeah. He did.

Given that, I suppose it’s not a huge surprise that he was willing to donate these lovely first edition hardcover copies of Ready Player One. They can easily go for more than 200 dollars to collectors right now. Imagine what it’ll be worth when the movie finally comes out…

So go on, head on over to the auction and make a bid. You’re not just supporting a worthwhile cause and getting a cool book, you’re making a sound financial investment.

*     *     *

Remember, for every 10 dollars you donate on our Team Page, you get a chance to win these books and many, many more.

If you’d like to see all the auctions Worldbuilders is currently running, you can find them over here.

Or, if you want to see the other items that have been donated to Worldbuilders, or learn more about the fundraiser itself, you can head over to the main page here.

Posted in Worldbuilders 2012 | By Pat3 Responses

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