An author’s blog post about escorting some baby ducks down a city street has led to donations of more than $1 million to , the charity that provides cows, goats, chickens and, yes, ducks to poor families around the world.
When recounted his , he realized “this was the most fun I’d had in months, just going out and doing something good.”
Inspired and seeking a way to feel grounded after the whirlwind of fame, in November of 2008 he told his blog followers : “If we raise a couple thousand dollars for them, it will make people’s lives better. A couple thousand dollars means little kids get milk to drink. It means families get sheep, which means wool for warm blankets and clothes. It means better wells, so moms with babies can have clean water to drink.”
He thought they might be able to raise $5,000, and he could afford to match that amount, thanks to his literary success.
“The book was out in paperback, and I had, for the first time in my life what I considered ‘grown-up money,’ ” said Rothfuss in a recent interview with The Post.
In that first month-long campaign, the “geek” world of gamers, sci-fi fans, comic-book collectors and fantasy lovers donated $50,000 — and Rothfuss had committed to match it through . “I’d spent my whole life broke, but I’d already paid off my credit cards, so it stung a little bit. But if you’re gonna go crazy, do it in a good way,” he said.
“I didn’t want it to be the ‘Pat Rothfuss charity,’ I wanted it to be the geeks’ charity,” he said. “By the end of that first year it wasn’t just my fans chipping in, it was a bunch of other fantasy authors and I was the ringleader — or the ringmaster — depending on how you want to look at it.”
The biggest names in the geek world pitched in, including (“A Song of Ice and Fire” aka “Game of Thrones”), (whose “Sookie Stackhouse” novels inspired the “True Blood” series), (“The Dresden Files”) and (“American Gods”).
This year, items up for bid include cameo appearances in upcoming books, the right to name a character, and book critiques from agents and writers, including Rothfuss himself. (He’s still working on the third book in his “Kingkiller” trilogy. When asked how the writing is going, he says “slower than I’d like, but it’s going well.” Does he have a publication date yet? “No.”)
In the five years since Worldbuilders set out to make a small change in the world, it has raised $1.1 million for Heifer, which posted this statement on its website:
“Heifer enthusiast and “The Name of the Wind” author Patrick Rothfuss’ Worldbuilders team closed their 2011 campaign goal, not only meeting the original $250,000 goal, but raising $310,715 in donations toward Heifer International’s mission. This is an incredible accomplishment demonstrating the power of people who are committed to make the world a better place.”
Since its founding in 1944 with a shipment of 17 heifers from Mobile, Ala., to Puerto Rico, the charity dedicated to ending hunger and poverty has helped 15.5 million families in 125 countries.
Interested? The Worldbuilders fundraiser runs through Jan. 11 and all proceeds go to Heifer International. There are a variety of ways to help:
Kristen Browning-Blas: 303-954-1440, kbrowning@denverpost.com or twitter.com/krisbb
