On October 20th, I posted news titled Auction: Terry Brooks Character Name.
In short, Terry allowed fans to bid on an auction where the winning bidder could have their name in a future book. The auction helped raise $1700 for children, schools, and other non-profit entities around the world. Terry gives as much as possible for numerous charities throughout the year, and that one created a fun new opportunity for him.
The character from the winning bidder became the G’Home Gnome Shoopdiesel in the recently published A Princess of Landover.
That one turned out so well that Terry decided to do it again—this time for a Shannara character name!
The auction went live in October and ended at noon on November 11th. To help get news of the auction to Terry’s fans, I posted the information on Suvudu and the News section of his official website, mentioned it on his official forum, and sent out an email blast to his Brooksbooks newsletter which goes out to tens of thousand of people.
By the end of the auction there were 72 bids, fans hoping to get the chance to be immortal as a character in a Terry Brooks novel.
What dollar amount did the auction finally go for?
On the day the auction ended, Terry and his wife Judine took me out to lunch for my birthday at Palisades here in Seattle. While I waited for them to arrive, my iPhone dinged notification that I had received a new email from the auction’s publicity director. I opened it. I double-checked what I read. Got the largest grin on my face. And waited to tell Terry.
Terry and Judine walked in two minutes later.
“You and I did something wonderful today,” I said, standing to give them hugs.
“Oh? Beyond the normal greatness we bring the world?” Terry said snarkily.
“Remember that name auction you agreed to?”
“I do.”
“It ended today. It produced over $7300!”
Terry did a double take as we walked to our table—and matched my grin.
It is so great to be a part of auctions and being able to affect them. For the remaining time during the birthday lunch, I could tell Terry felt the same way. By offering the character name up for auction, he helped out a great cause. It was easy for him to do and he did it. It speaks to the kind of writer he is, but also the kind of man he is.
Now the winner who bid $7325 gets to have his/her name put into a forthcoming Shannara book!
And yet it is one of those situations where everyone wins.
In life, those are few and far between!
