Today marks the 1-year anniversary of the relief efforts for Japan’s earthquake and tsunami disasters. In reaction, Beyond Victoriana created the Rising Phoenix Fund, and we raised over $3000 for Shelterbox, an international organization specializing in first-responder disaster relief.
Now, Shelterbox reflects upon their aid in the area one year later.
You can also read more on their website, and I encourage folks to continue to support their relief efforts around the globe.
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So much news to share!
First of all, I’m please to announce the winners of the grand prize packs for Rising Phoenix:
Again, thank you everyone who has contributed, and major congrats to the raffle winners.
More significantly, though, is that two years ago to this day, Beyond Victoriana was born over on Dreamwidth. The website has changed a lot since then, and, feeling reflective, I’d like to go over the progress, changes, and challenges the blogs has gone though in the past year after the jump.
In addition, to celebrate our 2nd anniversary, I’ll be giving away a few prizes in the coming weeks. The first is a pair of SteamPug posters, courtesy of Dr. Grymm Laboratories and two metals from Thee-Gartisan Works. A poster and a medal each will be given away to two lucky readers. The rules to enter will be listed at the end of this post too.
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From Tea & Revelry, our charity event held at the ModVic House on October 8th. We raised a total of $400 that night. Click for more pictures on Flickr.
As you may have known, since March 2011, Beyond Victoriana and Button Me Up on Etsy have been fundraising money for Shelterbox as part of the Rising Phoenix Fund for Japanese aid relief. Our fundraising period closed on October 16th, 2011, and I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve gone over our expected goal to raise a total of
Thanks to the hundreds of readers, congoers, fans, and regular folks alike for contributing to our cause.
In addition, the three winners of our grand prize pack have been contacted and will be announced shortly.
It has been a long ride and an absolute pleasure to work with many, many kind folks over the course of the fundraising process, and I would partcularly like to give special thanks to the following for their help as prize contributors & event staff (in no particular order):
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You know what this is?
Yup, one of three prize packs that I’ll be raffling off in October for the Rising Phoenix Fund.
What does this include?
SIGNED copies of Girl Genius Vol #1 – 10 by Phil & Kaja Foglio, The Steampunk Bible by Jeff Vandermeer with S.J. Chamber, Boneshaker by Cherie Priest, Parasol Protectorate #1 – 3 (Soulless, Changeless, Blameless) by Gail Carriger, Boilerplate by Paul Guinan & Anina Bennett.
The CD Behold the Machine by Vernian Process
A post print by artist James Ng
EDIT: Jake von Slatt also contributed these beautiful tin boxes to the grand prize pack:
How can you win all of this? All donors had the option of entering their name in this raffle since March 2011, and we’re still entering folks in the drawing! Donate by purchasing buttons from Button Me Up or donate directly on our fundraiser page using the links after the jump.
We’ll be closing the fundraiser on OCTOBER 16th. After that, Button Me Up will stop selling Rising Phoenix buttons on their website, and we’ll holding the final drawing for this fundraiser. Once notified, winners will have 24 hours to confirm, or new winners will be selected.
And now here’s the info for securing your donation!
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Our current guests have already been personally notified, but just in case…
Due to the vile machinations of Hurricane Irene, we will be postponing this event Sunday and moving it to the fall:
Saturday, October 8th, 2011
5 – 8 PM
Purchase them here on Brown Paper Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/190298
You can check out the latest updates for this event on our Facebook page
EDIT TO ADD: Due to popular demand, more tickets havebeen added to this event! Reserve your spot today.
Still undecided? Why not check out this video clip from a recent episode of Young Broke & Beautiful:
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Another great opportunity for donors to the Rising Phoenix Fund, courtesy of the Great New England Steampunk Exhibition!
Abney Park is making their New England premiere at this event and our donors now have a chance at winning FULL WEEKEND PASSES to this convention.
All you have to do is donate to the Rising Phoenix Fund between now and midnight EST on September 9th.
You can enter in one of two ways: buy any of our three Help Japan buttons (only $2 each) at Button Me Up on Etsy or donate directly to the Rising Phoenix Fund on Shelterbox.
Your information will be automatically entered in our drawing, and the winner will be contacted on September 10th. The winner *must* confirm their acceptance with me within 24-hours, or else another winner will be selected.
In addition for the opportunity to see Abney Park’s New England premiere, other guests include:
– Phil & Kaja Foglio of Girl Genius
– Jake von Slatt, maker extraordinaire
– Musical performances by Frenchy & the Punk and Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys and more!
– A full weekend of panels, demonstrations and crafting workshops
Good luck to all of our donors!
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Throughout July, we’ve raised a total of $313 dollars for the Rising Phoenix Fund. All our of donors were entered in a special raffle for GOLIATH, and I’m pleased to announce our winner:
Check your inbox for our confirmation email, Rose, & enjoy the book!
Thank you everyone who had contributed this month. ^-^
In the meantime, donors will still have a chance to win three lovely prize packs that will be raffled off in September, that will feature signed books from Gail Carriger, Cherie Priest, Paul Guinan & Anina Bennett, Phil & Kaja Foglio, CD from Vernian Process, art from James Ng and a special prize crafted by Jake von Slatt.
Donors also have the option of attending Tea & Revelry at the ModVic House in Massachusetts on August 28th. Remember folks, this is a limited ticket event, and over half the places at our table have already been filled up. Be sure to grab the remaining tickets while you can! This will be a splendid night to remember.
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As the summer draws to a close, I’m working at several steampunk events to help raise money for the Rising Phoenix Fund before our deadline on September 5th.
Coming closest on our docket is the Steam Ball at Authors After Dark in Philadelphia, on August 13th.
Additionally, the organizers behind The Anachronism III: Visit to Edo have graciously offered to support Rising Phoenix by selecting us as one of the charities that will benefit from this event. This is coming up on Sunday, August 21st at Webster Hall in NYC.
Most excitingly, on Sunday, August 28th, Bruce & Melanie Rosenbaum, owners of the famous ModVic House in Sharon, Massachusetts, are graciously opening their doors for an exclusive tea! This is a LIMITED ENGAGEMENT and only 20 tickets will be sold at this event, so don’t miss your chance to visit steampunk’s most well-known homestead.
This event includes:
– Lovely high tea presented by Miss Kitty!
– Professional Portrait shots inside the home courtesy of Conjure Photography
– Great prizes offered to our guests donated by Dr. Grymm Laboratories, Red Fork Empire, Big Bear Trading Company, Thee-Gartisan Works and more!
– A chance to win weekend passes to the Great New England Steampunk Exhibition in September, which includes special guests Abney Park, Phil & Kaja Foglio, the creators of Girl Genius, maker extraordinaire Jake von Slatt, and to TeslaCon in November, the premiere immersive convention featuring special guests Gail Carriger & George Mann.
– Various entertainments galore throughout the evening.
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Steampunks in the US Pacific Northwest, we got a special gift for you!
The lovely folks at Portland GEAR Con in Oregon have generously donated two weekend passes and a pledge to the Rising Phoenix Fund.
We will be giving away these tickets FOR FREE to one lucky winner who replies to this post.
Here are the rules:
Comment on this post between now (July 5th) and noon EST on Tuesday, July 12 for a chance to win. The winner will be contacted by via e-mail and must reply within 24-hours in order to confirm their prize. If not, a new winner will be selected.
Check out this poster for a lists of musicians, guests, and events going on at the con:
Moreover, I’ll be at ConnectiCon this coming weekend, where I’ll be selling buttons & doing panels. Check after the jump for more info.
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This summer, I said that I’ll be unveiling a couple of additional surprises for people who donate to the Rising Phoenix Fund. The first one came into the mail recently…
What is this you say?
A signed review copy of Scott Westerfeld’s GOLIATH!
That’s right. Be the coolest steampunk ever & read the thrilling conclusion to the Leviathan trilogy BEFORE it pubs in September! You’ll be the envy of all of your friends.
And did I mentioned this is signed? You’ll be holding a book that Scott once held. Now that’s pretty sweet.
Anyone who donates from July 1st through July 31st can get a chance to win this book.
All you need is to donate directly to Shelterbox or buy a button from Button Me Up. Your info will automatically be entered to win, and the winner will be announced on August 1st.
Summary of GOLIATH for the curious:
Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek’s throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren’t technically enemies.
The tension thickens as the Leviathan steams toward New York City with a homicidal lunatic on board: secrets suddenly unravel, characters reappear, and nothing is at it seems in this thunderous conclusion to Scott Westerfeld’s brilliant trilogy.
Good luck to all of our donors!
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Contributor in Sarah Hans's Steampunk World, Winner of the 2015 Steampunk Chronicle's Reader's Choice Awards for "Best Fiction"
Winner of SteamCon's 2013 Airship Award for Community Contributor
Visitors from Around the Globe in Real-Time
Beyond Victoriana 