After the Book Festival
Even though this year’s book festival seemed to be less crowded this year than last year, I personally had more fun this time.
The Dragon Page/Slice of SciFi part of the signing didn’t go off quite so well, unfortunately. Between Mike, Mur, Evo and myself, I don’t think we signed a single copy. The copies of “So Say We All” that I had been told would be there weren’t, so I couldn’t have signed anything if someone had wanted it.
The fun part was getting some of books of mine signed. I talked with Melanie Rawn for a little bit while she signed 4 books for me, and I was completely tickled. Her Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies rank up there as some of my all-time favorite books (and those first three are the only other books besides Stover’s “Heroes Die” and Steve Perry’s Matador trilogy that I’ve bought multiple times and given to others to read).
I talked with Emma Bull and Will Shetterly for a long time after she signed “War for the Oaks” for me, and my only regret was that I couldn’t find my copy of “Bone Dance” to bring for her to sign. She talked about a book coming out in July, “Territory”, and I can’t wait to get my hands on that one.
Then I had my ancient copy of “The Gift of Magic” signed by Lois Duncan, and spent nearly an hour sitting with James A. Owen as he was signing and drawing in copies of “Here There Be Dragons”. He told all sort of fascinating stories about the artists and writers he’s worked with over the years, and now I’m just waiting for him to send me an email so we can get him scheduled for a chat at Dragon Page. My day of getting things signed at the festival was complete.
Afterwards, I drove Jim Butcher back to the studio for his interview, and we chatted about all sorts of scifi television geekery. Turns out we’re both fans of Robert Hewitt Wolfe’s work for similar reasons: Andromeda, the first two seasons, and more particularly, Tyr Anasazi, out of Victoria by Barbarosa.
aside: For those, like me, who are interested in writing for television, check out “Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy for Television” by Joe Nazzaro (Titan Books, 2002). It contains interviews with folks like RHW, JMS, DC Fontana, David Greenwalt, Michael Piller, Joss Whedon, Jonathan Glassner, and Rob Tapert. Some of it’s fluff, but overall it gives a pretty good look into the minds of some of the best TV writers out there.
As I was driving Jim back to his hotel, I fessed up on some of the things that had me stuck when it came to finishing longer works, and he suggested I take a look at his Livejournal entries about writing. I don’t think I’d ever seen that part of his website conglomeration before, but I’m glad he pointed it out to me.
Between those suggestions, tidbits from a couple other sites, and Steven Pressfield’s “The War of Art” (both the 1st edition faux-metallic hardcover copy and the MP3 audiobook), I believe I can get back into the long form groove.
And I also suggested that he give “Heroes Die” and “Blade of Tyshalle” a try when he gets a chance.
