Moderator: Seareach
Welcome to the Watch!Rigel wrote:So I just registered here, for one express purpsoe. SRD is coming to Portland next week, and I'm planning on going to meet him.
I've been an SRD fan since high school (10 years ago), and I've even read some of these forums... but I've never posted before. So, that's me
Anyway, what should I expect when I meet him? And what kinds of questions are considered appropriate? And is it OK to take a camera and ask for pictures?
Charles Adams: I reviewed your book tour schedule, and I look forward to meeting you when you make your appearance in Denver.
I must say, that schedule looks brutal! Everyday you'll be on a plane flying off to someplace different. You had mentioned that you "unfortunately" agreed to the book tours.
Is it just the schedule and physical/mental demands of a book tour which you dislike? Do you have concerns meeting fans?
Last question: What is the proper etiquette (or what makes you most comfortable) when fan meets author?
No, "meeting fans" is not--in itself--a source of concern. What I dislike most about book tours--apart from the sensory overload of being in a different city and sleeping in a different bed every day (which is a big deal for those of us with ADD)--is that they're so *draining*. I'm actually pretty good at standing in front of an audience and doing Q&A; but being good at it doesn't help me. Nor does being appreciated for doing it. How to explain this? Someone once told me that the difference between an extrovert and an introvert is that an extrovert feeds off the energy of others (applause, laughter, smiles of appreciation, whatever) while an introvert cannot. Well, I'm an introvert (although I work hard to hide the fact). I've had audiences in the palm of my hand, I've had standing ovations, I've had people fall out of their chairs laughing--and there's no emotional *food* in it for me. It doesn't replenish what it takes out of me. No matter how successful I am in public, I always feel exhausted afterward--not to mention vaguely suicidal. (And of course my US book tours usually are *not* successful: that does make the problem worse.)
As for etiquette: when I ask for questions, I'm serious. Please. If you have a question, ask it. (Remember, there are no stupid questions. There are only stupid peo--, er, I mean, stupid answers. <grin>) But not while I'm signing books. Slapping down autographs is the most dehumanizing part of the process (not to mention the fact that I'm already exhausted), and I want to get it *over* with. In addition, there are usually other people in line who shouldn't have to wait while, say, you ask a question.
As a matter of policy, I'm willing to sign as many books as you want. I'll stay there signing until everyone is satisfied. But if there's a line, I ask people to limit themselves to three at a time (as a courtesy to the rest of the line): then you can go back to the end of the line for the next three, and so on. As for pictures, I endure them (usually with a deer-in-the-headlights gape), but I don't encourage them.
(09/19/2007)
Do NOT give him a wet willie! Just to be clear, you should not stick your wet finger in his ear. Don't stick ANYTHING in his ear - or in his nose or eye or into a live electrical socket. You should ignore everything I've said in the first paragraph in this post. In fact, most of what I say in *any* post is rubbish, so you need to pick through to find those few things that aren't rotted. 
I'm not sure if this is the funniest post ever, but it's certainly in the top few!Romeo wrote:He never said so in the GI, but he LOVES wet willies. So moisten up your finger and wiggle it in his ear - he'll be your friend for life.
).
Sorry to bring up a book he wrote around 35 years ago, but I haven't been able to find a good answer to that question since I first read that scene 14 years ago! It's a tribute to Donaldson, however, that in about 2 minutes he gave me an answer that was eloquent, entertaining, and insightful.
D'oh!My wife, who hasn't yet finished TPTP, was quite shocked by some of the things she heard; notably, that TC dies and Linden Avery is the protagonist for the next books.
What was your question, and what answer did he give?The question invovled a scene from TIW, and SRD literally dropped his face onto the podium and covered his head with his hands. Embarassed Sorry to bring up a book he wrote around 35 years ago, but I haven't been able to find a good answer to that question since I first read that scene 14 years ago! It's a tribute to Donaldson, however, that in about 2 minutes he gave me an answer that was eloquent, entertaining, and insightful.
