I’m a couple days away from leaving for San Diego ComicCon. Since I decided to scale back on my conventions this year because of Oot, this is one of the few big cons I’m hitting this year.
Since San Diego is big to an insane degree, I figured I’d post up my schedule here. Normally when I go to a con I do a dozen panels and signings and such. But at ComicCon I’ve only got a handful of events, so it would be pretty easy to miss me with all the background noise and residual coolness.
Thursday – July 22:
1:30- 2:30 pm
Panel: Once Upon a Time: Epic Fantasy, Bigger Than Life Heroes/Heroines
Location: Room 24ABC
Notes: I’m pretty excited about this panel. It’s got Brandon Sanderson, Brent Weeks, Lynn Flewelling, Christopher Paolini, and Megan Whalen Turner. And me, of course. Should be a good discussion.
2:30 pm-3:00 pm
Autographing session
Location: Table AA1
Note: The AA table number designates a table in the convention’s Autograph Area, upstairs, under the sails.
Saturday, July 24:
1:00 — 1:50 pm
Signing at Mysterious Galaxy (Booth #1119)
Note: The folks at at Mysterious Galaxy will be selling copies of The Name of the Wind and The Adventure of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle. If you buy your copy of the Princess book there, you’ll also get a copy of the sticker I mentioned a couple weeks ago on the blog.
Further note: Apparently this signing will be a ticketed thing. So if you want to make sure you get a place in line, you need to show up at the Mysterious Galaxy booth at some point on Saturday and get a ticket. Sooner is probably better.
Additional Further Note: Mysterious Galaxy will be selling The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle all through the convention. They’ll probably be the only ones that have it. That way, even if you aren’t able to make one of my signings, you can still stop by their booth and grab a copy of my book.
Sunday, July 25:
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Reading and signing with Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, and Brent Weeks.
(I’m guessing 3-4 is the time for the reading itself, with the signing directly afterward. Rest assured I won’t be bugging out right at 4:00. I’ll stick around until everyone’s books are signed.)
Location: Borders 668 6th Ave
Facebook event here.
Note: While this event is happening at at San Diego, it’s not part of the convention itself. That means you can show up for the fun even if you aren’t attending the con. It’s free and open to everyone. There also aren’t any tickets to this one, so if you miss me at the convention on Saturday, you can catch me here on Sunday.
Further Note: To add some extra excitement, Brandon, Brent, and I won’t just be reading our own stuff. Oh no. Far too pedestrian. We’ll be reading each others’ stuff. Honestly, I’m stuck between excitement and terror just thinking about it.
Last but not least, we’ve got something for those of you who won’t be at the convention.
Last year I did a video interview with Shawn Speakman at Suvudu. It was fun, so this year I’ll be doing another.
Gentleman and free-thinker that he is, Shawn is taking suggestions for interview questions. So if you have something you’d really like him to ask me in the interview, you can post it in the comments below. The door’s open, folks. Thrill me.
Later,
pat
64 Comments
Interview question: To what extent do your translators know about events to come in the NOTW series? That is, do they know, you have to translate this THIS way, because ___ will happen later on? Or is there a mysterious set of caveats they get? Or do you just kind of take your chances? How does that work?
Thanks!
That’s an awesome question O_O
I agree, that’s a very awesome question.
For those interested in this question, I just discovered a couple of old blog posts where Pat covers some of this: January 31 and February 11, 2008. (Also a hilarious though maybe less relevant one from December 11, 2008 about why a translator’s job is so hard.)
I live in Perth. We only have two conventions which are WaiCon (which doesn’t take guests) and SupaNova. At SupaNova if you want an autograph it costs $40 and if you want a photo it costs another $40. Is this normal for conventions or is it just Perth?
Wow, has it been a year already. I’m so ooooolllldddd…..
But anyway, yes much coolness. Would love to attend that reading with you three amigos, but the timing isn’t right. Seems like it never is with these things.
I hear you. Time seems to move extra fast for me when I’m buried in revisions. Little Oot makes the time fly too…
I SO want to go there, just to hear you and all those other cool people. Why do I live at the other end of the world?!
Have you ever read another book and thought that one of the characters would be a cool addition to the Name of the Wind?, and/or do you think that one of your characters would fit well in another story?
You’ve mentioned before that you have lots of ideas for things to write after The Kingkiller Chronicles is finished. Have you considered writing Science Fiction or any other genre, or is Fantasy generally your preferred milieu?
It seems likely to me that the Kingkiller chronicles might make a very good movie/trilogy/TV series. What direction would you take with it? How much leeway would you allow? Would you have any special requests? (e.g. Terry Pratchett appearing in his films)
Ahah you’ll read Brent Weeks stuff…. He went in Paris this year and I managed to buy the first of his Night Angel trilogy book… I approached, quite anxious and just before asking for something to write down, I lost my courage… I wanted him to write “Patrick Rothfuss is my boss”… Instead I just told him I bought his book because you said It is very good ;)
INTERVIEW QUESTION: How did you come up with the names for your book?
The name Denna has appeared in Goodkind’s SoT series. I thought that was interesting…
INTERVIEW QUESTION: Do you think the use of anti-hero and underdog personas found in many fairy tales as well as sci-fi/fantasy literature is…
A) a calculated tool to gain the readers empathy?
B)the human need for hope and redemption?
C) a reqirement to avoid emotional disinterest and ultimatley disatisfaction from not using these traits on at least one main character?
OR somthing compleatly diffrent?
I know this is a little bit rude to ask. but no harm in asking I guess.
Since your going to be on a panel with Christopher Paolini, any chance you can ask him how he is going with book four ?. I don’t mind the long wait between books but its nice to be informed of progress now and then and he never seems to update his website ='(.
Yeah! With you on that one. I mean, I was in the same boat for the Wise Man’s Fear at first, but at least the blog makes the wait a million times easier. (Though don’t take that as an invitation to take longer…) Paolini did take forever on the third and fourth books, but unless I’m mistaken the second one was done in like a year or two after the first. What happened there?
Labyrinth or Dark Crystal? I go curious…
Are any of your characters loosely based on people you know?
And my wife is super excited that Lynn Flewelling and you are gonig to be in the same room together. Have fun! Wish we could come to tell you guys how awesome you are.
Questions
Have you learned anything from the development of Book 2 that you feel will help you in streamlining the Book 3 writing processes?
How would Kvothe or Bast describe Book 1 in a few sentences?
What kind of music (Genre/Bands) do you listen to when you write? Do you have different music for different moods?
I wish I could be there. Three of my favorite authors on a panel and then at a signing together. I’d buy all new copies of all your books just to have you guys sign them. Have fun.
Question,
I read on an earlier blog post that you dig Dr Pepper. Have you tried it “hot”? My wife had me try this while we were dating and it was surpisingly good. I can’t stand coffee but I dig the Hot Dr Pepper.
As a member of the armed services, and someone who read NOTW overseas, I wonder are you surprised by the size of the following you have with the military? On a personal note I would like to say I read your book while I was in the midst of dealing with an incredibly painful and stressful situation while in Iraq and NOTW was litteraly the perfect escape. Since then I have been a devoted fan of yours and I check your blog regularly. In short, you will always have a very grateful friend in the military should you ever need a little shock and awe for your own use. Thanks again Pat
I saw on my tv yesterday that the ComicCon will be televised on this “G4” channel. I was wondering if you’d be gracing our screens with your presence in some way, be it in an interview or in a creepy/seductive stare into the camera from a distance. I think either would be awesome.
GenCon this year? Maybe…You’ve been a highlight of every one of my GenCons.
I was wondering whether you were in contact, even occasionally, with the various translators of your work. Do they call or e-mail you sometimes to ask you what you think of this or that, or what you plan to do with this or that part of the story, so they can translate as best as possible?
Interview Question:
Which came first: Did you think of the character of Kvothe first and then construct the world in which he lives? Or did you start building his world and then come up with Kvothe?
If I remember correctly, I think this was answered in a previous interview. But I think it was Kvothe, then the story surrounding him, which kinda suprised me.
*hating San Diego in a petty, jealous manner*
Wishing I could be in the queue for the signed Princess book and sticker dealie since I missed the previous book dealie. *sulk*
Have a nice time, Pat!
I wondered what kind of printer you use for your manuscripts. I tried to print out a couple copies of my own manuscript(500pg) and ran out of ink. I’m using a standard laser printer and can only do roughly 5000 pages per ink cartridge.
You’re going to be there everyday besides the day I am going. Sad day.
Interview Question: Why include the bit in Tarbean? Even in the case of extreme trauma, it seemed a little strange that parts of Kvothe’s brain just shut down for three years instead of simply avoiding thoughts about his family, or even having a shorter mental breakdown. Did you include it anyway just to have a “kid is badass because he survived the streets” theme in your book? That period of his life wasn’t really touched upon later except to justify his disdain for the ‘pampered rich kids,’ something which could have been explained by his being of the Ruh, whose existance didn’t seem easy either.
I think the period in Tarbean makes perfect sense. When some people lose loved ones significant others, it can take years for them to get their lives together and that would be an adult. Imagine a CHILD walking in on everyone he knows and loves and finding them all murdered. That is pretty traumatizing. Not to mention, he really doesn’t know how to take care of himself. Maybe in an immediate, physical way, but he is still a child. He isn’t equipped to deal with the trauma and his life as a Ruh was still pretty shelterd. Once he is in Tarbean, he is really kinda stuck. What else could he have done but survive?
Plus, it introduces Scarpi.
Interview Question: In a previous interview, you were asked what you might want on your tombstone. You said that you would have to pass for the time being, but that would would think about it. Have you decided what you might want?
Dear Pat,
Have you considered adding a new section onto your website called Interviews/Readings/Panels? I personally would love being able to view all your Interviews/Readings/Panels that you do if they are recorded.
Sadly, I can’t make it to California for the Con or for your reading. You and Brandon are my top two favorite authors, which makes my absence even more unbearable. Sadly my boss doesn’t understand the importance of such an event and won’t give me the time off… How do people live without reading!?
If there is any way of getting this content recorded and added to your website, without being too much trouble, I would love spending more time on your site viewing it.
Many thanks,
Your devoted minion, Bryan.
Hey Pat,
Long time fan, first time commenter. I was wondering if it was possible for those of us who are unfortunate not to live near San Diego or do not have the means to make it to ComicCon, to have access to a podcast/transcript of the panel that you are going to be on, or do you know where to find it? I’d really like to hear it!
-Nate
When i read about those events, sometimes i feel continentaly handicapped….
I agree, As a UK reader I find being incontinent a real bitch.
Tru my non stated brothers, north Austarlia has one comic book store, and no cons without bars.
Does Pat visit those cons too?
Hey Pat. I hope you manage to see and read and have time to answer my question, amidst all this fan mail of yours…
Anywho, I’m an author. I got halfway through my one story and i started to re-read it.
The beginning was crap. Utter crap.
I realized I wrote that two or so years ago, when i was more of an amateur than I am now. So I have started to re-write it, and I’ve changed the tense from 1st person to 3rd. My question is this…
There is a section in my book where I will be changing points of view between three people. In my first draft, I wrote in 1st person. (I hear it’s basically illegal in the world of writing to have a book in 1st person but change P.O.V) So, in the second draft, I’ve been using 3rd person.
I’ve never written in 3rd person before, and it’s odd to transition into. The voice is so different because it’s not the protagonist narrating, and it’s…anyway, my question.
Should I use 1st person, even though I’ll be changing point of view, or try to figure out 3rd person?
Thanks!
I don’t know what Pat would say to this, but I’ve read a really amazing novel written entirely in first-person that actually DID switch between two narrators (totally unannounced!) every other chapter. But the thing is, the author’s writing voice as both characters was so ridiculously solid that within the first five words or so of the second chapter, I already knew someone else was speaking/it was a different first-person narrator from chapter 1. It’s Joanne Harris’s “Gentlemen and Players,” btw (it’s a mystery novel). Check it out, because the first-person narrator switch has been done and done VERY well here, so it *is* possible. ;-)
Okay thanks, i’ll look at the book and see how he did it. Thanks for the input!
I am so insanely jealous that you get to hang out in the same room as Megan Whalen Turner…you might even get to sit next to her…she’s so amazing, The Thief is one of my favorite books, if not my favorite book, and that’s so awesome that you get to meet her. Please say she’s cool. Please say she wants to do a book tour entirely in the mid-west with you, and if that does happen, please bring all your friends? South Dakota might explode from the excitement…
Got “The Adventure of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle” in yesterday . . . it was good fun!! I enjoyed it very much. Absolutely loved the art work as well. Props to both of you!
I’m a little confused, which is my normal state by the way :) I ordered a copy of The Princess and Mr. Whiffle from Subterranean and it was the trade copy. In the confirmation email I received there was mention of a special edition copy, which I was never given the option to buy. The only option available to me was the trade copy. Needless to say I am a little disappointed and I’m wondering if anyone else experienced this ? Did I get there too late or was there some kind of error like the recurring one they have when you order from them ?
The special edition sold out on either day one or two, so you might have just missed it.
Damn it, I was afraid of that, ok thanks for taking the time to reply.
If you suddenly found that you could cast Nahal’s reckless dweamor in your basement alchemy lab, would you? (Oot and Sara would be off somewhere safely eating pie.)
I’m currently listening to Name of the Wind and noticed something that escaped my attention when reading. During Skarpi’s arrest, he calls out to Kvothe, calling him by name, warning him to leave the inn. How did he know his name?? Did I miss something? Thanks.
**kkincaid
I don’t think you missed something. Not that it’s my question to answer, but I read that as definitely a significant thing – that he DID know Kvothe’s name without being told, and must have special naming talents or something along those lines. I think all will likely become clear in one of the subsequent books, because doesn’t Kvothe ask the Chronicler if Skarpi had sent him? So they must develop more history together.
Man, I would loved to go to this…
*grumble* …stupid responsibility… *grumble*
Are you going to post sample chapters for your upcoming book to help slake the thirst of your avid fans for your much anticipated sequel?
INTERVIEW QUESTION: A writing craft question! Did you ever lose inspiration/want to stop writing the Kingkiller Chronicles during that 7-year period when you wrote the first draft? How did you manage to keep going? Did you already have most of the plot and/or ending planned out ahead of time?
Interview Question: Now that book two is nearing completion, or at least somewhere in the end phases, are there any scenes in book one that you wish you removed? Also, are there any scenes you did remove that you wish you had kept in?
Hit up “‘The Field” hands down best irish pub in san diego and right across the street from the convention center………………. also guinnes on tap
Who is Moteth? I think I need to know!
It seems like there are a number of Sci-Fi/Fantasy authors that end up at the same conferences together. I am wondering if you guys are friends and try to schedule conferences that you can attend together?
Just heard about your lesbian unicorn comment. I LOL’d.
Great time at the signing today. Loved the scene from Wise Man’s Fear that Brent read. Pat, you are The Man!
Dear Pat, a girl made a song for NOTW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-Me145cLs4
Its not me, I found it when I wrote Kvothe en youtube navigator XP