In my last blog I mentioned I was going to be doing a signing in Columbus at the end of the month. Afterwards, more than a few people asked if the timing of my visit was a freakish coincidence, or if I was going to be a guest at Origins.
(For those of you who don’t know, Origins is a big gaming convention that’s going on that weekend in Columbus.)
The answer to this question is both yes and no. I am going to be there, but I’m mostly going to be ghosting the convention. Not in the traditional sense, I plan on getting a badge and everything. But I’m not going as an official guest like Felicia Day and Will Wheaton are going to be.
I might do a panel or two if they have an empty seat and want me to pontificate on one thing or another, but mostly I plan on bumming around and talking to people. See what new games are coming out. Maybe rub some elbows. Maybe see if anyone would be interested in doing a board game set in the Four Corners world….
It’s rare that I go to a convention where I’m not being all officially authorious. Usually I’m booked pretty tight with signings and talkings. Since I’m ghosting this one, maybe I’ll play a few games instead. If I’m feeling exceptionally energetic, I might even see if they have a spot open in one of the LARPs.
Yeah. I’ll admit it. I’ve LARPed in the past.
(You can embiggen this. But you probably shouldn’t)
Okay. Fine. I can’t blame that photo on a LARP. I was just dicking around. And that’s mostly what I’ll be doing at Origins, dicking around.
Maybe I’ll see if I can find another catgirl hat, then I’ll stalk Wil Wheaton, then at an opportune moment, I’ll put it on, and rush toward him, arms outstretched, uttering my loudest profundo basso, “SQEEEEEE!”
Yeah. I think I’m going to have a good time.
And if I find out that I am doing any particular panels ahead of time, I’ll come back to this blog and post the details on them right here.
(Placeholder for potential details.)
- Anyway, on to business. Today we have some new interviews:
This first one is by my UK publisher, Gollancz. It’s a brief interview they’re using to draw a little attention to the fact that I’ve been shortlisted for the David Gemmel Award this year. (Voting ends May 31st).
Fair warning, this one’s kinda short, and I was realllly punchy when I answered their questions. Really punchy.
The second interview was a little different for me. It was done by a woman who normally runs a fashion blog. So a few of the questions ended up being a little different than what I’m normally asked. I think I might have horrified them a little when I told them I only own one pair of pants.
That’s all for now, folks. Share and enjoy.
pat
39 Comments
Well, you did notice how dressed up my group was at a signing in Waukesha a few years back, but to be fair, we were dressed for a wedding.
Best wedding gap ever, by the way. Now every time I’m bored and hungry for four hours in an unfamiliar town I can reminisce about having The Princess and Mr Whiffle read to me. :D
You know, you’re just asking for legions of fans to mail you cat girl hats now.
Only one pair of pants? Sure, but how many lovely cloaks do you have? Ones with pockets sewn in… You’re not doing much for the “I am not Kvothe” argument.
You should read this entry on his blog. It’s the first one I read, and the one that turned me into an addicted lunatic who has since read every post, and checks the blog once a day. Or more.
https://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2010/05/circadian-spring/
Sorry, I don’t know how to make it clicky.
:) I was semi referencing that post
Well … carry on then.
:o)
OK, Pat, if you actually want to see strong female fantasy characters, you really, really need to read the Malazan Books of the Fallen. Need to as in, “should have done so yesterday.” Use that time machine you wished for and go back and read them when you were a teenager. Because the MBotF are chock full of strong women soldiers, rulers, assassins, mages, etc., and not in a token fashion – it’s not even remotely forced, gender equality in everything is just a given part of almost the entire world.
I would have to respectfully disagree. Erikson writes all of his characters as if they were male. Despite being female, they exhibit almost no particular sense of gender identity. You could attribute that to the military focus of his books or some false sense of gender equality; but, in the end, you could easily turn every female into a male and the story would read pretty much the same.
As someone mentioned below, if you want to read strong female characters who find subtle strength in their gender, give Michelle West/Michelle Sagara a try.
Hahahahahahaha you are, really the mos “real” author i have ever saw, or maybe I just didn’t saw a lot. But you are great Pat =).
Sorry for my mistakes, i am still learning english =)
And i would tottaly LARP with you, even if you wear that xD
Funny and witty, as always. And I love and share your view on fashion. I can imagine that many fashion blog readers were wrinkling their nose and in the best case gave consumption and pretention a second thought.
Well put! I find so much joy knowing you only own a single pair of pants. I can only imagine the “fashionistas” of the world collectively recoiling in horror. Hilarious.
The first trilogy of The Deed of Paksenarrion has a great, strong, realistic female lead. By Elizabeth Moon. It isn’t all lovey-dovey, too which is great. Focuses on the issues at hand.
Hey Patrick!
Am I mistaken or was that lovely photo of you in the catgirl hat taken in the dealers hall at VCON 33 (Vancouver, Canada, October 2008)?
Whhhaaaaaaaaat!? You teach fencing! >.> Let me guess, is it épée, I know it sounds random but all the épée fencers I know have beards, so that’s my guess. I just started learning foil and épée this month, and I have fenced sabre for almost a year now.
I did not think it was possible for me to be even more of a Rothfuss fanboy, but I am now <.<
Pat, those pink pom-poms SHOULD be really scary. Instead, some how, they manage to be precisely YOU.
You need to go back to the fashion lady and do a follow-up interview so she can determine how you create the Schwarzschild fashion singularity.
BTW, her interview was actually rather interesting.
Damn, you are always a good time ;) Needed that this morning…TY
Pat! I saw your recommendation for Sanderson’s books and I have now read the first two Mistborn books in the course of 2 weeks (my finals period in which I have also taken 5 exams). Thanks for screwing up my GPA.
But seriously, thanks. Really unique story.
Really? I bought the trilogy on Pat’s recommendation also.
Made to page 100 now after much force.
What am I missing here? Should I persevere? I really just havent been “grabbed up” by any of the characters. I think I enjoy Kelsier most out of all of them, and thats just a so/so liking, not a deep adoration.
I’m starting to think it might be something I’d enjoy more on Audiobook.
Question: Having not read the earlier Mistborn books, is it okay to start with 4?
You could if you wanted to, but you will enjoy it a lot more if you read the original trilogy first. A lot more.
Okay, I lost it at this, “…arms outstretched, uttering my loudest profundo basso, ‘“SQEEEEEE!'” and almost shot coffee out my nose.
I really hope to make it to Origins one of these days, but definitely won’t be this year. Have fun!
I have been singing Karma Chameleon for the last hour and a half, and it’s all your fault, Pat. Gaaaah, going to go crazy – I don’t even like the damn song!
Strong realistic female characters?
Michelle West. The Sun Sword and House War books, which are Epic Fantasy set in the same world, are the best that I’ve yet read for that (and for quite a few other things as well).
The same writer, under the name Michelle Sagara, has a strong female character as the focal point of her “Chronicles of Elantra” series which is a UF/Epic Fantasy hybrid.
Stardust.
Is that the original comic book version or the novel version? (Or do you consider them the same?).
That embiggen is NSFW!
The image makes me think of Pink Hostess Sno Balls. Not eating them of course.
Pat,
I wanted to say I really, really enjoy you work. I’m going to your signing in Columbus from Pittsburgh because 3 hours is the closest you’re getting to us. I usually read e-books but I got hard covers of your work.
I can’t wait to see you–and I hope I get to meet you– next week.
I hope you have fun at the Con.
Have a wonderful time, but I have a feeling you’re going to be meeting quite a few fans :D
If you have time and the inkling to drive around big robots and shoot other big robots check out the Battletech Firestorm pods. They are a blast and a half.
(a game runs 7 minutes long).
I’m not working the con this year so am not sure where they are going to be located this time around (in the past we’ve been between the exhibit hall and the game room). If you decide to play, tell the guys working Undomiel told you to check the game out :)
Rock out Pat, authors deserve some down time as well. ;)
Maybe I’ll see if I can find another catgirl hat, then I’ll stalk Wil Wheaton, then at an opportune moment, I’ll put it on, and rush toward him, arms outstretched, uttering my loudest profundo basso, “SQEEEEEE!”
If you do this, please make sure someone gets it on video. I am laughing so hard just picturing it, recorded evidence would be the best thing ever.
(Also, I’m currently studying abroad in Buenos Aires, and I’ve seen the Spanish translation of The Wise Man’s Fear displayed in prominent spots in just about every bookstore I’ve been into. I’m super tempted to get a copy, because I’m a huge translation geek, but I need to keep my suitcase under the airline weight limit.)
Another fun interview! I like all the interviews you’ve been doing lately. Great to read during the wait for your next novel!
I have been trying to think of female fantasy characters I have really enjoyed in my reading, but you’re right. Their really arent a lot I’ve been impressed with.
I really like Kahlan Amnell from SOT. She’s pretty rockin, except, I didnt like her so much in Chainfire Trilogy.
The only other fantasy lady I could think of that ever really stood out to me was…
Matilda.
That almost made me sad, but Roald Dahl is the shit, so….whatever. It’s not his fault that his children books feature more well rounded characters than a lot of the fantasy novel slap together that comes out now-a-day.
And could we (the Columbus locals) interest you in dinner or drinks before or after the signing?
I second the ‘get it on video’ request! That would be hilarious!
And if the position hasn’t already been filled, please can I be your Norwegian translator? I have worked as a translator for 6 years and been stuck with boring technical manuals and the odd computer game. Both hubby and I are HUGE FANS and it would be beyond awesome to translate your books!
I’d be interested in designing a game in the Four Corners world, for sure. If you let me know what type of game you’re looking for (strategy, resource management, adventure, etc) I’d be more than happy to put together some basic rules and mechanics.
Judging from Felicia Day’s Twitter pic, it looks like you found Wil, went drinking with both of them and Steve Scalzi, played Elderberry and ended up with a vicious cocktail. Dang! For the first time I wish I went to Origins instead of GenCon.
BTW… a Four Corners RPG would be beyond awesome.
Come play Shadowrun next year at Origins! There’s even some optional LARPing involved in the “Shadowrun Missions Scramble”. Felicia Day played Shadowrun, so you should, too!
I don’t know how Wil will react to cat-girl squeeing hug attacks. Did you ever read the ‘Something Positive’ storyline they featured him in? His poor, poor hugging arm…