Terry Pratchett on the BBC, talking about writing and SNUFF

Lovely video interview with Terry on the BBC. Enjoy. 

"Being diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's in 2007 has not stopped author Terry Pratchett from writing and releasing his 50th novel, Snuff.

He spoke to BBC Breakfast about the book and how his illness has changed his method of writing."

Update: Drumknott can file this under, Congrats and No Surprise: Snuff is now on the U.S. Bestseller List

Terry Pratchett talks about cheeseheads, blue urine and how trolls are people, too.

A lovely interview with Terry just appeared in a Madison, WI paper prior to NADWCon.

Excerpt: 

Novelist Terry Pratchett enjoys colossal fame in his home country as one of Britain's most prolific and best-selling authors. And there's no doubt that Sir Terry (he was knighted in 2009) and his fantastical Discworld novels have caught on across the pond.

Next weekend, the Madison Concourse will host the North American Discworld Convention 2011, an event that should attract nearly 1,000 fans of Pratchett's satirical fantasies. Many of his books are set on Discworld, which is, essentially, a disc that rests on the backs of four elephants. And the elephants happen to be standing on the back of a giant turtle.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/lifestyles/article_582da196-a411-11e0-80ae-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1RARkI4It

Update: Today

Program Participant Schedules went out this morning to all concerned.  If you are volunteering on a panel, teaching a workshop, etc., and did not receive this, or if you have questions about your schedule,  write to me at program@nadwcon.org.

I am working on a number of con fronts and I catch a flight out at 4 am on Wednesday but I will answer all emails ASAP.

On another note: I posted this to the NADWCon Facebook page today after reading some humorous "suggestions":  

Mrs Palm was amazed to hear a story claiming that she had recently threatened to tear the arm off of anyone who tried to make yet another last minute change to the Program. She is, as you know, the very soul of courtesy. Who could *possibly* think that a lady of her standing might actually beat someone to death with their own appendage? She can't imagine how these rumors get started.*

Ankh Morpork or Bust!

See you there,

Dj

* Mrs Palm knows that the very thought that she would ever engage in violence is abhorrent to her Dear Readers, who, she is sure, see this terrific calumny as patently false. ** 

** She has people for that.

Photo: Detritus the Troll by Clarecraft found here. 

Terry's Signings at NADWCon

I did the math the other day and it turns out that I've known Terry Pratchett for almost 18 years.  I've spent some of that time at various of his West Coast signings trying to 

a) feed him 
(why does no one feed these people?) 

and 

b) finding ice for his hand when it became swollen after he had cheerfully signed pretty much anything for over four to six hours at a stretch. 

I'm happy to say that I don't have to worry quite so much about ice at NADWCon except, perhaps, to find some for his drinks.  I'll still make sure he eats.  We're both a little older and our cinnamon bun and bear claw days are well behind us in more ways than one.  (In my case, they went straight to my ... oh, never mind) 

It's healthy veggies in the Green Room, now. Hummus, no doubt, will be involved.  It's hard to get as excited about mashed chickpeas as I would about, say, a great bear claw. On the other hand, we both look *good*.  

So...where was I? Oh, yes, signings.  All things change and so do these.  The new procedures are detailed below.  (This and other NADWCon info can be found in our June Newsletter)

I'm sure that I don't have to say this to you, Dear Reader,  but feel free to pass my thoughts along should the need arise: These changes are made with Terry's health in mind.  Anyone who doesn't respect that, I don't want to know them.  More to the point, they won't want to know me, should I get the unfortunate impression that a fan cares more about a scribble on a flyleaf then they care about the man himself.  So, 'nuff said ... *

Dj

Here's the tactful wording the ConCom put into the June newsletter.  Never had much truck with tactful meself but it's good for them as likes it.  **

Good news! You no longer need to pack those heavy hardcovers!

Due to both consideration for Sir Terry's health and well-being and the sheer number of Discworld fans who will be attending our amazing convention, it has been arranged that in place of traditional signing sessions, we will be hosting meet-and-greet sessions in which each attendee will have the opportunity to receive a special signed bookplate from The Man Himself.  The bookplate that you will receive personally from Sir Terry will be a limited edition made just for our convention, and will indicate that the plate was signed at the NADWCon2011!

Bookplate session tickets will be assigned randomly, and may be swapped between attendees at a Friday swap meet session that will be indicated on the program schedule. Please be aware that just like with a traditional signing, you will need to bring your ticket to the session to be admitted and receive your bookplate.  More details to come!

Please note: No flash photography will be permitted during these sessions, nor will photography while at the front of the line be permitted.  Non-flash photography from the sidelines that does not slow Sir Terry or the line will be allowed.  We also request that out of consideration for Sir Terry and out of fairness to all of the attendees, you do not approach Sir Terry at any time with requests for signatures. Approaching him with offers of a beer or interesting topics of conversation, or just to say hello or have a chat is fine, however!

But wait! There's more!

There will be a special Monday signing session where Sir Terry will personally sign a limited number of books or other items.  This session will be open solely to those who have won items in the Charity Auction that they would like signed, and for the lucky folks who win a Signature From Sir Terry in the Charity Auction. We will have 20 lots of one signature each available for bidding.

This just in: A Further Word About Book Plates from the ConCom

 * I tell a lie. There was more to say: I'd like to quote what Maribeth just posted on the NADWCon FB page: 

I'm glad that Sir Terry will not have the pressure of hundreds of autographs to write on the spot... the book plates will make a lovely keepsake, and he won't have the stress. I want Sir Terry to enjoy this convention as much as we all will. 

Well said. 


** Don't get me started on the !!s Emily, our Esteemed Chair, likes her !!'s.  The gal's got a law degree.  She can use a few !!s when she wants to. 

Happy Birthday Terry Pratchett

Happy Birthday Terry Pratchett  

Fans who wish to honor Terry on his birthday might wish to donate to The Alzheimer's Research Trust or the Orangutan Foundation International (Terry is a trustee and spokesperson for the UK branch of OFI).  Click Here for a lovely photo of Terry at Hobbiton.

Steampunk & Discworld

I'm currently working on a panel that will speak to the convergence of Discworld and Steampunk fans I saw at the last NADWCon.  As Steam Ingenious notes, there are a great many Steampunk elements in the Discworld and these tend to be subtle and mixed with magic. This intriguing mix of history, sf, tech, folklore, modern culture, and fantasy is one of the reasons why Terry Pratchett's books are so popular with such a wide-ranging audience.

The panel will be called When Worlds Collide.

Do you know anyone who is informed, well spoken and interesting who could add to a panel discussion at NADWCon 2011? If, so please let me know.

Sarah (a Seamstress and volunteer extraordinaire) just sent me a great Pterry (1) story from the last NADWCon. Enjoy

Eric P.  is a Geordie, and more to the point, a steam-rail hobbyist: he's a bigwig at the Railway Museum...We're in the bar towards the end of the Tempe con, drinking with Terry, and he suddenly turns to Eric and asks "Did you ever have to piss in a headlight", and they were off for about 20 minutes about carbide lamps and their odder elder relatives.

Oh, to be a fly on that glass....

Dj
Ideas? Suggestions? Offers of help? You know where to reach me: programming@nadwcon.org 

Links: 

Geek Fun: Steampunk for your iPhone 
Steampunk cases & apps that will turn your videos & photos into old style movie reels and Victorian photos.  Hat tip to Karen Anderson @writerway in Seattle for the link.

Video: Exhibition: Steampunk in Oxford 

Costuming: Elements of Steampunk Style 

Endnotes: 

(1) To get that joke you need to read Pyramids