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. 

Fair Madison OR What To Do In Wisconsin

We know that some of our  NADWCon attendees - especially those involved in Set Up and Take Down (Yours Truly among them) - will arrive early to the convention site, and stay a day or two  past the closing of the con.  If you are wondering what to do in this fair city, we've posted a short list of things we think you might enjoy on our Travel and Tourism List.  Here is one event you won't want to miss:

Art Fair On the Square 

Organized by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Fair on the Square features music, entertainment, and outdoor dining, as well as fine works of art in mixed media, ceramics, drawings, graphics, prints, fiber, leather, furniture, glass, jewelry, metal, paintings, photographs, sculpture, 3D mixed media, and wood.

Hummm.... Let me rephrase that. Attendees really can't miss it. I'm not even sure we can avoid it  and who would want to? They'll have micro-brews, belly dancers, food carts; all the glories of Ankh Morpork right in our convention's backyard.  The fair attracts over 20,000 people a year and takes place in the beautiful park just across the street from the convention hotel the very same weekend we'll be in town.   More fun for us, then.

Did I mention that I'll be needing coffee? (1)

Oook? Oook ... Oook! Oook! Oook! 

Jon, our Vice Chair, has noted that Madison's (free) Henry Vilas Zoo has just welcome a new Bornean Orangutan named Datu to it's updated and enlarged Orangutan Pavilion just in time to welcome 1,000 Discworld Fans. He (the Orangutan, not Jon) found his way to Madison as part of the Species Survival Plan. You can see photos of Datu on the Zoo's Facebook Page. 

Garden lovers:

Don't forget to visit the Olbrich Botanical Gardens

I also recommend this Best of Madison Guide from Trip Adviser. 

More information on visiting Wisconsin can be found here.

Flying Into Chicago?

Chicago's airport, as well as it's fabulous restaurants, nightlife and museums, are about three to four hours drive from Madison.  Vacationers can enjoy the immensity of the Windy City and then join us at NADWCon while we party in the delightful City of Four Lakes.

Road Trip!  

Looking to share a ride? Here is our Ride Share List 


See you there,


Dj 

(1) Igor! An intravenous drip, if you please.

Koffee Klatches and Author Readings at NADWCon

Do you prefer coffee or tea first thing in the morning? Consider this one carefully ....

Whenever I land in a new city I seek out the Dibbler running the best Koffee Kart.  Coming from the Pacific Northwest I am rather ....picky... about this.  Try finding verified shade grown, organic, fair trade, hand roasted Peaberry in town that loves it Folgers and you'll know what I mean.  (One of these days, I'm going to make finding this a game. Discworld fans can find anything).  Madison is a cosmopolitan city so I should have no trouble, right? ....Right?!!??

Knowing where to find your favorite beverage is doubly important at NADWCon because our Discworld Kaffee Clatch is BYOB. (1)

My colleague Emily describes it this way:

Klatch: A desert country on a continent of the same name, known for its extremely strong coffee.

Kaffee: How Captain Carrot spells coffee in his letters home

Kaffee Klatch: A small selection of Discworld fans lucky enough to score a seat at a cozy chat with honored guests  (2)

Participants Will Include: Stephen Baxter, Jennifer Brehl, Rod Brown, Esther Friesner, Anne Hope, Ian Mitchell & Reb Voyce (Discworld Emporium) Elizabeth Moon, Bernard Pearson, Stephen Player , Kristine Smith, Colin Symthe, Rob Wiklins and other Honored Guests. 

Please note: This list can change. A final list will be in your Pocket Program.  ALSO Updates will be posted at the con itself at the Boards of White. (3)

Author Readings 

We are fortunate in our friends. Among these are noted authors like Stephen Baxter, Esther Friesner, Kristine Smith and Elizabeth Moon, writers who have graciously accepted our request that they read from their lastest works during the convention.   

Rob Wilkins and Terry will also offer our guests a reading from Terry's latest work, Snuff. 

Reading with Rob – This Time, with Footnotes!

Rob Wilkins often acts as Terry's unofficial voice as he fields emails and inquiries from fans – now come and hear him actually voice some of Terry's work as he reads selections from Snuff, chosen by The Man Himself. Incidentally, The Man Himself will also be on hand, ready to offer on-the-spot insights into the passages being shared.

See you there

 Dj


Photo: Terry and Rob taken by Yours Truly during their reading at NADWCon 2009. 


(1) I'm look'n at you Red Ribboners. 


(2) Attendees will sign up in advance for the Kaffee Klatches. Sign Up sheets will be available at the Information Desk on the day before the Klatch and will remain available until the Information Desk closes that night. If more than twelve people sign up for a Klatch, a random drawing will be used to select the lucky dozen and announcements posted The Boards of White and near the Kaffee Klatch room. 


(3) Much as I love my tech there is an amazing amount you can do with some 3x5 cards and a white board.  Yeah, I said it: Old School Still Has Rocks In.