I would like to start this post with an apology. An apology for the lack of posts....I completely blame the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the amount of books I needed to read in such a short period of time. Also because it was the Long List I was not allowed to blog about it. Big Book Secrets. But I'm back and I decided to come back with a bang.
This bang includes the magic of Patrick Rothfuss, Scott Lynch and Veronica Roth.
Whilst standing in a Queue in the boiling basement of Forbidden Planet waiting for two of my favourite fantasy authors to appear and begin signing the books which had drawn an inordinate amount of people to Shaftsbury Avenue on Tuesday evening, I began talking to the two women in front of me. We discussed exactly how we felt the first time we read Rothfuss's Name of the Wind and how Lynch's Lies of Locke Lamora (Click for Review) is the most intricately written fantasy novel of the last fifty years.
My friends and I were surrounded by people as passionate as ourselves about two fairly ordinary men with brilliantly creative minds. It was the first book signing I've been to in years where I haven't been working, organising, standing in the cold or writing names on Post-It notes and I absolutely loved it. Both Patrick and Scott were fun and talking, joking with each other and happy to talk to us.
I always find it hard to think of something to say when I meet authors I admire. With Patrick it was easier, I gushed about how I have really enjoyed recommending his books through my years of book selling. I also mention how amazing it was to read his recommendation of Scott's books.
With Scott it was harder, I have only read the first one and I wanted to make sure he was aware how much my friends had influenced me into reading them. He was incredibly jokey and fun, making fun of Patrick sitting next to him. Talking to him about the tour and London. Laughing when he made a mistake whilst signing my book and how he scribbled it out whilst apologising profusely.
It was an amazing experience and I would repeat it again and again if it was possible. And in many ways I did get to experience it again the next day. But this time with YA author Veronica Roth.
The move to head office has many advantages, one of them is being in London where all these amazing events take place. And so when me and a friend managed to get on the guest list for the Veronica Roth event at the Prince Charles Cinema we took advantage of it. Of course we went, but we also put our Waterstones hats on and helped with little things like Q's and Post-Its, but it was amazing to be able to sit in the front row, listen to a deleted scene from one of her short stories.
Half way through the talk Veronica announced that they had a surprise for those of us who weren't Waterstones staff who already knew. Shalienne Woodley was there to introduce the trailer for Divergent (click for my review) and just say Hi. The atmosphere was intense and the screaming even more so.
I have to say that this week has been the highlight of my month. I felt like I was part of things again and I really hope you take a look at my reviews and read some of the best fantasy books (both YA and Adult) around.
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