After jogging a 5K this morning (my time is 30 minutes, gonna try and knock that down by actually running one of these times), I went to eat with the running club at Fuzzy's tacos (mmm shrimp and egg breakfast tacos) then we headed to Hastings where George R.R. Martin was doing a book signing for the Nacogdoches Film Festival.
I had to park in the next parking lot over because like four of them nearby the Hastings were full. Then I stood in line with about 25 or so other people who had not bought tickets to this event. It was funny to see people walk in who had no clue what was happening and just wanted to shop. We in the ticketless line also became the staff as far as telling people if they had tickets they could go in front of the line to the ticketing table.
My running club friends left because one of them had a press pass for later events anyway and might be able to get something signed there. I on the other hand waited for quite some time not knowing when or if they'd let us buy tickets. They did, but they announced it was cash and check only, meaning I had to run to my car. Thank goodness I found a girl in line who I could reciprocate spot-holding duties with. She had cash, so I was the only one of us two needing to go to the car, but we switched places a couple of times so each of us could get the free donuts and coffee provided and buy a book in the store. No I did not own anything GoT-related before today. I'm sorry, but I WAS ready to let the person behind me go if they ran out of tickets (because they were a bigger fan), which they luckily didn't. I just felt it was a waste not to try and get an autograph while he was in town).
It was a very quick in-and-out have your camera ready and he'll sign the sticky noted title page thing, so I have no George R.R. Martin stories to relate, but to hell with it I do have an autograph. It was the same thing when I got Keiji Inafune's autograph last year.
Not a BaD way to end the month. If I can get in, I might even go to a screening of one of the Game of Thrones episodes he wrote tonight or one of the panels.
So how was your day?
Can't see the pics Joe. 403 forbidden message
Now?
yep, they work now.
That's pretty cool that you got his autograph. I'd like to get all my Brautigan autographed but that would be kind of hard to do. LOL
Nah, I'll give you my copy of the Necronomicon. Get him to sign that too though.
Oh cool, Bruce Campbell stole my copy. :)
My day is New 3DS XL. 'nuff said.
That's cool you got to meet George R.R. Martin. I tried reading Song of Fire and Ice, but it was like reading porn, and it bothered me.
I read the first chapter on Google Play and had a hard time keeping up with all the characters. I'd like to start watching the show too.
Yeah I like the guys writing but his tendency to devolve into porn bothers me too. I find it all superfluous to the story but that's just how he is.
I disagree that it's just porn. Sex has a lot to do with the story, and a sexual act is basically what kickstarts the plot. Sex is a huge part of that world and it makes sense in context. Well, most of it anyway, and when it doesn't, who cares? Why are we so pedantic about the sex when we don't give a fuck that the book has insane amounts of violence?
Well the insane amounts of violence bother me too yet I can respect that it is part of the world. I just wasn't into the extended sex scenes any more than I am in movies.
I have been thinking about this because my one book im writing verges on the pornographic. But the book is mostly about suicide and death so i feel the extended sex is like a contrast to that. I dont do it in all my stories but i feel this book requires it
A lot of times it was completely unnecessary and there was so much of it. I really could give two shits less about what imaginary character is going to get an imaginary blowjob next. I don't mind sex in books. Dean Koontz is one of my favorite authors and he has sex in his books. Just not like every chapter. And why include so much rape?
there actually isn't heaps of rape. There's a bit, enough to show that things were awful for women in that world. They are second rate citizens, which is what makes characters like danaerys and arya so damn awesome. It's why Cersei has to constantly fight to assert her dominance. Its why someone like Margaery would marry a cunt like joffrey.
I agree there could be a bit less of it - especially in the show. But it is necessary to include some.
You went out in this nasty weather today? It must be nicer where you're at. If not, please be careful!
I've met some famous people at E3 and other conventions, but have very few autographs. I met David Crane, creator of Pitfall, Evil Kinevil, Gary Coleman (before they passed away), some wrestler lady that I have no idea who she is, Charles Martinet (voice of Mario), and another voice actor Cathy Wesluck.
That would be cool to meet Inafune. I'd also like to meet Go Shiina.
Weather is cold, but definitely not dangerous. My dad on the other hand is driving in Dallas.
I think conversations might be better than autographs in some ways, but to be honest, I wouldn't have known what to say.
wow cool! I've never read those books but I respect that guy.
I never REALLY met him either, just got to be in his presence for five seconds. lol He seems like a cool guy though and my friends who did actually meet and talk with him confirmed that.
You lucky bastard!
Still, congrats!
Me and everyone who didn't have a ticket until buying them on the spot were very lucky.
It's good to hear he is a nice guy, I've read several articles that made him out to be an asshole which I always figured were shady anyway since fan pages on facebook are the last thing you should trust. Congrats on meeting him! I really wanted to go meet Anne Rice last year but I fell sick the day of her Dallas signing visit for her new vampire lestat novel. The drive would have been an hour and me being sick would have made it miserable not to mention I wouldn't wanna be disrespectful by going around her ill.
I think you could find asshole and nice guy stories for any celebrity. You meet that many people, you're bound to catch some on your bad days.
Kinda wish I was you right now, gotta say.
You want a million messages debating whether an author you've never read but took the opportunity to get a book signed by is a pornographer.
I can see that.
Yep. It's the dream man ;p
That's cool. Jason is slightly more envious than I, though.
I got to meet Bernd Heinrich at a book signing at my favorite indy book store last spring. He's an incredible naturalist and has had articles in National Geographic. I own a ton of his books, and it was really cool to get one signed. He did a reading from his newest book, then did a Q&A thing, and then the actual book signing. I told him he was one of my two favorite naturalists and he asked me who the other one was. When I told him it was Gerald Durrell, his eyes lit up and and he said "Oh, I love his books! I read them when I was growing up!" And we grinned at each other. Just a neat moment.
It would have been neat to have actually talked to Martin like you did with Heinrich. lol
Much smaller gathering, and not nearly as well known as Martin. But I did wait until I was almost the last person in line. I found out afterwards that he very rarely does book signings, so now I feel extra lucky.
This actually wasn't THAT big of a gathering considering we ticketless were in by 12:30PM for an event scheduled to go until 1PM. When it's AVGN in Dallas at SGC, they go over their time and still have to turn people away.
Don't get me wrong though, I am VERY lucky and this was an amazing event for a small town like Nacogdoches where I'm getting my degree.
That is freaking cool. I'm one of the many folks who got into the series because of the TV show (book one is a tough read, but it gets easier.)
Yeah, as I said I have only ever read like the first chapter of the book, but felt like a waste not to try and get a sig while he was in town.