A Chat With Patrick Rothfuss
Posted under: Rothfuss
For those who don’t know the name, Patrick Rothfuss is the author of the Kingkiller Chronicles trilogy, the current high fantasy shooting star of the publishing world. (Falconesse, he swore up and down there would only be three books in Kingkiller! This is me, eating my hat)
Last night, he came to my home town for some Q&A, chat, readings, and book signing. Naturally, Steven and I attended.
Dog and Pony Show
This was only my second time attending an author “event” (the first being the panel held by Cherie Priest at Teslacon) so I found it very interesting to see how it went and what sorts of questions folks asked.
The event was cozy and low key. Questions varied from “did you intentionally do X” or “how has having a baby affected your writing” to “what are your favorite webcomics” and “what’s your opinion on the Eragon debate?”.
Pat was fun and clever and smiled a lot, and generally made everyone feel at ease. He congratulated us for being one of the last towns in the country without a coffee shop, which led to some good-natured ribbing.
My only regret is that I didn’t figure out how to properly word my question to him before he ran out of time. After hearing a few questions and answers, I realized the question I’d gone in with was far too broad. By the end, I’d worked it down to, “When you teach writing classes, what is your favorite lesson to share with the students?” but it was too late at that point and I didn’t want to hog the “quick questions only” portion of the show with something that might not be so quick.
Next time, I’ll be better prepared. =]
Readings
The highlight of the event for me was the discussion around the two readings he performed.
The first was a read-aloud powerpoint-style presentation of his “children’s book”, The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle, which is sort of not a children’s book at all, and which is about three times more fun when read through the second time. I don’t want to spoil the surprise but, um, don’t run out and snag this with the thought that you’ll be reading it to your kid at bedtime. Maybe you would, I dunno. Depends on your parenting style.
Still, having Rothfuss read it to us with the pictures up on the big screen was a lot of fun, and we were treated to the story behind the story — why he came up with it and how it turned into an actual, factual book.
His second reading was something new. Something he’s working on that’s fresh and unfinished and not revised — but of course the crowd cheered and pressed for that to be his final piece. I won’t spoil the fun, but I will say that the discussion around that piece was about women in fantasy, and how they’re either fainting princesses waiting to be rescued or badass, sword-wielding warriors who don’t take no crap from nobody.
There’s no reason a woman has to stop having interesting adventures after she becomes a parent (excepting the few cases where a parent is a hero only because they’re trying to save their children). Not all heroes are young folks seeking love and driven by their hormones. Literary fiction has proved that, time and again. It will be very interesting to see where Pat’s hero takes the female fantasy lead role.
TLDR
In short, it was great fun, and I’m very glad I had the opportunity to attend. =]
Many thanks to the Friends of the Waunakee Public Library for setting up the event!
And, of course, thanks to Pat for taking time out of his schedule to visit our little corner of Wisconsin.
I don’t know if you’ve read any of the other books in Jim C. Hines’s Princess series (which began with The Stepsister Scheme, but I’ve just picked up the fourth (and final) book in the series. In the first book, Danielle (Cinderella) is pregnant. We meet her infant son in the second and third books. So, Jim’s done a creditable job of giving Danielle a “normal” life when she’s not off adventuring with Snow White and Sleeping Beauty (not their names, incidentally, in the books, and their stories are hardly the stuff of Disney artists!).
VERY good example! I definitely felt like Hines’s women were not stereotypical fantasy women
Especially since one of them is gay. :p
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I keep hitting “Post Comment” before ComLuv has a chance to grab my blog. *sighhh* (This is totally my fault, Tami! Only reason I’m mentioning it is to explain the second comment.)
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If we were planning on having children, we’d totally read that book to them as a bed time story.
Also, we should open a coffee shop.
*laughs* Definitely, we should open a coffee shop. That’d be awesome.
That seat in the middle? Right in front of the donut thingy? That’s mine.
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I am jealous of you.
I wish you could have come. <3
So, should I read The Kingkiller Chronicles? Only a trilogy? You PROMISE?
Replied via email (just so’s folks reading this don’t think I ignored Steve’s question. =] )
Hmm, I think I should really try to catch a visiting author at our local geeky (sci-fi/fantasy) book store. The last time I heard an author speak was at school in assembly! It sounds inspirational to be around people (in real life) who love stories and writing :)
(And your enthusiasm is inspirational too, Tami! Thanks!)
<3 Mazil.
I recommend it. I was shy about going, but I could hardly turn down an author I knew and enjoyed who was speaking in walking distance of my apartment!
This morning, when I tried to reign supreme for having introduced my family to the best stuff ever, I was told that my contribution of The Mighty Boosh did not count because…”That was TamiJean that introduced us to the Boosh!’
“Really? I don’t remember her being in this home, recording the show and then telling everyone that they must watch it.”
Different realities spilled forth, all of which annoyed me.
Despite all that, I still followed the link to Rothfuss and read his bio. People who are that sarcastic should not be writing books that children will read. That is wrong.
Steve, Jacob plans on reading books to his children with a horse head mask on, in which case I am not sure that the content of the material needs to be overly obtuse. But I might be interested to find out which scenario yields the oddest kids.
I am at a loss for words, Anne. However, I predict your grandchildren will be…odd. That’s not a bad thing.
…a horsehead mask, eh?
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All I did was point out the existence of the Boosh. You were the one who did all the legwork, therefore you should get the grand majority of the credit.
I hope Jacob is plagued by little girls who love unicorns and rainbows and fairie princesses. I think that would be suitable revenge for any suffering he may have given you as he grew up.
I was sincere when I said no one thinks of us as normal.
There are those of us who do feel twinges of envy when you talk about your family, normal or no. <3
Even if Jacob has many daughters who love unicorns, rainbows and fairie princesses, he will totally warp all of that for them. Completely. I have seen what he has done with Jessica.
Case in point. This weekend involved Jessica and Jake making Druid sticks, adventuring to find thier special trees to hug (yeah, there is some name for it, I just am not up on Celtic mythology), gladiator fights in the sand ring (where Jacob got beat up by a nine year old girl), arguments about whether men or women are better at cooking.
And please remember that for five years of her life, Jessica was absolutely positive that she had the power of invisibility because of her loving brothers. She still just says that she can’t go invisible anymore because she turned nine and she lost the power on that birthday.
My husband is a better cook than I am, I can beat up almost anyone who walks up to me with a swagger (and I’m not above biting and clawing), and I still love unicorns and fairie princesses.
Jacob wins extra points for playing with his sister and talking to her.