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queensthiefFor those not familiar with Life, the Universe, and Everything, it's an annual 3-day symposium held in Provo, Utah for creators and fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy. I've always wanted to go, but could never find the time. When I found out Megan had been invited as the guest of honor, I cleared my schedule like Paul Bunyan in a forest. It was great! There were panels all day, plus a gaming room, a dance, filking, movie showings, a mass author signing, Megan's keynote, and a banquet. I attended many panels, the signing, and the keynote so I'll post about those. Other Sounisians attended some of the other events so if they would care to post about them, that would be lovely.
PANELS:
SF&F writers are total nerds/geeks, as are their fans. That's what makes a symposium so fun! One feels passionate about something and then one gets to hear actual authors talk about how they are passionate about those same things. Even when some authors hogged the mic during panels and went off on crazy tangents (ask
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bookishbabe why she had to google dead cats at one point), it was still awesome and I learned a lot of valuable things.Sounis peeps showed up early to all of Megan's panels and took the front. I hope she felt loved and supported
She didn't get many chances to say those incredible things in her earlier panels, but after her keynote, it was really interesting to see how everyone wanted to hear from her. In the first panel right after her keynote, one of the authors was given the mic and she only said, "Ask her (gesturing to Megan), she's really smart." Yes! Vindication! Even the moderator (Tyler Whitesides, who is a cutie-pot-pie) had to spend a moment to tell Megan how amazing her keynote was.
The panel after that was moderated by Mette Ivie Harrison, who was already a huge fan of Megan's, and she directed most of the questions to Megan. We really got our money's worth during that panel!
Some interesting things she shared:
--She'll write three or so pages and then go back and take out anything the reader will pull from the story anyway. Thank you for not insulting our intelligence and for being so concise! No wasted words with our girl!
--She likes to write in third person limited. However, after writing the current work in third person, she went back and rewrote it in first person.
YES, YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY, PEOPLE.
Which means:
She's already written it.
Twice.
That doesn't mean we're getting it anytime soon, but at least we know she's
--Lovely tidbit about Costis. While writing King of Attolia, she chose the third-person limited viewpoint of the guard Costis. She liked how the story unfolded through his eyes, but there was the problem of him always showing up coincidentally whenever the King or the King and Queen were doing something important. A critical event occurs and whoa, there's Costis. Something else happens and whatyyaknow, there's Costis again! But instead of cutting Costis out for fear of his appearance being too coincidental and therefore cheesy, she realized the story didn't need less Costis, but more Costis. More backstory, more depth to his character, more integration into the heart of the story. Isn't that fascinating? And she did it so masterfully. While we totally wanted a behind the scenes look at Gen and Irene, seeing it unfold piece by piece through Costis is ten kinds of chocolatey goodness. I mean, the assassination attempt and what follows is possibly one of the most romantic scenes I've ever read. And that's just for starters. The rest of the book is one amazing scene after another.
SIGNING:
There was a mass author signing one evening at the end of the day. I don't think Megan expected a huge long line just for her that would last all night, but that is what she got. Hoo boy, did she get it. They cleared a medium sized ballroom for the event and dozens of writers (including Mette Ivie Harrison, Tracy Hickman, Tyler Whitesides, and Jennifer Nielson) were set up at banquet tables around the edges and down through the center with their nameplate in front of them and when you entered, you went to wherever the author was you wanted a signature from and stood in line. At the most, other authors had two or three people at a time standing and waiting for them. Megan, however...
See the tables with one or two people waiting? Then see that big crowd of people behind them? That's a line for our girl. She's down at the bottom of the photograph, head bent over, writing something meaningful for each and every fan.
Across the ballroom and out the door! All night long!
And not just fans with one or two books, there were people with multiple sets of books. Boxes of books! Sometimes just their own (because, as we all know, it's really hard to have just one copy of each book because if you only have one copy, you will eventually loan it out to everyone and their dog and what will you read in the meantime?), but people brought books from other fans who couldn't make it.
The point being: UTAH LOVES MEGAN WHALEN TURNER.
The other point being: SWEET MOTHER OF TIM, WHY AREN'T THESE FANS ON SOUNIS?
KEYNOTE:
For a very abbreviated idea of Megan's keynote, see this youtube video of her acceptance speech for her Conspiracy of Kings award: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7YFNrU7YAc.
The keynote had a similar theme, but of course included more spontaneous humor and anecdotes and wonderful things. I think it was especially appropriate for this particular crowd and people really responded to it.
She began by talking about an article she'd read which argued how YA has become dark and disturbing with so much violence and so forth that our children shouldn't be reading it. She talked about the different books mentioned in the article and then she said, in her deadpan humor way, “What I want to know is...why aren't MY books on that list?” Which got a big laugh. She then talked about (and I'm totally paraphrasing and interpreting here because I didn't take notes, I chose to just sit and listen instead) about how books allow us to learn things about life and how the right book at the right time can teach us the right thing when nothing else can. And sometimes, or oftentimes, it's the hard books that give us that. Violent, dark books that allow us to express emotions through reading without having to act those emotions out in real life.
She shared a story about a librarian who gave one of her children the book “Feed” and how she knew he wasn't ready for it, but that instead of saying, you're not ready for that, she let him read it. And hovered around for when he was finished so that he would be able to talk to her about it if he needed to.
She said she wasn't suggesting that we not be involved with our children's reading, but that we can't possibly keep track of everything they read. We can for a while, but there is a point when we have to let them go and make choices for themselves. We can still guide them and be there for them, but ultimately we have to let them make their own choices as part of growing up. Sometimes they will get burned and learn from that experience. And sometimes, maybe a book will save their life. Maybe not literally. But emotionally. Or spiritually. Or in some other intangable way.
She talked about how we can't forbid our kids, during their teen years, from reading things with adult themes, and then expect them to leave the house at age eighteen--going off to college, going into the workforce, or even going to war--and expect them to be prepared. Books prepare people for life.
Books prepare people for this crazy mixed-up scary marvelous joyous thing called life.
Wonderful message. And a lot of food for thought.
Final note on her speech. Megan gave Sounis a huge shoutout. Actually, she talked about us in every panel and about what a great community we are. She talked about how things she intentionally didn't spell out for the readers in her books always come up at Sounis and that the people here grasp exactly what it was that she was trying to say. And that the discussions we have here are so wonderful and creative and intelligent, that she's NEVER TELLING US ANYTHING because she wouldn't want anyone to miss out.
The point is, as much as we love her, she loves us, too. And she loves what we do here. Isn't that a nice feeling? Dontcha just feel all warm and fuzzy inside?
Anyway, if anyone else has anything to add, that would be great, because it was a wonderful keynote and I would love to hear it again if that were possible. (ugh, why did they not video it for the whole world to see?!)
And by the way, it was PACKED. They set up the main ballroom and then had to open the two overflows and it was still packed.
HANGING WITH SOUNIS PEEPS:
One of the greatest things about fan events is hanging with Sounis peeps. Gosh, we're an awesome bunch, aren't we? Always a lovefest, these fan events. Instead of going on and on, though, here's a rundown of all the peeps I saw.
rosaleeluann: It's great to hang with Rosie because we love pretty much all the same things and there's always a lot to talk about. Also, she is such a good artist and if you sit by her you get to watch her sketch.
And if you're bookishbabe, you might offer to buy Rosie lunch in exchange for some illustrations in your notebook.
The same artwork upside down (or rightside up, or whatever)
in_my_niteshirt: Was not around that much because she was applying to get her masters (you go, girl), but it was so great to see her when she was around. I even got to sit by her and Mr. Niteshirt at lunch one day and, gee, all we talked about was books! Will you please move to my neighborhood?heatherzundel: Has long, dark, fairytale princess hair, and big dark, fairytale princess eyes. In addition, she is a total sweetheart, very solicitous, and a passionate writer (and passionate about many things!). So great to meet you and hang out with you! Here she is chatting with Megan after the keynote. I love this picture of Megan. She looks so happy and relaxed. And isn't she rocking the leather jacket and motorcylce boots? Also, her shirt collar had sequins. Booyah!
kate_coombs: Is a fun lady and a writer! See her website? http://www.katecoombs.com/See her awesome tips for young writers? http://www.katecoombs.com/writers.html
I'm so happy we connected and that she was able to come.
bookishbabe: Is like the cool version of me. Same clothes, same shoes, same hair, same tastes in almost everything, even the same large quantity of children, but witty and mature and well-traveled and intelligent. If you haven't already done so, ask her why she had to google dead cats during one of the panels. Go on, ask her. (love you, sweetie!)See how we have the same outfit on except inverted colors? We were even both wearing chucks.
Finally,
A big thanks to Megan for accepting the invitation to be guest of honor. It was a dream come true for many Utahns.
And a big thanks to all the Sounisians who came for making the effort to be there. I so enjoyed our time together. Now, if the rest of you Sounisians could plan a trip here at your earliest convenience, I would appreciate it a lot. I just know it would be epic.
P.S. Because I promised in my Thiefcon post that there would be a picture of a chicken bone:
bookishbabe and I were sitting on the floor in one of the panels because there was no room and I saw something weird a few feet away so I crawled over and lo and behold, a chicken bone. Naturally I took a picture to document it for posterity. You're welcome.
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Date: 9/13/13 01:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/13/13 03:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/13/13 01:58 am (UTC)Seriously, thanks for a wonderful recap -- next best thing to being there.
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Date: 9/13/13 02:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/13/13 02:44 am (UTC)Seriously, though, thanks so much for detailing the event. It was awesome to read about!
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Date: 9/13/13 02:49 am (UTC)Also, some of those sketches.... became a painting.
http://rosaleeluann.deviantart.com/art/Rapunzel-and-her-Hair-366845781
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Date: 9/13/13 03:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/13/13 06:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/13/13 12:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/13/13 12:50 pm (UTC)WAAAAANTS
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Date: 9/14/13 12:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/14/13 03:39 am (UTC)Must be time for an East Coast meet-up, peeps!
:D
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Date: 9/15/13 12:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/15/13 01:24 am (UTC)what do I say to people arghI blame schedules.So that'd make at least 8 who could possibly maybe attend? Worth it? I think yes :D
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Date: 9/15/13 04:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/17/13 09:56 am (UTC)So: the next question: how can we make this happen ....
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Date: 12/3/13 02:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/13/13 12:35 pm (UTC)MOAR COSTIS!!!!!!!!!!
No really this sounds so perfect. I wish I had been there!
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Date: 9/14/13 04:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/15/13 12:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/15/13 12:36 am (UTC)I'm not sure why, but I laughed for a really long time at that. You and
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Date: 9/16/13 12:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/15/13 11:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/15/13 11:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/17/13 03:06 am (UTC)You wrote that "dozens of writers (including Mette Ivie Harrison, Tracy Hickman, Tyler Whitesides, and Jennifer Nielson)" had one or two people waiting for books to be signed, and MWT had a long long line.
So I am now imagining dozens of writers (including Mette Ivie Harrison, Tracy Hickman, Tyler Whitesides, and Jennifer Nielson) meeting secretly and plotting vengeance and saying snarky things about MWT. :)
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Date: 9/18/13 03:29 pm (UTC)