Report from a Megan meet up

[heiros-acumen.livejournal.com]

Several of us got to attend a meetup at a Barns and Nobel this week and I thought you might like to hear about it.

She was very careful not to give any spoilers for Thick as Theives, so it's safe to read on.

Megan spoke for an hour, telling stories then answering questions from the crowd. Then she signed our books and took pictures. She started by talking about Rosemary Sutcliff; her life story and writing inspirations. She talked about how as a child, Rosemary Sutcliff was sick in the hospital where boy and girls, as well as the books for boys and girls were kept seperate. Since Rosemary didn't like the books chosen for the girls, she was inspired to write her own adventure stories.

She answered questions about things like how the POV keeps changing in each of the books. She said she doesn't think she could ever write from Irene or Helen's perspective because they are "perfect" (her words) and would either seem fake or not relatable. She cleverly refused to answer questions about how old any of the characters are or what the Minister of War's name is. (Although it seems he does have a name and one other person besides herself knows it.)

If anyone wants to know more, or see pictures, let me know.

Comments

Thank you so much for this fascinating summary

[11rod88staff11.livejournal.com]

What interests me the most is that MWT said she doesn't think she could ever write from Irene or Helen's perspective because they are "perfect." (as you say, her words) Although I felt like at least parts of QofA were kind of from Irene's perspective even though it was third person limited... so... with what has already come forth I am so happy with so I don't wish for anything else but just... that's so fascinating to know. And in a way... thus far I feel like Helen has been the character IS "perfect" in a lot of ways... and her first person point of view wouldn't be particularly necessary to move the plot along (that's not to say I don't adore everything she adds). Although the Sacred Mountain is not going to explode within her lifetime... if it did I feel like that would change things greatly regarding hearing from Helen's first person POV.

Of course of course!

[11rod88staff11.livejournal.com]

The minister of war's name is intentionally left unnamed because of some significance yet to be unfolded... as is the magus's name... and then there were the two Ions... their redundant names heavy with foreshadow.

speaking of foreshadowing. I'm rereading parts of TT right now Iand I just can't BELIEVE how many allusions there are to being one handed, only using one hand... they're positively sprinkled across the pages.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

At last, someone reports back! Thank you so much for sharing this! I'd love to see pictures, but don't feel obligated. :)

Perhaps she meant there isn't enough of a story arch for Irene or Helen, to last the length of an entire book? Helen is already pretty wise, and Irene already did most of her character growth in QoA.

[an-english-girl.livejournal.com]

Thanks and request for photos (if not too much trouble) seconded!
~Helen

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

I have a couple of pictures, but am not totally sure how to post them in comments.

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

Excellent writeup! It was nice to make your acquaintance, along with the other 30 or so attendees (I was surprised by happy to find so many people there!)

I, of course, disgraced myself in the Q&A by mistakenly saying that Shannon Hale dedicated her novel Dangerous to MWT, when it was in the Acknowledgements section instead. :(

I also really liked the way she drew a connection between the main character of The Eagle of the Ninth being injured catastrophically at the beginning of the book and the beginning of The Queen of Attolia. I hadn't thought about that, but it's very true. (I wanted very badly to ask her if she'd seen the dreadful film of the book, but refrained.)

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

I had to look this up not too long ago: http://www.livejournal.com/support/faq/6.html

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

I've seen the dreadful film and it only convinced me they had the potential, resources, and ability to make it great. Alas.

I do like the soundtrack, though.

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

Agreed. It had potential - the real problems were the script and the director.

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

(I was wearing my Star Wars shirt for May the 4th :)

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

Added my two above.

[an-english-girl.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
The Eagle of the Ninth film may be summed up in two words: VILE TRAVESTY.
;(

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

I was so looking forward to it. But they just made it so morally dreadful and cliched. And they cut out Cottia!

[an-english-girl.livejournal.com]

Don't know if this will work, but the following was my response!
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10771950/1/Two-s-Company

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

Aw, that's so cute! Thanks for sharing. I thought the Cottia plot was really sweet and haunting, and it really irritates me that the movie and fandom seem to think she's unnecessary.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Huzzah! Great pictures. I like your shirt, and Megan's boot game remains strong.

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

Thanks! She told a story, in response to a question, about her boots, and how they have a scuff caused by a faceplant just before a con resulting in a bleeding chin during a panel. It was pretty funny, the way she told it. :)

[(Anonymous)]

Oh no! Glad she at least got a good story out her mishap. Scuff-marks with stories sounds awfully Gen-like.

-freenarnian (because mobile keeps signing me out)

[(Anonymous)]

I recall reading something (around the time the movie was released) about their reasons for cutting Cottia, one of which was, she just sits at home while the boys have adventures, and obviously that's unacceptable to our modern sensibilities. I'm sure they could have adapted her into more of a character somehow, in a way that honored the original, but I guess I'd rather see her cut from the story altogether, than see her rewritten into a Warrior Babe with bikini-armor and salon hair. SIGH.

*rereads the book*

-freenarnian

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

...so the alternative is to say that women are completely unnecessary and have no presence at all? I think "our modern sensibilities" seem to be counterproductive...

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[an-english-girl.livejournal.com]

Somehow I never feel happier to be told a female character should not exist rather than appear in a historically conventional role...
Besides, if they had wanted to make an all-male action movie, they could have filmed Frontier Wolf. If they wanted a female warrior role, then The Mark of the Horse Lord. If they wanted a female protagonist, then The Armourer's House...
OK, the rant's coming to a halt ;) Hands OFF the Eagle of the Ninth!
btw, why no Cub? Because the animal rights people would rather have a dead wolf than a live one?

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

So happy you all could be there, and thanks for posting about it and adding pics, all! Ok, I will torture you all and admit that I know the Minister of War's name. Megan mentioned it to me at the first meetup I went to 10 years ago. I don't think she's ever going to put it in one of the books, and not for any complicated reason. Not Telling, here, so don't ask! =^_^=

(It's not Greg.)

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Well, our modern sensibilities are such that we even have to rewrite history nowadays, to "correct" it.

You make a good point about there being many other types of female characters for them to choose from in Sutcliff's work.

And besides, maybe Cottia was embroidering and reading plays and scheming and secretly befriending kings... oh wait. That's Heiro from KoA! :P

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

LOL.

PROVE IT.

;)

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

Checkers!

:O

!!!

[heiros-acumen.livejournal.com]

Arg, even with the helpful link from freenarnian I can't figure out how to get my pics into a comment. I did manage to upload them to my profile photo stream. http://heiros-acumen.livejournal.com/photo/album/621

The link from freenarnian says the comment should have an "insert photo" button? I do not see any such thing. :(

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Sorry the link is proving unhelpful, but thanks for persevering! Those are great pictures! So many excited readers, and our lovely author, and your fabulous T-shirt! Looks like it was a great event. :)

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

So you're the one person who knows that Megan mentioned? (am skeptical)

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

That shirt!!! Fantastic. Thanks for posting the pics.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I see what you're all doing here.

Me: I do, too, know his name! It's Greg!

It's not going to work.

Honestly, Megan may have forgotten about this. I thought there was another person or two around, but I could be wrong about that.

[aged-crone.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think I am the other person who knows the MoW's name.

Is it Greg?
No.
Is it Stephen?
No.
Is it Michael?
No.
Is it Basil?
No.
Is it Giorgio?
No.
Is it Philip?
No.
Is it Theodore?
No.
Is it Spiro or Stavros?
No.
Is it Agamemnon or Adonis or Achilles?
No.
Then what is it?

Well, duh.


It's *Rumpelstiltskin*!

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

I. I....

Thanks. Thanks for sharing your super-secret knowledge.

- Agh, cracking up on public transit