Still not dead yet
Terry Pratchett
I'm letting lots of e-mail about the collapse of the tour, and I won't
be able to answer them all.
I've heard it said it was because of a viral problem, but it was not.
It was because of a *possible* heart problem.
I felt godawful on Wednesday morning, and couldn't find the spray
that'd usually settle things down. My publicist took one look at me and
called an ambulance. The guys had a spray that put me right in
seconds.
But by then I was en-route to the hospital and, since I've now got a
history of heart problems, that meant blood tests and a wait for the
results. That pretty much killed off the chances of the Belfast
signing, right there
Well, the first tests showed a marginal increase in some chemical that
*could* indicate heart damage, and suddenly there was talk of possible
damage to one of the stents that were put in 15 months ago. Doctors
advised an angiogram, to check. Who'd say no?
That stopped the tour, because I couldn't get on the slab until the
following afternoon. Anyone who'd had an angiogram -- and at the rate
they are being done now that is a very fast-growing group) knows that
the aftermath takes time, because you're left with a hole in an artery
that has to be allowed to heal. Around the top of the things not to do
is continue with a signing tour, especially one that involves flying.
The angio turned up nothing but good news, as far as I could tell. The
stents appeared to be fine and there was some indication that the
anti-cholesterol meds are going their stuff.
It wasn't a lot of fuss over nothing, but a lot of fuss --rightly so,
speaking as the owner of the heart--over what might have been something.
I'm sorry it messed up everyone's plans, but as I get older something
like this is always going to be on the cards, and even though it would
be a cool way to go I don't want to die signing. I've signed in bad
health before now, but while I can always get more viruses, I'm,
unlikely to get another heart.
But a bit of a bugger, really, given that I got through a
3-week US tour okay.
--
Terry Pratchett
Daibhid Ceanaideach
>> The angio turned up nothing but good news, as far as I
> could tell. The stents appeared to be fine and there was
> some indication that the anti-cholesterol meds are going
> their stuff.
Glad to hear you're okay. You don't say what your e-mail was,
but I trust it was all people who were concerned, and not
anyone selfish enough to seriously resent the loss of the
signing.
--
Dave
Official Absentee of EU Skiffeysoc
http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/societies/sesoc
"So if ye're an alien, how come ye've got a Southern accent?"
"Lots of planets have a South, Jamie."
-Conversations that never happened, no. 3
CCA
> I'm letting lots of e-mail about the collapse of the tour, and I won't
> be able to answer them all.
>
> I've heard it said it was because of a viral problem, but it was not.
> It was because of a *possible* heart problem.
(snip suspected heart problem and treatment)
> It wasn't a lot of fuss over nothing, but a lot of fuss --rightly so,
> speaking as the owner of the heart--over what might have been something.
Always wise to act as quickly as you did when it's something like that,
and especially with a history of heart problems.
> I'm sorry it messed up everyone's plans
Never mind that - I don't think anyone would expect you to carry on
with a tour when more heart problems may be on the cards. From what
I've heard, your tours are usually pretty gruelling, so it would have
done you no good at all to carry on.
> but as I get older something
> like this is always going to be on the cards, and even though it would
> be a cool way to go I don't want to die signing.
Not as cool as going aged 90-plus with great-grandchildren around
though...
Hope you're okay now, and continue to be so :-)
CCA
Julia Jones
<tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk> writes
>It wasn't a lot of fuss over nothing, but a lot of fuss --rightly so,
>speaking as the owner of the heart--over what might have been
>something. I'm sorry it messed up everyone's plans, but as I get older
>something like this is always going to be on the cards, and even though
>it would be a cool way to go I don't want to die signing. I've signed
>in bad health before now, but while I can always get more viruses, I'm,
>unlikely to get another heart.
Thanks for letting us know what's going on. We worry.
And yes, it might be a cool way to go, but speaking from the other side
of the table, I don't want to be the owner of the book containing the
half-completed scrawl that is your last signature ever. I'll take a live
author writing more books over an uncancelled but final signing anytime.
--
Julia Jones
"We are English of Borg. Your language will be assimilated."
Lister
<tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk> wrote:
<snip>
>
>It wasn't a lot of fuss over nothing, but a lot of fuss --rightly so,
>speaking as the owner of the heart--over what might have been something.
>I'm sorry it messed up everyone's plans, but as I get older something
>like this is always going to be on the cards, and even though it would
>be a cool way to go I don't want to die signing. I've signed in bad
>health before now, but while I can always get more viruses, I'm,
>unlikely to get another heart.
>
>But a bit of a bugger, really, given that I got through a
>3-week US tour okay.
The bottom line is that you rest and recuperate, the tour can wait
GWS Pterry
--
.sig for rent
Apply within
Scott Harwood
Scott Harwood
Duke of URL
Take care of yourself! Given a choice between a signed iconograph or book at
a Con and more Discworld for years to come, well, iconographs are NOT
important!
--
Cliologist, Philanthropologist, Prothonotary Wibbler,
Paleoconservative, Surface Warrior Squid; You can't break even, You
can't win, You can't quit the game.
CCA
[Terry's recent health problems]
> Take care of yourself! Given a choice between a signed iconograph or book at
> a Con and more Discworld for years to come, well, iconographs are NOT
> important!
Quite so! And of course, compared to Terry's health, DW isn't
important either.
CCA
Torak
>
> It wasn't a lot of fuss over nothing, but a lot of fuss --rightly so,
> speaking as the owner of the heart--over what might have been something.
> I'm sorry it messed up everyone's plans, but as I get older something
> like this is always going to be on the cards, and even though it would
> be a cool way to go I don't want to die signing. I've signed in bad
> health before now, but while I can always get more viruses, I'm,
> unlikely to get another heart.
Get well soon!
And don't worry, we'll keep Durham warm for you.
Lizzie
Nigel Stapley
<snip medical history>
To paraphrase something said about another man I much admired (1):
"Better Terry Pratchett late than the late Terry Pratchett"
Felicitations and a good recovery.
(1) Well, OK, it was said about John Peel (after his show had been put
back to weekends at 11pm), but it was said in about 1990 and he lasted a
fair few years after that.
--
Regards
Nigel Stapley
<reply-to will bounce>
Andy Davison
> I'm sorry it messed up everyone's plans, but as I get older something
> like this is always going to be on the cards, and even though it would
> be a cool way to go I don't want to die signing.
Forget everyone's plans. Your health is of paramount importance. That means
that you should cancel the tour right now and if you were unable to write
another book because of the stress involved then so be it (I know this
probably isn't the case but a worst case scenario). What you need to do now
is what the rest of us do from day to day - look after number one.
--
Andy Davison
an...@oiyou.force9.co.uk
Paul E. Jamison
"Terry Pratchett" <tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:yeAJVPFO...@unseen.demon.co.uk...
>
[snip report on *possible* heart problem and *definite* treatment]
>
> It wasn't a lot of fuss over nothing, but a lot of fuss --rightly so,
> speaking as the owner of the heart--over what might have been something.
> I'm sorry it messed up everyone's plans, but as I get older something
> like this is always going to be on the cards, and even though it would
> be a cool way to go I don't want to die signing. I've signed in bad
> health before now, but while I can always get more viruses, I'm,
> unlikely to get another heart.
>
and I will keep you in our thoughts, real and virtual. Get well soon and
stay with us for awhile.
Paul
--
"Who reads, learns, lives the Ferret Way becomes keeper
of light, ennobling outer worlds from one within."
- a prophecy from the Ancients
Boyd Bottorff
> be able to answer them all.
<snip>
> But a bit of a bugger, really, given that I got through a
> 3-week US tour okay.
Well, always remember the perspective of this group [1]. Book signings
are OK, if it keeps the publishing houses happy. Book writing is
IMPERITIVE, TOP PRIORITY, WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS PART, DAMNIT! [2]
Glad to hear you're OK.
[1] At least, we hope this is the perspective. There may be a few
vultures out there stockpiling books simply for investment purposes, but
they're lurkers at best. [3]
[2] But if you do go, write to us and let us know if you got Death
correct, OK?
[3] We hope.
Lesley Weston
tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk wrote on 22/10/2005 4:45 AM:
>
> I'm letting lots of e-mail about the collapse of the tour, and I won't
> be able to answer them all.
>
> I've heard it said it was because of a viral problem, but it was not.
> It was because of a *possible* heart problem.
<snip>
> The angio turned up nothing but good news, as far as I could tell. The
> stents appeared to be fine and there was some indication that the
> anti-cholesterol meds are going their stuff.
That's good news, for sure.
>
> It wasn't a lot of fuss over nothing, but a lot of fuss --rightly so,
> speaking as the owner of the heart--over what might have been something.
> I'm sorry it messed up everyone's plans, but as I get older something
> like this is always going to be on the cards, and even though it would
> be a cool way to go I don't want to die signing. I've signed in bad
> health before now, but while I can always get more viruses, I'm,
> unlikely to get another heart.
>
> But a bit of a bugger, really, given that I got through a
> 3-week US tour okay.
Perhaps you should give up the signing tours? You must surely be well-known
enough now that your books will sell anyway, and they seem to put an awful
lot of strain on you, not surprisingly when one thinks what's involved.
People would miss seeing you, but not as much as we would miss you if you
disappeared altogether. I'm glad you're all right this time.
--
Lesley Weston.
Brightly_coloured_blob is real, but I don't often check even the few bits
that get through Yahoo's filters. To reach me, use leswes att shaw dott ca,
changing spelling and spacing as required.
Terry Pratchett
<daibhidc...@aol.com> writes
>
>
>Glad to hear you're okay. You don't say what your e-mail was,
>but I trust it was all people who were concerned, and not
>anyone selfish enough to seriously resent the loss of the
>signing.
Oh, no, it was fine. But 'virus' sounds a bit vague, although they can
certainly bring you low.
--
Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>
>Perhaps you should give up the signing tours? You must surely be well-known
>enough now that your books will sell anyway, and they seem to put an awful
>lot of strain on you, not surprisingly when one thinks what's involved.
>People would miss seeing you, but not as much as we would miss you if you
>disappeared altogether. I'm glad you're all right this time.
As a matter of fact, that's something I'm contemplating. They take up
around six weeks a year, and these days every publisher wants them at
the same time. I'm not the first author, either, to thing that the
regime they place on your life is not a healthy one.
--
Terry Pratchett
Gordon Welsh
I'd chuck it then. I attended 2 signings (one successful - I'll come to
that),
and I remember thinking at the first how awful it must be for you. We see
the announcements giving endless dates and think great, but it wasn't
till I saw the queue, first thing in the morning, and it struck me how long
it
would take to get through, writing your name over and over, then, when
the last rucksack full of your entire back catalogue has been signed, you
have to trail across country to start again somewhere else in the afternoon.
The first signing I attended was in Edinburgh for CJ, and I was near the
front
of the queue - I got there early as I had lectures in the afternoon and work
in
the evening, so I couldn't get to the Glasgow signing. A year or so later,
on
a cold, wet wintry evening, I finished work and headed into Borders,
Buchannan
St in Glasgow. You must have been there for hours cos it was dark o'clock by
this time, and I wound my way round the shop and up the stairs until I found
the
end of the queue, and there I stood tired and soaked, thinking what am I
doing
here? It was going to be at least 2 hours till my turn, And as I looked down
to the
front of the queue, I thought, what's *he* doing here? However knackered I
was,
I knew it must have been much worse for you, and I decided there and then
that
you didn't need latecomers like me dragging it out for you, and so I left,
not
wanting to contribute to your misery ;)
So nobody would blame you for stopping the tours, especially when it starts
affecting your health. It's great that you've done so much for your fans
(and
publishers), and we all love you for it, but you've more than done your bit
on
that score....and maybe then, the signed books will get to the point where
they're
worth more than the currently scarcer, unsigned copies :)
Thanks, and good health to you.
Gordon
Julia Jones
<tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk> writes
I personally would like you to give it up while your health's still in
reasonable shape. Nobody sane could say that you haven't done your bit
to pay forward the things the previous generation of writers did for
your generation of fans. I know it's easy for me to say when I've
already got my collection of signed books in spite of being on the wrong
continent (thank you, ppint), but you need to draw a line somewhere, and
I'd rather it was before you were forced to give it up because you've
run into serious health problems. I want my next book more than I want a
signed book; and more than that, I don't want to be reading the death
notice of *any* afper who hasn't reached an age at which it can be
accepted as reasonable.
--
Julia Jones
rja.ca...@excite.com
Julia Jones wrote:
> And yes, it might be a cool way to go, but speaking from the other side
> of the table, I don't want to be the owner of the book containing the
> half-completed scrawl that is your last signature ever.
Not when you can go onto eBay and let someone else own it for a very
great amount of money :-)
But count me amongst the party who say that book signings are insane.
The tens of thousands of words between the covers are the work to be
appreciated, not the handwritten addendum on the flyleaf. I suppose
that in signing and selling books and making extra hardcover sales, you
are essentially writing banknotes for yourself one by one, but you can
get tired of that, I'm sure.
Boyd Bottorff
Hear, hear!
Richard Eney
rja.ca...@excite.com <rja.ca...@excite.com> wrote:
<snip>
>But count me amongst the party who say that book signings are insane.
>The tens of thousands of words between the covers are the work to be
>appreciated, not the handwritten addendum on the flyleaf.
Me three on that one. While I appreciate the signatures I've gotten,
even just from an RSI standpoint I feel that writing the books is
better value for time and wrist use than signing them. After all,
I don't buy the books to get signatures. I buy the books to get
the books.
=Tamar
Beth Winter
I think a lot of people come less for the physical signature, and more
for the opportunity to talk to you. Maybe you could do some promotional
meetings as talks only? Much shorter, less strenuous, can fit in more
people, and something to appease your publishers with :)
--
Beth Winter
The Discworld Compendium <http://www.extenuation.net/disc/>
"To absent friends, lost loves, old gods and the season of mists."
-- Neil Gaiman
The Stainless Steel Cat
Terry Pratchett <tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk> wrote:
Add me to the horde who'd rather you gave up the tours and relaxed and were
healthy. Because it's not just signings is it? Don't you have to do a lot
of radio & TV interviews at the same time *and* have journalists turning up
at your hotel room for one more set of quite similar questions? That has to
take a lot out of you.
I agree with Julia's sentiment; you've done an awful lot for "writer/reader
relations", I don't think anyone could accuse you of neglecting your fans
if you decided to just concentrate on writing [*] from now on.
[*] Or even concentrate on tending the carniverous plants instead.
Cat.
--
Jazz-Loving Soul Mate and Tolerable Frog to CCA
I am a leaf on the wind. Watch me soar.
CCA
> Lesley Weston writes
> >Perhaps you should give up the signing tours? You must surely be well-known
> >enough now that your books will sell anyway, and they seem to put an awful
> >lot of strain on you, not surprisingly when one thinks what's involved.
> As a matter of fact, that's something I'm contemplating. They take up
> around six weeks a year, and these days every publisher wants them at
> the same time. I'm not the first author, either, to thing that the
> regime they place on your life is not a healthy one.
If you don't give them up entirely (and it sounds like there's a good
case for considering that), maybe you could reduce them somewhat? But
Lesley's right, the lack of a signing tour isn't going to stop anyone
buying the books.
CCA
Suzi
> In message <BF8015E3.3D176%brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk>, Lesley
> Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>
> >Perhaps you should give up the signing tours?
[Snip]
> As a matter of fact, that's something I'm contemplating. They take up
> around six weeks a year, and these days every publisher wants them at
> the same time. I'm not the first author, either, to thing that the
> regime they place on your life is not a healthy one.
Given that there will be three conventions over the next couple of years
on three separate continents where, I would assume, that as per normal
you will sign for people who are at those conventions; maybe now is the
time to look at restricting signing to those types of events? We're none
of us indestructible, and I think most people would rather that you were
fit and happy :-)
Suzi
redtiger
"Terry Pratchett" <tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:OCAGSDNP...@unseen.demon.co.uk...
Get the publishers to print a copy of your signature on the title page of
every book printed from now on. Problem solved. Then you can spend more time
doing something productive[1]. I would also like to second Beth's idea of
some talks instead. An evening of sitting listening to you, even if it is
only a short talk, is preferable to standing in line for ages wondering what
the hell you are going say in the ten seconds available[2] without sounding
like a complete fool.
[1] Be that writing or taking a walk in your garden, you choose.
[2] You kindly solved that problem by speaking first.
Anthony
--
A good friend will bail you out of jail
A true friend will be sitting next to you saying
"Damn, that was fun!"
Steve Rogers
news:1130064730.3...@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com
And for those that collect signatures as an investment, a couple of such
every now and then will increase their value.
But yes following the sentiments expressed already - cut back or out even as
they are a health hazard, if the publishers aren't convinced you can always
write up a risk analysis for them :)
Steve
David Cherry
Rather than pterry traveling miles and spending 6 weeks on the road to meet
his fans and sign copies of his books, why dont the fans travell miles to
meet pterry at conference. Half a day talking to the fans in a q&a would be
better
Diane L
<snip - signing tous>
> But yes following the sentiments expressed already - cut back or out
> even as they are a health hazard, if the publishers aren't convinced
> you can always write up a risk analysis for them :)
And if that doesn't work, give them a cost-benefit analysis. I'm sure a
healthy author still writing books is worth more to them than a few
more signatures and an author who's wrecked his health (or worse)
trying to follow a strenuous schedule.
Adding my voice to those who've urged you to put your health
first.
Diane L.
Daibhid Ceanaideach
> In article <OCAGSDNP...@unseen.demon.co.uk>, Terry
> Pratchett tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk wibbled...
>
>> In message
>> <BF8015E3.3D176%brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk>,
>> Lesley Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>>
>> >Perhaps you should give up the signing tours?
> [Snip]
>> As a matter of fact, that's something I'm contemplating.
>> They take up around six weeks a year, and these days
>> every publisher wants them at the same time. I'm not the
>> first author, either, to thing that the regime they place
>> on your life is not a healthy one.
>
> Given that there will be three conventions over the next
> couple of years on three separate continents where, I would
> assume, that as per normal you will sign for people who are
> at those conventions; maybe now is the time to look at
> restricting signing to those types of events?
I've a feeling that, with the best will in the world, the
already ludicrous convention signing queues would quadruple if
it was the only time you could get it done. I recommend we go
cold turkey.
--
Dave
Official Absentee of EU Skiffeysoc
http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/societies/sesoc
"So if ye're an alien, how come ye've got a Southern accent?"
"Lots of planets have a South, Jamie."
-Conversations that never happened, no. 3
robcraine
Well... it would give the rest of us the chance to get hold of one of
those valuable, rare, unsigned copies I've heard about...
Seriously. Its your life, and everyone here hopes it will carry on as
long as possible. At least until they've perfected cloning anyway. And
if that means cutting back on (or quitting) the signing, or even
cutting back on (or... cutting back on some more) the writing, don't
let us stop you. You have already given us all more than could be hoped
from any one mortal.
Get, and stay, well.
Rob
floo...@gmail.com
I am in the very difficult position right now of not being able to read
Thud! until I have the artwork done for a friend who is releasing an
rpg in two weeks at dragonmeet, I believe. It's a tough call, and I've
had to ask my husband to hide the newly purchased book from me until
after I get the work done, or it wont.
I'm very sorry for hogging this with me-talk, but I can't bitch enough
about the bad timing of only today, with the deadline looming, finding
a copy of Thud!
I am glad to hear that you are well, and hope to keep reading more from
you for years to come.
Catja Pafort
> But count me amongst the party who say that book signings are insane.
> The tens of thousands of words between the covers are the work to be
> appreciated, not the handwritten addendum on the flyleaf.
I wouldn't pay extra for a signed book, let's put it like that. But the
last booksigning I went to - incidentally, one Terry Pratchett - was an
opportunity to hear the author talk about his writing process, which
always interests me. I've also spent some time at worldcon seeking out
and listening to various people who bad been hitherto only names in gold
foil on covers - I'm curious. What kind of person is this? What do they
have to say?
And I know that a lot of people appreciate the opportunity to exchange a
few words with whoever is signing their book.
Gruelling for the author, certainly. But not completely pointless. I
don't think anyone will blame an author if he gives them up for health
benefits, but I'd be a bit miffed with one who didn't want to meet his
readers. (Demonstrably not the case here.)
Catja
aka PerditaX
Catja Pafort
> It wasn't a lot of fuss over nothing, but a lot of fuss --rightly so,
> speaking as the owner of the heart--over what might have been something.
Terry,
I'm glad you're ok, and I'm glad that the medics did their job so well.
Now get better!
P.S.: Laughter is supposed to be a fine medicine. You've certainly
provided us with multiple doses.
Catja
aka PerditaX
Graycat
use...@greenknight.org.uk.invalid (Catja Pafort) jotted
down:
>Gruelling for the author, certainly. But not completely pointless. I
>don't think anyone will blame an author if he gives them up for health
>benefits, but I'd be a bit miffed with one who didn't want to meet his
>readers. (Demonstrably not the case here.)
Why? I mean, I'm sure that for some authors writing is a
personal thing that they do for them, and meeting readers
just isn't interesting.
I personally think it's sort of cool to meet famous people
of writer I like or whatever, but it's not a big deal.
(having said that, I actually do have an autograph from
Pterry - though I waited until the line was gone before
asking for it and it isn't in a book).
--
Elin
The Tale of Westala and Villtin
http://tale.cunobaros.com/
The Oswalds DW casting award - Vote Now!
http://www.student.lu.se/~his02ero/Oswald/index.html
Richard Bos
Methinks here is a chance to let the forces of the market place work in
your favour. _They_ want _you_, not (or at the very least not as badly)
the other way 'round. Even if you decide not to drop touring altogether,
this is a trump you can use to force the publishers into giving you a
saner schedule.
Richard
little...@hotmail.com
okay; when I saw the 'illness' sign and remembered Terry's problems
last year I was more than a little bit worried. Like everyone else, I'd
rather have a healthy PTerry than a signed book. I had a small
tupperware box full of 'amusing' plasticine Discworld heads that my
friends and I wanted to give him, but I'll just whack 'em in the post
instead.
Janice at UU
Terry Pratchett wrote:
> I'm letting lots of e-mail about the collapse of the tour, and I won't
> be able to answer them all.
>
> I've heard it said it was because of a viral problem, but it was not.
> It was because of a *possible* heart problem.
>
> that'd usually settle things down. My publicist took one look at me and
> called an ambulance. The guys had a spray that put me right in
> seconds.
>
> But by then I was en-route to the hospital and, since I've now got a
> history of heart problems, that meant blood tests and a wait for the
> results. That pretty much killed off the chances of the Belfast
> signing, right there
>
> Well, the first tests showed a marginal increase in some chemical that
> *could* indicate heart damage, and suddenly there was talk of possible
> damage to one of the stents that were put in 15 months ago. Doctors
> advised an angiogram, to check. Who'd say no?
>
> That stopped the tour, because I couldn't get on the slab until the
> following afternoon. Anyone who'd had an angiogram -- and at the rate
> they are being done now that is a very fast-growing group) knows that
> the aftermath takes time, because you're left with a hole in an artery
> that has to be allowed to heal. Around the top of the things not to do
> is continue with a signing tour, especially one that involves flying.
>
> The angio turned up nothing but good news, as far as I could tell. The
> stents appeared to be fine and there was some indication that the
> anti-cholesterol meds are going their stuff.
>
> speaking as the owner of the heart--over what might have been something.
> like this is always going to be on the cards, and even though it would
> be a cool way to go I don't want to die signing. I've signed in bad
> health before now, but while I can always get more viruses, I'm,
> unlikely to get another heart.
>
> But a bit of a bugger, really, given that I got through a
> 3-week US tour okay.
>
> Terry Pratchett
Bugger messing up OUR plans - like everyone else has said, YOUR health
is more important than our desire to get a book signed. Any
disapontment on our part is only because we LIKE you, but we'd really
like you healthy and happy. So best wishes to you AND to your family
(who must have been so worried).
Janice
Sanity
> It wasn't a lot of fuss over nothing, but a lot of fuss --rightly so,
> speaking as the owner of the heart--over what might have been something.
> I'm sorry it messed up everyone's plans, but as I get older something
> like this is always going to be on the cards, and even though it would
> be a cool way to go I don't want to die signing. I've signed in bad
> health before now, but while I can always get more viruses, I'm,
> unlikely to get another heart.
Well, let's hope it won't be necessary for a long time. I can easily say
"just give up touring" as the Netherlands are rarely part of it anyway,
but I think your fans really prefer you alive and writing, even if that
does mean a smaller opportunity to get anything signed. And signing
bodyparts was out of the question anyway, so we're not missing that much ;)
--
TTFN, | AFPChess, Planet AFP, L-Files & more:
| http://www.affordable-prawns.co.uk/
| *Submit your blog to Planet AFP!*
Michel AKA Sanity | Jabber IM: michel @ jabber.xs4all.nl
Arthur Hagen
> , I don't want to
> be reading the death notice of *any* afper who hasn't reached an age
> at which it can be accepted as reasonable.
What /is/ an age at which it can be accepted as reasonable to die?
Biologically, one'd think it would be not much more than the age of
menopause plus puberty for women, and somewhat less than that for men.
However, reason might not work too well for this, as it's also an
emotional issue. I have friends in their eighties who I'd think it be
way too soon if they died now, while there are others at half that age
that I think have pretty much finished their lives.
Anyhow, pterry is not allowed to die until he's written L'Morte
d'Rincewind. And until I'm dead enough not to get upset when his estate
quickly after his demise releases his unfinished and unpublished works
to capitalize on his death. (It happened to Heinlein, Asimov and Adams
despite their expressed wishes when alive, so I have little reason to
believe that it won't happen to just about any famous author.)
Regards,
--
*Art
Ross
<435b7f53$0$6512$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net>, seen in
alt.fan.pratchett:
[...]
> Adding my voice to those who've urged you to put your health
> first.
Despite my hatred of AOL posts...
Seconded, thirded or nine-hundred-and-ninety-seventhed (or wherever it
is on the list I appear). :-)
--
Ross
Reply-to will bounce. Replace the junk-trap with my name to e-mail me.
Suzi
daibhidc...@aol.com wibbled...
> Also Sprach Suzi:
[Snip]
> > Given that there will be three conventions over the next
> > couple of years on three separate continents where, I would
> > assume, that as per normal you will sign for people who are
> > at those conventions; maybe now is the time to look at
> > restricting signing to those types of events?
>
> I've a feeling that, with the best will in the world, the
> already ludicrous convention signing queues would quadruple if
> it was the only time you could get it done. I recommend we go
> cold turkey.
Given there are normally about 600-700 people at the largest of them
(the UK one), that is the equivalent of a couple of normal book
signings... and given that not everyone who gets to a convention is
interested in getting their books signed... and if there were a strict
one book per person limit imposed... well, it would be nowhere near as
ghastly and tiring as a signing tour and, I suspect, would be on a par
with the normal signing sessions that already take place at the
conventions. But, after all is said and done, it is down to Terry
himself and what he wants to do :-)
Suzi
The Roach
> Steve Rogers wrote:
>
> <snip - signing tous>
>
> > But yes following the sentiments expressed already - cut back or out
> > even as they are a health hazard, if the publishers aren't convinced
> > you can always write up a risk analysis for them :)
>
> And if that doesn't work, give them a cost-benefit analysis. I'm sure a
> healthy author still writing books is worth more to them than a few
> more signatures and an author who's wrecked his health (or worse)
> trying to follow a strenuous schedule.
Seeing how many authors are trying to get into the business in the first
place, I have a nasty suspicion that at least some publishers don't see
the chance that an author might be removed from the pool permanently as
a major risk. There are always enough to follow suit. ;-(
> Adding my voice to those who've urged you to put your health
> first.
Same from here. I was shocked to hear it, and am glad it wasn't more
serious.
--
yIn nI' yISIQ 'ej yIchep
The Roach
(www.roachware.de -- elfwood.lysator.liu.se/~mja)
Andrew Nevill
<tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>In message <BF8015E3.3D176%brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk>, Lesley
>Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>
>>
>>Perhaps you should give up the signing tours? You must surely be well-known
>>enough now that your books will sell anyway, and they seem to put an awful
>>lot of strain on you, not surprisingly when one thinks what's involved.
>>People would miss seeing you, but not as much as we would miss you if you
>>disappeared altogether. I'm glad you're all right this time.
>
>As a matter of fact, that's something I'm contemplating. They take up
>around six weeks a year, and these days every publisher wants them at
>the same time. I'm not the first author, either, to thing that the
>regime they place on your life is not a healthy one.
I think it's definitely unhealthy, especially nowadays. Every time a new
book is published you do a signing tour. Now they're really starting to take
off in the US, you tour there as well so it's getting that you're doing
US-UK signing tours back to back every 12 months. For anyone, that's a
tough schedule
Echoing what most people have said, I'd much prefer my favourite author to
continue writing books (doing something you still seem to enjoy) than
stressing yourself out and making yourself ill by touring.
As has been said, most people just want to meet you.Maybe you could do much
shorter tours, which as Beth suggested, include chats and Q&As.That way,
there'd be less demands on you but still give the fan the opportunity to
meet you.
I also agree with Suzi that instead of touring, you could sign at events
like DWCon. I don't think it would make the signing queues longer, as
someone else said, because from what I've seen at such events the signings
are usually well organised so they don't tend to over-run (if only because
you have something else to get to) Also at events you usually do several
signing so unlike on a tour, it's not the *only* opportunity to get your
signature.
Anyway glad to hear that this was just a scare and that everything appears
to be all right. Take care Terry and hope you're back to full health soon.
--
Andrew Nevill B.F. D.W. FdV. Reply address: ane...@binternet.com
AFPWorshipper to Spooky, AFPfiance to Sarah (Nanny Ogg) & S*****
AFPUncle to James Vaughan. You cannot value friends as pennies,
nor can you replace them as easily (Spooky in email, Aug 2001.)
Discworld Convention 2006. 18 - 26 Aug 2006 Hanover International
Hotel, Hinckley, UK www.dwcon.org
Lesley Weston
a...@broomstick.com wrote on 23/10/2005 11:14 AM:
> Julia Jones <julia...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> , I don't want to
>> be reading the death notice of *any* afper who hasn't reached an age
>> at which it can be accepted as reasonable.
>
> What /is/ an age at which it can be accepted as reasonable to die?
>
> Biologically, one'd think it would be not much more than the age of
> menopause plus puberty for women, and somewhat less than that for men.
> However, reason might not work too well for this, as it's also an
> emotional issue.
Quite apart from the emotional bit, it seems very likely that children who
have functioning grandparents and even great-grandparents grow up healthier,
saner and perhaps better-educated than those who don't. Part of this
function is to give financial help if needed, but the main use of older
family members is as emotional support for the parents and also as free
babysitters who definitely care about the children. I think there have been
studies that found this to be true, but I can't cite.
--
Lesley Weston.
Brightly_coloured_blob is real, but I don't often check even the few bits
that get through Yahoo's filters. To reach me, use leswes att shaw dott ca,
changing spelling and spacing as required.
rja.ca...@excite.com
Daibhid Ceanaideach wrote:
> Also Sprach Suzi:
>
> > In article <OCAGSDNP...@unseen.demon.co.uk>, Terry
> > Pratchett tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk wibbled...
> >
> >> In message
> >> <BF8015E3.3D176%brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk>,
> >> Lesley Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
> >>
> >> >Perhaps you should give up the signing tours?
> > [Snip]
> >> As a matter of fact, that's something I'm contemplating.
> >> They take up around six weeks a year, and these days
> >> every publisher wants them at the same time. I'm not the
> >> first author, either, to thing that the regime they place
> >> on your life is not a healthy one.
> >
> > Given that there will be three conventions over the next
> > couple of years on three separate continents where, I would
> > assume, that as per normal you will sign for people who are
> > at those conventions; maybe now is the time to look at
> > restricting signing to those types of events?
>
> I've a feeling that, with the best will in the world, the
> already ludicrous convention signing queues would quadruple if
> it was the only time you could get it done. I recommend we go
> cold turkey.
Perhaps a stage interview or a panel appearance would be less stressful
than a signing session. Questions can be asked, maybe in writing, the
voice can be heard, and I think Pterry talking is probably worth more
than talking to him - and perhaps a token to commemorate the occasion,
as the signature does, can be provided as well. On the other hand, not
all tastes coincide.
But in the old days - not Pterry's old days but literature's - I
suppose that autographed books were rare and became valuable because
they only existed as gifts from the author. The modern arrangement
where anyone can queue up for an autographed book is very different.
Pudde Fjord
> In message <BF8015E3.3D176%brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk>, Lesley
> Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>
>>
>> well-known
>> enough now that your books will sell anyway, and they seem to put an
>> awful
>> lot of strain on you, not surprisingly when one thinks what's involved.
>> People would miss seeing you, but not as much as we would miss you if you
>> disappeared altogether. I'm glad you're all right this time.
>
>
> around six weeks a year, and these days every publisher wants them at
> the same time. I'm not the first author, either, to thing that the
> regime they place on your life is not a healthy one.
Don't give them up altogether, but try to cut back a bit. Don't go on
tours just because you have one (or two) new books out there, go because
you want to yourself, and add a few days to *see* the countries you
travel to, not just the inside of hotel rooms and bookstores.
Tell your publishers that you'd rather write books than sign your name
over and over for weeks at a time, and that the books will reach the
audience if you go out there or not. It would be better if you did, say
one tour of US in spring and one of UK in summer, than to do both tours
with a few weeks pause in between both times. (You usually have two
books a year out there.) You could also make them include trips to
places *you* would like to go, and have a day or two for yourself
included in the package.
Use the current situation for all its worth, and tell them that you have
to take better care of yourself in the future.
Good luck and best of health in the future.
Pudde.
Kay
obviously comes first and foremost. Those of us that were priviliged to
get to see you, thank you for taking the time.
Kay Davis
Kay
saw you go through one night at Pasadena's book signing. Let alone 6
weeks. If your heart is questionable, then do what you have to in
order to stay healthy - that is your top priority and your fan's number
one concern. You are (as was stated above) very well known, and there
are those of us that stick your books in friends faces and get them
hooked as well, so it isn't as if you really need the publicity. I
believe a politely phrased "bugger off" might be in order next time
they want you to go on a book signing tour.
(either that or demand that they build you a throne room and the fans
must come to you. sorry, just an amusing mental image)
Kay
Alec Cawley
a...@broomstick.com says...
> Julia Jones <julia...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > , I don't want to
> > be reading the death notice of *any* afper who hasn't reached an age
> > at which it can be accepted as reasonable.
>
> What /is/ an age at which it can be accepted as reasonable to die?
>
> Biologically, one'd think it would be not much more than the age of
> menopause plus puberty for women, and somewhat less than that for men.
Not really. Presumably, by referring to menopause, you are thinking
reproductively, and that for a woman who has passed menopause "her work
is done". But recent research has shown that having an in-contact
grandmother is very good for children's development, both in health and
achievement. A woman whose reproductive days are over can still
contribute to her net reproductive fitness by caring for her
grandchildren. Indeed, if she has more than two reproducing children,
she is probably advantaged to do so: she can help more than twice as
many grandchildren (25% related) than she could probably bear children
(20% related) with an ageing body. It is arguable that menopause is a
mechanism to achieve precisely that - to divert women from the dangerous
task of bearing children to the caring for grandchildren.
There is no age at which it is "reasonable" to die. But humans have a
natural sense of fairness, even though Nature does not share it. Given
that we have to die - the world could not withstand our immortality - we
tend to agree that it is "OK" for people to die if they have had a "fair
go" - which might mean living to, say, 80% of the median age of death.
There is nothing analytical about this , but it is what we feel. Also we
feel that if someone has contributed more than usual to the public good
(such as PTerry), we would like them to have a slightly longer "fair
go".
Which, in an incredibly long way roundabout way, brings me to my
response to PTerry's original post. You have earned, in my opinion and I
am sure that of afp, an extra long "fair go". Make sure you claim it.
You have given me lots of pleasant times: claim plenty for yourself, and
let signing tours go hang.
--
@lec Šawley
http://www.livejournal.com/~randombler
Nigel Stapley
> But in the old days - not Pterry's old days but literature's - I
> suppose that autographed books were rare and became valuable because
> they only existed as gifts from the author. The modern arrangement
> where anyone can queue up for an autographed book is very different.
>
There's a story about the poet Danny Abse. He was in a second-hand
bookshop once, browsing innocently away, when he came upon a copy of one
of his own collections - signed - at what he thought was a ridiculously
low price.
He took it to the counter, where he queried the price, to be told that
in the shopkeeper's opinion it was a fair one.
"But it's signed!", protested Abse.
"Yes", said the shopkeeper (not recognising Abse as the author), "But he
signs easily."
--
Regards
Nigel Stapley
<reply-to will bounce>
Terry Pratchett
<ral...@xs4all.nl> writes
>
>Methinks here is a chance to let the forces of the market place work in
>your favour. _They_ want _you_, not (or at the very least not as badly)
>the other way 'round. Even if you decide not to drop touring altogether,
>this is a trump you can use to force the publishers into giving you a
>saner schedule.
to be frank, the publishers have never forced me to tour; I've always
done it because it's particularly a tradition in the F/SF field and,
anyway, it's part of the whole thing. If, after twenty years of hard
core touring I want to give it up...well, they'd understand the
position.
--
Terry Pratchett
Lizzie
Terry Pratchett skrev:
> to be frank, the publishers have never forced me to tour; I've always
> done it because it's particularly a tradition in the F/SF field and,
> anyway, it's part of the whole thing. If, after twenty years of hard
> core touring I want to give it up...well, they'd understand the
> position.
> --
That's very good of them, IMHO, and all I'd like to say is that you
should do what you feel is the best. As everyone else has said, if you
want to write, write, if you feel like signing, sing, if you would like
to bungyjump from a bridge, do so, or whatever might be on your mind!
/
Lizzie
Boyd Bottorff
> last booksigning I went to - incidentally, one Terry Pratchett - was an
> opportunity to hear the author talk about his writing process, which
> always interests me. I've also spent some time at worldcon seeking out
> and listening to various people who bad been hitherto only names in gold
> foil on covers - I'm curious. What kind of person is this? What do they
> have to say?
Yeah, but for the authors, I'ld rather see them at a convention of some
sort. This way, it's a weekend for them, rather than a multi-week
marathon. And you get better opportunities to hear them on multiple
subjects.
Boyd Bottorff
> place, I have a nasty suspicion that at least some publishers don't see
> the chance that an author might be removed from the pool permanently as
> a major risk. There are always enough to follow suit. ;-(
Yeah, but:
1) There's the immediate name recognition. They look at authors the
way other businesses look at brands. Sure, there are a lot of brands
out there, but you *don't* discard a known, hot brand for a potential
one in hte bush. I saw thirty or fourty copies of Thud! at a local
Barnes & Noble. That means that the stuff sells.
2) Possibly even more important, believe it or not, in order to find
replacement authors, you have to go through slush piles. Or deal with
hordes of agents. And to get an author of the quality of Mr. Pratchett
[1], that's a lot of slush and slog.
[1] Or to find something of the quality of _Eye of Argon_. It might
not something you're able to sell, but at least it makes the slush-pile
slogging more enjoyable.
Richard Bos
> In message <435ba4b0...@news.xs4all.nl>, Richard Bos
> <ral...@xs4all.nl> writes
> >
> >Methinks here is a chance to let the forces of the market place work in
> >your favour. _They_ want _you_, not (or at the very least not as badly)
> >the other way 'round. Even if you decide not to drop touring altogether,
> >this is a trump you can use to force the publishers into giving you a
> >saner schedule.
>
> to be frank, the publishers have never forced me to tour; I've always
> done it because it's particularly a tradition in the F/SF field and,
> anyway, it's part of the whole thing.
Fair enough. And true enough.
> If, after twenty years of hard core touring I want to give it up...well,
> they'd understand the position.
Oh, I should hope so. But they'd grump, naturally. So would the (or at
least some) fans. Grump, and then accept it being for the better. After
all, it's your life, and anybody can understand that you'd like it to
stay yours.
Richard
Arthur Hagen
>
> 1) There's the immediate name recognition. They look at authors the
> way other businesses look at brands. Sure, there are a lot of brands
> out there, but you *don't* discard a known, hot brand for a potential
> one in hte bush. I saw thirty or fourty copies of Thud! at a local
> Barnes & Noble. That means that the stuff sells.
At the local Borders, "Where's my Cow" was placed next to Anne Rice,
which I found mildly amusing.
Regards,
--
*Art
David Sewell
rja.ca...@excite.com <rja.ca...@excite.com> wrote:
> Perhaps a stage interview or a panel appearance would be less stressful
> than a signing session. Questions can be asked, maybe in writing, the
> voice can be heard, and I think Pterry talking is probably worth more
One of the most enjoyable hours I've spent lately was listening to
Terry's interview on Radio Triple J from Australia. Thanks to audio
archives (http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/breakfast/listen/default.htm), I
didn't have to go to Australia to hear it, but listened to it while
walking in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains thanks to an MP3
player the size of a cigarette lighter. And there are plenty of other
good interviews and talks linked on lspace.org.
Discworld: the Podcast? the Plodcast? I'd subscribe.
--
David Sewell, University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA USA
kathryn
"Terry Pratchett" <tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:yeAJVPFO...@unseen.demon.co.uk...
>
> I'm letting lots of e-mail about the collapse of the tour, and I won't be
> able to answer them all.
> Terry Pratchett
Just glad you're feeling better :)
David Cherry
"David Sewell" <dse...@virginia.edu> wrote in message
news:djhhim$3i2$1...@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU...
Andy Davison
> to be frank, the publishers have never forced me to tour; I've always
> done it because it's particularly a tradition in the F/SF field and,
> anyway, it's part of the whole thing. If, after twenty years of hard
> core touring I want to give it up...well, they'd understand the
> position.
To be equally frank, your books would still sell even if you never toured
again though I can see why new authors might want to do the tour thing and
I can see why you did it way back when. I only ever went to two signings,
once when I went into a bookshop to get a book for my mother's birthday and
found a queue with you sitting at the head signing FoC paperback plus
whatever the hardback was and once for the CJ hardback and J paperback
because I wanted to get signed books for my nephew to try to encourage him
to read rather than playing computer games (it worked). I stood in the
queue with a bloke whose wife was moaning about the length of it and
questioning what sort of people would want to queue up when the publishers
ought to be able to arrange signed copies for those who want them without
the need to queue for them, totally missing the point. Her husband told her
to go and do some shopping elsewhere (it was the Harlequin Centre in
Watford). Meanwhile, I was wondering what sort of person would agree to sit
at the head of the queue signing books and exchanging pleasantries with
total dorks like me. I couldn't do it. I'd be rude to people but there you
were giving people a smile and a bit of chat and, looking at them as they
walked away, they obviously felt special afterwards. I still can't see the
point of signings except as a tool to sell more books which is something
some other authors do need. I also still can't see why you do it as you
don't actually need to anymore. I hope you get better. Anyone who can write
books as good as Small Gods and Going Postal would become immortal if there
were any justice in this world (and I think Thud is right up there with
those two).
--
Andy Davison
an...@oiyou.force9.co.uk
Andy Davison
> What is an age at which it can be accepted as reasonable to die?
Good question. Some book or other says three score years and ten which is 70
but when my step-father died aged 76 I felt incredibly cheated. This week
the great Johnny Haynes died at 71 and there I was thinking "well, it's no
age really, is it?"
--
Andy Davison
an...@oiyou.force9.co.uk
Torak
> Terry Pratchett skrev:
>
> > to be frank, the publishers have never forced me to tour; I've always
> > done it because it's particularly a tradition in the F/SF field and,
> > anyway, it's part of the whole thing. If, after twenty years of hard
> > core touring I want to give it up...well, they'd understand the
> > position.
>
> should do what you feel is the best. As everyone else has said, if you
> want to write, write,
> if you feel like signing, sing,
I'd pay to see that. Pterry, do you do requests?
Andy Davison
> Lizzie wrote:
>> if you feel like signing, sing,
>
> I'd pay to see that. Pterry, do you do requests?
Just don't ask for "I left my heart in San Fransisco" :)
--
Andy Davison
an...@oiyou.force9.co.uk
Pixel
Waterstones in Brussels - having dealt with a massive queue ahead of me
and with a massive queue still behind me you still took the time to
make it a personal experience, you signed the two books I was buying
with that little added bit - one to a "Dedicated autocondimenter"
because the first thing that came into my mind to say was "What have
you got against autocondimenters" - which I suppose is marginally
better than "...nk you!" in a very quiet voice, and the other with a
little quick sketch of Death (plus the word "Boo!") - I went away
feeling good - and from a friend on the Waterstones staff talking about
that signing, and from what I have heard from other sources about other
signings when you have gone out of your way to make sure that everyone
at least gets their book signed even if they don't meet you, then that
is good - but now should be the time to say "Enough is enough" -
whatever the publishers say - you don't need to destroy your health
doing tours - I'm sure I can speak for all your fans when I say that
what we want to read is your next book, not your obituary!
Boyd Bottorff
THE ONE AT WHICH YOUR LIFE ENDS. THOUGH CATS GIVE ME PROBLEMS. I
SOMETIMES SHOW UP AT THE END OF THE WRONG LIFE.
Polly Oliver
books for many years (ever since I heard "Truckers" and spent the next
few car journies yelling "LEFT! NOW RIGHT, RIGHT! LOTS OF RIGHT!
DUCK!!!"), and am very pleased to hear that one of my favourite writers
"Aten't Dead".
Terry, feel better soon, there are many people sending to positive
vibes from all over the world. And the world-wide-web :-)
Pighooey
> to be frank, the publishers have never forced me to tour; I've always
> done it because it's particularly a tradition in the F/SF field and,
> anyway, it's part of the whole thing. If, after twenty years of hard
> core touring I want to give it up...well, they'd understand the
> position.
I should think so! I was at one of the earlier stops (Boston) on your
recent US tour and was aghast at the amount of work it was for you. And
it was your second signing of the day! If you can't quite bring
yourself to give it up altogether (and, for the record, I would like to
add my name to the list of your fans who think you've done your bit in
that regard) please consider laying down some ground rules to keep the
experience from being downright detrimental to your health. No more
than one signing per day, and no more than two days in a row without a
day off, etc. But I really encourage you to give up touring and just do
the conventions. You seem to enjoy the conventions anyway, and there
are so many more of them these days; hardcore fans who want to meet and
greet you can attend them, and doing signings at those events will
still give you the sense of carrying on the F/SF tradition.
Hoping you are feeling quite well now,
yours ever,
Jean
tafka
Douglas Adams."
*pats pockets absently*
I know I have a resurrect dead spell around here somewhere.
richard e white
> I'm letting lots of e-mail about the collapse of the tour, and I won't
> be able to answer them all.
>
> I've heard it said it was because of a viral problem, but it was not.
> It was because of a *possible* heart problem.
>
> I felt godawful on Wednesday morning, and couldn't find the spray
> that'd usually settle things down. My publicist took one look at me and
> called an ambulance. The guys had a spray that put me right in
> seconds.
>
> But by then I was en-route to the hospital and, since I've now got a
> history of heart problems, that meant blood tests and a wait for the
> results. That pretty much killed off the chances of the Belfast
> signing, right there
>
> Well, the first tests showed a marginal increase in some chemical that
> *could* indicate heart damage, and suddenly there was talk of possible
> damage to one of the stents that were put in 15 months ago. Doctors
> advised an angiogram, to check. Who'd say no?
>
> That stopped the tour, because I couldn't get on the slab until the
> following afternoon. Anyone who'd had an angiogram -- and at the rate
> they are being done now that is a very fast-growing group) knows that
> the aftermath takes time, because you're left with a hole in an artery
> that has to be allowed to heal. Around the top of the things not to do
> is continue with a signing tour, especially one that involves flying.
>
> The angio turned up nothing but good news, as far as I could tell. The
> stents appeared to be fine and there was some indication that the
> anti-cholesterol meds are going their stuff.
>
> It wasn't a lot of fuss over nothing, but a lot of fuss --rightly so,
> speaking as the owner of the heart--over what might have been something.
> I'm sorry it messed up everyone's plans, but as I get older something
> like this is always going to be on the cards, and even though it would
> be a cool way to go I don't want to die signing. I've signed in bad
> health before now, but while I can always get more viruses, I'm,
> unlikely to get another heart.
>
> But a bit of a bugger, really, given that I got through a
> 3-week US tour okay.
>
> --
> Terry Pratchett
I think most of us would rather you stick around to write more books then
push your self just to sign a few of them.
Nice to hear that it is nothing all that bad.
--
Richard The Blind Typer
Lets Hear It For Talking Computers.
nikolapc
I'm still waiting to read Vimes being a grandfather :)
Hope you're doing well.
Best,
Nikola
Alister
<snip>
> I felt godawful on Wednesday morning, and couldn't find the spray
> that'd usually settle things down. My publicist took one look at me and
> called an ambulance. The guys had a spray that put me right in seconds.
It always amuses me that the Glycerol Tri-Nitrate spray used for relieving
cardiac/angina symptoms should be such a close relative of Tri-Nitro Toluene
(that well known high explosive). It used to worry me no end to administer it
to heavy smokers!!
Glad your ticker is still ticking!
Please consider giving up signing tours seriously.
As many other posters on this thread, I was shocked when I saw the
extent of your schedule in the UK tour. How any one can leap from Birmingham to
North Derbyshire between morning and afternoon, *and* be nice to thousands of
folk in between times is a complete mystery!
Best Wishes, Alastair.
Puck
> 3-week US tour okay.
Here's hoping that you feel much better and have many long years of signing
things (oh, and writing them too) ahead of you.
--
Puck (onstage): I am that merry wanderer of the night!
Peaseblossom (in audience): "I am that merry wanderer of the night",
indeed! "I am that
giggling-dangerous-totally-bloody-psychotic-menace-to-life and limb,
more like." -Neil Gaiman
Puck
Heh. This vaguely reminds me of a video game called Conker's Bad Fur Day in
which Death (or as he prefers to be called, Greg) goes on about how he hates
it when video game characters get extra lives because it makes them too much
like cats, which gives him a great deal of difficulty.
Julia Jones
Davison <an...@oiyou.force9.co.uk> writes
>I still can't see the
>point of signings except as a tool to sell more books which is something
>some other authors do need. I also still can't see why you do it as you
>don't actually need to anymore. I hope you get better. Anyone who can write
>books as good as Small Gods and Going Postal would become immortal if there
>were any justice in this world (and I think Thud is right up there with
>those two).
I deliberately mentioned "paying forward" because I've done enough con
stewarding to know that's one of the reasons a lot of people do the
signings. They remember when they were (and often still are) the ones
standing in the signing queue or waiting outside the stage door.
(I still wish I had a copy of the video from the con where JMS was
rendered speechless by meeting His Hero.)
--
Julia Jones
Just out from Loose Id: Spindrift
Richard finds the truth in legend, when he finds a silkie bereft of
his skin and in need of a home... http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=190
TheManWhoKnowsLittle
> Julia Jones <julia...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>, I don't want to
>>be reading the death notice of *any* afper who hasn't reached an age
>>at which it can be accepted as reasonable.
>
>
> What /is/ an age at which it can be accepted as reasonable to die?
>
Possibly the age at which said person has achieved all they wished to
achieve, has experieinced all they wanted to experience and has provided
a legacy which the antecedents will be proud of.
Of course, by this definition almost *everyone* dies before it can be
accepted as a reasonable age to die, but that works for me.
--
*****************************************************************
The more I learn, the more I realise there is that I don't know.
So feel free to enlighten me.
*****************************************************************
emails can be sent to me at the mortgage man 1980 at hotmail dot com.
TheManWhoKnowsLittle
> Terry Pratchett wrote:
>
>>Lesley Weston writes
>
>
>>>Perhaps you should give up the signing tours? You must surely be well-known
>>>enough now that your books will sell anyway, and they seem to put an awful
>>>lot of strain on you, not surprisingly when one thinks what's involved.
>
>
>>As a matter of fact, that's something I'm contemplating. They take up
>>around six weeks a year, and these days every publisher wants them at
>>the same time. I'm not the first author, either, to thing that the
>>regime they place on your life is not a healthy one.
>
>
> If you don't give them up entirely (and it sounds like there's a good
> case for considering that), maybe you could reduce them somewhat? But
> Lesley's right, the lack of a signing tour isn't going to stop anyone
> buying the books.
> CCA
>
I would like to associate myself with the comment of the previous poster.
Keep healthy, for the love of God! We'd all miss you far too much, and
we'd *all* feel much better knowing that you're curled up in a comfy
chair, eating CCCB's following a lovely curry, and sipping a glass or
nine of wine.
Seriously, the signing tours, the interviews, the publisher-sponsered
press harassment, it's all pointless. A post a month on afp would keep
us all happy and safe in the knowledge that you're there, and those
people you've created in your mind are still trundling on in their lives.
Get well soon and return to work later.
rja.ca...@excite.com
Polly Oliver wrote:
> I am new to this group, though I have been a fan of Terry Pratchett's
> books for many years (ever since I heard "Truckers" and spent the next
> few car journies yelling "LEFT! NOW RIGHT, RIGHT! LOTS OF RIGHT!
> DUCK!!!"), and am very pleased to hear that one of my favourite writers
> "Aten't Dead".
"Less Unwell Than Orwell" would be, in the circumstances, encouraging.
Dave
<snip>
>
> Perhaps a stage interview or a panel appearance would be less stressful
> than a signing session. Questions can be asked, maybe in writing, the
> voice can be heard, and I think Pterry talking is probably worth more
> as the signature does, can be provided as well. On the other hand, not
> all tastes coincide.
>
Sounds good to me!
May I add my name to the already huge list of apfers - take things easy
Anyway we are lucky in that you do already talk to us by posting. And
I'm sure the occasional post is a lot less stressful than a signing tour.
--
Large Dave
This sig deliberately left blank.
rich hammett
> In message <BF8015E3.3D176%brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk>, Lesley
> Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>>Perhaps you should give up the signing tours? You must surely be well-known
>>enough now that your books will sell anyway, and they seem to put an awful
>>lot of strain on you, not surprisingly when one thinks what's involved.
>>People would miss seeing you, but not as much as we would miss you if you
>>disappeared altogether. I'm glad you're all right this time.
> As a matter of fact, that's something I'm contemplating. They take up
> around six weeks a year, and these days every publisher wants them at
> the same time. I'm not the first author, either, to thing that the
> regime they place on your life is not a healthy one.
I'd think that some sort of shrine, perhaps in some 3rd world country
like Wales, where we could visit and you would dispense oracular
wisdom. Or, perhaps, divine wrath.
You could have an annex in the US where you could visit every
few years, like the Pope. Drive the PterryMobile, which I picture
as a Mini with a plastic dome over it. You and Jo Rowling could
even share a shrine in the states. The Discworld/Harry Potter
Museum and Shrine could be in Kentucky, next to the creationism
museum, where the idea of a flat world would not be surprising
at all.
rich
--
-to reply, it's hot not warm
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ Rich Hammett http://home.hiwaay.net/~rhammett
/ The Bill Clinton of RSFC
Arthur Hagen
> Arthur Hagen wrote:
>> Julia Jones <julia...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> , I don't want to
>>> be reading the death notice of *any* afper who hasn't reached an age
>>> at which it can be accepted as reasonable.
>>
>>
>> What /is/ an age at which it can be accepted as reasonable to die?
>>
> <snip>
>
> Possibly the age at which said person has achieved all they wished to
> achieve, has experieinced all they wanted to experience and has
> provided a legacy which the antecedents will be proud of.
Um, that means dying young -- at least before your parents or other
antecedents.
Regards,
--
*Art
Suzi
bubba...@warmmail.com wibbled...
[Snip]
> I'd think that some sort of shrine, perhaps in some 3rd world country
> like Wales,
Oi! We'll have the Taffia after you for that if you're not careful!
Suzi
Pixel
put a sheep's head in your bed? Only kidding, honest! :-) All the
Taffia jokes have been round the Brussels European Union community here
so long that it's nice to let them get out and play in the wider world
for a change!
Arthur Hagen
> On Sat, 22 Oct 2005 12:45:18 +0100, Terry Pratchett wrote:
>
>> The angio turned up nothing but good news
>
I may be pessimistic, but if it were me, I'd rather find out just what
was wrong; that there was something wrong enough to have an angiogram,
but that they have no clue what's wrong isn't really reassurring to me.
> I hope you are allowed daiquiris. Drink on, relaxx, don't call the
> cat a bastard, write a little bit, count some shovels of money...
I'd say give up morris dance and touring. Oh, and start filtering the
news; only read Ananova. And if dying before me, _please_ pick a
different date than by birthday, ok? I still haven't forgiven John
Lennon.
--
*Art
John
"Terry Pratchett" <tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:OCAGSDNP...@unseen.demon.co.uk...
> In message <BF8015E3.3D176%brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk>, Lesley
> Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>
>>
>>Perhaps you should give up the signing tours? You must surely be
>>well-known
>>enough now that your books will sell anyway, and they seem to put an awful
>>lot of strain on you, not surprisingly when one thinks what's involved.
>>People would miss seeing you, but not as much as we would miss you if you
>>disappeared altogether. I'm glad you're all right this time.
>
> As a matter of fact, that's something I'm contemplating. They take up
> around six weeks a year, and these days every publisher wants them at the
> same time. I'm not the first author, either, to thing that the regime they
> place on your life is not a healthy one.
> Terry Pratchett
Perhaps you could just give the lectures, and skip the signings?
Phil Davison
But surely the biggest joke in the Brussels European Union community is
either "proper fiscal governance" or "properly controlled expenses policy".
--
Cyclops
Evil Heretic Infiltrator
Steve Rogers
news:pan.2005.10.25...@cyclops.force9.co.uk
Nah "expenses claim" or "common agricultural policy" shirley?
Steve
Pixel
Sorry, PTerry - no disrespect is intended when people hijack a thread
that is really about telling you that we want you to stop doing things
that damage your health so that we can keep reading your books, but you
do attract the sort of intelligent and imaginative readers who will
sometimes go off on a completely different tangent! I think the best
analogy is that if you threw a party for all your fans (professionally
catered so you didn't have to strain your health worrying about it!) we
would not spend the whole time talking about your books, but we would
have a lot of interesting and intelligent conversations - whether with
you or the other guests.
Phil Davison
I think he's well aware of that. It happened the other year when we all
went down the pub when Rocky Frisco came over to London. If I remember
rightly, PTerry was as wont to go off at a tangent [1] as the rest of us.
But the champion that evening was almost certainly Colin Smythe, who did
it with such aplomb [2]!
I think PTerry is also well aware that we all want him to get and stay
that way, whether he writes less, does fewer signing tours, or in any
other way reduces the number of things he does for his readers. He's a
good bloke and that is what is most important.
[1] IIRC he took a discussion of "The Riddle of the Sands" into one about
motorcycle riding techniques!
[2] And also found "Pewsey Vale" on the wine list in the Chinese
restaurant.
Daibhid Ceanaideach
> Aleks A.-Lessmann <aXlXe...@rent-a-pm.de> wrote:
>> On Sat, 22 Oct 2005 12:45:18 +0100, Terry Pratchett wrote:
>>
>>> The angio turned up nothing but good news
>>
>> Good to hear! errr, read.
>
> I may be pessimistic, but if it were me, I'd rather find
> out just what was wrong; that there was something wrong
> enough to have an angiogram, but that they have no clue
> what's wrong isn't really reassurring to me.
Like the last time I was in hospital. After two days I was
told I didn't have appendecitis and I could go home. Questions
as to what I *did* have were met with "Well, you said it's
gone now, so it's probably nothing to worry about."
--
Dave
Official Absentee of EU Skiffeysoc
http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/societies/sesoc
Special poetry offer -
Byron, get one free.
FiX
<tprat...@unseen.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>In message <435ba4b0...@news.xs4all.nl>, Richard Bos
><ral...@xs4all.nl> writes
>>Methinks here is a chance to let the forces of the market place work in
>>your favour. _They_ want _you_, not (or at the very least not as badly)
>>the other way 'round. Even if you decide not to drop touring altogether,
>>this is a trump you can use to force the publishers into giving you a
>>saner schedule.
>to be frank, the publishers have never forced me to tour; I've always
>done it because it's particularly a tradition in the F/SF field and,
>anyway, it's part of the whole thing. If, after twenty years of hard
>core touring I want to give it up...well, they'd understand the
>position.
And even if they didn't it's not as if you'd have trouble finding a
new publisher, is it?
<thinks a little>
Mmmm... maybe having fans queing up to get a signature is not as bad
as having publishers queing up for the same reason ;-P
Oh, and of course you should do what _you_ want to, not what the fans
want you to... ;-)
FiX
Nigel Stapley
> I presume that if the Mafia put a horse's head in your bed, the Taffia
> put a sheep's head in your bed?
What makes you think it has to be the sheep's *head*...?
--
Cofion gorau
Nigel Stapley
<reply-to will bounce>
Thomas Zahr
> Pixel wrote:
>> I presume that if the Mafia put a horse's head in your
>> bed, the Taffia put a sheep's head in your bed?
>
> What makes you think it has to be the sheep's *head*...?
>
He/She was going for the soft option ...?
--
Ciao
Thomas =:-)
<Mine Horn Is Exalted In Om>
Lesley Weston
daibhidc...@aol.com wrote on 25/10/2005 10:18 AM:
> Also Sprach Arthur Hagen:
>
>> Aleks A.-Lessmann <aXlXe...@rent-a-pm.de> wrote:
>>> On Sat, 22 Oct 2005 12:45:18 +0100, Terry Pratchett wrote:
>>>
>>>> The angio turned up nothing but good news
>>>
>>> Good to hear! errr, read.
>>
>> I may be pessimistic, but if it were me, I'd rather find
>> out just what was wrong; that there was something wrong
>> enough to have an angiogram, but that they have no clue
>> what's wrong isn't really reassurring to me.
>
> Like the last time I was in hospital. After two days I was
> told I didn't have appendecitis and I could go home. Questions
> as to what I *did* have were met with "Well, you said it's
> gone now, so it's probably nothing to worry about."
Perhaps what used to be called grumbling appendix. My son had mysterious bad
pains through his teens, each time diagnosed as food poisoning or stomach
flu, until eventually he was old enough to go to the ER in an adult hospital
instead of Children's. There they decided, reluctantly, to take out his
appendix, and found to their surprise that it was indeed inflamed. He's
never had those mysterious pains in all the years since.
--
Lesley Weston.
Brightly_coloured_blob is real, but I don't often check even the few bits
that get through Yahoo's filters. To reach me, use leswes att shaw dott ca,
changing spelling and spacing as required.
Stacie Hanes
> to be frank, the publishers have never forced me to tour; I've
> always done it because it's particularly a tradition in the F/SF
> field and, anyway, it's part of the whole thing. If, after twenty
> years of hard core touring I want to give it up...well, they'd
> understand the position.
I met you once, in Cleveland. You were gracious and talked to me (and my
companions) for an hour, probably. The talk led to a paper, the paper led to
a conference, the conference led to a publication, and that led to a job.
I've always felt that I owe you, for the books and for something that turned
out to have an enormous impact on my life.
So I'm coming out of hiding, for just a moment, to join in the general call
for you to take care of yourself.
--
Stacie, fourth swordswoman of the afpocalypse.
Flesh-eating Dragon
> Terry Pratchett wrote:
>
>> to be frank, the publishers have never forced me to tour; I've
>> always done it because it's particularly a tradition in the F/SF
>> field and, anyway, it's part of the whole thing. If, after twenty
>> years of hard core touring I want to give it up...well, they'd
>> understand the position.
> So I'm coming out of hiding, for just a moment, to join in the general call
> for you to take care of yourself.
Oh, good. To see a sign of vitality from you is a relief, 'cos I worry
about you, ya know! ;-0
(The shape of that smiley was a typo, but I decided to keep it.)
Adrian.
TheManWhoKnowsLittle
ah HA! Yes, so my posts *are* getting throught on Lspace... wasn't sure
y'see, because there isn't as much traffic on afp as usual so I thought
I'd drop a real clanger and wait to see if anyone spotted it.
No, really, I *did* mean to do that. Honest.