Alt Fiction review
I went to Alt.Fiction in Derby on Saturday and had a great time.
I saw James Lovegrove, Richard Morgan and Pete Crowther do readings and answer questions. I took part in writing workshops with Ian R Macleod and Justina Robson. I saw a publishing panel with John Jarrold, Pete Crowther, Andrew Hook and Chris Teague, and also a panel on SF with Justina Robson and John Jarrold.
Everyone was very friendly and entertaining/informative.
A couple of interesting things from the many that I heard....
Richard Morgan saying that it was 14 years from starting writing Altered Carbon until it sold. And then being very amusing and pragmatic about the film if it ever materialises "...hope it's not another Matrix 3"
John Jarrold saying that the major SF imprints in London may take on only one new writer a year. And that since he became an agent he has taken on 20 writers and rejected 1000!
All in all a great day.
Yeah, I remember interviewing Richard for the Alien Online just as Altered Carbon came out, a few weeks before the news of the big movie deal broke (and the Guardian pinched quotes from our interview without asking for an article about it!). The good thing is it never went to his head and he is still the same nice guy today, was chatting to him at Eastercon recently. Can't wait for the next book, although looks like it will be next year now.
Joe
He mentioned his new book, said it would be a fantasy. Someone asked if it would be violent. He laughed, said incredibly and then started talking about how the hardest part was getting a sassy character in a medievel setting without them being killed in a few seconds. And then talking about that bit in Shogun where the guy gets his head chopped off for not bowing. Very entertaining.