Naomi Novik ([info]naominovik) wrote,
@ 2008-03-26 18:48:00
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Entry tags:conventions, otw, temeraire

Back from Norwescon with much joy
I am freshly back from Norwescon, but the first joyful thing I have to share is not about the con, but that the Organization for Transformative Works is now open for membership! \o/ And you can read all about it (in English, Čeština, Deutsch, Español, Français, and Italiano) at the [info]otw_news community -- where, by the way, we are eagerly looking for more translators. You can also see our very cool (if I do say so myself, cough) roadmap for the design of our archive software.

I got to meet a whole bunch of really smashing fellow fans, including Rob Carlos, who started sketching in my Q&A at 11am on Friday, and less than 24 hours later handed me this piece, which he's put in the wiki: Temeraire, Lily, Maximus. Oh, and then as an afterthought he whipped out this one the very next day: Napoleon & Lien.

I also happily scored a copy of Pat Rothfuss's first book, another one by the very dapper Bruce Taylor, and two spectacular art books by Ciruelo, the artist guest of honor -- I've loved his work for years so it was an especial treat to meet him, and also to hopefully not-too-embarrassingly fangirl all over Dan Simmons. *g* I also picked up a truly fabulous feather headdress in the dealer's room and a couple of pieces by Mai Nguyen, but sadly wasn't able to stay for the art auction to try and grab the larger one. But it is just as well! Cons are dangerous places for the wallet.

Of course for now the books have joined my sad unread pile, while lies behind the terrifying stack of the copyedited MS that I am supposed to be working on right now. My current excuse is the copyeditor switched to blue pencil from red, and all my copyediting pencils were carefully chosen blue exactly for contrast! argh. But I have dug out a few hot-pinkish ones from my old box of colored pencils and hand-sharpened them with a penknife since they are too crumbly for the pencil sharpener (uphill in the snow! both ways!) and must go back to the grind.

Last bit of glee: while I was at the con, Bill of Subterranean Press sent me the hot-off-the-presses limited edition! I don't know if I mentioned what they're doing with the covers -- after some back and forth with Dominic Harman (who did the gorgeous original UK covers), the decision was that for the first three, we'd do modified versions of the three UK covers, and then starting with book 4, Dominic will be creating new art in the UK-cover style, for a complete matching set. \o/



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[info]coppervale
2008-03-26 11:03 pm UTC (link)
Hey, you!

Thanks for the update - love all the stuff that's going on.

Tell Charles I said hi, will you?

James

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[info]vampireelf
2008-03-26 11:05 pm UTC (link)
I'm still recovering from Norwescon myself. ;) We didn't meet properly, but I just wanted to say I really enjoyed being on the writer's group panel with you. The perspective of having been in fanfiction is something one doesn't often get, but that's the area were so much writing energy and enthusiasm is right now.

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[info]heidi8
2008-03-26 11:56 pm UTC (link)
Hot-pink pencils?

How fantastic!

(Also, yay OTW!)

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[info]cavaticat
2008-03-26 11:57 pm UTC (link)
Holy draconic Air Force, Batman! That's some ART!

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[info]melissajm
2008-03-27 12:06 am UTC (link)
What gorgeous pictures! They even captured the dragons' personalities. (How I imagine them, anyway.)

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Relax and Unwind!
[info]vespican
2008-03-27 12:09 am UTC (link)
It sounds like you had a really nice time. I would have liked to have gone, but circumstances wouldn't allow it. I've checked out Rob Carlos' artwork on the WIKI. GREAT! He seems to have captured the dragons' "personalities" in a visual mode in much the same way as you capture (or project) it with the written word.

If NORWESCON is at all like the PNWA Writer's Conference (July) it is very easy to spend, spend, spend. A lot of well know authors attend, and on Saturday night hold a mass signing/autograph party. I usually end up buying more than I need. But I do eventually read them, and if I take one to work, it's neat to show co-workers the autographs. Someday I would hope to meet you and have autographed copies of the TEMERAIRE series.
Dave

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[info]annathepiper
2008-03-27 12:13 am UTC (link)
Thanks for the update, and delighted to hear you had a good time at our convention. ^_^ Rob Carlos' pictures are awesome, as well.

Thank you also for signing my copy of His Majesty's Dragon! The glitter blue ink made me smile!

Edited at 2008-03-27 12:14 am UTC

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[info]dieppe
2008-03-27 12:22 am UTC (link)
I'm glad you had a good time, Naomi! *squee!* I'm excited that you signed a book for me! The reading was the best, I think!

It's still funny to think that my favorite authors get excited about meeting other authors. But still, that's one reasons I love conventions! Anyway! Many thanks again for the books, the stories.. and the signature as well! :)

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[info]lt260
2008-03-27 12:51 am UTC (link)
Glad you had a great time at Norwescon. You were a wonderful GoH.

Thank you for signing my books, even though I had to have my daughter, Autumn, do the legwork. It was a trade-off, though, since I babysat my 51 day-old grandson while she ran the autograph sessions. Looking back, I can safely say I got the best deal: all four books in the Temeraire series autographed and two hours with Ryan all to myself.

Anyway, it was great to see you at the con and I will keep my fingers crossed that you will be able to make it back sometime in the future.

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[info]ramblin_phyl
2008-03-27 01:21 am UTC (link)
Sorry I missed connecting with you. It was a good con--better than most. I was running all over the place.

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[info]cyberhorn
2008-03-27 01:38 am UTC (link)
really awesome pictures done by Rob Carlos

thank you for sharing them!

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[info]not_quite_queen
2008-03-27 01:42 am UTC (link)
Well, I'm glad you had so much fun. As for your unread pile...maybe set aside fifteen minutes a day to read? It might get you caught up with the ever-growing pile.

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[info]shezan
2008-03-27 02:09 am UTC (link)
What fantastic art!

Glad you had such a good time!

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[info]maritas
2008-03-29 05:33 am UTC (link)
I have to say, OMG I love you're icon!!!!!!!!!!
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

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[info]shezan
2008-03-29 05:54 am UTC (link)
Thank you! Made by the lovely [info]katie8787!

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[info]maritas
2008-03-27 03:38 am UTC (link)
Come to Dragon*Con in Atlanta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Dragon*Con
[info]mrs_colorsmith
2008-03-29 05:09 am UTC (link)
Just an FYI, Rob and I will be attending Dragon*Con this year and hope to have some of his work in the Art Show (he's trying to get into it now). It would be great to see Naomi there as well!

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Re: Dragon*Con
[info]maritas
2008-03-29 05:32 am UTC (link)
omg yessssss!

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[info]gillianinoz
2008-03-27 04:18 am UTC (link)
The artwork is wonderful!!

But rats - the Lettered edition is already sold out. *sulks*. I really wanted one - but the Limited Edition will have to do.

;-)

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[info]kaneko
2008-03-27 07:54 am UTC (link)
Those pictures are GORGEOUS!! I can't believe he did them in 24 hours -- that's insane.

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[info]wellinghall
2008-03-27 10:43 am UTC (link)
Maybe we can tempt you over to Eastercon one year? ;-)

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[info]kayseas_place
2008-03-27 11:20 am UTC (link)
YAY!!!!!!! Beautiful new desktop pics of dragons!

*drools*

TY for sharing!

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[info]arkadyevna
2008-03-27 09:13 pm UTC (link)
Rob Carlos' artwork is gorgeous! (Lien-lover that I am, I made a rather embarrassing sound of glee over the second piece.) Thank you for the update!

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Comicon
[info]keledrena
2008-03-28 05:46 pm UTC (link)
If you're planning on attending comicon, will it be as a participant or sightseer (or both?) Can fans meet up with you?

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Meeting you
[info]mrs_colorsmith
2008-03-29 05:13 am UTC (link)
Naomi - it was wonderful meeting you and Charles at Norwescon this year. Thank you so much for signing our books for us and being gracious to your fans who were gaga over you for the weekend. ;) We're looking forward to seeing you two at Comic-con as well...you really should hit Dragon*Con if you have the chance. It's Labor Day weekend.

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Pics and Cons
[info]colorsmith
2008-03-29 05:24 am UTC (link)
Wow! My first LJ post, and thank you so much everyone for the wonderful comments. It's great to be inspired as an artist, and Naomi certainly does that with flair, doesn't she? It was my own "bit of glee" when she told me she liked the pictures - the ultimate compliment from a writer is to hear that you illustrated her characters right :) I've been overjoyed that I've had the chance to hear that quite a few times this week from her!
And ... I'm a little Lien nuts too - so hearing that there was "pleasure sounds" over that one makes my day!
So, Naomi, thank you again so much for giving this artist-fan and his family the time of day last weekend, and we can't wait to meet up with you again at Comic-Con. We're figuring out our schedule now for that trip to the maritime museum, and I've re-watched my M&C DVD with a whole new interest already. YAY! I never thought I'd say it, but History=Fun!

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Re: Pics and Cons
[info]mrs_colorsmith
2008-03-29 05:49 am UTC (link)
*dies laughing* Rob is NOT big on the history...so you've inspired more than art, Naomi!

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Love the lovely dragons!
[info]anne_fran
2008-03-29 10:35 am UTC (link)
Am absolutely swooning over the lovely pic of Temeraire, Lily and Maximus. I absolutely love the look on Maximus's face - as if he's just about to make a cheeky comment. Temeraire is as gorgeous as I've imagined, and Lily too. And is Laurence buff or what?!? Makes me wish I was Jane Roland (well, I'm about the right age!)*pleaselethimhavelived,pleaselethimhavelived,pleaselethimhavelived*

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[info]patgund
2008-04-01 04:02 am UTC (link)
Was very nice to meet you (I was the person in Jedi robes you chatted with in the autograph line)

I'm reading His Majesty's Dragon to my six year old right now. Her request :-)

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[info]avendya
2008-04-04 10:05 pm UTC (link)
First of all, I'd like to offer my thanks for such an enjoyable series. Seriously, they're brilliant.

I also wanted to share with you the content of an LJ entry I just wrote, as I think you might find it interesting:

"You know, my Issues with history could quite possibly be explained by the fact that, under a historical painting of the Napoleonic Wars, I have "ref. His Majesty's Dragon".

(His Majesty's Dragon is a fantasy historical, but it is not exactly the most accurate depiction. Mainly because it has dragons, and the real world, unfortunately does not.)"

I should probably be clear that I'm not quibbling about your historical accuracy at all - Books with Dragons are just not one's reference material for European history.

I just thought you'd want to know that your books have become, in a way, a part of me.

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Hi, Greetings from Costa Rica
[info]matatron
2008-04-16 05:15 pm UTC (link)
Hi

Nice to meet you. I'm writing you from Costa Rica, in Central America. I hope you know where this is located.

I know you now have fans of all over the world so you may not be impressed, but i just wanted to report that here you have at least 3 fans waiting for your books.

I just readed Black Powder War and next week i'll be receiving the Empire of Ivory from Amazon. I think that your books are great, and that you have a lot of potential as writer. We love your characters.

Thanks for your work. Keep writing.

Esteban Mata

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[info]amorenanobile
2008-04-19 08:13 am UTC (link)
First, let me get this out of my system. OH WOW YOUR BOOKS ARE AMAZING!!!

Ok... *cough* so, fangirling aside, I have to congratulate you on amazing writing and plot-forming. I was at Norwescon this year and saw you carrying around a hardcover copy of His Majesty's Dragon. I had no idea who you were at the time and had only heard of the books once or twice, but I saw your name-tag and thought, "Oh, she's an author!" I was quite excited, never having met a published author in person, and after a bit of wandering around the merchant's room, bought your books on a whim, which I have to say is one of the best if not the best things I did there.

So I got home, got hooked on book one and finished it in a week (Very fast for me since I'm a slow reader). Then my mother started reading it. It is the first time in my life I've seen her pick up a book to read on her own. Ever since, she's been telling me how well you write and has been constantly mentioning either Laurence or Temeraire.

Most important thing though, is your books have been a great inspiration to me to finish my own novel. The rewrite is now done and I'm editing now. It's a fantasy series with dragons, elves, and other mythical creatures. If you'd like to know more, visit my profile and livejournal. I don't want this comment to turn into more of a book than it already is.

So I'll leave it at that. Sorry about the book-length comment, I know you're busy.
-Amorena Nobile.

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Happy Birthday
[info]jaxomsride
2008-04-30 12:54 am UTC (link)





Naomi


Have A Great Day





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