Tuesday night I went to the Teacher's College at Columbia University to see Neil Gaiman -- one of my favourite writers -- and to hear him read from his new novel, the Graveyard Book.
I got there at 6pm, and followed a long line for about 45 minutes to buy a copy of the new book (pre-signed in redish ink by the man himself); I also picked up a graphic novel of his as well (1602). After getting my books, I headed inside. I lucked out and grabbed a single seat in the middle of the auditorium, about four or five rows back.
I sat there and read my new copy of 1602 for a little while, and then Neil came on at about 7:10, did a hello and a bit of an intro, then stood behind a podium and read the first chapter of the new book (which is the benefit of it being the launch of the tour -- we got to hear the beginning). He was a great reader, very good at the narration, and doing voices (but not too broadly, just right) for most of the characters, including little gestures sometimes to match what they were doing. It was really good, and I can't wait to read the rest of it...
After a short break, they showed a five-or-so-minute-long trailer for the upcoming Coraline stop-motion movie, then Neil came back out to answer questions that people had written down for him.
There was some good stuff in there, such as talking about Doctor Who (with coy answers that he'd love to write an episode if the show-runner asked him, and then saying he'd had a recent conversation with said show-runner, but not what it was about -- "many things" he said).
Due to several similar questions, he said that he had lots of stories floating around about characters or settings that are fan-favourites, from the likes of American Gods, to Stardust, to Neverwhere. Whether they ever get written depends on what else he has going though, but the ideas are there...
He talked a little bit about his recent trip to China, where he had broken his finger, hence no personal signings or hand-shaking that night. He declined to explain how he broke his finger, but did tell an amusing story about a very bad haircut he got -- bad, but mercifully cheap.
He also let slip that there is a Coraline musical being worked one (not connected to the film) and that it should be opening in Brooklyn next year (May, I think?). And that the man behind it was also interested in doing a Gaveyard Book musical now as well.
A funny moment came when gave a girl a hug, after her friend wrote that securing said hug would be the best birthday present she could give, but he also mock-admonished the writer for being cheap and told her she would still have to buy a present.
A somber moment came when someone had written asking if he would collaborate with Terry Pratchett again, which lead to a short, wistful discussion of TP's Alzheimer's. He basically said that he'd love to, that they'd even talked about it, but that it rather depended on how much time there was, what with TP wanting to get as many stories of his own out while he still can ... so sad.
Anyway, wistfulness about one of my other favourite authors aside, it was great time, and very cool to see someone like Neil in the flesh. I'm really glad I went.
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