Jonathan Stroud's Blog, page 82
June 14, 2011
Etonnant Voyageurs - Saint-Malo
Just back from a busy couple of days at this excellent festival in Brittany. I took a flight over on Saturday, landing at the tiny airport of Dinard, a few miles from St.-Malo. A vast book fair, with countless stalls, was laid out along the quayside just outside the great grey stone walls of the ancient port town. Here hundreds of authors and publishers hawked their wares all day before heading up to the old town's restaurants. As well as signing at the Albin Michel stall, I took part in a couple of excellent debates, chatting about 'The Proper Use of Magic' with Jasper Fforde and Brandon Sanderson, and discussing 'The Borders of Reality' with Sjon, Fabrice Colin and Laird Hunt. It's always a pleasure teaming up with other authors - each of us has his or her own style, each our own particular enthusiams and insights, but such differences only serve to highlight our shared trajectories, the universal themes we're all exploring. Away from the platform, I wandered the fair with Oisin McGann, and enjoyed lots of lovely Breton fare, in which seafood and crepes featured prominently. Everyone else indulged themselves in similar fashion: the plane back to London flew noticeably lower in the air.
When I wasn't signing at the fair, or taking part in...
When I wasn't signing at the fair, or taking part in debates at le maison de l'imaginaire, I was able to explore the old town of St.-Malo: a perfectly preserved maze of stone streets crammed inside a protective ring of walls.
Here's the stall of my publisher, Albin Michel. Note the...
Here's the stall of my publisher, Albin Michel. Note the fine array of Bartimaeus books in the background!
This weekend, June 11-13th, I was in Saint-Malo, in North-West...
This weekend, June 11-13th, I was in Saint-Malo, in North-West France, for the Etonnants Voyageurs Festival. The book fair took place in a lovely location, right next to this splendid beach…
May 30, 2011
Hay Festival before the sun came out…
Hay Festival before the sun came out…
Hay Festival
I had a great visit to the Hay-on-Wye Book Festival this weekend. Arrived late on Sunday and had a splendidly convivial evening with some of my fellow Random House authors, including Mini Grey, Candy Gourlay and the Etherington Brothers. Next morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, we all went to the festival itself, which was humming with activity despite the heavy rain. Lots of authors were happily wandering about amid the throng; I went to listen to the historian Orlando Figes talk eloquently about the Crimean War. After lunch I did my talk about Bart & The Ring of Solomon and had a lovely Q&A session, with great questions from lots of young and enthusiastic readers. After my signing I reluctantly embarked on the long journey home. As I did so, the sun came out over the western hills; a beautiful end to a perfect day.
Signing at Hay Festival today!
Signing at Hay Festival today!
May 29, 2011
With friends at ComicCon
With friends at ComicCon
With Lee and Andrew at ComicCon
With Lee and Andrew at ComicCon
