Although it's several days late, here are two very good reports from the Santa Cruz, CA book signing event. Both are from people who drove several hundred miles to go to the event. (Note to DM staff...next time, organize a ride share!)

The first report is from Jeremiah:

I was at the Santa Cruz signing on Saturday. Sorry I couldn't report sooner, I had to drive the 650 miles to get home first . . .

 

Santa Cruz wasn't really much different from all of the others before it, at least from what I've read. He started out by answering the the questions he knows are comming. The ones about the next book, how many more books, and who killed Asmodean. He also mentioned Infinity of Heaven and his 'maybe' idea in the WoT universe. Then he took questions.

 

I got two questions about his writing process answered, one concerning when exactly he began WoT (if he knew he would write it while he was writing 'The Fallon Blood' as Reagan O'Neal - he said that there were a few things in his head, but nothing solid yet, nothing close to a coherent story. That didn't happen until a couple of years later. The other concerned if he did book drafts or chapter drafts, to which he repleid that he did chapter drafts. And then he RAFO'd my question about the Tinker cravan that Mat comes across in LoC. Too bad, but at least that means that he will be answering that in the last book. And I still feel special that I got to ask three questions of him!!

 

A guy asked if Birgitte were to be born in an Age like today, would she still be an archer, or would she be an Anne Oakly type of a person - a great sniper. RJ said that she would always be an archer, no matter what.

 

Another guy asked about how Rand has not been in the forefront of the series for the last few books, and he asked how long RJ knew that that would happen, or if it just happened. RJ said that he knew it would happen from the beginning, because he wanted to show that the "man on the shining white horse, the man who is the only hope, he can only do what he does because of the help of ten thousand other people." He wanted to portray that Rand has to be at the Last Battle to win, but he can be the ONLY one there.

 

Someone else asked about why the female characters don't seem to be as well done as the male characters, as if RJ spent less time on them. To this RJ responded that he takes just as much time with the female characters as the male, and that his greatest compliment was women saying "No man can write women that well." - Well, the guy didn't look very happy about getting slapped down.

 

I can't remember what, now, but some guy asked about something that RJ RAFO'd, and the guy just left after that!! I can't understand that, I was more than happy to be RAFO'd by the Creator himself!

 

There were a few otehr questions, but I don't remember them all now, and I appoligize. But then he signed books, and I was the second in line for that. I left afterwards, since I didn't have any more hardcover books to be signed by the man.

 

Jeremiah.

The second report is from Sean:

Robert Jordan signs Knife of Dreams at Borders Books & Music in Santa Cruz California October 29. My friend Katie and I drove the 6 hours from Los Angeles to get a jump on the signings and I am so glad we did! We arrived an hour before the signing to find that we had just missed out on the 20 or so seats Borders provided. Over the next hour the majority of the crowd arrived and since there was no structured line or crowd management everyone just kinda milled around the store. I was really happy to see the number of High School age and younger kids there. At 4pm sharp the event coordinator was sitting in Robert Jordan seat helping a young fan (about 10 years old) "flap" his book to the right page. Mr. Jordan creeped up behind her and peered over her shoulder. He smiled at the crowd who was watching his every move quietly so we didn't give him away. He continued to peer over the woman's shoulder trying to look upset and put out but his (Mat like?) sly smile gave away the joke. Finally the woman noticed him and popped out of his seat looking embarrassed. The crowd erupted in laughter. She quickly announced Mr. Jordan and handed off the microphone as the crowd of about 125 strong greeted him with a very enthusiastic round of applause.

After we quieted down, Mr. Jordan launched into his regular spiel as reported from the previous Book signings. The pronunciations (its pronounced SWAN not soo-ON), Infinity of Heaven, the next book may be 2000 pages, and of course photographs are okay but there will be "...absolutely NO MALE NUDITY".

The question and answer session started slowly as people seemed nervous to speak up but as people felt more comfortable in front of this great man the questions came fast and furious. The questions are about what you would expect. In my opinion there were no questions answered that were surprising, and I didn't glean any new insights.

After about 30 minutes of Q&A the signing started. The line move quickly and before I knew it my friend and I were in front of Mr. Jordan. We posed for a few pictures and then Katie asked him a question about how Gateways work. He smiled and seemed very happy about being asked this question. He described how gateways work, and even set his pen down to use as a visual aid (I took a picture). We got all 4 of our books signing then left.

All in all it was a very satisfying and enjoyable experience, BUT, it's not over yet!

We decided since we were in the lovely city of Santa Cruz to walk around their downtown area and take in the sights. Katie and I were giddy, chatting about the signing when out of nowhere Katie says: "You're Harriet!" and stops dead. I look and sure enough Robert Jordan's wife Harriet is standing there looking surprised. She affirmed that she was in fact Harriet. We quickly mentioned how we were just at the signing and she seemed to relax. Katie chatted Mrs. Jordan up and she seemed more than happy to stand there and talk with us. I was very gratifying and we found the woman delightful. Just before parting ways Katie said "We are just the hugest fans of your husband and from listening to him speak and reading articles it is obvious that he loves you very very much." Harriet seemed a little embarrassed and her cheeks got a little red, but then she answered in just the sweetest shy voice "The feeling is mutual". Big old romantic softies that we both are, we were very moved by the sentiment and seriously, meeting Harriet was just the coolest and left the biggest impression on us of the day.

And that as they say is that. We had a great trip to meet the Man and got to meet his muse. It was amazing and we get to do it all again at the signing at Vromans books in Pasadena California. I-CANT-WAIT!

 

Sean

Dragonmount user - SeanAlThor

Thanks to both of you guys!