Jeff Bumgardner sent in this report from Virginia:

Hey, I was at the RJ signing last night (10/19) at Olsson's Books in Arlington, VA. I've been reading the series for nigh 13 years now, but this was my first time attending one of his signings. I would have to say it was a bit of a disappointment...he showed up about 10 minutes late and went through his normal pronunciation spiel looking slightly perturbed. He then reiterated the answers for what have seemed to become the most oft asked questions this time around: Book 12 will be done when he's finished with it, it will be last one no matter what, Infinity of Heaven is the next thing he's doing, the two WoT prequels will be done at some point in the future, and that he's come up with an idea for a trilogy of "outrigger" novels in the WoT world, but that he has to let it stew for a few years before he decides on doing it. Then, probably because he arrived late, he skipped the Q&A and went straight to signing. Somewhat disappointing, as the event was billed as a Q&A / Signing, and the Q&A was the main reason I went in the first place. I would have liked to just hear him talk for a little bit.

 

Anyway, when he signed my books I just asked him what he thought of the Darrell K. Sweet covers, and he said they were okay, but that he has minimal input on them. Sometimes he suggests scenes, and when he gets to look at the paintings prior to publication he suggest changes, but in the end basically Tor does whatever they want with it. A friend of mine ahead of me in line asked RJ if he would ever do any more Conan books and he said no, he only did them because he needed the money at the time. Obviously, he doesn't need money anymore. ;^)

 

So that's it. Nothing too exciting. At least I got to finally meet him after so long.

 

Jeff Bumgardner

Thanks, Jeff!

More reports coming soon