This week, two Lorenzo readings were held on campus for the reading series: Patrick Rothfuss, author of the Kingkiller Chronicles (his first book, Name of the Wind, part of the library at UNBSJ, Hans W. Klohn Commons’ One Campus One Book project), and Wayne Johnston, author of Son of a Certain Woman.
So, maybe we should start at the beginning. A friend and I arrived late to the Rothfuss reading, hitting Grand Hall twenty minutes late, full and sleepy from dinner, carrying coffee and cameras. Luckily we didn’t seem to disruptive, and found two seats near the front of the room.
Although Rothfuss read nothing of his novels, two of three currently published, he did share some of his blog posts (he also is part of “Geek & Sundry” on youtube) and also answered many questions. The reading had an air of an oddly comedic stand up routine. And that beard? Way more majestic in person. So, deciding I liked his character enough to trust his words, I thought, “as a writer, I should ask about publishing”. So I raised my hand.
R: Yes, over here?
K: I have a publishing question. When should I bring my manuscript to a publisher and how do I find one?
R: …how many people want to hear this? (5 or 6 people raise their hands–I sink into my chair in shame.) Okay. How about we go for coffee after, whoever wants to come, and talk about it?
So, excited and humbled, I grabbed my friend and hung around with what turned out to be 10-ish others at Grannan’s on the Boardwalk, and had a nice, funny, informative chat with Pat Rothfuss after the show. Hello, Heaven!
Two days later, we saw Wayne Johnston (and were late, again, caught up playing piano in Oland. I can never pass up listening to him play). However, we finally arrived, early enough to catch most of the reading. His main character’s slogan, “give me myth or give me death” ringing through my head as he read, we assumed it would be like any other reading.
Until Johnston and a guest gt into an argument about a dislikable main character, where Johnston was trying to chage the subject and be rational and kind but was becoming visibly annoyed. Luckily, more questions were raised and the subject was changed, and his humor and intelligence flowed through his fiction and his human replies to questions. Overall, it was a great night.
The readings have been a surprise and a blast, and I would highly recommend anyone to come see one in Saint John.
