Last Wednesday I drove down to Santa Barbara just to see Neil Gaiman speak. And let me say, it was totally worth it. If you ever have a chance to see him speak, go. He is as much performer as author. He’s an outstanding extemporaneous speaker, relaxed, like he’s just having a chat with a few (hundred) people. And listening to him read his stories is amazing, as they truly come to life.
Gaiman spoke for almost an hour and a half. He read two stories, and chatted about a variety of things (including twitter, which he mentioned a lot), then answered audience questions at the end. And I read later that he signed books until 1:15 in the morning! No, I didn’t stick around for the signing…the crowd was huge.
So here are my notes and memories from that night. I hope they make sense.
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Gaiman started by saying “I have planned nothing, so nothing can go wrong.” He added that he wanted to talk about what fiction is for and to also read a few things.
He referred to the first story he read, “My First Landlady” as “a spoken thing that might be a bit poemy around the edges.” It was set in an English seaside town, which are “strange, wonderful, depressing places.” The description of the landlady included this line: “Her face could have curdled beans.”
He loves doing his own audio books, and considers audio books to be “magical things,” as they force you to have a slightly different relationship with the text. Audio books keep to the same speed, unlike readers. You can’t skim. They are more intimate. But as a narrator, there is always a point where you curse the idiot who wrote the book.
He likes book signings, as the numbers turn back into people.
He talked about his peculiar year…going on a date, winning the Newbery Medal, the Coraline movie, his father’s death, and his engagement to Amanda Palmer. But he realized in the middle of the year that he had stopped writing fiction. Then a story crept into his head, one that he wrote for Amanda when she had the flu. It grew into a set of stories about love and identity and loneliness.
The second story he read, “The Thing about Cassandra,” was part of this group of stories. It starts out with a stag weekend in Amsterdam involving Starsky and Hutch wigs and goes places you’d never expect.
After the story was finished, he jokingly said “if you do something 2-3 times you’re repeating yourself. After 5 or 6 times, it’s a theme.”
Questions from the audience:
Favorite children’s book: James Thurber’s The 13 Clocks.
Will the Other Mother’s Hand ever makes its way out of the well: “You should hope not.”
Are logistics and research needed to be a writer, or is imagination and reading enough: Living is necessary, you need to have something to write about.
Do you write characters or do they write themselves: Said he loves the idea of a world where characters would write themselves…then he could just sit there and drink tea.
Did you choose writing or did writing choose you: “I chose writing. I love the idea of a world where…”
Favorite books/movies as a kid: Narnia books where his “favoritist.” Wizard of Oz, although he was terrified of the witch. Hobbit/Lord of the Rings.
What book are you the proudest of: The Graveyard Book, as it did “everything I wanted it to do in my head.”
Will “The Thing about Cassandra” appear in print: It will be in an upcoming anthology entitled Star-Crossed, or Star-Crossed Lovers.
Any nicknames: No, but he did think that as a kid, if only he had a nickname he’d be cool.
Why get up in the morning: Because staying in bed is boring, nothing to do but lie there and twitter.
Will there be a Bod/Silas reunion: After a long pause, he admitted there is a book in his head. It would be the
Lord of the Rings to The Graveyard Book’s Hobbit. What was actually happening v. what was in the book.
Is the graveyard in The Graveyard Book based on an actual cemetery: 3 cemeteries. The chapel is from Stoke Newington. The topography is from Glasgow’s Necropolis. And other bits he liked are from Highgate Cemetery West.
A question from someone pursuing a PhD in Super-Hero-ology (really, that’s what they said) – How would you characterize America’s relationship with super-heroes: “I love living a world where someone can get a PhD in Super-Hero-ology.”
Favorite Amanda Palmer Track: “Trout Heart Replica” is his favorite song, as it was written after they visited a trout farm. The owner picked out a trout, bashed it over the head, and then showed them the still beating heart. But he considers her best song to be “The Bed Song.”
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So there it is…the highlights from probably the best author talk I’ve ever attended. Even if you’re not a Gaiman fan, I’d encourage you to go see him speak.
And since this week’s Weekly Geeks asks us to talk about author fun facts, I figure this post works. 
Oh man, what a great way to spend an evening. I got Gaiman to autograph a book at BEA last year, but the line was so long that I really didn’t get to talk to him.
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VERY cool! I would trade off my big toenail permanently to have heard him speak. Charming, funny, weird (but just that right amount of it). Thanks for sharing.
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Great post! I like his approach of planning nothing so that nothing can go wrong.
.-= charley´s last blog ..The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy =-.
I was really lucky to get to hear him give an impromptu 15-min talk for a crowd of about 30 of us last summer at ALA. That was the first time I’d ever heard him speak. He did an excellent job. I love the PhD thing too.
Have I said I’m jealous yet?! It seems like it was a fabulous talk. I really do hope that he comes to Virginia soon– or even North Carolina! I will drive! I love hearing that The Graveyard Book will potentially be continued. SQUEE.
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What a great report! It sounds like such a fun evening!
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Great notes! Thanks for sharing those!
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Oh how exciting! I’m really really jealous and kicking myself for not making the drive! Ugh. But hey, maybe maybe a sequel! I would be so happy! Thanks for posting all these notes!
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If one could have a favorite author whose books one doesn’t absolutely love, it would be Neil Gaiman for me.
The part about Super-Hero-logy made me chuckle! ;D And I loved his answer to the guy’s question. LOL.
What a great post
I would love to see Gaiman speak. He seems so down-to-earth.
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Great post! How fun and cool to see Gaiman speak!! Thanks for sharing with us!
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Oh, thanks for this wonderful post. What a lucky duck you are to have seem Neil Gaiman read and answer questions!
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Although I’ve never read anything by Neil Gaiman (and yes … I do plan on correcting this) he sounds just fascinating!
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How interesting! It’s always great to read a personal account of meeting an author or hearing him speak. You’re so lucky.
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What a great evening. I love his opening statement!
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Oh, I would have loved to have gone! Thanks so much for doing this for all of us non-California people…
.-= Melissa (Book Nut)´s last blog ..Library Loot 2010-06 =-.
oh! I’m so jealous!! (And happy for you to be able to see him in person!) I’m going to check out his audio books – would love to hear him reading one of his own stories. He’s a sweetie on twitter.
@neilhimself
Thank you so much for sharing this. Gaiman is like my favorite author who I would love to attend one of his events.
I truly loved this: “He loves doing his own audio books, and considers audio books to be “magical things,” as they force you to have a slightly different relationship with the text.” Never would have thought of it that way.
And what he said about “themes.”
I am glad you went to see him and it sounded like you had blast. Though I would have stuck around in that crazy line to try to get an autograph lol. I can see why you didn’t though.
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Okay, if he doesn’t write the sequel to The Graveyard Book now, I am going to be severely disappointed. Lord of the Rings to the Graveyard Book’s Hobbit? That sounds so, so, so amazing – actually this whole event sounds amazing. Lucky you for getting to go!!
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Jenners and I will have to do a readalong … I haven’t read any Gaiman yet, either!
Thanks for sharing your notes/memories of the evening; sounds like he enjoyed being there as much as the audience!
.-= Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books´s last blog ..Book Review: *So Easy* by Ellie Krieger =-.
I am so jealous of you! I would love to see him in person now that I’ve read some of his work. I completely believe that he would stay late to sign books because he did the very same thing at the 2008 National Book Festival. He was scheduled for an hour and stayed the entire time. His lines were HUGE!
Thanks for sharing this with us. It’s nice to get to live vicariously through other people.
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I any one ever came to my area to read and sign books, I’d be there in a flash. Lucky, lucky you. I did get an autographed copy of the Graveyard Book at BEA last year.
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I am so Jealous – I love Gaiman and his works…
I am hoping he will be one of the expo in Europe one of the time I am there…
I just finished his Sandman books – Excellent…
E.H>
Wow, I’m so jealous. I’d love to hear him speak. I really enjoy his blog too.
Oh wow; I am so excited about the new anthology and for his plans for Bod and Silas.
I have heard him speak twice so far (one was a reading/signing for The Graveyard Book at the other at a screening for Coraline) and he is such a performer and amazing narrator.
I think I need to buy this “Graveyard Book” I keep hearing about.
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What a great post! I saw Neil Gaiman speak when The Graveyard Book came out and was SO impressed with him. He was funny, witty and so likeable. And I stood in the queue for the signing for ages, and he spoke to everyone single one of us in the line and didn’t even show that he was tired. What a lovely man. And what an amazing story teller.
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Thanks for posting this! I was just browsing websites when I found yours, and thought it ironic since I’ve just asked people on my blog what I should read first for Neil Gaiman, because I haven’t read anything by him. What do you suggest I start with? What’s your favorite?
Alayne – The Crowded Leaf.
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I am so jealous! That sounds like a great time!
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