"Personal" question(s) to John Jarrold

[John Jarrold]

And Jon Courtenay Grimwood's ARABESK novels, beginning with Pashazade, feature an alternative North Africa in the 21st century, which is also an interesting setting...I commissioned them, and we had a long discussion about Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet and the nature of truth! Must have been the red wine...

[JonCG]

speaking of which... just reading *debatable space*. Not sure if it's very brave, insane or simply brilliant (mind you, only a third of the way through so have time to focus opinion). At what point did you know you were going to take it on. First page, end first chapter, end of the book?
Interested to know.

[iansales]

Originally Posted by John Jarrold

...and we had a long discussion about Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet and the nature of truth!

One of my favourite books. One of my favourite authors, in fact. Er, Durrell, that is.

I heard JCG speaking about alternate history only the weekend just gone at the BSFA AGM. Very interesting.

[JonCG]

Originally Posted by iansales

I heard JCG speaking about alternate history only the weekend just gone at the BSFA AGM. Very interesting.

thanks... not wanting to hijack jj's thread or anything.

[iansales]

Your story about the woman wearing a hijab and breast-feeding was... bizarre. Can't say I ever saw that when I was in the Middle East. But once I was in a lift with a local woman, who was covered head to foot in an abeya and completely unrecognisable... when she said, "Hello, Ian." Turned out to be someone I worked with. Still gave me a shock, though.

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by JonCG

thanks... not wanting to hijack jj's thread or anything.

Nice to see you here JCG. Another author enters the fray! Before you know it, we'll have taken over the joint.

We need to get a few more discussions about your work going so we can set Brian the task of putting up another author board with an 'in residence' author to answer questions and encourage more readers. Welcome.

[JonCG]

Originally Posted by iansales

Your story about the woman wearing a hijab and breast-feeding was... bizarre. Can't say I ever saw that when I was in the Middle East. But once I was in a lift with a local woman, who was covered head to foot in an abeya and completely unrecognisable... when she said, "Hello, Ian." Turned out to be someone I worked with. Still gave me a shock, though.

Ian: It was in Marrakech which, being berber and very megrib, tends to be slightly different from the more eastern parts of North Africa if that makes sense.

John: thanks. Good to be here. Still interested to know about *disputed space* (finished it last night, late, probably says it all...)

[Ian Whates]

Echoing Mark's greeting, welcome aboard Jon; it's good to see you here.

[John Jarrold]

Originally Posted by JonCG

speaking of which... just reading *debatable space*. Not sure if it's very brave, insane or simply brilliant (mind you, only a third of the way through so have time to focus opinion). At what point did you know you were going to take it on. First page, end first chapter, end of the book?
Interested to know.

Philip Palmer's writing grabbed me on the first two pages, which is the most important thing of all with a new writer, and the story and characters (as well as the writing) kept me reading to the end of the book!

I can turn down 90% of my submissions in the first ten pages, because the writing simply isn't special enough. Wonderful ideas don't matter a damn, if you can't write wonderful fiction and create outstanding characters.

Good to see you here, Jon!

[John Jarrold]

Originally Posted by Mark Robson

We need to get a few more discussions about your work going so we can set Brian the task of putting up another author board with an 'in residence' author to answer questions and encourage more readers. Welcome.

Hear, hear!

[John Jarrold]

It'd be good to get more major publishers involved, too. Orbit, Bantam, HC Voyager, Gollancz, Tor UK, all in London...

[GeorgeWalkley]

Originally Posted by John Jarrold

It'd be good to get more major publishers involved, too. Orbit, Bantam, HC Voyager, Gollancz, Tor UK, all in London...

John, hi. I do agree with what you say above, in theory. The difficulty - and I can only speak for my own crew here - isn't that we don't want to get out and talk to people, it's that there just aren't enough hours in the day. I'll resolve to try to be seen around here - though do by all means give me a prod if there's something that I've missed which might be of interest.

George

[John Jarrold]

Good man, George!

For those who don't know, George is one of the head honchos at Orbit UK...

[dustinzgirl]

Originally Posted by John Jarrold

Good man, George!

For those who don't know, George is one of the head honchos at Orbit UK...

Whats Orbit UK?

[Ian Whates]

Thanks for that, John. I must confess that I haven't yet encountered George.

Welcome to Chronicles, George. Hope you find the time (from somewhere!) to stop by occasionally, and that you find your visits here enjoyable and worthwhile when you do.