so i finally got to meet jasper last night! i can't even say how much fun it was- the last signing i went to the author lost his laptop so he *couldn't* read anything to us (why he couldn't pull a book of the shelves of the bookstore is beyond me, really) and he mumbled & then we waited in line for 2 hours to get his signature...an ok time, but by far not nearly as good a time as i had listening to jasper!
ok, so i'm sure this sounds all giddy and whatnot, but i just had so much fun! he read and interjected bits between lines and went on some romping wild tangents and in the midst of it all, i got to see an amazing author sharing stories with us about reading Alice in Wonderland as a child.
the only problem now is that he kept teasing us with bits from the third book which doesn't come out here (read: states) for another year! guess i'll just have to buy the UK version, then the US version...ah the ever expandable budget of the book lover- if only the money in my mind was real...
anyway, just wanted to share my little bit- not that you don't already know how good the books are and how funny he is in person...maybe i'll just shut up now, i think i've started babbling...
so yes, if i could say before that i liked his books, now i can say that i love the books and he is not such a bad fellow himself!
jenn (neliamne)

Hi Jenn!

I drove down from Ann Arbor, and saw Jasper in Dayton on Monday. Isn't he fun?

If you scroll down, there's a post about my meeting him titled "I've now met Jasper in person" and another titled "More pics of Jasper" which has a link to the photos I took on Monday.

I've been a regular here on the Fforum since last October, when shortly after reading TEA (and liking it enough to mail order the british edition of LIAGB) I was invited to a costume party with a Jane Austen/that era of fiction sort of theme. Since the hostess had also read the book, I decided to come as Thursday, and started looking online for a dodo I could buy to use as a prop.

I ended up buying a pattern to make my own dodo (which I used again recently to make a small dodo to give Jasper), but during the hunt stumbled across Jasper's website, and the Fforum, where I posted about my costume and got helpful suggestions (such as an entroposcope) to add. The people here are so amusing, I've stuck around.



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"I've often said that the difference between British and American SF TV series is that the British ones have three-dimensional characters and cardboard spaceships, while the Americans do it the other way around."
--Ross Smith

who was the other author?

i went to a will self reading once and he was crap, he just read and left... no Q&A no nothing...

on the other hand I went to a Irvine Welsh event and it was brilliant, he read from "Porno" in 4 different voices and answered questions and so on.

Hello,

I'm also new to the forum. I had been to the website before but hadn't looked at this section until after meeting Jasper at the Chicago signing. Hearing him talk is really inspiring, I know what you mean about feeling giddy afterwards. I've never heard an author so brilliantly talk about such a wide range of topics.

Magda, if you don't mind my asking, where did you find the pattern for your dodo? It's beautiful.

Welcome Hannah! We're a bunch of nuts here and newbies are quite welcome. Take a look around and don't be afraid to jump into the discussions! We always love a new point of view. Oh and don't be alarmed if you notice that a subject goes off topic quickly...that's TOTALLY normal around here...and even expected!

Hi Hannah!

I can certainly understand feeling giddy after seeing Jasper. I'm still a tad giddy, and I saw him Monday night! Of course, being recognized and having him like my gift helped with that too.

The dodo pattern can be purchased from www.aardvarktozebra.com, and the instructions with it are actually quite good.

There's a link at the very bottom of Jasper's "Readers Contributions" page to a picture of my Pickwick, with a link to the dodo pattern. You can either buy just the patterns (you get both sizes) or you can get a kit with all the materials for one size, and the patterns for both. (My Pickwick was made with the kit, then I used the smaller pattern that came with it and my own materials to make Alan).

I'll warn you, I had to look at 4 different fabric stores before I could find yellow or orange vinyl for the feet (although I could have used felt). And some vinyls tend to stick to your sewing machine foot. I've found masking tape over the vinyl where you're sewing helps if that's a problem (easier than the paper I used the first time) and can be ripped off around the stitching if you sew over it.

Welcome to the Fforum!



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"I've often said that the difference between British and American SF TV series is that the British ones have three-dimensional characters and cardboard spaceships, while the Americans do it the other way around."
--Ross Smith

Roller feet also work really well for doing vinyl. Unfortunately, my current machine doesn't have one. I've been looking for one for it. It's also great for doing denim and other nubby type fabrics that don't always want to slide under the presser foot very well.

oh and by the way, I'm still giddy about meeting Jasper, too. And the more I read about other peoples' experiences, the more giddy I get because I feel really privileged to meet such a cool author! (and just a genuinely NICE guy!)
My husband and I were talking about it and we've come to the conclusion that he and Mari are the type of couple we would normally hang out with. Reasonably well educated (tho' not always formally) and with quirky senses of humor. Wouldn't be boring, that's for sure! LOL

Vinyl? Surely everyone buys cds now... (old joke, resurrected for no good reason). Glad Mr Ff is giddy-making. Not in that sense of *glad* but...

*leaves to continue digging hole in peace*



PSD

==========

This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

i did notice something though: in the pics you posted of you and Jasper, he was wearing the same red button-down shirt that he was wearing when he came to sign in Chicago...

wonder if he ran out of laundry detergent...(i haven't a clue what they call it in Wales!)

or he just loves red shirts and has more than one...

or it's his 'lucky book signing shirt'...

ok, i'm just babbling now. i'm going to go knit a fox now...
jenn

Washing powder/liquid. Although I have no idea what the Welsh would be, and nor would large numbers of Welsh people...

Won't the fox object?



PSD

==========

This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

He may just be travelling light, and having it laundered for him by hotels. I'd guess he might be rotating 2-3 shirts. Where's that person who saw him in Cincinnati? They could say if he had a different one on the night between Dayton and Chicago.



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"I've often said that the difference between British and American SF TV series is that the British ones have three-dimensional characters and cardboard spaceships, while the Americans do it the other way around."
--Ross Smith

PSD: "Won't the fox object?"

well,it's not actually a fox just yet...it's just some fuzzy yarn and some knitting needles- i had gotten a pattern to make a fox stole/scarf out of yarn instead of killing one to drape around my neck, and it was just too fun to pass up.
[www.knitty.com] - what it will hopefully turn out looking like...

besides, who would want a dead animal around their neck?
(i'm pretty sure this is the wrong forum to ask that question in, but as i have not been a part of any off-topic tangents yet, why not have a go, eh?)


jenn

awww, don't go picking on Jasper's clothes now! He already had his ears talked about! (and he obviously got a mini-complex about it! Monkey ears indeed! LOL) Next thing we know, he'll be showing up in Armani wannabe suits and that just wouldn't be Jasper! So don't pick on his clothes ;-)

i never said that i didn't like the shirt- it looked good on him in all reality- i just had to comment on the fact that he seemed to have worn it to two different signings...
besides, we've all agreed on the forums that he is just as captivating in person as his books are. isn't the personality the most important bit?

lol, ayup!

Besides, I note that in Twila's pictures from D.C. he's wearing a brown shirt, so he does obviously have more than one with him. (Unless, of course, the lighting was even worse than I thought and it only looked brown.)

Personally, I liked his personality, his looks, *and* his shirt. (So there!)



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"I've often said that the difference between British and American SF TV series is that the British ones have three-dimensional characters and cardboard spaceships, while the Americans do it the other way around."
--Ross Smith

All American Cutie and Magda, thank you for the welcome.

Maybe he has two red shirts.
He did look great at the Chicago signing but I don't think it was his looks that kept the crowd enthralled for the hour and a half. Not knowing a single other person there I'd still feel safe saying that everyone that attended had a very good time.


I'm with you on liking his personality, looks and shirt, but please don't forget the great jacket!

I didn't see a jacket, but then it was well into the 70s in Dayton on Monday, so he likely didn't want/need to wear one.



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"I've often said that the difference between British and American SF TV series is that the British ones have three-dimensional characters and cardboard spaceships, while the Americans do it the other way around."
--Ross Smith

he had on a cool brown leather jacket in chicago- we had almost 90's two days before he came, but then on that wednesday i think it didn't get out of the 50's, and it's chicago, so it was a bit rainy and very windy.

i wish i could have gotten a pic of it, but i only got one pic, and i haven't downloaded it from my camera yet.

Jasper's been lurking again. Check out the entry for the 18th April:

[www.jasperfforde.com]



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"I've often said that the difference between British and American SF TV series is that the British ones have three-dimensional characters and cardboard spaceships, while the Americans do it the other way around."
--Ross Smith