Is Actually Looking Forward
Any excuse is a good excuse to set a milestone here and there on the road. In a world where it’s easy to confuse well-being with monotony, every mark you can leave that fixes a moment in time is worth making.
About two years ago, I wrote « Welcome to my dot-com, which is at last up and running in a start-up version.
Why a site, and what is it for ? It used to be big cars and well trimmed lawns, nowadays it’s web sites. If your neighbour has one… »
Two years down the road into the web site (it was launched on December 18, 2002, unless my memory has already betrayed me) I haven’t found the answer yet, but I must say it’s been quite an interesting walk so far.
Naturally, it is not quite the site I so optimistically promised 2 years ago, largely through my inability to keep up, but what you see on the site is also largely due to my webmaster Dominique’s ability TO keep up, to continue improving existing features and update the existing structure.
It has turned into a fairly solid database, and shores up my flagging memory. Now I can go to my own site when I need to check an obscure detail. Rather than dig through boxes of books, I can search on the site. Not only does it involve much less heavy lifting and no dust, I can actually find what I am looking for.
It has provided me with an alternative to filling up little diaries with cramped handwriting before being stowed in the attic in a very large cardboard box already filled with little diaries already filled with cramped handwriting. The newsletter is simultaneously an exercise in discipline and a reminder to keep my mind switched to the ON position as much as possible. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but who’s counting?
The forum has proved unexpectedly stimulating, and the fan art section (when people do bother to read the rules) has ended up as a diverse catalogue of talent. (The whole idea behind it, by the way, is that if you participate regularly for a year or two, you will end up with a portfolio of work that you can present to publishers, all that without even realizing you’ve been putting a portfolio together. My secret ambition is to one day be able to go to signature sessions of illustrators who have one day passed through this site, which will enable me to jump the line-up. )
My favourite category by far in the site is the one labelled « Fear ! Fire ! Foes ! », a most diverse collection of rip-offs, variations, “improvements”, and illegal uses. My reaction to this kind of thing has become somewhat more resigned, thus multiplying the amusement value. I owe special thanks to ALL the people on the site who send these things in.
And, last but not least, Dom and I do hope to keep improving the site in the future. So don’t go away.
AWARDS NIGHT 2004
Every institution autocongratulates those associated with it on an annual basis, so why not, thought I? So here goes…
BEST SIGNATURE SESSION
Lucca Comics and Games, where I happily drew without any grim looks and despairing sighs from disappointed (former) fans who stood in line 3 hours only to be told “Signatures ony from now on.” Roberto and the team from Nexus could run workshops on how to organize signature sessions.
BEST FESTIVAL
The Fellowship Festival in London (except for the sandwiches). Sarah Peterkin, who organised the signature sessions, gets the medal of valour for heavy lifting and single-handed bravery in the face of the madding crowd.
BEST FREE TIME
Lucca Comics and Games. An essential category: the energy you can devote to signing sessions largely depends on the free time the organisers set aside for you to get your batteries recharged. Thanks to Emmanuel for looking after that.
BEST TRIP
The Canadian documentary shoot (except for the coffee) which made me feel all weak-kneed and nostalgic and quite damp because it rained most of the time.
BEST SCHOOL CONFERENCE
Similkameen Secondary, where I never thought I would set foot after escaping from Grade 12 nearly 30 years ago (and they gave me a t-shirt too!).
BIGGEST BLUR
Aix-en-Provence, where, largely through my own doing, I managed to line up a 5 hour train trip, a 5 hour signature and conference session, 5 hours of sleep and 5 more hours in the train in a mere 24 hours, leaving 4 hours to spare.
STRANGEST EXPERIENCE
Watching my life flash before my eyes (in Cinemascope) during the first viewing of “There and Back Again”.
MOST SURREAL MOMENT DURING A SIGNING SESSION
Being handed a Greek copy of “Myth & Magic” to sign. It’s not often you get to sign books you didn’t have a clue existed.
BEST PACKAGE IN THE POST
Moria orc helmet from Kropserkel, ex aequo with Barad-dur print and the Balrog from Weta/Sideshow.
BEST E-MAIL QUESTION
“congratulation the movies there great. is there going to be a novel where can i get it? thanx”
BEST WEBMASTER
Dominique Javet (no contest there…)
MOST ACTIVE FORUM MEMBER
(otherwise known as the “Please-Don’t-Get-A-Life-Or-Where-Would-The-Site-Be-Without-You” Award)
Crooty
BEST FAN ART
Amy Thompson
(By the way, these categories were established in about the time it takes to type them and down a cup of cold coffee – yuck – so I am open to suggestions…)
Thanks for everything everyone.
See you in 2005.
John
