Going Hobnobbing!

[Mark Robson]

No doubt I shall be name-dropping like mad tomorrow, so if I'm totally insufferable, just put me back in my box, would you? I'll be leaving for London in a couple of hours to attend the Programme Opening Event for the Cheltenham Literary Festival, hosted by the Festival Artistic Director and the Editor of The Times. The list of authors, actors, politicians etc taking part in the Festival is most impressive, so I shall be in networking mode for the rest of the day.

This evening's soiree is being held in the Royal Society of Arts building near the Embankment. I shall put my very best schmoozing head on and try not to say anything too embarrassing!

 

[Joel007]

good luck! and have fun

 

[Patrick Mahon]

Sounds like lots of fun! I just picked up a copy of the festival programme last week - I'll have to look at it in more detail now!

Looking forward to hearing all the gossip from the soiree...

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

Sounds fun and don't forget to use the correct fork!

 

[Mark Robson]

I've got an 'ology' in using the right fork, WS. No worries there!

 

[dwndrgn]

Go out and hob the nobs, you know you're good at it! And don't forget to nob the hobs too!! Have a great time!

 

[BookStop]

I shall put my very best schmoozing head on and try not to say anything too embarrassing!

I'm impressed. You have more than one schmoozing head, huh? I'm afraid I only have the one schmoozing head, and it's been getting a bit shabby lately. Oh, well. Have fun.

 

[Rosemary]

I hope you have a super time Mark...

Yes, will want to know who else was hobnobbing

 

[HoopyFrood]

Ah, the life of an author! Deeply envious!
Have a great deal of fun. Although you must be there right now, so I guess I should be saying, I HOPE you HAD a great time, and did a great dealing of hobbing the nobs, or nobbing the hobs (is it me or do both of those sentences sound deeply crude? Hehe, just me and my twisted mind... )
Ok, serious face...Hope you enjoyed all that glitz and glamour, try not to forget us lower mortals when you reach the dizzy heights of fame!

Toodles.
x Hoopy Nic x

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Sounds fun and don't forget to use the correct fork!

Anyone who's been an officer in the military as long as Mark was probably knows all the etiquette books chapter and verse.

 

[Carolyn Hill]

Please tell us all the juicy stories when you return!

 

[Mark Robson]

Please tell us all the juicy stories when you return!

You will no doubt be pleased to hear that Geoff Ryman was impressed that someone intelligent had taken time to interview him in depth. I actually spent very little time speaking with other authors, however, as I concentrated on people like the Waterstones Events team and the Festival organisation team ... along with people from the press. I decided that talking books with authors, whilst pleasant, was not as productive as mixing with the movers and shakers.

I couldn't resist chatting with one of the Literary Agents who had turned me down a few years back. I was careful not to thumb my nose at him, though, as you never know when contacts like that will come in useful.

The one person who I really wanted to meet did not turn up. Jonathan Stroud was supposed to be there, but his name badge never left the table, so I guess he couldn't make it for some reason. A shame, as I would like to have had a chat with him. Maybe I'll get a chance to catch up with him in Cheltenham.

All in all it was a most useful evening ... but then I would never allow a gathering like that to go by without making a few contacts.

 

[Adasunshine]

Oooh, Waterstones, we have one here in Salisbury (and an Ottakars - just in case), hope you get some time to travel, would love a signed copy of one of your books!!! Your wife may disagree with me there though!

Glad you had a lovely evening, I have no idea who Geoff Ryman is, will have to google him and find out. Always nice to rub it in with people who let you down in the past but kudos on not thumbing your nose at him! Not sure I'd be so controlled if it were me!

Gutted on the Jonathan Stroud thing though, hope you get to catch up with him in Cheltenham. He's on my to-read pile!

So, how was the wine? The food? You know, the important stuff...

xx

 

[Mark Robson]

Oooh, Waterstones, we have one here in Salisbury (and an Ottakars - just in case), hope you get some time to travel, would love a signed copy of one of your books!!! Your wife may disagree with me there though!

Glad you had a lovely evening, I have no idea who Geoff Ryman is, will have to google him and find out. Always nice to rub it in with people who let you down in the past but kudos on not thumbing your nose at him! Not sure I'd be so controlled if it were me!

Gutted on the Jonathan Stroud thing though, hope you get to catch up with him in Cheltenham. He's on my to-read pile!

So, how was the wine? The food? You know, the important stuff...

xx

You mean you haven't read Brown Rat's wonderful interview with Geoff? Shame on you! Get over to General Book Discussion right away!

http://www.chronicles-network.com/forum/11294-geoff-ryman-interview-in-four-parts.html

I've actually signed in Waterstones, Salisbury on a couple of occasions. Not been there for a couple of years now, though. Must put it on my 'To Do' list.

The wine flowed freely and there were canapes by the bucket load. Didn't need my 'ology' in forks after all! All in all it was a lot of fun.

 

[Carolyn Hill]

Your ability to network is truly impressive, Mark.

When you talk to literary agents and the events team, what sort of things do you say? I always wonder whether to talk about the event and my day job and regular chit-chat, or whether to talk shop and mention that I write, etc. When I do mention that I write, I feel like I'm forcing things or being uncool or something.

I'm glad to hear the Geoff liked the interview. He didn't tell me, so I was wondering. (See above, re: worries about being uncool.)

 

[jackokent]

I'm confused.

The Cheltenham Literary Festival in London?

When are you actually in Cheltenham. Are you doing signing etc as I will pop over.

 

[Mark Robson]

Your ability to network is truly impressive, Mark.

When you talk to literary agents and the events team, what sort of things do you say? I always wonder whether to talk about the event and my day job and regular chit-chat, or whether to talk shop and mention that I write, etc. When I do mention that I write, I feel like I'm forcing things or being uncool or something.

I'm glad to hear the Geoff liked the interview. He didn't tell me, so I was wondering. (See above, re: worries about being uncool.)

LOL! At this event I began each conversation by stating that I was one of the participating authors, (which was not clear from my name badge) which inevitably invited the opening to tell them what I've written and what I'll be talking about at the Festival. Much of the skill of small talk is in directing it subtly (or even not so subtly in some cases) in the direction that you wish the conversation to go.

Literary Agents are often on the lookout for authors whom they think could make them good money even if that author already has an agent, (no disrespect to Agents, I'm sure I'd do the same) especially if the said author is looking for a change. I'm not, but it didn't stop me from building a few bridges. You never know when such relationships might come in handy.

Talking to the Waterstones team was somewhat different, as they already knew me by reputation. It did make me smile to hear that every time I do a signing event with them "news of it reverberates through the company"!

Geoff was as charming as ever. He's a true gentleman. He was very positive about the interview when he spoke to me, so I'm surprised that he has not contacted you back. A busy man, no doubt.

I'm confused.

The Cheltenham Literary Festival in London?

When are you actually in Cheltenham. Are you doing signing etc as I will pop over.

Don't worry - I was confused too. I imagine they held the programme opening event in London as that was where the sponsors were based.

I'm going to be speaking on Sunday 15th October in one of the venues near the Town Hall. You can book a ticket here: http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/whats_on/event_detail.html?id=1103

I do hope you will come along. The more, the merrier. I'd hate to think the place would be empty.

 

[jackokent]

Thanks for this.

I will definately be there, but you've got to promise to sign a copy of your book for me in between hobnobbing with the important people.

Is anyone else going by the way?

 

[dwndrgn]

I do hope you will come along. The more, the merrier. I'd hate to think the place would be empty.

Never happen. If it happened to be empty, I can see you canvassing the sidewalks and luring unsuspecting passersby into your web...

 

[scalem X]

Well better totally empty than having only a few.
(If none is there to spread the rumour that it you were talking to yourself, you can act as if they couldn't get inside and used elephants to... okay maybe not.)
Hope it all goes well.