The first big industry event I went to, someone squatted down, looked at my name tag, and straight up walked away because I wasn't important enough. I hid in the corner and muttered to some guy there about how much I hated it and he hated it and we had an amazing time. That guy was Terry Pratchett.
This is my favorite of my "events I had to go to" stories. It truly was great. He and I sat there making fun of the party. He was so nice.
I love this story, partly because of the thought of all those awful people missing out on talking to the two coolest people in the room.
James I hid in the bathroom and only came out because I heard they were passing around mini ice cream cones.
And I said, "I just hid in the bathroom but I wanted a mini ice cream cone" and he totally got it.
I like small foods.
I’m obsessed with small foods. Many parties have had the tiny fish and chips in a little cone. My favourite was “steak on a chip”, and it literally was a tiny slice of steak on one single chip, I *loved* everything about it.
My pro tip for talking to strangers at events is to have one interesting conspiratorial comment (“ hey, what do you think is in there?” or “do you think they let me try all the desserts?”) and this is a perfect one.
I’m sorry they treated you poorly. But what a great experience to come out of it!
Sir Pratchet’s life was a blessing to all.
This is truly legendary. Thank you for sharing such an awesome experience.
Terry Pratchett was a real one, and we’ve lost too many of those precious gems.
That’s a great story.
I was once introduced by a Texan friend to Julie Newmar (yes, the original Catwoman). She was surprisingly tall. I knew I'd worn out my welcome when she started looking straight over my head for someone else to talk to.
So, she was catty.
Ooo
Anytime someone had an opportunity to meet Terry Pratchett that was the most important person to care about ♥️♥️♥️
What a wonderful memory for you! Terry Pratchett was really a great guy
I love that man so much.
At Maui Writing Conference I’ll never forget this one awesome author who asked me about my writing. The author? Terry Brooks
At one ScBWI event, I had one writer ask me who my agent was. When I said i didn’t have one? She walked away. At lunch she refused to acknowledge me and turned and asked author with agent, shunning me. I was more pissed than anything as i thought how rude
:(
Terry was a class act.
When I was a senior in HighSchool I went to a book signing for Sir Terry and he told me stories about why I shouldn't do drugs. A 10 minute diatribe about getting so high that typing on the typewriter became a hyper-fixation and ruined his current project. He was a legend.
Legit thought you meant Pterry was the one who cold shouldered you and was a little bit heartbroken. Glad I misunderstood. :)
I remember you telling this story on Says Who because I idolize Sir Terry a little, and it was a relief to hear he was a decent human. I hope I never learn otherwise, it might actually break me.
He really was such a decent human.
I adore this story, glad to hear PTerry was fun to hang out with!
Or they look over your shoulder to find the next person over whose shoulder they will look to find the next person . . .
Famous author at a party who came up to me and said, I hear you're an actress!! and I said, really I'm a writer and her face fell and she walked away
But at the same party Annie Dillard held my 4 m.o. daughter and cooed and sprinkled her magic on her. I asked AD when I would ever quit worrying about my baby and she said, oh, when she's old enough to make herself a sandwich 🥹
It was often a relief to know that about someone early on.
Same. I found it hilarious. (And not just because I dislike social occasions). All conferences can be the same. As I’ve had the same experience in tech/PR/medical and education.
I love this because it fits so perfectly with how I imagine he would act. It’s so nice to hear that he actually was that kind of person.
That's sorta how I met my wife, but at a digital advertising mixer
This stuff happened to me, too, when I was breaking in. If some of them didn't know who you were, they wouldn't talk to you. Not all, as you say. But some.
I went to BEA once with an AGENT tag and it was fascinating that people were either very interested in speaking with me or not at all. Had some great conversations with librarians in the same boat.
Try working at a non-profit and attending an event for local LGBTQIA professionals. I sat at a table of bankers and entrepreneurs and felt like I was at the wrong lunch table - attempt to introduce yourself, they look at your name tag and immediately over your shoulder. Yes, I'm gay but poor. Sorry.
Did Terry ask you to buy him a gin & tonic?
I didn’t think I could love STP more than I already do…
I went to an industry party at BEA once and wore Ray Bradbury's name badge the whole time. I was in my mid 40s at the time, and people would look at my badge, then at me, then at my badge, and I go, "I finally got that time travel thing dicked."
