First Contact

[Tonyblack]

Ok - so you are going to a signing or an event where Terry is going to be present and you have the chance to ask him a question.

You probably only have time for one question and you 1) want it to be original and/or witty and 2) you don't want to look like a complete idiot.

What are you going to ask?

Or what did you ask when you met Terry?

[SapphireForgeCat]

What would i ask? After the awkward mumbling of ~oh my gods.. You are awesome.. Nice hat..~? Hmmm..

Me being me, I'd probably ask if he wants to invite me on MXit.

[Cally]

He actually asked me a question when I went to a book signing many-moons ago. I never had a chance to ask him anything.

It was about my backpack, Darth Maul, and if it had actually eaten anyone yet.

[Tonyblack]

He actually asked me a question when I went to a book signing many-moons ago. I never had a chance to ask him anything.

It was about my backpack, Darth Maul, and if it had actually eaten anyone yet.

[GREEBO]

I was supposed to go when Carpe Jugulem came out but I was ill so my friend went for me, my friend explained this to Terry and Terry asked him to describe me to him and he said I was a ginger tosser in a joking manor and Terry signed my copy to the ginger tosser get well soon Terry,
I dont speak to him anymore

[Dotsie]

The man's brilliant! If apparently a little offensive.

When he signed my copy of "The Truth", he asked me if I'd got my potato. I just stood there with my mouth hanging open like an idiot. So I could tell he was impressed with me.

[VesuvianRuin]

I went to a signing when the Mort graphic novel came out and I went over with that and a copy of Guards? Guards! and was so in awe I just made these strange ahhing noises and said "'nk you" when he gave me the books back. Fortunately my father was with me and told PTerry my name for the book.

[Periwinkle]

The first time I met Terry was when I hopefully emailed his office sometime in 2000 I think it was, as we were doing Maskerade with our Am Dram and the script said "let us know, we may show up" and he phoned me at my house!!!
So he asked me where the theatre was!

I was in awe at the time and I ended up escorting him all night to the show and realised what a lovely down to earth man he was - I sprung a Buxton Radio interview on him and WH Smiths with books to sign and he just good naturedly got on with it.

He went backstage and told the cast what he thought at the interval and it was hilarious cos some of them had never read Pratchett and were doing their own version of his characters so he put them right!! Put a few Am Dram loveys noses out of joint that night I can tell you

[Butcher]

The first time i meet Terry was sometime in the early 90's at a local signing. I turned up and no ne else turned (this would be thanks to the shop only putting up an A4 hand writen sign at the bottom of the door) up so i had lots of time to chat with him. The one thing that really sticks in my mind was he said he liked my t-shirt (i was death with a black roses in his teeth).

Since then he has singled me out at signings to be sarcastic and use me (i think) as a buffer to destess.

[Dotsie]

Since then he has singled me out at signings to be sarcastic and use me (i think) as a buffer to destess.

Ooooh! You are so lucky!

[worbleook]

DW Con 2006. I distinctly remember having waited a looooong time, in costume, with a heavy stamps album under my arm. Hadn't slept much the night before, so it was not as articulate as I would have wished it to be. It probably wasn't even words, until the bit when the Man in the Hat asked if that was a Sorting Hat on my head, which woke me up, since I had to explain why, please, not the pit with the spikes.

On the Sunday evening I would have had the occasion to ask a few questions, when he stayed chatting and telling us stories until 2am, but that would have meant interrupting. Heresy!

[SapphireForgeCat]

Ok i've been working on my question.. And i get ideas, but every question i could think of relating to the discworld or his other works have probably been asked him so many times he's sick of answering. So i think i'd just ask him if he's comfortable and if he'd like something to drink.

[Tonyblack]

The first time I met Terry I decided to not bother about asking him a question, so I thanked him for all the joy his books have brought me and all the friends I've made on the Internet because of him.

He asked me if I'd been to any events, which I hadn't then and he suggested that I should as they are great fun.

The next time I saw him was at an event - Clarecraft 2005. I asked him to sign a copy of Hat Full of Sky as I was sending it to Sharlene (swreader) in Tucson. I explained that it was the book that had brought us together and that because of it we had fallen in love. I think I said: "That makes you Cupid and this book an arrow!"

[Witch from Lancre]

They never have the book signings locally and when I have been to the nearest ones (30 miles away) I have been unable to queue because of my loss of some abilities and have gone home disappointed.

My first contact with TP was when I wrote to him because my son had been asking me when he was going to write a book about Oz which he'd hinted about years before. He'd also asked me did I know what had happened to the Fifth Elephant but I wasn't going to ask too much. I received a fantastic letter from TP who had just returned from Australia, my letter having arrived just as he'd left, asking how on earth had my son known.

I have only met TP a few times since then and have sat down with him informally having a great laugh about anything but Discworld and also sitting around a campfire at night with other fans listening to him as well as joining in the conversations.

The last time I met him was after an Audience in Manchester. Fortunately the Waterstone's staff put me near the front of the queue. I was quite horrified at the vast number of people there who had carrier bags heaving with books for him to sign as well as the ones they'd bought that evening. There should be a limit as to the number of items he will sign per person on such occasions especially now.

I envy those who can go to all the other DW events and have their books etc. signed as well as having a great time with TP throughout the weekends.

[catrine]

Had quite a few encounters

One of the most memorable was standing outside of Forbidden Planet in London 3 hours in the rain!

He asked me about how i would feel about having my hair cut off - he was thinking about Polly when she cut off her hair

and i asked him which Clarecraft Ninereed he liked blue or red