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Robin Hobb's Infrequent and Off Topic Blog

Creating a Space

Do you ever wish there was a space where you could go to write?  One without a tv muttering in the next room?  Or kids, cats and dogs with petitions?  A space where you did not know the WIFI password and could not be tempted onto the internet?

 

I think every writer or artist or creator of any kind has, at some point, longed for such a space.  

 

We are trying to create that for you.

 

Kat and I have been working on this for months, with the generous help of family.  Still, it's a slow process, but we did want to share the progress here.  When Fred retired from teach Judo six days a week, it left us with a small commercial buildling that had been Oak Tree Dojo.  As empty buildings do, it accumulated 'good stuff' inside it.  Lawn mowers that almost work, filing cabinets, plastic tables and folding chair . . .  you get the idea.  It became oppressive and sad to walk in there.  So.  Out it all must go.  We are halfway there. 

 

Kat and I have a concept.  It's to create a space where, twice a month, writers could gather.  The imaginary schedule might be that people arrive at about 6 PM and for fifteen or twenty minutes, it's coffee and tea and maybe cookies and coversation.  But at 6:30 it's Shut Up and Write time.  People would bring their own laptops or tablets or legal pad, and they'd take a place at the tables and write.  No chit-chat, no interruptions, just sit down and get to it  About 8 PM, it's time to close the laptops and cap the pens, and join friends for a farewell cup of coffee or tea.  And then everyone departs until next time.   Kat and I would lock up about 9.  

 

We'd have some good research books on shelves for people to consult.  Good dictionaries, books on flowers, birds and costume.  Historical atlas.   Extra paper and pens, a printer.   Maybe an old beater laptop or two connected to our internet  for emergency research. 

 

At this point, we'd just do this for free, but have a 'kitty' out where people could contribute a dollar or two or loose change for the coffee/tea fund.  

 

No smoking inside the building, but eventually a table and bench outside in the fenced yard where people who need to smoke whilte writing could gather when the weather was kind.   No pot or alcohol, please.

 

Drawbacks:  The building is small.  We could probably accomodate twelve writers at a time, maybe fifteen, but I doubt we'd get that many.  Because our building is in McKenna, Washington.  Where is that?  Well, it's on State Route 507, between Yelm and Roy.  That's at least an hour from Seattle, and closer to two with traffic.  Olympia and Tacoma are about an hour away. So I suspect our gatherings would stay small. 

 

We've already heard from one friend who asked about having a drawing or crafting evening once or twice a month.  People could bring their crochet hooks or sewing machines or whatever, and have a sociable time for crafting.  I am not a crafty person myself, so we'd need some guildance for that.

 

Eventually, if writers were visiting Seattle for Emerald City Comic Con or another event, we might be able to invite guests to do a reading or a writers workshop. But that would be far down the road.

 

When do we think we'll have this ready to try?  We are hoping for January.  The other side of the building is still a mess of boxes of my books, a couple of old Pinball machines, and more boxes of my books.  But we will get it cleared, or at least organized, and then we will maybe have an open house so people could come and check it out and see if they'd want to join us to write.  

 

Feedback on this is welcome.  What hours or days of the week would be best?  Could we do a book launch from there, for self-pubbed writers who might not have another venue?  And any other ideas you might want to offer.

 

Let us know what you think.

 

Robin

 

 

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Order Signed Books Today!

Image of Robin Hobb trade paperbacks with Jackie Morris Illustrations and Volume ! Graphic Novel of Assassin's Apprentice

This is very last minute!  Today is November 11, Monday.  Tomorrow, Tuesday November 12, I will drive to Seattle and sign the speical order books at University Book Store.  If you want a signed book, you should order it today!

 

I am not certain that i will get up there in December, so if you are ordering a holiday gift, today is the day!

 

To get a signed, personalized book, go to the Universtiy Book Store website, select the book and when you are ordering, in the comments section, type that you'd like it signed.  It's that simple.  They give me the information, I sign the book as you wish, and then they ship it to you.

 

I'm very sorry this is last minute, and I regret that some of you have been waiting a while for the books you already ordered.  Duane has been out of action after a foot surgery.  We were trying to wait for him to come back to work, but it looks like that will take a bit longer.  So I'm going up there tomorrow to get all the orders signed and out of the way!

 

 

A quick reminder that my next public signing will be at Dragon Steel Nexus Convention, in Salt Lake City, Utah, in early December.

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Grit City Comic Show in Tacoma, Washington November 9, 2024

Dark Horse Comics #1 cover with young FitzChivalry Farseer depicted

On November 9, 2024, I will be at the Tacoma Convention Center for Grit City Comic Show!   This is a one day show, so don't delay! This comic show is unique to Tacoma and one of my favorites to attend. It's very affordable and very family friendly.  Tickets on line are $10, but kids ten and under get in for free with a paying adult!  Tickets at the door will be $15. The convention will be open from 10 AM to 5 PM.  It will be a warm, dry family break from our current bout of windy, rainy weather!

 

In addition to comics, books and conventional (and unconventional) convention merchandise, there will be cosplay, and an amazing Lego display.  Gaming will be going on as well, with a unique Santa versus Crampus game offered.

 

For me, this will be the first time I actually have a table in Artists Alley, and I will be selling copies of the first six issues of the Dark Horse Comics adaptation of Assassin's Apprentice.  I will also have a few copies of the Volume One Graphic Novel of Assassin's Apprentice. 

 

In addition, I will be raiding my storage unit to offer Megan Lindholm's urban fantasy set in Seattle:  Wizard of the Pigeons in hardback with illustrations by Tommy Arnold.  Other yet-to-be-chosen items from my storage unit will also be offered, including editions of Robin Hobb and Megan Lindholm books that are First Editions, out-of-print, and hard to find.  Those will be in very limited supply.  All sales will be cash only. 

 

I will hope to see you there!

 

But, if Tacoma is too far of a drive for you, I want to remind you that The Signed Page is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with a 25% off sale on lovely autographed editions by many best-selling authors (including Robin Hobb!)  The Signed Page is a wonderful site for bibliophiles and collectors, ensuring that every item you order is shipped to you and arrives in pristine condition. 

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