Tanith Lee at Orbital
I was introduced to Tanith Lee and her husband John Kaiine by Sarah Singleton (palecast), who was my constant con companion (along with her husband Brian). We saw her walking across a lighted bridge in the hotel's conference floor. She was this tiny figure garbed in black next to her giant, gangly goth husband who's at least 6'4. She has a mane of silver hair, a pale face and eyes fringed in the blackest kohl. She recognized me immediately, and greeted me with a hug. She has a low voice, very feminine and radiates presence.
I attended several panels she was on that Saturday, where she revealed a down-to-earth persona with a wonderful, self-deprecating sense of humor. On one panel, she said, "I am Tanith Lee and I am quite mad!" Singleton conducted the Guest of Honor interview with her with real skill and penetrating questions. Tanith talked about how she 'channels' her writing like a madwoman in the attic, which eventually bought along the subject of Esther Garber - the person/character that writes surreal lesbian metafiction. Her writing process comprises ferociously scribbling, followed by typing. She said that using a computer screen for too long causes severe migraines. Singleton also asked questions about her female characters, Death of the Day and The Gods Are Thirsty. Tanith spoke of projects in the pipeline. These are:
The Lost Books of Petragravia, a magical Russian city that's a cross between Moscow and St. Petersburg. She revealed that the (unsold) quartet is arranged around seasons and gave some tentative titles: Summerskull was one, and April Is the Devil is another. Also at the proposal stage is a novel about dragons called Firesmith, and yet another young adult novel about banned books and magic. She referred to an epic, apocalyptic book that she would only refer to by its initials.
One of the questions in the review session was about how John and Tanith met each other. It was romantic and funny-she told him that she wasn't interested (but of course she was).
Another panel was about how she and John worked together - how she'll bounce ideas off him, he'll come up with ideas and titles she'll snatch (with his permission, of course) and the artwork he makes. He passed around images for the upcoming novels - including a gorgeous set of Tarot card images.
John played the movie that is based on his film 'Dolly Sodom' - a creepy, David Lynchian short with a dash of the Brothers Quay.
Tanith read 'Israbel.' She had a sensual voice that fit the vampire tale well. I told her that she should podcast it.
I also got to spend some time with the couple in the pub. John bought me a cider one day, and I talked to Tanith with my friend the writer Justina Robson for about 1 hour, past the closing of the pub at 1:30 AM. Tanith showed us one of her notebooks. It was indecipherable scrawls on paper that we couldn't really read. She chuckled as we struggled.
I also got to meet the lovely Yasmin and attended the soft launch of Singleton's new novel, The Amethyst Child (I left with a copy in hand). Finally, I led a lively discussion about Drinking Sapphire Wine.
Sarah and her husband have a picture of me and Tanith, (and check out her blog -- for a picture of her and Tanith and John during the book launch of TAC), and John has some snaps of a group of us surrounding TL.
More about the rest of the con later, along with the people I met and the contacts I made - a jetlagged Craig looks to his bed fondly.
Adieu.
I attended several panels she was on that Saturday, where she revealed a down-to-earth persona with a wonderful, self-deprecating sense of humor. On one panel, she said, "I am Tanith Lee and I am quite mad!" Singleton conducted the Guest of Honor interview with her with real skill and penetrating questions. Tanith talked about how she 'channels' her writing like a madwoman in the attic, which eventually bought along the subject of Esther Garber - the person/character that writes surreal lesbian metafiction. Her writing process comprises ferociously scribbling, followed by typing. She said that using a computer screen for too long causes severe migraines. Singleton also asked questions about her female characters, Death of the Day and The Gods Are Thirsty. Tanith spoke of projects in the pipeline. These are:
The Lost Books of Petragravia, a magical Russian city that's a cross between Moscow and St. Petersburg. She revealed that the (unsold) quartet is arranged around seasons and gave some tentative titles: Summerskull was one, and April Is the Devil is another. Also at the proposal stage is a novel about dragons called Firesmith, and yet another young adult novel about banned books and magic. She referred to an epic, apocalyptic book that she would only refer to by its initials.
One of the questions in the review session was about how John and Tanith met each other. It was romantic and funny-she told him that she wasn't interested (but of course she was).
Another panel was about how she and John worked together - how she'll bounce ideas off him, he'll come up with ideas and titles she'll snatch (with his permission, of course) and the artwork he makes. He passed around images for the upcoming novels - including a gorgeous set of Tarot card images.
John played the movie that is based on his film 'Dolly Sodom' - a creepy, David Lynchian short with a dash of the Brothers Quay.
Tanith read 'Israbel.' She had a sensual voice that fit the vampire tale well. I told her that she should podcast it.
I also got to spend some time with the couple in the pub. John bought me a cider one day, and I talked to Tanith with my friend the writer Justina Robson for about 1 hour, past the closing of the pub at 1:30 AM. Tanith showed us one of her notebooks. It was indecipherable scrawls on paper that we couldn't really read. She chuckled as we struggled.
I also got to meet the lovely Yasmin and attended the soft launch of Singleton's new novel, The Amethyst Child (I left with a copy in hand). Finally, I led a lively discussion about Drinking Sapphire Wine.
Sarah and her husband have a picture of me and Tanith, (and check out her blog -- for a picture of her and Tanith and John during the book launch of TAC), and John has some snaps of a group of us surrounding TL.
More about the rest of the con later, along with the people I met and the contacts I made - a jetlagged Craig looks to his bed fondly.
Adieu.