Jasper Fforde signing One of Our Thursdays is Missing
2 March, 2011
at Foyles Charing Cross Road was fantastic. As always, Jasper Fforde is a wonderful and engaging speaker, full of jokes, self-deprecating and hysterical. Me and Claire aka Paperback Reader had a very enjoyable evening laughing out loud. The event was packed out and very cosy with a real mixture of readers who are clearly huge fans of Fforde’s amazingly inventive novels. I actually got there half an hour early and still had to queue.
Asked about his writing method and whether he outlines, Fforde nodded and said he outlines meticulously and that the finished product, his novel, is in fact the outline (i.e. no he doesn’t). His method is to use narrative dares, where, for example he will pose an intricate problem and would spend the rest of the time trying to work it out and hopefully produce a novel at the end. With his latest in the Thursday Next series, One of Our Thursdays is Missing, his narrative dare was the title itself. Then he starts some narrative gymnastics to try and make things work and sound like a proper novel.
For me, Fforde is one of those impressive novelists who, even though he produces one, or even two, books a year, doesn’t sacrifice quality. I mean, look at Shades of Grey. It’s innovative, complicated and works brilliantly. His novels are extremely detailed and often complex and packed with jokes which, you can tell, he relishes that I always get the feeling he is actually the one having the most fun writing his books. How amazing is that for a writer? Seriously, I can’t wait to read this book!
If you ever get a chance to go to a Jasper Fforde event, I heartily recommend it. Check out Annabel aka Gaskella’s experience at a Fforde signing in Abingdon.
chasing bawa 
2 March, 2011 at 4:55 pm
I’ve been lucky enough to see Jasper Fforde in person three times and each time he has been a delight. He’s definitely one of those authors who is incredibly talented AND charming!
3 March, 2011 at 1:59 pm
Absolutely! This was my second time seeing him and he was hysterical. And very charming too.
2 March, 2011 at 8:48 pm
I’m so jealous! I’ve never had a chance to meet him, but I’m a huge fan. I completely agree about Shade of Grey too. The Thursday series is so wonderful, but Shades of Grey showed a different side to his intellect and opened a whole new world of possibility. Thanks for sharing this!
3 March, 2011 at 2:01 pm
I found Shades of Grey much harder than the other books, but very rewarding. And it’s astounding the amount of detail he’s put in it plus the very premise of the book itself. I do hope you get see him at some point because you’ll love him even more!
3 March, 2011 at 7:44 am
So jealous too! He was in town for Shades of Grey but I chickened out at the last minute and didn’t go. I get so incredibly nervous around authors I love. When I got to have Jane Goodall sign a book I started crying. So embarassing! If Jasper comes to Seattle again, I’m going to have to try and control myself and see him.
3 March, 2011 at 2:02 pm
You must go and see him! I also get very tongue-tied and shy when I meet my favourite authors. I couldn’t say a word to David Mitchell even though I was rehearsing all the things I wanted to say to him! But Fforde is a very friendly person, so you won’t regret it!
8 March, 2011 at 1:01 pm
I’m extremely jealous! (He looks kinda spunky too, judging from his author pics). I agree that his novels are always top quality even though he publishes frequently. His imagination is so impressive and his books always make me go ‘wow’. Can’t wait to read this one.