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9/11 - Never forget.
RHLSTP can be a cause of great stress and occasional psychological damage for me, but I am very glad I started it and even though new episodes will be running out in March next year, I am going to carry on doing Book Club. In some ways this is crazy as the Book Club probably takes more work than the regular podcast as I have to read (or listen to) at least a book a week, but it is much easier to book as authors nearly always want to talk about their books.
Today I got to chat with one of my favourite authors from childhood Ian Livingstone about the Games Workshop and the Fighting Fantasy series.
I wrote about how much I was enjoying playing his new book with Ernie and my comedy (and possibly real) son Joz Norris got in touch to say what a huge fan he was of the Livingstone's work and how he'd try to rebuy the whole series during lockdown.
So I let Joz come along for the ride today and to ensure that he didn't fanboy too much did it all online to keep Ian safe.
For a man who has had unbelievable creative and financial success, Ian was very down to earth and friendly and happy to have Joz along (although it wasn't until late in the podcast that I revealed that Joz had once eaten a tin of cat food - you'll find out about this once Joz's Edinburgh chat is released) and told brilliant stories of the humble beginnings of his empire - how he'd slept in a van and showered at a squash club.
What I loved about him was that he has no need to keep writing these books - his many successes could afford him a very comfortable retirement- but for him it's about the art and the pleasure and frustration he is giving to his fans, even the ones who occasionally eat food intended for animals.
It was all worth it to see Joz's happy little face. So sad that he doesn't know that this was all part of the Make A Wish Foundation and he only has days left. But at least he will go out happy.
I am inspired by so many of the brilliant authors I've had on this show. Not so inspired that I seem capable of sitting down and doing any writing myself (or very little), but hopefully that will change soon.
Obviously it won't.
At least I can appreciate the brilliant writers who actually get stuff done, when they must just want to mess around with puppets all day, like a normal person.
