Well today (7th, its just passed midnight) …Mr Lain, Mr Leicester and myself made it to the Fighting Fantasy Fest. It was a bizarre experience, turning around a corner in a hotel and seeing your childhood heroes. Star struck…I pigeon stepped over to the first two familiar faces I recognised was Ian Livingstone and Russ Nicholson. They briefly, looked up from what they was talking about and said hello. Well all the questions I could have asked had flown out my head but we all shook hands and Russ showed me through his artwork folder.
I would then continue around the rooms gathering signatures for my copy of You Are The Hero from the likes of Chris Achilleos and Leo Hartas. Then, for me at least came the daddy of them all. Steve Jackson who’s work first introduced me to the series with his Sorcery epic. We had a really good chat about how he found it easiest to write his books and how I got into collecting. Thinking things couldn’t get any better, the most surreal thing happened. Malcolm Barter, one of the earlier illustrators asked, “Hello, you’re Jam arnt you?” He had recognised me from my Facebook profile pic which had made him laugh several days before. A really nice gentleman, I hope if more books make it to market he will have another outing as interior artist.
Then came along the guy who organised all this. The one who has been working like a nutter over the past two years to bring this and his You Are The Hero book to light. Jonathan Green…once again recognised me before I even spun around and said hello, and thanked me for doing a few graphics for his Facebook group. The day would go one with mass signings, fancy dress contests and an auction held by Ian with some rare related artefacts. I did put in a bit of 25 pounds on a promotional item from the Deathtrap Dungeon release. Ian misheard and thought id said 75! Luckily I corrected him and maybe even luckier someone outbid me. I did mention I’d have liked the one that was wielded by a then unknown Kelly Brook which raised a giggle. All in all the event was very pleasing and the atmosphere very good. A special thanks goes to Mr Lain for getting me there and back, Mr Leicester for making the night before a good evening, and Mr Aukett for the books he’s sold me to patch up some of the ones missing from my collection.
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