ewein2412: (Mucha Medraut)
[personal profile] ewein2412

Immigration official  Harbormaster:  Welcome to mainland Britain.  I see from your passport sword that you’re a writer you’re a knight.  What do you write?  Whose knight are you?
E Wein  Mordred:  Well, in fact, I write children’s books I’m a knight of Arthur’s Round Table.
Harbormaster: Going to be the next Sir Lancelot, are you?

An Editor  A damsel in distress:  I like this book but  I could use help, but not yours just now, even though Sir Lancelot has made knights of the Round Table so much more popular these days.

Librarian  Lady Enid:  How are you getting along in Camelot?
Mordred: I’m doing quite well, actually. Arthur’s acknowledged me as his son and he’s going to make me regent if he has to go abroad.
Lady Enid:  Oh, you're going to be the next--I can’t think of the name.  Something to do with a lake--
Mordred:  Spare me, sweet lady, DON’T SAY IT!  Really, I'm not anything like him.  Different style, different ambitions--I'm not well known as a knight yet, but I'm doing well at the moment, and I'm so tired of people saying it!
Lady Enid (laughing):  All right, I understand.  No names mentioned.  [librarian’s husband Sir Geraint enters]  Why, Geraint, have you heard Mordred’s news?  Arthur has acknowledged him as his own son, and is going to make him regent.
Sir Geraint:  Going to be the next Sir Lancelot, are you?

my father in law  Merlin   [anyway someone who SHOULD KNOW BETTER]:  Well, Mordred, I really admired your last book sword work in that duel.  Not that I know anything about books sword work.  But let’s be honest, you’ll never be another Sir Lancelot, will you!  [pause]  Not that I’ve ever read seen Sir Lancelot’s sword work.
Mordred:  yes.  no.  well.
--------------------------

To each of these jovial remarks, I--who am I, anyway?--I answer in my head: If I woke up one morning and discovered that I had turned into Sir Lancelot I would have to POISON MYSELF.
No, seriously, seriously now, I ask myself this question.  I ask it again and again, when I am most consumed with envy and thwarted ambition.  Would you rather be Sir Lancelot, or Arthur’s own son?  And I swear, if I die in ignominy and hatred and no one remembers me or cares, if I never accomplish another deed in my life, the answer is always, and forever, I would rather be Arthur’s son.
Am I going to be the next Lancelot?  No.  But I would sell my soul to be the next Arthur.
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Date: 2007-12-19 11:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] marith.livejournal.com
*applause* Also, I smack all those well-meaning people with a large wet salmon.

Date: 2007-12-20 12:08 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rainbowjehan.livejournal.com
It absolutely is NOT RIGHT how much I laughed while I was reading this. Ohdear.

And--yes. It is unbelievably true that you are Arthur's son. Something that buoys me up in looking at your covers assures me.

Date: 2007-12-20 12:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rainbowjehan.livejournal.com
Fair enough.

Date: 2007-12-20 12:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mhari.livejournal.com
*snarfle* *snort*

I heart you lots. And your alter ego. :D

Date: 2007-12-20 12:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] j-cheney.livejournal.com
There is a vast difference between marketability and talent.

Date: 2007-12-20 12:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] j-cheney.livejournal.com
Nah, it's not whining... ;o)

I seriously don't think I 'd want to be JK Rowling or Philip Pullman....

Date: 2007-12-20 01:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] j-cheney.livejournal.com
Names? What names?

Oxford might be nice....now that I think about it. ;o)

Date: 2007-12-20 01:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sdn.livejournal.com
for the record, folks, that editor is not me.

Date: 2007-12-20 01:35 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rachelmanija.livejournal.com
I often feel the same way, even though I mostly don't write fantasy, so you would think people would not literally compare me to J. K. Rowling Lancelot, but they do anyway.

I really do think I'd rather be Mordred, though. I always loved him best, even before I read The Winter Prince.

Date: 2007-12-20 02:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rainbowjehan.livejournal.com
Considering that I loathe the Harry Potter books and never enjoyed The Golden Compass series, or, for that matter, much of any series other than Diana Wynne Jones and yours--these being the two exceptions to my I HATE SERIES rule--

In any case, I think the question needs to be at least moderately rephrased, as you are a great writer.

Date: 2007-12-20 02:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sarah-prineas.livejournal.com
Oh my gawwwwd. I've been asked that question many times already! And I don't even know how to use a sword!

Date: 2007-12-20 03:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tiboribi.livejournal.com
I will always remember you, and your books. And so will the various friends I have gotten to read them.

But I understand. I would rather produce fantastic art than flash in the pan pop-art.

Date: 2007-12-20 06:28 am (UTC)
sovay: (Lord Peter Wimsey: passion)
From: [personal profile] sovay
those ghastly little traps

"I cannot wait to rush in where angels fear to go."

Am I going to be the next Lancelot? No. But I would sell my soul to be the next Arthur.

I think you have your priorities on straight.
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