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A Night with Neil Gaiman

April 28, 2009

Tea with Neil Gaiman | A Night with Neil Gaiman

Acclaimed author Neil Gaiman attracted a large turnout on the Washington College campus green for a reading and conversation as part of the Rose O'Neill Literary House's "Pictures + Words: The New Literature of Graphic Narrative" festival.

Click to enlarge photos by Aileen Brenner '09.

Alumnae Lindsay Lusby '08 and Emma Sovich '08 show up early to reserve their seats.
Alumnae Lindsay Lusby '08 and Emma Sovich '08 show up early to reserve their seats.
Holly Kent-Payne '09 waits for ticket holders to arrive.
Holly Kent-Payne '09 waits for ticket holders to arrive.
Seat reserved for Neil Gaiman
A guest passes time before the event by practicing contact juggling.
A guest passes time before the event by practicing contact juggling.
Guests fill the campus green. Originally scheduled for the Prince Theatre downtown, the Neil Gaiman event became so popular that it required a larger venue.
Guests fill the campus green. Originally scheduled for the Prince Theatre downtown, the Neil Gaiman event became so popular that it required a larger venue.
Ed Hoegg '11 and Tech Services Technician Eric Broussard set up lighting equipment.
Ed Hoegg '11 and Tech Services Technician Eric Broussard set up lighting equipment.
Hester Sachse '09, Lyndsey Gibson '09, Kristine Komorowski '09 and Mike Curran '09
Hester Sachse '09, Lyndsey Gibson '09, Kristine Komorowski '09 and Mike Curran '09.
Special Pictures and Words guests webcomic Kate Beaton and poet Chad Parmenter.
Special Pictures and Words guests webcomic Kate Beaton and poet Chad Parmenter.
Literary House Administrative Assistant Owen Bailey and Assistant Director Kate Bursick sort out details before Neil Gaiman arrives.
Literary House Administrative Assistant Owen Bailey and Assistant Director Kate Bursick sort out details before Neil Gaiman arrives.
English Department Chair Kathryn Moncrief chats with some students before the event.
English Department Chair Kathryn Moncrief chats with some students before the event.
Megan McElligott '09 and Oluademi James-Daniel are two of the crowd.
Megan McElligott '09 and Oluademi James-Daniel are two of the crowd.
Author Neil Gaiman waits as he is introduced.
Author Neil Gaiman waits as he is introduced.
Gaiman begins the evening with a reading from The Graveyard Book, a children's fantasy novel and winner of the 2009 Newbery Award.
Gaiman begins the evening with a reading from The Graveyard Book, a children's fantasy novel and winner of the 2009 Newbery Award.
Neil Gaiman
Bursick, a longtime Neil Gaiman fan, watches the reading from the front row.
Bursick, a longtime Neil Gaiman fan, watches the reading from the front row.
Trevor Williams '08 and Tessa Fox '11 are attentive to the reading.
Trevor Williams '08 and Tessa Fox '11 are attentive to the reading.
Bursick introduces Literary House Director Joshua Wolf Shenk to lead a Q&A session with Gaiman.
Bursick introduces Literary House Director Joshua Wolf Shenk to lead a Q&A session with Gaiman.
OIT Services Technician Jeff Hamm helps Shenk with his microphone.
OIT Services Technician Jeff Hamm helps Shenk with his microphone.
As the sun sets, Gaiman answers Shenk's questions. Gaiman outlined the importance of reading your work out loud; he suggested reading to children, commenting, "Kids will stay still and listen...they will not check their twitter while you're reading."
As the sun sets, Gaiman answers Shenk's questions. Gaiman outlined the importance of reading your work out loud; he suggested reading to children, commenting, "Kids will stay still and listen...they will not check their twitter while you're reading."
Gaiman speaks about the idea of fame; "I don't like famousness," he says.
Gaiman speaks about the idea of fame; "I don't like famousness," he says.
The audience's questions begin with Chris Kraisser '12.
The audience's questions begin with Chris Kraisser '12.
Gaiman answers and audience question, revealing that the idea for Coraline came from his daughter Holly.
Gaiman answers and audience question, revealing that the idea for Coraline came from his daughter Holly.
After audience questions, Gaiman returns to the podium to read another excerpt from The Graveyard Book.
After audience questions, Gaiman returns to the podium to read another excerpt from The Graveyard Book.
Neil Gaiman
Guests line up on the Miller Library terrace for an impromptu book signing after the reading.
Guests line up on the Miller Library terrace for an impromptu book signing after the reading.
Faith Erline '09 has her event ticket autographed.
Faith Erline '09 has her event ticket autographed.
Brittany Doggett '09 has a book signed by Gaiman.
Brittany Doggett '09 has a book signed by Gaiman.
A fan asks Gaiman to text message an update to his twitter.
A fan asks Gaiman to text message an update to his twitter.
Michael Alexander '09 has a book autographed.
Michael Alexander '09 has a book autographed.

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