Features ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 6 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2012
TECHNICIAN
‘Eragon’ author meets dedicated fans in Cary Andrea M. Danchi Correspondent
“Dragons,” Ingrid Neilson said as she walked away from the table. She’d just met Christoper Paolini, author of the fantasy series the Inheritance Cycle, and her arms were filled with his novels. The ink of his signature was still drying inside the front covers. The mythical creatures were her enthusiastic reason for why she loved Paolini’s world-renowned fantasy series. Neilson, a Raleigh resident, was one of the numerous fans who waited in line to meet the author Oct. 26. Paolini was in town for a book signing at Barnes & Noble in Cary. It was one of the stops on his book tour for Inheritance, the fourth installment of his fantasy series. The long line of fans formed well in advance of the author’s arrival and curved around the cafe at the center of the bookshop. Nearly every patron entering the store was there to meet the author. The strong smell of coffee hung heavily in the air as the espresso maker continuously spritzed and sputtered. Over the evening bustle, the anticipatory chatter of fans grew louder as the line lengthened. When he arrived, Paolini was led to the back of the store where a table and chair were arranged for the signing. Receiving a microphone, Paolini promptly stepped from the chair up onto the top of the wooden table and enthusiastically greeted the line of fans which stretched
SINESS REER TIES
CAIDE WOOTEN/TECHNICIAN
Kevin Schaefer, freshman in English, converses with author Christopher Paolini after getting his copies of Eragon and Inheritance signed at the Cary Commons Barnes & Noble on Friday. The Cary signing was one of the last for Paolini with the Inheritance Cycle.
to the front of the store. “I would do handstands for you but I don’t think this table would hold up,” Paolini said. Once the author descended the table and began signing books, his spirited, personable nature was evident as he conversed with the first young man in line. It continued throughout the evening to the last fan. He greeted each of them with a smile and an interest in their individual reasons for being there. From hearing about epic sagas that fans were writing to the streams of praise for his most recent novel, Paolini
always had an encouraging ing the books since the very word for aspiring authors or first one was published. a gracious response to pas“I can’t even explain how sionate fans. good the “The way books are,” he w rites Babcock a b out t he said. “They world, you have a spesense t he cia l touch passion bet hat on ly hind it,” Jean the author Thomas, could give. who c a me All of them Chris Paolini, from Charare so welllotte to meet author of the Inheritance Cycle written.” the author, Paolini, said. “He forces you to care now 28, began writing his about it and the characters.” trilogy at the age of 15 and Caleb Babcock, another published his first novel fan, said that he’d been read- Eragon at 19 in 2001. He holds
“I just want to tell stories and writing seems the most expedient way...”
the Guinness World Record as the youngest best-selling author. In spite of his explosive success, Paolini didn’t always know his writing was bestseller quality. He was homeschooled through high school and did not grow up with teachers telling him that his writing was good enough to support a career. He explained that he simply put his work out in the world to see how people would react to it. It still took the successful publishing of three novels before Paolini knew this was his calling. “I didn’t believe I was an
author until my third book,” Paolini said. “One, OK. Two could be a fluke.” The success of his fourth book f ur t her sol id if ies Paolini’s success. Almost half a million copies of Inheritance sold on the day of release. It topped both USA Today’s and Amazon’s bestselling book lists. His f irst three books, Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr, have sold 25 million copies worldwide. Inheritance alone printed 2.5 million first copies and was released in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Paolini said that when he was young he didn’t ever plan to be an author. However, as he got older, he came to a new realization. “I just want to tell stories,” Paolini said, “and writing seems the most expedient way of doing that.” Though Inheritance has been repeatedly called the fourth and final work in the Inheritance Cycle, Paolini says that he does intend to return to the world of Alagaësia in the future. “I’ve set it up very carefully so it wouldn’t seem unexpected,” Paolini said. In the meantime, he has said there are many other stories he wants to write. The first of which, as well as his next major work, will be a science fiction novel. As the night came to a close, Paolini gave a final farewell. “As Eragon would say, ‘Sé onr sverdar sitja hvass,’” Paolini said. “May your swords stay sharp.”
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30 BLOOD DRIVE
Talley Ballroom, 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
WEAR RED, GET FED! WITH BACKYARD BISTRO
Volvo Group Day at NC State October 30, 2012 2:30 PM
GLOBAL GLOBALBUSINESS BUSINESS.... Global Career Opportunities GLOBAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
GLOBAL BUSINESS Golden Leaf Biomanufacturing Training & Education Center GLOBAL CAREER 850 Oval Drive, Room 135 OPPORTUNITIES Raleigh, NC 27606 STATE OCTOBER 30, 2012 AT 2:30 PM The Volvo Group is striving to build a
The Volvo Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment, and drive systems for marine and industrial applications. We also provide complete solutions for financing and service.
The Volvo Group is one of the We employ about 115,000 people, have world’s leading manufacturers of production facilities in 20 countries and sell trucks, buses, construction our products in more than 190 markets. equipment, and drive systems for strong partnership marine and industrial applications. and exchange of experience We also provide completethrough solutions our Academic Partner Program. As part of this program for financing The Volvo Group is oneto of academic the andand ourservice. commitment excellence, we will be signing a Preferred
af Biomanufacturing Training & Education Center We employ about 115,000 people,with NC State University. Please join us to learn more Talent Partnership have production facilities in 20 Drive, Room 135 Group and the benefits of our partnership with NC State. countriesabout and sellthe our Volvo products in more than 190 markets. by Volvo Group Executives C 27606 2:30 - Presentations • Kerstin Renard, EVP Volvo Group Human Resources world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment, and drive systems for marine and industrial applications. We also provide complete solutions for financing and service. We employ about 115,000 people, have production facilities in 20 countries and sell our products in more than 190 markets.
AT NCEVP STATE 30, 2012 AT 2:30 PM TorbjornDAY Holmstrom, Volvo Group Trucks of Technology p is strivingVOLVO to buildGROUP a• strong partnership and anOCTOBER exchange experiences 3:30 - Lite Buffet and Networking with Volvo Group ademic Partner Program. As partand of this program and our Training commitment to Center Golden Leaf Biomanufacturing & Education employees alumni 850 Oval Drive, Room 135 VOLVO GROUP DAY AT NC STATE OCTOBER 30, 2012 AT 2:30 PM JOIN US! ence, we will be signing a Preferred Talent with NC State University. For more information about thePartnership Volvo Group visit www.volvogroup.com Raleigh, NC 27606 Golden Leaf Biomanufacturing Training Volvo Group is pleasedour to offer you & Education Center to learn more about the Volvo Group and the benefits partnership The Volvo Group is striving to build a of strong partnership and an exchange of experiences
Brickyard, 11 a.m.–until food runs out
CUPCAKE WARS
Brickyard, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
HOMECOMING SPEAKER
Witherspoon Student Center Cinema, 7:30 p.m.–9 p.m. Host Ryan Buell and cohost Sergey Poberehzny from A&E’s “Paranormal State”
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THURS., NOV. 1 DOORS OPEN AT 7 PEP RALLY & PACK HOWL
850 Oval Drive, to Room and135 from the event. JOIN US! through ourtransportation Academic Partner Program. As part of this program and our commitment to AT REYNOLDS We inviteNC you to catch our Prevost Bus Raleigh, 27606 academic excellence, we will be signing a Preferred Talent Partnership with NC State University. departing from theto Brickyard at 2:00 The Volvo Group is striving build a strong partnership andPM. an exchange of experiences COLISEUM Please join us to learn more about the Volvo Group and the benefits of our partnership The seats are first come, served so and our commitment to through our Academic Partner Program.first As part of this program entations by Volvo Group Executives with NC State. academic we will be signing a Preferred Talent Partnership with NC State University. don’t beexcellence, left behind! CATCH THE PREVOST EVENT BUS
2:30 – Presentations by Volvo Group Executives rd, EVP Volvo Group Human Resources with NC State.
Please join us to learn more about the Volvo Group and the benefits of our partnership
• Kerstin Renard, EVP Volvo Group Human Resources CATCH EVENT BUS Volvo Group is pleased to THE offerPREVOST you 2:30 – Presentations by Volvo Group Executives
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3:30 – Lite• Buffet and Networking Torbjörn Holmström, EVP Volvo Group Trucks Technology We invite you to catch our Prevost Bus transportation to and from the event. Volvo Group employees and alumni departing from the brickyard at 2:00 PM.our Prevost Buswith 3:30 – Lite Buffet and Networking We invite you to catch with Volvo Group employees and alumni departing from the brickyard at 2:00 PM. The seats are first come, first served so served so information about the Volvo Group: www.volvogroup.com more don’t be left behind!The seats are first come, firstFor
Buffet and Networking Volvo Group employees and alumni don’t be left behind!
For more information about the Volvo Group: www.volvogroup.com
mation about the Volvo Group: www.volvogroup.com Volvo Group Volvo Group
with GLORIANA