More Good Ones

Just sitting here, trying to think of other authors who are rather decent human beings as well.
This list is composed of people I'm not friends with, but who I've had dealings with, or friends have had dealings with. A few of them are email buddies--and you can tell a lot about authors by their email. No, you can.

1. Terry Pratchett
Extremely approachable. Very friendly. The man could buy the Eastern Seaboard, and doesn't forget why that is. He did a very generous thing for a woman here in London, allowing her to make little Discworld dolls. This is her life: she doesn't have much money, and her focus in this world is making costumes and dolls. He only asked for money if she started making quite a lot of it. Other authors would have speed dialed their lawyers while reaching for the pepper spray.

2. Neil Gaiman
I met him briefly many years ago. At the time, my hands looked horrible due to some undoubtedly alien cultivated burst of dermatititis. (I've learned not to use rubber gloves when cleaning.) In short, my hands looked liked they belonged clutching a tomb lid.
When I met Neil, I--being the polite gentleman my masters beat me into becoming--offered my hand in greeting. Neil looked at my hand just as I remembered how Romero-liked they currently looked. I was embarassed, but before I could pull my claw back, Neil grabbed my hand and gave it a solid shake. He then sketched Dream across a book I had brought for him to sign, and then quickly forgot about me as he chatted up my wife, getting into a long discussion about the most commonly misspelled female names. It was 'Guinevere', he said.
As for chatting up my wife, most men do upon meeting her. I blame pheromones.

3. Elizabeth Moon
Replies quickly to emails, very friendly. Has the ability to make the fan feel he or she has made her day, and not the other way around.

4. George R.R. Martin
Very generous with praise, also quick on the email draw. A nice guy. Rare.

5. Gary Russell
Editor of Doctor Who Magazine a few years ago, now at Big Finish, writing both plays and novels. I met him in London, England, for three hours of soda and conversation, and he is that rare combination of established writer who still thinks, feels, and is as passionate as a fan.

That's all I can think of right now.

Here in London, Jason Dickson is okay, but just don't get him drunk.