Fan of Don Tillman? Join webchat with The Rosie Project/Effect author Graeme Simsion on Wednesday 11 March, 9-10pm

[RachelMumsnet]

"Best. Decision. Ever" wrote Mnetter SecretSpy when she followed advice of other readers and picked up Graeme Simsion's The Rosie Project. It was undoubtedly one of the most discussed books of the year.

Graeme Simsion's sequel, The Rosie Effect is now in paperback and we're delighted that author Graeme Simsion will be joining us on this thread to discuss the books and answer your questions on Wednesday 11 March between 9 and 10 pm. Find out more about the books and post your questions in advance to this thread.

Good luck with the tour Graeme. Can we ask what you are planning next? Also can you recommend any other australian authors that we should be reading?

@RachelMumsnet

Good luck with the tour Graeme. Can we ask what you are planning next? Also can you recommend any other australian authors that we should be reading?

Thanks. I'm working on a book tentatively titled The Candle about a relationship between an English man and an Australian woman rekindled after 22 years. And then a love story set on the Camino de Santiago, in alternating chapters written by my partner and me - man vs woman's voice. Then, maybe, Don III.

@RachelMumsnet

Good luck with the tour Graeme. Can we ask what you are planning next? Also can you recommend any other australian authors that we should be reading?

And Australian authors. If you liked TRP, try Addition by Toni Jordan. Have a look at Favel Parrett.

Hi Graeme,

Lovely to have you here tonight!

Don says that the happiest day of his life was spent at the history museum. My question to you is: Do you have a happiest day of your life? Are you most happy when you are writing?

Thank you!

That is very exciting. Santiago de Compostela is one of my favourite cities, so I will very much look forward to reading that one. Do come back and join us again when it's finished.

@AHK92

Hi Graeme,

Lovely to have you here tonight!

Don says that the happiest day of his life was spent at the history museum. My question to you is: Do you have a happiest day of your life? Are you most happy when you are writing?

Thank you!

thanks! Let's just say that the happiest day of my life involved my wife. I love writing though - once I get into it. I'm living the dream, and grateful I was able to make a new career of it, even when I have to get up at 345am to catch a plane. I love the events too...

The Rosie Project is dedicated to my friend Rod who inspired the Don character and his wife Lynette, who has MS. The Rosie Effect is dedicated to my wife, Anne, who is my most important collaborator and inspiration, and now a published writer herself. (She formerly wrote erotic fiction under the pseudonym Simone Sinna, an anagram of Anne Simsion, but her mainstream book is under her real name of Anne Buist).

@RachelMumsnet

That is very exciting. Santiago de Compostela is one of my favourite cities, so I will very much look forward to reading that one. Do come back and join us again when it's finished.

Thank you... That sounds like a wrap, but I'll wait a few minutes in case there are any final questions.

I think that's about time up now. Graeme, thank you so much for taking the time to join us during your hectic schedule and answer all the questions. Good luck with the tour and enjoy your time in the UK (hope you're coping with the weather after your balmy Melbourne summer).

If anyone has yet to finish TRP or TRA, please do continue to post your thoughts on this thread.

10 pm in Chipping Norton at the Wild Thyme restaurant. Last drinks and last questions...

what a talented couple - best of luck with your future literary endeavours! And thanks Rod - you must be an extraordinary guy to have inspired the book!

Thanks Graeme! Looking forward to your next book, best of luck with the tour

@MyCatIsBatman11

Thanks Graeme! Looking forward to your next book, best of luck with the tour

Thanks!

Just finished The Rosie Effect, sorry I'm a bit late!

Don is such a great character although I found Rosie more unlikeable in this book.

I like how the book shows that it's not just people with ASD/Aspergers who have trouble communicating with others. All of the relationships had communication problems- couples, parent/child, etc.

The Rosie Effect is a perfect holiday read. You're rooting for Don the whole way through. I'm glad he got his happy ending.

I gave up on TRE. It seemed to be a lot of Don and his friends drinking and his friends were annoying. Found the whole social worker deception irritating. It's a shame as I enjoyed TRP but the sequel felt like a big disappointment.

I managed to get halfway but just wasn't enjoying it. Rosie was in the title but not the book.

I gave up on TRE. It seemed to be a lot of Don and his friends drinking and his friends were annoying. Found the whole social worker deception irritating. It's a shame as I enjoyed TRP but the sequel felt like a big disappointment.

I managed to get halfway but just wasn't enjoying it. Rosie was in the title but not the book.

I've finished my free copy of The Rosie Project, thank you. It was an enjoyable, easy read. I thought the characterisation of Don was very sympathetically done - I didn't get any sense of mocking, more an acknowledgment of the diversity of personality types and the social difficulties faced by people who don't 'fit in' for whatever reason. It was a light and funny book. I would like to read the sequel, although I see it has mixed reviews.

I am only up to chapter 9 of The Rosie Project. Pregnant and running round after a toddler all day means I only get a chance to read when I get I into bed at night and by then I can barely keep my eyes open!

What do I think of the book so far? It certainly is a very easy, light and amusing book to read, like others have said. I like the fact that the chapters are short so that you can slip a chapter or two into even the most busy or tiring day. However, I'm not actually 'into' the book yet - could take it or leave it - but hopefully this will change as I get further immersed into the story?? I hope so

I received The Rosie Project. Thankyou so much. I thought it was great. Very funny, laugh out loud moments, one of those books where I would say to Dh, "You have to hear this line."

I liked it all, the ending wasn't contrived, in the way that with many books you can see at the start what will happen, excluing the cotton wool padding along the way. I also liked the insight into Aspergers.

Have to say, I also didn't enjoy this as much as The Rosie Project. Rosie seemed very changed, strange and distant here, but I am really enjoying your writing generally. I look forward to the next book!

I received The Rosie Project and have finally managed to find time to finish it. (DD is 6mo so I don't have as much time to read as I would like.) I really liked it. When I started, I was a little nervous that it would be one of those horrible laugh-at-the-awkward-person stories, e.g. Meet The Parents, that make me cringe. But instead it was very charming and made me laugh out loud a few times.

Thanks very much for my copy of The Rosie Effect. I really enjoyed it, as I did the first one. Easy to read - including on a plane and subsequently when jet lagged, and entertaining and funny. I love Don and his quirkiness, and how he overcomes problems and how his 'weaknesses ' can also be strengths eg with the Lesbian Mothers project. Would love to read more.

I liked the Rosie project but didn't really feel I was up to reading the next one. The Rosie project was a nice easy read which made me giggle and wasn't as stereotypical or predictable as I first thought.

Loved the Rosie Project and I've started on The Rosie Effect now, have to say that I haven't found it quite as charming yet but I'm only just a third through. I just loved Don in the first one and it was such a heart warming read. I think it is great how it throws up questions about Autism and how people think about changing to fit into what we expect. I've recommended The Rosie Project to so many people!