The People
When fifteen-year-old author Christopher Paolini self-published his debut novel Eragon,he had no idea that it would become a literary phenomenon which would lead to a major movie adaptation.
Christopher Paolini—Dragon Heart
“I've always wanted to tell stories,” says Christopher Paolini. “As a child, I was always scribbling down4 adventures: everything from living in the jungle like Tarzan to the travels of a young boy and his dragon...”
Eragon became a great success and developed a huge reader following. The most astonishing part of the story, however, is that the novel was self published. “My family and I chose to self-publish Eragon because we wanted to keep financial control and make sure the story wasn't altered,” explains Paolini.“Also, we were excited by the prospect of working on this project as a family.”
Without the weight of a large publishing firm behind them, the Paolini family had to advertise the book themselves. “Dressed in medieval5 costume, I did over 135 events across the country,” laughs Paolini. “Promoting Eragon became the family business: books sold meant food on the table, so we were incredibly determined. We started by doing book signings, but quickly learned that no one shows up for an author they've never heard of. I was very determined, and would stay for eight hours straight and talk to every person who came in the store and try to sell them a book. On a good day, I might sell 40 books. That's not bad for a signing, but it's a lot of work. I then learned that if I went into a school and did a presentation6, in one day we could sell 300 books or more, and inspire students to read and write, so I concentrated on that.”
The book has done a lot more than just that, and has now been adapted into a big film. “I never expected Eragon to be published, much less to become such a success.” Paolini says. “Most days I walk around the house shaking my head, amazed that all of this has happened to my family and me. And I'm humbled that so many people have enjoyed Eragon.”
“I've always wanted to tell stories,” says Christopher Paolini. “As a child, I was always scribbling down4 adventures: everything from living in the jungle like Tarzan to the travels of a young boy and his dragon...”
Eragon became a great success and developed a huge reader following. The most astonishing part of the story, however, is that the novel was self published. “My family and I chose to self-publish Eragon because we wanted to keep financial control and make sure the story wasn't altered,” explains Paolini.“Also, we were excited by the prospect of working on this project as a family.”
Without the weight of a large publishing firm behind them, the Paolini family had to advertise the book themselves. “Dressed in medieval5 costume, I did over 135 events across the country,” laughs Paolini. “Promoting Eragon became the family business: books sold meant food on the table, so we were incredibly determined. We started by doing book signings, but quickly learned that no one shows up for an author they've never heard of. I was very determined, and would stay for eight hours straight and talk to every person who came in the store and try to sell them a book. On a good day, I might sell 40 books. That's not bad for a signing, but it's a lot of work. I then learned that if I went into a school and did a presentation6, in one day we could sell 300 books or more, and inspire students to read and write, so I concentrated on that.”
The book has done a lot more than just that, and has now been adapted into a big film. “I never expected Eragon to be published, much less to become such a success.” Paolini says. “Most days I walk around the house shaking my head, amazed that all of this has happened to my family and me. And I'm humbled that so many people have enjoyed Eragon.”
主要人物
当15岁的作者克里斯托夫·鲍里尼自助出版处女作《龙骑士》时，他从未想到这部作品会成为一种文学现象：被改编成一部大制作的电影。
克里斯托夫·鲍里尼——龙之心
“我总喜欢讲故事。”克里斯托夫·鲍里尼说，“小时候，我总是乱写一堆冒险经历：从像《人猿泰山》一样的丛林生活到一位少年和他的龙的游历……”
小说《龙骑士》获得巨大成功，拥有了一大批读者。然而，整个过程中最令人惊讶的部分还在于：小说是自助出版的。“我和家人选择自助出版《龙骑士》，因为我们想拥有财务控制权，以及保证这本书不会被改动。”鲍里尼解释道，“而且，我们对全家人共同运作这个项目的前景感到兴奋不已。”
没有大型出版公司作后盾，鲍里尼全家不得不自己推介这本书。“我穿着中世纪服装在全国做了135次以上的活动。”他笑道，“推广《龙骑士》成了全家总动员：卖出的书就意味着餐桌上的食物，所以我们的决心不可动摇。我们准备签名售书，但很快意识到没人会对他们听都没听过的作者感兴趣。我下定决心，要连续呆上8小时，和每位进书店的顾客聊天，尽力向他们推销。运气好的时候，我一天可以卖40本。对于签名售书来说，这已经不错了，但很费事。于是我意识到，如果我去学校做推广，那么我们一天就能卖300本以上，而且还能鼓励学生们阅读和写作，所以我就专心投入到了这方面。”
这本书的成就远远不止于此，它现在已被改编成大片了。“我从没想到《龙骑士》会得以出版，更不用说这样大获成功了。”鲍里尼说，“许多日子，我在家里边走边摇头，感到不可思议：这一切竟然发生在我和家人身上。我很惭愧，居然有那么多人喜欢《龙骑士》。”
当15岁的作者克里斯托夫·鲍里尼自助出版处女作《龙骑士》时，他从未想到这部作品会成为一种文学现象：被改编成一部大制作的电影。
克里斯托夫·鲍里尼——龙之心
“我总喜欢讲故事。”克里斯托夫·鲍里尼说，“小时候，我总是乱写一堆冒险经历：从像《人猿泰山》一样的丛林生活到一位少年和他的龙的游历……”
小说《龙骑士》获得巨大成功，拥有了一大批读者。然而，整个过程中最令人惊讶的部分还在于：小说是自助出版的。“我和家人选择自助出版《龙骑士》，因为我们想拥有财务控制权，以及保证这本书不会被改动。”鲍里尼解释道，“而且，我们对全家人共同运作这个项目的前景感到兴奋不已。”
没有大型出版公司作后盾，鲍里尼全家不得不自己推介这本书。“我穿着中世纪服装在全国做了135次以上的活动。”他笑道，“推广《龙骑士》成了全家总动员：卖出的书就意味着餐桌上的食物，所以我们的决心不可动摇。我们准备签名售书，但很快意识到没人会对他们听都没听过的作者感兴趣。我下定决心，要连续呆上8小时，和每位进书店的顾客聊天，尽力向他们推销。运气好的时候，我一天可以卖40本。对于签名售书来说，这已经不错了，但很费事。于是我意识到，如果我去学校做推广，那么我们一天就能卖300本以上，而且还能鼓励学生们阅读和写作，所以我就专心投入到了这方面。”
这本书的成就远远不止于此，它现在已被改编成大片了。“我从没想到《龙骑士》会得以出版，更不用说这样大获成功了。”鲍里尼说，“许多日子，我在家里边走边摇头，感到不可思议：这一切竟然发生在我和家人身上。我很惭愧，居然有那么多人喜欢《龙骑士》。”
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1. haze [heiz] n. 薄雾，阴霾
2. minion n. 奴才，手下
3. inheritance n. 遗产
4. scribble v. 乱写
5. medieval adj. 中世纪的
6. presentation n. 介绍
7. put forward 提出，推举出
8. biting one's nails 啃指甲。形容极度紧张
9. archery n. 箭术
10. sensation n. 轰动一时的人(或事)
11. ILM: Industrial Light & Magic，美国著名的制造视觉效果的特技公司。
12. CG: Computer Graphics，指利用计算机进行视觉设计和生产。