Whatever Next Logo
Volume I, Issue 1 April, 2003

Welcome to Whatever Next

And in this, the bumper first issue, we have as our star guest the Panjandrum himself, Mr. Jasper Fforde, in the first part of an exclusive interview. We also have an original story, some poetry, and a Advice Column for fictional characters. But first, here is the news.

Nextian News

As many of you may know, Jasper has been touring the US of A to promote the American launch of Lost in a Good Book. He is apparently in good form, and has been delighting audiences across the land with his readings and talks. Our own All-American-Cutie caught up with him in Washington, D.C. and reports that he is, as we all suspected, a very nice chap indeed. Fforde fforum stalwart, Magda, met him in Dayton, Ohio and presented him with a small stuffed dodo which Jasper subsequently named Alan. (No, we don’t know why). More about J.Ff. live in the USA in issue 2.

Meanwhile, back in the UK, proof copies of Jasper’s next installment of the Thursday Next saga The Well of Lost Plots have been released. We haven’t actually seen any of them (you’d think journalism would get priority, wouldn’t you?) but people who have tell us it is both longer and better than the two volumes so far. This just makes us feel worse, somehow. Publication (in the UK) is due on July 23rd this year. Just to whet your appetite further, here’s the official logo;

Jasper Fforde Speaks - The Truth*

* - (for a given value of truth)
When he heard that two loonies his most loyal fans were to produce this esteemed publication, our inspiration and subject, Mr. Jasper Fforde, at once offered to subject himself to a grilling by the fans. But we thought that sounded a bit painful, so we said we’d do an interview instead. So, we asked you, the Fforde fans, to think of penetrating and devious questions for Mr. Fforde, in the hope of eliciting from him sufficient interesting answers to provide enough copy to fill our mag. We are glad to report that the production target was over-fulfilled. Not only did you come up with some very pertinent questions, but Mr. Fforde, proving yet again what a splendid chap he is, took time out from his busy schedule to answer them very fully and most interestingly. Which is nice, otherwise we’d have had to pad it out with wittering about toast, or something. Adrian Lush eat your heart out.
Click on the headline to see the full story!

DearWhatever Next

Whatever Next is always willing to listen to the problems of fictional characters, because believe you me you don’t want to hear ours. Click on the headline for some choice items from this month’s postbag:

Poetry by Fforde Ffans

Click on the headline to read the poetry kindly sent to us by readers. If you would like to submit some stories or poems, please email them to the address at the bottom of the page.

Fforde Ffan Stories

Click on the headline to read stories submitted by obsessed stalwart Fforde Ffans! This month's featured author is Jon Brierley.

In the Next Issue of WN:

  • Part 2 of the WN Interview with the Great Panjandrum, Jasper Fforde
  • More letters to Dear WN
  • New additions to the Nextian Songbook
  • More Poetry and Stories by Fforde Ffans

Newsletter Submissions and Contact Info:

Any submissions or comments may be sent to: If you would like a headshot posted with your submission, please attach a nicely focused photo of yourself. We will edit it down to the proper size, so do not worry about doing it yourself. Any nude pics will promptly be posted for all readers to ridicule.

Download Newsletter
in PDF format

Join the
Private Reminder List

We'll let you know when the next issue is ready. You just click the link in the email we send and you'll be instantly transported here...like magic!
Join the mailing list
Enter your name and email address:
Name:
Email:  
Subscribe      Unsubscribe




Jurisfiction Ad

Sign Our Guestbook!! View Guestbook

Previous Newsletters

  1. April 2003 (current issue)

Calendar of Events

  • Wednesday May 7, 2003, 8:45 PM Appearance at the Swindon Literary Festival, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK.
  • Wednesday July 23, 2003 UK Publication of The Well of Lost Plots.!!!
  • Wednesday September 10, 2003 Appearance at Suffolk Book League, Ipswich, UK

Important Links

Chronoguard ad

Meet the Editors



©2003, The Jasper Fforde Ffan Club. All rights reserved.
Standard Disclaimer - The 'Whatever Next' team accept no responsibility for any damage to household pets, crockery or bank balances due to this newsletter. You read it entirely at your own risk. If you are reading this newsletter while hanging upside down, nude, with a banana between your toes then you're probably a chimpanzee. Keep quiet about it and we promise not to notice. If this newsletter contains any salacious or humorous content, feel free to distribute it. You'd only do that anyway, so you might as well have our permission. This newsletter does not necessarily represent the views of Whatever Next - so you might as well ignore it. Thankyou.
Dodo, Jurisfiction, Chronoguard and Well of Lost Plots images are ©2003 Jasper Fforde and used by permission. All other images ©2003 Whatever Next and Twila Davis Reed.