So Close I Can Almost Touch You
This is not an Ode To Stalking. It’s an Ode to, uh, something else. See, I’ve always wondered about the thrill of seeing one of your auto-buy authors in person. Readers go to signings, lectures and all kinds of fun wait-in-a-long-line things to see the people who write for a living. I mean, we’re not talking about Clive Owen here. We’re talking about writers.
In the interest of disclosure, I’ve gone to a bunch of author workshops. I’m as guilty as everyone else on this one. I’m just not sure why I engage in this behavior other than to, maybe, pick up some priceless tidbit or otherwise get inspired. Also, in a scientific way, I find the "how I do it" tales worth some of my time - not particularly relevant to my life since I can only write one way, but still worthwhile. And, I’ve always loved The Call stories and enjoy hearing about subsequent sales, too. Maybe that’s enough to explain the outlay of cash and the transportation to and from. Dunno.
While I search for my answer, Clay Steward of Purcellville, Va already has his. He traveled to the National Book Festival in DC this weekend. The Washington Post described the atmosphere like this:
This is what it’s all about in the end: a guy who gets into a line that’s already 130 yards long. He’s smoking a cigar, but he’ll have finished it long before he can get McCullough to sign his new copy of 1776.
But isn’t reading these guy enough? What is it about a few seconds of face-to-face contact that makes him brave these incredible lines?
‘It makes them real,’ Steward says. ‘It takes them out of the stacks up at the Library of Congress and makes them a person, a human being.’
Now, whether or not you believe authors are human beings is a different issue. I can’t help you there, but I can attest that there’s something about that face-to-face that’s hard to beat.
September 26th, 2005 at 2:56 pm
For me, meeting an author I admire works on two levels. The first is that I get to thank them for bringing so much joy to my life. The second is the inspiration I feel afterwards. They’ve achieved some of the goals I set for myself, reminding me once again that anything is possible.
September 26th, 2005 at 8:09 pm
Nice sentiment, Jordan. I agree with you on both counts.
September 27th, 2005 at 8:42 am
I love going to see authors whose books I devour many times over. But I always end up acting like a dork. I know they’re humans and just like you and me, but when I finally get at the head of the line I stutter, blush and all rational thought just disappears. I really want them to know how much their writing has impacted me, both as a reader and a potential writer. But sometimes, the words get stuck. LOL I spend the ride home congratulating myself on being such a spaz. :o)
September 27th, 2005 at 9:24 am
Shelly - I do the same thing. Am an introverted freak in person. Really, it’s not pretty.
I once met Suzanne Brockmann and she congratulated me on being a contest finalist in KOD -really, how cool is she that she remembered my name off a list printed somewhere - in response I turned into a blubbering fool. Be happy you weren’t there to see it.
September 27th, 2005 at 6:05 pm
That’s so funny that you mention her. Suzanne Brockmann was the author that I made a spaz out of myself in front of! LOL She asked me my fave SEAL and I got out Blue, which was great. Then she asked me why and it went all to pieces from there….. :o) Well, I guess speachlessness is a form of flattery right?