Any authors you ever got to meet? (letter, bookstore, autobiography)

[eponabri]

I met Michael and Kathleen Gear who wrote the People of the Wolf series of early Native American books.

[homesweetazhome]

There is an independent book store that every author seems to come to...
It's called Changing Hands Book Store and is in Tempe. It is half the size of a Barnes and Noble store. I've seen so many authors there...let's see...Marie Osmond, Mike Ferrell (MASH) , Robert Kiosaki (Rich Dad Poor Dad), Madeline Albright, Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Stephanie Meyers (those teen vampire books), and it seems like every author my book club reads eventually comes there. Neat place. They have a website too.

[happynoodleboycey]

I met Bill Bryson at a book signing when he was promoting 'A Short History of Nearly Everything'. It ranks very highly on my list of the most awesome days of my life because he's always been one of my favourite authors so to meet him in person was amazing. He's such a friendly guy too.

[k350]

I met and had lunch with Tom Clancy. There was a small group of us submariners that had a nice luncheon with him and casual conversation.

[colorado native]

Originally Posted by homesweetazhome

There is an independent book store that every author seems to come to...
It's called Changing Hands Book Store and is in Tempe.

Changing Hands is one of the most respected bookstores in the country.

[redjuel]

I met my favorite author, James Patterson, a couple of years ago. I had to take off work and stand in line but it was great!

[NCN]

I have never said more than "Hello" or some such small talk to authors Catherine Ritch Guess or Penelope Niven, but I knew each of them from having been friends with their mothers.

[jm24]

I met Mexican novelist Carlos Fuentes (author of la muerte de Artemio Cruz, among others).
I also met adventure novelist Clive Cussler who liked my name and asked me if I was familiar with the old song Jeannine I Dream of Lilac Time. I wasn't familiar with it at the time, but was intrigued and later found an old copy of the sheet music online which I still have.

[RDSLOTS]

Wow, but some of you have been in a great position to meet, or be around, writers -- to have lunch with one sounds like a lot of fun.

I overlooked the number of NC authors I have met over the years: Anne Tyler -- loved her Accidental Tourist, of course, Clyde Edgerton who did a question-and-answer session following the reading(s) from several of his works. He is such a hoot.

It was fun years ago, having an opportunity to talk with Stephen King, discuss his works, especially the one that at the time I had reviewed for our local newspaper (a collection of his stories, Skeleton Crew, which gives you some idea just how long ago that was). We discussed writing, and some of his works, on about 3 separate occasions. I don't know what I expected, but he was down-to-earth, if a bit 'geeky', which he readily admits. Some of his best works, I think, are more autobiographical, less horror.

[LovinDecatur]

I worked for years as an author escort...I've met quite a few.
Faves:
Rosamunde Pilcher (I'll never forget her self-deprecating charm; I just wanted to take her home)
Anne Rice (one author who truly attributes her success to her fans)
John Grisham (those eyes! plus he was lovely to my mother)
Amy Sedaris (what will she do next? After her signing, she hung around to answer phones and ring up customers at the bookstore)
Kaye Gibbons (warm and funny)
George Plimpton

Worst:
Sir Jeffrey Archer (a real monster; don't get me started)
Maya Angelou