I wanted to share my evening tonight with my fellow book lovers...

Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte hosted one of our Novello guests tonight...Khaled Hosseini the author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.

The stage was set kind of like The Actors Studio. Mike Collins, one of our local NPR radio announcers, was the interviewer.

I was so impressed by Mr. Hosseini. He is a very well spoken, personable guy.(and he is really handsome too!) He talked about his novels, of course, but he also talked about Afghanastan, women's rights in that country and the Middle East.
He gave advice about writing. He recommended, if you are serious about writing, to write for yourself, not what you think someone wants to read.

Interestingly, he started writing The Kite Runner as a short story BEFORE 9/11. He was hesitant to even publish this book after 9/11 because he was afraid it would look like he was an opportunist. His wife, who is a lawyer, encouraged him to go for it.
And he did...the rest is history.

I really enjoyed myself tonight. I dragged my mom with me and she enjoyed it as well. I got 2 books signed at the end. Stood in line with a highschool AP English class (behind me) and a College English club (ahead of me) It was great to see so many young people there.

one last note, this was the largest Novello crowd ever in it's history.
There was not an empty seat in the house!

Just curious if anyone else has had the opportunity to meet/listen to one of your favorite authors.
Please share!

Kellie, wow, that must have been a great experience. I really loved The Kite Runner and would have loved to have heard him speak on it.

Thanks for sharing.

Kellie, first, let me tell you that I am so happy for you! That sounds like a great nite out!

I posted this ages ago, but I got to meet David Maine (author of Fallen, The Preservationist, The Book of Samson, and Monster 1959). I went to BN's in NYC for his book reading back in Feb... there was some kind of mix up, and he was rescheduled. He showed up anyway, in case people came... and I bumped into him there... I got to sit with him for a whole hour, just me him and my girlfriend... talking about his books, his influences.... I had all three books (monster was just coming out) and he signed them all!!

it was the highlight of my year!

Kellie,
I actually got to see him speak last year at the book group conference in San Jose, CA that was talked about in another thread.

I agree. He is very attractive. :) And he is also very personable and knowledgable and thoughtful.
He is one of those authors that I am truly honored to have signed my books. (he and Alice Walker are the two that I am most happy with meeting.)

My brother-in-law had a book published three or four years ago. It is a very little known book called "Forced Conversion." His name is Donald J. Bingle. It is what I would have to classify sci-fi. I have a copy of it.

I also have to add (it just came to me) that my family is very forunate to live in a community with an idependent bookstore that affords the opportunities to have authors come and read from their books and meet their public. Most importantly is that my daughter gets to meet the people that create the stories and characters that she reads about every day. For instance, she has met Mo Willems and Graeme Base - two authors that she very much loves.

I saw Jim Harrison, Richard Ford and Thomas McGuane together at Michigan State this summer.

Definitely a highlight, as all three are favourites of mine. Ford was very impressive in person.

Thanks everyone for your input!
Lori, I read that thread about you meeting Maine and could feel the excitement through your words.

To me, meeting authors makes me feel more of a connection with the books they have written. You have an opportunity to observe their personality and see it through their books. Khaled said a good part of The Kite Runner is actually biographical.

I have also seen, Dorthea Benton Frank, Michael Connnelly, Mary Kay Andrews (real name is Kathy Socheck), Sarah Shaber and Nicholas Sparks.
There used to be a group picture of me and some of my bookclub friends taken with Mary Kay Andrews on her website. (So cool)

Sorry...I get really excited writing about meeting authors...
Carry on...

I wish I had more opportunity to meet them, They never come to my area... or if they do, its people I have never heard of before.

Kellie, do you travel far for all the authors youve met, or were they visting in your area?

We have a great independent bookstore in my area, they have book signings almost every day. I LOVE to go to book signings.

We've met my favorite children's author several times...Eric Carle.

Others...

Jerry Spinelli (Stargirl, Knots In My YoYo String, etc)
Lily Koppell (The Red Leather Diary)
Barbara Walters (Audition)
Carl Hiaassen (Hoot, Skinny Dip, Nature Girl, etc)
Robert Ballard (Discovered the Titanic)

I never been to a book signing, however, I did get to see three of my favorite authors read from their works at Radio City Music Hall in August 2006. Let me tell you, it was better than any rock concert I've attended.

J.K. Rowling read from "The Half-Blood Prince".
John Irving read from "A Prayer from Owen Meany".
And the man I consider as close to God as you can get....
The King himself, Stephen, who came out in a cloud of smoke...
talk about bringing the house down.

I love to cook and try new recipes, so naturally I have quite a collection of cookbooks (which I read like they were novels!). I had the opportunity to meet Giada De Laurentiis and have her sign my copy of Everyday Pasta. She was totally down to earth and just as beautiful in person as she is on tv. That was a pretty cool experience for me!

Andrew, yay for Michigan State! Go Green!

(Sorry, I can't help myself sometimes. It's ingrained in me.)

WOW Kellie, That is so neat. I'm glad you had such a great time. I have never been at a book signing but I hope to go to one some day. :~)

Jessica, I didn't go to Michigan State ... but Harrison, Ford and McGuane are all products of that school. So their English program must be doing something right....

Go white!

:O)

I'm also lucky to live in an area where there are many readings by popular authors. My favorite (and frequently seen, as he lives in the area) is Sherman Alexie.

Next up for me is Wally Lamb in early December. I can't wait!

Most of the book signings have been right here in Charlotte.
I have to say, Charlotte has an AWESOME library system. Mary Kay Andrews, Sarah Shaber and Khaled were signings associated with the library.
Nicholas Sparks was at Barnes and Nobles.
I traveled about 1 1/2 hours to Greensboro to see Michael Connelly.

Rose Ann...I would have loved to meet Barbara. Just LOVED her book.

Marsha.
I loved "Couldn't Keep it to Myself" by Lamb.
He would be interesting to meet.
Just to hear about his project with the Women's Correctional Facility would be so interesting.

Libba's doing a European tour. I'm very mad right now. No one goes to Canada!

I've never been to a book signing but I will be working during one next Friday. Victoria and Joel Osteen will be at my Borders signing books. I'm super stressed out about working that day.

On Tuesday, I saw Sarah Vowell read and even worked up the nerve to ask a question in the question answer period. I'm not much on talking in front of crowds.

Way back when, I took a class on comics as literature and we managed to persuade Michael Chabon to come to our dinky community college. Small venue, good lecture, but when I met him, I was too nervous to say anything but 'hello'.

And, of course, Wordstock is coming up here in Portland and I'm on the author team so I'm crossing my fingers to meet Mark Sarvis from Elegant Variation blog or Aimee Bender...

Last February I did a book signing for my first Fantasy novel in a bookstore that has a picture of J.K.Rowling signing one of her books in their store. She was sitting in the very same table I was. The picture was six years old, but I was thrilled to be there just the same.

Kellie -- WOW! I'm so envious of all of your interactions with such a variety of authors (esp. Michael Connelly...I have every one of his books and he is certainly one of my favorites!)

As several others have said, not a lot of authors come up here to the stix and I certainly don't hear about any that may venture this way. I did just this week get my copy of Without A Map signed by my former teacher and current friend and mentor, Meredith Hall. It is such an accomplishment to publish your first novel and I'm so excited for her, so I will treasure it forever!

I am readily available as an author almost every weekend, as I do craft fairs around LI, as well as the occasional Fantasy convention. I also do some more general book festivals, both Printer's Row in Chicago in June, and the South Carolina Book Festival in Columbia in February. My publisher, Echelon Press, is the listed vendor, but several of the authors actually work the tables. Most of the vendors at these events are the authors themselves.

OK I know you are probably all tired of hearing me about meeting Junot Diaz but he is coming today!!! I never emt an author or at least one that I liked so I am excited!!!

I never went to a booksigning but would love to go to one of two authors: Patricia Cornwell and Nicholas Evans!!!!

I was very excited to read this thread - what a great post to start, Kellie. I too love to meet authors and get my books signed. Over many years, I've had the pleasure of meeting/hearing/signing: Arthur Golden (Memoirs of a Geisha); John LeCarre; Terry McMillan; Alice Walker; Dennis Lehane (Mystic River); Michael Connelly; Robert Crais; James Patterson; Janet Fitch (White Oleander); Peter Gethers; Cleveland Amory; David Morell; Mark Bowden; and Lisa See. I'm very fortunate in that I used to live in Boston where quite a few of them lived and did local signings. Now that I live in Los Angeles, every year I attend the LA Times Festival of Books which is heaven for avid readers and folks like us that love to meet and greet our favorite authors. Kellie, what a thrill to meet and hear Khaled Hosseni. Marsha, I'd love to meet Wally Lamb!

Okay so I literaliy just got back from my work bookclub meeting with Junot Diaz and I actually really liked him. We clicked in an instant. We were talking about other books that we read and that er should read.

people at my office are very stuffy and kinda closed off so when he was cursing and being "street" as they liked to call it, they were shock. i kinda got offended cuz I curse and talk "street" why can't I be intellegent too? I guess that is why we clicked so quickly.

He def helped me in deciding in whether or not I should write a book. I have always wanted to and just never had the patience and he paved they way for me I guess.

I'd be too shy to go to one. I'd just go all dumb and tongue tied and end up blabbering and then probably running out embarrassed.

I can't say I really want to see any author in particular though. I appreciate their work and think highly of them, but I don't really feel like meeting them. :/ I don't know them and probably never will. I don't really want to see any famous actors either (never mind that it'll spoil the illusion.)

I'd like to send a couple a little thank you note though. Such as Diana Wynne Jones, Andrew Tayor, JKR and Kevin Crossley Holland.

I am not very fond of meeting actors either. I fugre "don;t you want my autograph too? I have a job" but authors are different. I won't purposly go and wait on long lines just to meet them but when the opportunity arrises I would love to just oick their brain.

Great post Kellie! I haven't read The Kite Runner but have heard from many resources that its great. Now, I'm definitely going to read it. I had an opportunity of seeing Ruskin Bond many years back in Mussoorie(a hill station in India) where he lives. I was too small at that time to know about him but my parents told me later.. Wish I had the opportunity to meet him now..

Woah Diane!
You are the "writer meeter" of the day!
What was Dennis Lehane like in person? Was he as handsome in person as he is in pictures?
He is one of my favs...

Jessica, you have the best job! I want to hear more about it!

Laura, I don't have the nerve to ask questions either. I envied the folks that asked Khaled questions the other night. They were great!

Donna, where do you work? I would love it if authors would come to my office.

Atishay, A Thousand Splendid Suns is just as good as The Kite Runner. You will need both of these on your TBR list!!

Great comments everyone! Thanks for the input!

Donna, yeah for you meeting Diaz.... Did you get a picture? Its such a high isnt it????

Look at all these people who have a brush with famous writers...!!

I actually never have gotten in line to meet authors but I love to hear them read and talk about their work.

That probably comes from my highly developed ability to make an ass out of myself in seconds flat.

I was at a convention for work where I met one of my heroes- David Schnarch. (He wrote the book Passionate Marriage/Passionate Couples- and is a leader in couples counseling- GREAT book about having a successful marriage.)

Anyhoo... when I was introduced to him I blurted out "Oh... I had you for sex class!"

Let's just say it didn't quite express my enormous respect for his fine contributions to the field with regard to increasing intimacy in partnered relationships.

He was good natured and got a good laugh out of it.

Marsha. that is too funny!

LOL @ Marsha :D :D :D

ROFLMAO@Marsha

Giggle Giggle.
How funny Marsha!!

*L* I have the same problem Marsha. I've had the chance to meet some big name athletes and I usually end up blabbering about how big of a fan I am, etc., etc. I famously uttered to Joe Thornton (a hockey player) "Wow, you're really freakin tall!" Got a picture, didn't get his autograph, but I'm pretty sure I totally sketched him out!

Sure I will Kellie! Thanks a million! I'm going out of town for a week's vacation, so I'll try to pick them up for the way. See you guys later!

*Smiling*

The wise one is a good listener.

I love going to books signings! Many authors stop by the DC area on their book tours, so I've been pretty lucky. Haven't been to one since my son was born (two years ago tomorrow!). I have been to readings/signings for Jonathan Safran Foer, Michael Chabon, Alton Brown, Augusten Burroughs, Al Franken, Tim Wendell and probably a few others I can't think of now!

As a new author (March of this year), who has only been doing signings for a short time (but used to attend a lot of them as an audience member) I can say from experience that authors love it when readers want to talk to them. The Q&A is far and away my favorite part of a reading--that, and the signing part when people come up and introduce themselves. Interested readers are the best!

Writers rely on readers--we exist because of readers. I always make it a point at my appearances to thank readers. In fact, I feel like my work isn't even completed until it gets into the hands of readers. After all, I've only put words on a page; it's the reader who takes the words into his or her brain and makes everything come alive. The reader takes what I've started and actually finishes it for me. I love that.

i went to a small book signing yesterday.
it was actually part of a children's literature festival my university puts on.
i did get vicki grove's autograph, who wrote the crystal garden. it was one of my favorites in middle school.

i live in a fairly large town, but we don't get a lot of authors coming through. mostly a lot of hunting/fishing/outdoorsy authors, which really isn't what i'm interested in.

I was a journalism major in college and got to meet Tom Wolfe (in his immaculate white suit, of course) and have him sign a book. I was so nervous that I didn't say anything. Not a word! I just thrust my book at him. I definitely didn't feel very slick, let me tell you.

I met Bill Clinton at my local Barnes & Noble when he was touring for his autobiography. That was a huge thrill. I was smart enough that time to figure out what I wanted to say to him ahead of time, so I did manage to speak. I met him with my mom and two of my friends. We each spoke to him for five seconds and spent the next 3 hours over dinner re-enacting those 5 seconds over and over. It's definitely true what people say about the effect he has on people. You do feel like he is completely focused on you and everything else in the world has stopped. A moment I will never forget.

Nice to meet you Mary.
Thank you for the input from a writer's perspective. That is exactly what we are hoping for as readers.

Allison
I will have to jot that book title down for when my kids get old enought to read something like that.

Starlight.
How cool you met Bill Clinton. Although, I didn't always agree with his politics, he certainly is an amazing man!!

Starlight, what a great experience!!!

I have met Alison Penton Harper (Housewife series), Jon McGregor and Jodi Picoult.

I'm very new to being an author, so the thought of doing my first signing had me threatening to hide under the bed and never come out again. On the day I had a great time though, it wasn't frightening at all and the lively discussion was absolutely the best part.

Ironically, I have wanted to go to a Terry Pratchett signing ever since I read 'Guards! Guards!' some years back, but I'm still too humbled by his greatness to dare show up and risk making a complete nana of myself.

Hi Gina! Its great that you're sharing your experience with us. We seldom think about things from author's point of view.