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Ok, this is kind of cheesy...
I just read this guy whose book blew me away, ripped out all the old, and opened a whole new everything. He's still alive, he lives in the same city as me, honestly I don't usually feel this way or do things like this, but I need to meet him, to talk to him. I feel half in love already, though this guy is twice my age, and he writes these really postmodern stories that are really only outlines for potential stories to be written by someone else, and they're so much like what I'm trying to do myself, and besides that, the way he describes his lovers, it's just... me. Any advice? Anyone ever met an author they had feelings for? What happened?
I just read this guy whose book blew me away, ripped out all the old, and opened a whole new everything. He's still alive, he lives in the same city as me, honestly I don't usually feel this way or do things like this, but I need to meet him, to talk to him. I feel half in love already, though this guy is twice my age, and he writes these really postmodern stories that are really only outlines for potential stories to be written by someone else, and they're so much like what I'm trying to do myself, and besides that, the way he describes his lovers, it's just... me. Any advice? Anyone ever met an author they had feelings for? What happened?
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Re: finding an author
Thu, October 27, 2005 - 11:07 AMI'm never met an author that I had feelings for, but I did read an essay by on of my favorite authors (Ursula K eguin) that was rearding this very subject.
I do not want to burst your bubble, but just a word of caution.
She was so excited to meet her favorite author, because she felt such a connection to him. When she did, she said he was a balding man, with sweaty hands and he would not meet her eyes. All he wanted to talk about was the price of pork bellies. True story.
Best of luck to you!
Val -
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Re: finding an author
Thu, October 27, 2005 - 11:09 AMYeah, yeah, I've seen pictures... this guy is physically hideous. He actually puts his hands up over his face in press photos.
But what's the name of that essay? Do you remember? -
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Re: finding an author
Thu, October 27, 2005 - 11:23 AMWe were assigned two books to read for a book club once, and I fell in love with the books. Imagine my surprise when the person who was hosting the book club that month invited the author to come to our meeting.
Luckily I had already gushed about the books before he surprised us so I didn't look like a complete slobbering adolescent when he showed up. He was happy to discuss his books with us. A few people didn't like the books, so the discussion was lively.
I was struck by how different he was than I'd expected. Judging an author by his books is more risky than the whole cover thing.
Be careful with expectations. -
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Re: finding an author
Thu, October 27, 2005 - 11:44 AMi've not personally met an author with whom i was enamoured. however, i've contacted a few and each time, have been successful. one of them was andrew sean greer, who is local here in san francisco. the others have been out of california, so we've exchanged emails. most of them are happy to hear from their readers. but, like mentioned below, be careful of expectations. i find most artist to be either a lot "walled up" or needy of praise and would take anything from anyone. proceed with caution. or, if you were like me, i choose to preserve the mystery and never cross the line.
lots of luck to you...
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Re: finding an author
Thu, October 27, 2005 - 3:34 PM
JM said:
But what's the name of that essay? Do you remember?
Well, it is in a collection of essays, that were originally either acceptance speeches for awards and the like. I beleive this book is out of print, but I am at work and have not checked. The name of the book is The Language of the Night.
I absolutely adore this book. Some of the essays are "dated" because of a) the events around when she wrote them, and b) things have changed emensely in the field of sci-fi and fantasy writing, but her writing and her mesages are fabulous. As a matter of fact, I reread this book for inspiration often and have loaned it out under only the strict promise that I will get it back in one piece. It is a quite dog-eared paperback. One of my most favorite essays is called "Why are Americans afraid of Dragons?" :)
But Ahem, I digress...
I can't recall in which essay this story is, but it is at the beginning of the first page of the body of the particular.
The Language of the Night, Editted by Susan Wood. When I get home tonight, I'll fetch it from the shelf to see if I can find the passage.
Val
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Re: finding an author
Thu, October 27, 2005 - 1:44 PMOh, come on, it's not always bad to have high expectations!
My book club arranged for Lillian Faderman to do a reading and signing after we read all of her books. I was so enamored by her brilliance and talent, I felt like I was floating! I was so starstruck, I felt like I was meeting a goddess.
She was sitting when I approached her at the signing after the presentation. Everyone else was just standing over her. I decided to come down to her level so that I could have a brief conversation with her without making her look up my nostrils. As I knelt down and handed her my book, I felt this perfect awe wash over me. Her research is just so extraordinary.
I thanked her for all of the ways she bared herself so completely in her autobiography "Naked in the Promised Land". I thanked her for the courage it takes to be naked with your truth like that, and told her that she was amazing. She replied that getting a response like that certainly made writing worthwhile. Then she signed the book with a note thanking me for my kind words, and I floated away with my book clutched to my chest like a schoolgirl with a crush!
Sigh.
: )
