As I type this, I can look to my right and watch Neil Gaiman signing books. [It's a good day.]
I have social anxiety like whoa right now, but I'm trying to enjoy myself anyway. And how can I not? I'm in the same room as Neil Gaiman, and that's just dandy.
We got to the reading a little late, but then again...so did almost everyone else, apparently, so by the time they opened the doors, Caitlin and I got inside, and got seats about fifteen feet away from the podium. We were center, just a few rows back, and had an excellent view.
They'd left the very first row empty, presumably for staff members of the library, but when it became apparent that we had more people than we did seats they decided to let the latecomers sit there. Cue the guy sitting in the technical second row freaking out, and starting to yell at the poor, harassed woman orchestrating the seating. "Hey, hey, wait a minute, here! That's not fair!" Dude, god forbid you have to sit in the second row and all. If they hadn't given the seats to the latecomers, they would have been taken by staff anyway, so it wouldn't have made a difference to you. Deal with it.
Unfortunately, there still weren't enough seats, so a bunch of people had to go to the Overflow Room, which is across the hall and broad-casted what was going on through a television screen.
Neil managed to sneak in here while no one was looking. He was skulking around between the aisles, and watching as people were sent away to the Overflow Room. He followed those people in, and spent some time with them before he had to come back to our room, which I thought was incredibly nice of him.
When he came back, introductions were made and he seemed so awkward about it. Every time he was praised, he just kind of slunk down in his seat and looked embarrassed, and smiled kind of shyly. It was kind of adorable.
Then he came to the podium, and introduced himself, then did "something I haven't done yet...it's going to be an adventure." And he read aloud from 'Odd and the Frost Giants' for us, which was fantastic. His voice...that light British accent, and his clipped pronunciation, the way every character has a distinctive voice that he uses for them...ugh, fantastic. I could listen to that mean read the dictionary out loud, and never get bored.
After he read aloud from that book, he talked for a bit. It was nice. Mostly, we talked about pie.
Then he read aloud one of his favorite scenes from 'The Graveyard Book,' and we had a Q&A session. "I think that now, we'll have a question and answer session." Then, a pause, and: "...I will do the answers."
He was very nice, and requested that some people from the Overflow Room be present to ask him questions. When the first one did, he held up a hand and said, "Wait. Wait one moment." He then peered into the video camera, and in a very serious, business-like voice said, "Overflow Room. I am now speaking to your representatives," before turning back to the audience, heh.
He gives me hope. It's a weird thing to say, but it's true. He recounted events in his childhood, and I realized that mine was very similar. I laughed, especially, when he told of how his parents would frisk him before family events, just to make sure he wasn't sneaking any books with him. It didn't stop him, and he'd find something to read anyway, then hide under the table. (I usually hid in bathrooms or closets, but the concept is the same.)
He got some questions from children, and was so amazingly happy for "What is your favorite color?" Apparently, no one had ever asked him that before! Apparently, when left unchecked, he will paint any room obscenely green. I do the same thing, and it freaked me out. (My roommate won't even come into my room anymore, because she says the color of the walls hurts her eyes.)
The whole thing was just brilliant, and he sorely deserved the standing ovation that everyone gave him when all was said and done. The line for the signing was very long, and eventually it just came down to, "Let's give people Post-It notes with numbers on them, so they don't all have to stand in line while they're waiting."
When we were initially standing in a long line in the outside hallway, there was a bat that kept flying over our heads! It was small, and frantically flapping this way and that. And outside, it's starting to storm. How appropriate is all of this, for a Neil Gaiman book signing? I'm sure it was meant to be. (Also, we named the bat Neil.)
And that's where I am now, sitting in a corner in the little library amphitheater and watching Neil Gaiman do his signing while I wait for my turn. (They're on #40-#50, and I'm #242, so...I have a while to wait, yet.) Caitlin and I made some friends, though; three boys named Hugh, Alex, and Jeremy. After we get our things signed, we're all going out to dinner together. Thank goodness, because we're all starving!
(Haha! One of the staff members just asked, "Does anyone have a waiting number in the three-hundreds?" Those who raised their hands were tossed stress-relief balls. "I figured you guys might need these.")
This entire place is filled with black-clad, angst-ridden, pretentious college students.
...I am among my people, now. I shall enjoy the rest of my time spent here.
Or...I'll continue to sit in my corner, bashfully meet Neil Gaiman, then shuffle my way out of the building while staring at my feet.
You know, either/or.
We got to the reading a little late, but then again...so did almost everyone else, apparently, so by the time they opened the doors, Caitlin and I got inside, and got seats about fifteen feet away from the podium. We were center, just a few rows back, and had an excellent view.
They'd left the very first row empty, presumably for staff members of the library, but when it became apparent that we had more people than we did seats they decided to let the latecomers sit there. Cue the guy sitting in the technical second row freaking out, and starting to yell at the poor, harassed woman orchestrating the seating. "Hey, hey, wait a minute, here! That's not fair!" Dude, god forbid you have to sit in the second row and all. If they hadn't given the seats to the latecomers, they would have been taken by staff anyway, so it wouldn't have made a difference to you. Deal with it.
Unfortunately, there still weren't enough seats, so a bunch of people had to go to the Overflow Room, which is across the hall and broad-casted what was going on through a television screen.
Neil managed to sneak in here while no one was looking. He was skulking around between the aisles, and watching as people were sent away to the Overflow Room. He followed those people in, and spent some time with them before he had to come back to our room, which I thought was incredibly nice of him.
When he came back, introductions were made and he seemed so awkward about it. Every time he was praised, he just kind of slunk down in his seat and looked embarrassed, and smiled kind of shyly. It was kind of adorable.
Then he came to the podium, and introduced himself, then did "something I haven't done yet...it's going to be an adventure." And he read aloud from 'Odd and the Frost Giants' for us, which was fantastic. His voice...that light British accent, and his clipped pronunciation, the way every character has a distinctive voice that he uses for them...ugh, fantastic. I could listen to that mean read the dictionary out loud, and never get bored.
After he read aloud from that book, he talked for a bit. It was nice. Mostly, we talked about pie.
Then he read aloud one of his favorite scenes from 'The Graveyard Book,' and we had a Q&A session. "I think that now, we'll have a question and answer session." Then, a pause, and: "...I will do the answers."
He was very nice, and requested that some people from the Overflow Room be present to ask him questions. When the first one did, he held up a hand and said, "Wait. Wait one moment." He then peered into the video camera, and in a very serious, business-like voice said, "Overflow Room. I am now speaking to your representatives," before turning back to the audience, heh.
He gives me hope. It's a weird thing to say, but it's true. He recounted events in his childhood, and I realized that mine was very similar. I laughed, especially, when he told of how his parents would frisk him before family events, just to make sure he wasn't sneaking any books with him. It didn't stop him, and he'd find something to read anyway, then hide under the table. (I usually hid in bathrooms or closets, but the concept is the same.)
He got some questions from children, and was so amazingly happy for "What is your favorite color?" Apparently, no one had ever asked him that before! Apparently, when left unchecked, he will paint any room obscenely green. I do the same thing, and it freaked me out. (My roommate won't even come into my room anymore, because she says the color of the walls hurts her eyes.)
The whole thing was just brilliant, and he sorely deserved the standing ovation that everyone gave him when all was said and done. The line for the signing was very long, and eventually it just came down to, "Let's give people Post-It notes with numbers on them, so they don't all have to stand in line while they're waiting."
When we were initially standing in a long line in the outside hallway, there was a bat that kept flying over our heads! It was small, and frantically flapping this way and that. And outside, it's starting to storm. How appropriate is all of this, for a Neil Gaiman book signing? I'm sure it was meant to be. (Also, we named the bat Neil.)
And that's where I am now, sitting in a corner in the little library amphitheater and watching Neil Gaiman do his signing while I wait for my turn. (They're on #40-#50, and I'm #242, so...I have a while to wait, yet.) Caitlin and I made some friends, though; three boys named Hugh, Alex, and Jeremy. After we get our things signed, we're all going out to dinner together. Thank goodness, because we're all starving!
(Haha! One of the staff members just asked, "Does anyone have a waiting number in the three-hundreds?" Those who raised their hands were tossed stress-relief balls. "I figured you guys might need these.")
This entire place is filled with black-clad, angst-ridden, pretentious college students.
...I am among my people, now. I shall enjoy the rest of my time spent here.
Or...I'll continue to sit in my corner, bashfully meet Neil Gaiman, then shuffle my way out of the building while staring at my feet.
You know, either/or.
Posted on October 4th, 2009 at 11:12pm
Fountainhead XD I know, I am shocked too because I read ALL THE TIME. But right now I am swamped wih African Literature (i nu righ?) Thanks to school. But I guess I'll ave to pick up one of his books during winter vaca,
Sardonic Grin, October 5th, 2009 at 01:06:51am
Sardonic Grin I am shocked! S'okay, really, just read his books and discover his magic, please? He's an amazing author.
I'm very jealous Jinxeh. I see from Twitter you just met him, I hope it was as amazing as it sounds!
TheFountainhead, October 5th, 2009 at 12:55:53am
v They've both been turned into movies. Magic of Youtube?
Ghostless., October 5th, 2009 at 12:34:55am
OOh okay... *never read either*
Sardonic Grin, October 5th, 2009 at 12:17:28am
This sounds amazing. I've heard of The Graveyard Book. I planned on reading it but never got around to it.
Sardonic Grin He wrote Stardust and Coraline if that helps...
Ghostless., October 5th, 2009 at 12:13:52am
*whispers* Who is Neil Gaiman??
Sardonic Grin, October 4th, 2009 at 11:57:26pm
v Hmm. He sounds foreign. Neat-o.
:)
Maybe since you have a lot in common, you'll be a great author one day too. I've heard your stories are unbelievably good (haven't gotten around to reading them yet, though, sorry). And as they say: Great minds think alike.
:)
Sniffing Sharpies., October 4th, 2009 at 11:38:28pm
v As Gaiman says on his website, in response to that question, "It's Gaym'n."
Jinxeh, October 4th, 2009 at 11:29:16pm
How do you pronounce Gaiman?
Gay-man?
:D
Or Guy-men?
:P
Coolio that you met him.
:)
Sniffing Sharpies., October 4th, 2009 at 11:23:18pm
Neil Gaiman is amazing!
Eep. You're lucky.
Warped, October 4th, 2009 at 11:19:32pm