Wednesday
It was a beautiful night as I rode the Red Line into Cambridge.
From my window, the Longfellow Bridge offered up a brilliant panoramic view of Boston’s Back Bay settling into ‘night mode’.
I made my way to the Harvard Bookstore wondering what the evening would hold.
If you like bookstores, you would fall in love with this antique of a shop (est.1932).
I wandered around Harvard Square until 6:30 before going in and purchasing The Ghost in Love.
It was a very intimate setting with @20 chairs set-up.
I grabbed the closest seat to the podium that I could get.
God, I was excited.
The reading started promptly at 7 as Carroll read the first chapter of ‘Ghost’ in its entirety.
A brief Q&A session followed.
I asked him about his advice for ‘Writer’s Block’.
He laughed and said he never had a problem with it.
He answered honestly and to paraphrase said
“Always leave the windows and doors (of the mind) open . . . if they should shut, put the pen down and go cook a meal, take a walk, see a movie, have sex . . . anything but think about writing. Eventually the doors will open.”
He spoke of his craft in a way that was easy to relate to but unique in its approach.
Personally, he could have talked until midnight and I would have stayed.
After being gently prodded to begin the book signing, yours truly was 1st in line.
I did tell him how much he’s inspired me over the years to which he responded with a smile and a genuine ‘thank you’.
He asked my name and we talked a bit as he signed “Ghost” (~a ghost for Michael . . .)
I pulled The Panic Hand from my bag.
He smiled again.
As he thumbed through the first few pages he said, “Ah, First Edition, US. Very nice.”
I told him about the email I’d sent him years ago after winning the book on Ebay as well as my love of his story The Sadness of Detail.
He mentioned how many people really liked that story as he signed my ‘Panic Hand’ book . . .
I shook his hand and thanked him saying I would definitely see him on his next US book tour.
I wondered what it must be like to meet so many people that truly idolize you as an artist.
Carroll takes it in stride and is one of the most down to earth and personable writers you will ever meet.
He will be in California in a few days for anyone on the West Coast that wants a chance to see and hear this brilliant man.
I floated back (a few feet off the ground) to the Red Line and made my way across the Charles to Backbay, opening the two books every five minutes thinking the magical script would suddenly disappear.
This morning I realized just how wonderful last night really was.
It’s always nice when a dream comes to fruition.
And Vienna waits . . .
Click on the book for a little surprise!
ps. saw Stephen King again yesterday as well.
What a day for authors . . .
How cool is that? I’m so glad that the evening turned out to be all you wished for.
Very cool! Sounds like Christmas came a little early for Mr Smoke & Mirrors!!!
WOW! that’s awesome, my friend. . .
That is so cool. I’m glad that it met your expectations.
Wow! How cool is that? And you saw Stephen King too? I always feel like I’ll run into him sometime, but so far, no luck.
What JC said for writer’s block makes a lot of sense. It’s funny how the greatest ideas hit me when I’m out walking or driving alone, even if it is just a line or two of description. It just comes together perfectly – the right words, everything. If I don’t have pen and paper with me when it happens, I lose it though. LOL.
Actually now that I see it blue on black (
), it’s dead on: sex does open doors……. 
Wonderful happy post. Glad you got to see him.
So many times the anticipation we feel is far better than the event itself. So glad to know that wasn’t the case here and you had a good night.
Good people deserve good things….
Years ago, I got to speak with Peter Jenkins (Walk Across America) on the phone as part of a book group discussion. I was in awe… I can’t imagine meeting a beloved author in person. I think I would get tongue tied. I loved his advice for writer’s block though. Now I have the need to read his writings. He sounds like a class act.