Stars Our Destination Signing
Maggie
computer to write about Friday.
On Thursday morning, my sister and I packed up my two boys and hopped
a Greyhound for Chicago. Our mission: See Neil!! OK, *my* mission.
My sister doesn't read much.
We rose fairly early on Friday morning, catching a Red Line train near
Wrigley Field to get to a transfer point, and rode the Purple Line
into Evanston. Alice, the hysterically funny and remarkably sweet
owner of The Stars Our Destination recently moved her store from
Belmont, which is just two blocks from my friend's home, all the way
out to Evanston - to a *smaller* location. It's itty bitty, so I was
worried about crowds right away.
We arrived a few minutes after 11AM (opening time), and there were
already quite a number of people milling about the store, even though
the signing wasn't until 1PM. We bought two copies of AG, a few other
items, and picked up our line numbers - 74 - 76, then went off in
search of food. We headed back to Stars just in time to see Neil walk
into the store. Alex, the 9 year-old, started poking me: "Mom!
That's him! That's him! Can we go say hi? Can I take his picture?
Is that really him?"
He wasn't excited. Oh no. Not Alex. Neither was I. Uh uh. We rode
5 hours on a crowded bus because we like to. Really.
As we began looking for our spot in line, Neil addressed the crowd,
which was, according to the numbers I saw Alice handing out as we
left, somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 people (!). He apologized
for not being able to sign more than the posted limit because of time
constraints and for not being able to do a reading because it was a
signing that grew. He said it was originally to have been a drop-by
signing that had, to his surprise gotten rather larger.
"What's that word they used on the Simpson's? Embiggened? It's a
signing that embiggened. I like that word. Anyway, this signing
grew, so please don't try to have a long, fascinating conversation
with me, because the people behind you have to get back to work and
they will kill you."
Alex and Ernest each pulled their cameras out and took a few pictures
while we were looking for our spot in line, I'm interested to see how
they turn out.
As signing lines go, this one moved fairly quickly, and the people
around us were great fun to talk to. After a mere hour and a half in
line, it was our turn. Alex went up with his well loved,
read-to-tatters copy of _The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish_.
I didn't see Alex's expression when he first slid his book across the
table, but Neil looked quite amused, so I'm sure my boy was grinning
like the Village Idiot. He drew a little fish in Alex's book, signing
it "Best Fishes", to which Alex exclaimed "Cool!", and got a chuckle
out of Neil. Neil very kindly posed for a picture, and Alex skipped
away just as happy as could be. I can't help but wonder how Neil
feels to have fans so young, and what he thinks when such an obviously
read many times copy of one of his books comes through a line. It
must feel a bit odd.
Then it was my turn. Neil signed both copies of AG (Aside to Sally:
The inscription in yours is wicked cool!) and grinned at my Thingie
T-shirt. "Oh, you're one of those!" I asked if he would please sign
it for me and fill in his eyes, and he motioned me around the table.
I suppose I should note that I was wearing the shirt. Being rather
short of stature, the shirt is a bit long on me, so the "eyeless Neil"
artwork fell smack over my rather fluffy behind. Neil was a bit
flustered for a second, until I suggested he slip a book under the
shirt. He quipped "I should have thought of that. I'm glad one of us
is thinking."
Thinking? Me? I didn't have the capability to think at that point.
I was, in a word, *thunderstruck*. Neil Gaiman was drawing on my
t-shirt! I could die happy! The eyes are cute, I'll scan that picture
after I return home to Toledo.
He signed between my shoulder blades in large letters, and graciously
posed for a picture as I relayed greetings from Ivory ("Oh, good!" he
said. "I remember when he brought these things to me to sign!") and
the Thingies. Another grin. He has a charming little grin, very
boyish.
Neil completely made my day - maybe even my whole year. I thanked him
for taking the time to sign, and thanked him for sharing his wonderful
work. When someone gives you something you really enjoy (in this
case, many hours of reading pleasure), you thank them, right? I was
rewarded with a very warm hug, a kiss on the cheek, and whispered
words of "You're very welcome."
Oh my god. I don't suppose any of that awesome talent rubbed off,
though. <*sigh*>
My poor sister. She practically had to carry me out of the store, I
was so completely stunned. One good Chicago breeze would have blown
me right down the street.
I cannot get over how incredibly sweet this man is to his fans. Some
authors (Robert Jordan, for instance) are so arrogant and cold, barely
acknowledging that the fans exist. Not Neil. He had kind words for
everyone who came through the line, and he gives off a sense of amused
confusion - a sort of "These people all came to see me? Wow."
attitude that I found quite endearing, as if he just can't believe
that so many people love his work.
This was well worth the icky travel situation. He's wonderful.
--
Maggie
http://www.chocolatefiends.com
pixie
wrote:
>As signing lines go, this one moved fairly quickly, and the people
>around us were great fun to talk to.
Wow! =) That must have been nice. We were on the line that did not
move(tm) at the first NYC one, and actually gave up without
signatures. Though there is a great "Neil is great" story attached to
this, so I suppose that is why I am posting. ^_^
The people in line *are* great, though. Always. I adore Neil fans I
meet in line. Just fun people.
>He signed between my shoulder blades in large letters, and graciously
>posed for a picture as I relayed greetings from Ivory ("Oh, good!" he
>said. "I remember when he brought these things to me to sign!") and
>the Thingies. Another grin. He has a charming little grin, very
>boyish.
>
I've never seen a man with such a great memory. For someone who is on
the road *all the time,* he seems to remember us crazy, repeat signing
people. ^_^
My story:
a few years ago, he had written to me, "Keep writing and finish
things," with multiple underlinings under "finish things." I'm sure I
had told him at some point that I was awful with endings and would
write long stories that just stopped, without endings.
And so I did. I kept writing and finished something. That something, I
was quite desperate to give to him at the signing. Not because I
believe he will read it or anything, just because. It sort of
completed a circle for me, and I wanted to thank him for that little
extra bit of inspiration.
After waiting in a line that barely moved in about 4 hours, the
boy-thing and myself hit "critical mass." It came down to "either we
leave now, or we don't get a train home." So we begged one of the
store security guards to just walk over to Neil and hand him my
plastic folder with the printed copy of my book. I felt like it would
be okay as long as he got it handed to him. So they did. (I must have
looked quite pathetic: it had been my first day of work at my new
(high stress) job, my foot was cut across the bottom, and I was
limping on it, and it was rather hot in the store, so I was pinkish
and sad.)
Neil gets it and looks up. I wave, he waves.
"Come, come for hugs."
They let me in, and I quickly blurt out what it is, and he asks me why
I'm leaving, so I tell him I /have/ to make a train, and he says
that's a sad thing. All the while holding my hand/arm.
Then he hugs me and congratulates me on finishing my book. It was just
so wonderful.
The boy-thing was practically in tears and took a weird-angled photo
of Neil hugging me (which I adore) and everything worked out in the
end.
From this day forth, no one may say anything bad about Neil in my
presence. He's the kindest, nicest person I've ever met, and never
ceases to amaze me, even though I've probably done 9 or 10 of his
signings in the past few years.
*dreamy*
pixie (hi, I used to post here and I think I will again. That okay?
^_^ )
--
"In conclusion, I have dominated the world and you are
all my faithful servants. Goodbye."
Christine Marie
> <snipping very, very cool story>
> From this day forth, no one may say anything bad about Neil in my
> presence. He's the kindest, nicest person I've ever met, and never
> ceases to amaze me, even though I've probably done 9 or 10 of his
> signings in the past few years.
That is soooooooo cool. And congratulations about your book--that's even
cooler.
>
> *dreamy*
>
> pixie (hi, I used to post here and I think I will again. That okay?
> ^_^ )
Oh, please do! We'd love to have you back.
Chris
Ninave Lake
Oh, what a sweetheart that man is....I hope to God I get to meet him
someday. I was suppossed to got up to...oh gosh, some small convention in
Minesota last July with a friend of mine, but my life went kerplooey. She
got something signed for me, but I'd really like to look him in the yes once
and thank him, really thank him for making me want to write again.
Even if it means right now I'm living with my parents again, I gave up my
car because my word processor died and I needed something to write on, and
the agent rejected me because, "The book was really well done, but it has
too many characters.
I'm very happy for you both...and to second Chris (i'm always doing that
) ) Pixie! I just wedged my way back in, why can't you? It'll be nifty as
all heck to see you.
Ninave, who's feeling loserish about now....
Eden Miller
> Neil gets it and looks up. I wave, he waves.
>
> "Come, come for hugs."
>
> They let me in, and I quickly blurt out what it is, and he asks me why
> I'm leaving, so I tell him I /have/ to make a train, and he says
> that's a sad thing. All the while holding my hand/arm.
>
> Then he hugs me and congratulates me on finishing my book. It was just
> so wonderful.
That is truly a magnificent story, and it brought me to tears. Honestly.
Eden (who will meet Neil one day...one day...)
--
http://darksong.home.mindspring.com
http://darksong.livejournal.com
Margret
I went to this signing too. I was #42. I wish I had known you were
there, I would have sought you out, but since I would have noticed the
thingie shirt had I seen you, I probably didn't see you at all. I have a
thingie shirt too, but never got around to getting the eyes done while I
was at ConCat, so I still need Neil to do them at some point. I didn't
think to drag it along with me.
Anyway, you were right about the people in line. We enjoyed chatting
while we waited. The couple in front of us even ended up sitting next to
us at the B&N reading later that night by sheer coincidence.
When I got to the front of the line, Neil opened my book and looked at the
post-it note. He said "Oh, Are you that Margret?" and then he leaned
over to look under the table and check the Goldie tattoo on my ankle to
make sure I was me. My hair has grown a bit since last we met. He
explained to his helper about my contribution to the book, and I thanked
him sincerely for the acknowledgement. We then talked a bit about the
Icelandic lines and then I introduced him to my friend John who was next
in line. John has also been to Iceland, so he and Neil chatted about pony
trekking. Neil said he would like to take his family pony trekking in
Iceland some day. I did get a chance to ride some ponies while I was
there, but didn't really go trekking. John had been trekking, so Neil
questioned him about it. I can picture Maddy having a ball loping along
on a little Icelandic pony. : )
John was very impressed with Neil's rapport with the fans. He had never
met him before, but had read some of his books because I got him started.
I brought him the first two Sandman books because he hasn't read them
yet. I started him out on Good Omens because he is a big Pratchett fan.
He has also read Neverwhere, so I brought my videos and we watched the BBC
series Friday and Saturday night.
The rest of the weekend was a lot of fun too. After the Stars signing, we
went to Dave & Busters to get something to eat and shoot some pool. I
don't think I have played since ConCat. I need to get some practice in
before the end of the summer. : ) Then we headed over to B&N for the
reading and Q & A. I believe that has already been decribed here, so I
won't go through it again. We didn't hang around for the signing that
time. We spent Saturday at Navy Pier doing touristy stuff. We had lunch
at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. I need to brush up on my Forrest Gump trivia.
Then we saw a couple of 3D movies at the Imax theater (The Haunted Castle,
and Cirque du Soleil's Journey of Man.) Both were really cool and made
for a fun afternoon.
All in all it was an excellent weekend, and well worth the plane fare to
Chicago. I am so glad I got the opportunity to go.
I love Neil inspired vacations!
Margret (Dreaming)
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Mad Mouse Beyond Thunderdome
pixie wrote in message ...
>The people in line *are* great, though. Always. I adore Neil fans I
>meet in line. Just fun people.
They're a goodly part of the reason one goes to a Neil signing. We're very
nearly all like this. Just damned nice. :) (okay, some of us are also
insane, but still nice)
>I've never seen a man with such a great memory. For someone who is on
>the road *all the time,* he seems to remember us crazy, repeat signing
>people. ^_^
me: "... by the way, Neil, James-of-the-ever-changing-hair says hello."
Neil: "Tell James of the ever-changing hair and the Magnetic Fields shirt
hello back."
(James had worn an MF shirt to a signing earlier in the year. The thing Neil
*usually* remembers about James is that he's always changing his hai...
hmmm... hair... must be a ba-fog thing...)
>Neil gets it and looks up. I wave, he waves.
>
>"Come, come for hugs."
Aw. How sweet! Unca Neil's da bestest!
My most-adored pic with Neil would have to be the Devil Bunny photo that I
REALLY need to put up on the DB web page soon.
>pixie (hi, I used to post here and I think I will again. That okay?
>^_^ )
Only if you put the angel wings back in the .sig. :)
-MM & the ME
who can't believe he'll be here in 2 days. Where did all the time go?
o..o o..o o..o
>\/< >\/< >\/<
"Reach and you won't lose me. Destroy the objective but still survive"
Mad Mouse Beyond Thunderdome
Margret wrote in message <3B369F2C...@usadatanet.net>...
>
>
>I have a thingie shirt too, but never got around to getting the eyes done
while I
>was at ConCat, so I still need Neil to do them at some point. I didn't
>think to drag it along with me.
Silly girl. You'll just have to stalk Neil later to have is signed. :)
>When I got to the front of the line, Neil opened my book and looked at the
>post-it note. He said "Oh, Are you that Margret?" and then he leaned
>over to look under the table and check the Goldie tattoo on my ankle to
>make sure I was me.
LOL! So, were you still you?
>The rest of the weekend was a lot of fun too. After the Stars signing, we
>went to Dave & Busters to get something to eat and shoot some pool. I
>don't think I have played since ConCat. I need to get some practice in
>before the end of the summer. : )
I seem to recall you telling us a similar story before you kicked our butts
at ConCat.
>I love Neil inspired vacations!
Mmm, me to. Even if they do involve potential LA traffic jams (crossed
fingers this doesn't happen).
JeremyL Perky Goth
> (hi, I used to post here and I think I will again. That okay?^_^ )
But if course.
JeremyL
"A perky goth? Is there such a thing?"
"Sure, just look at Jeremy."
"I'm not goth, I'm a punk."
"No, the other Jeremy."
Christine Marie
<snip>
> Ninave, who's feeling loserish about now....
Stop that right now! You're following your dreams, that's never a loser
thing to do.
Chris
who thinks it's time Ninave got a new agent... What a thing to say!
Ninave Lake
"Christine Marie" <chrismm...@aracnet.com> wrote in message
news:GRzZ6.116$MK4....@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
Oh, don't worry...it's the living with the parents part that bothers
me....what did Xander say? soon it'll be time to move out again or buy a
Klingon uniform...?
And I'm still looking for an agent.
And thanks, Chris. :)
sparrow
Ninave Lake wrote:
> Ninave, who's feeling loserish about now....
<command mode>
No loserish feelingnesses!
</command mode>
cos you aren't
You're here aren't you?
sparrow
sparrow
JeremyL Perky Goth wrote:
> JeremyL
> "A perky goth? Is there such a thing?"
> "Sure, just look at Jeremy."
> "I'm not goth, I'm a punk."
> "No, the other Jeremy."
<grin>
<cough, splutter>
sparrow
JeremyL Perky Goth
This was an actual coversation between some of my friends. I'm the other
Jeremy. the punk Jeremy is a friend of mine who can be described thus; a white
boy who talks like he's black, dresses like a punk and looks like a nerd?!?!?
Oh well,