An Actual Encounter

I’ve never really thought about what it would be like to meet a fan of my books. However, my mother and youngest child have concocted an ideal encounter. There is an actor who my Wyatt adores. One night when Wyatt was two he was up doing a breathing treatment and wanted a story but also wanted to watch something. I pulled up YouTube and found BBCs story hour. Wyatt loved the story. It became a bedtime routine for him to watch the 5 videos that actor had read. He loved listening to Richard’s stories and told my mom about the man who reads to him.

When my first book came out my mom decided that the book needs to finds its way into Richard’s hands. He would love the plot and want it to be turned into a movie. Once a studio picked it up they would want me to consult. Wyatt quickly piped in that Richard would want to marry me then he could read him stories every night.

That is as much thought as this topic has ever been given. Of course the entire time my mom was saying this I had to shake my head. It had never occurred to me that someone might be a fan of my work.

However, I did my first reading Tuesday evening. Quinlan and I took our new book Christmas at the Zoo down to the local Salvation Army. The children gathered around us on the floor enjoying the candy canes we handed out. They listened quietly to the story then I encouraged them to ask questions. They wanted to know how I came up with the idea, if Quinlan really drew all the pictures, if I was writing more stories.

One little girl asked several questions. She sat next to me while I signed books. She even had her photo taken with us. This conversation happened right before she left.

Girl “He really drew all these pictures?”

Me, “Yes.”

Girl, “Really, really?” I nodded. “You wrote all the words?”

Me, “Yes.”

Girl, “You two are the best!”

I have to say this encounter was better than anything I could have imagined. I loved getting to answer all of her questions.

Have you ever met someone who thought you were the “best”?