So on Sunday I had the honor of meeting one of my favorite authors: Michael Connelly. A master in the mystery genre, Connelly has just published his 25th book (in only 20 years); the 18th book in the LAPD Detective Harry Bosch series. I unfortunately have not yet read all of his books, but I am making my way through, having read 13 books so far (8 of which were Harry Bosch novels). Connelly has also guest-starred in the amazing TV show Castle, which just added to the excitement of meeting him.
Anyway, it was actually extremely fortunate. For my Creative Writing class, I had to go to two readings — one fiction, and one poetry, and then write a report on them. I was lucky that, the day before these reports were due, Michael Connelly was speaking at a Barnes and Noble near my house.
Unfortunately, I didn’t know I was going to be going to the book signing, so I had ordered his new book, The Black Box, online a few days earlier. And it hadn’t come yet. So instead I was that one awkward guy with his second-newest book (The Drop) for him to sign (I also had him sign a label that I have now stuck on The Black Box when it arrived earlier today). It wasn’t really that awkward, though, and it was extremely awesome being able to meet him and talk to other Connelly fans in line while waiting to meet him.
And I have proof!
You can thank my phone for the blurry picture (and of course I wasn’t looking at the camera. Oh well).
So I went there, waited in line and heard him speak for ~45 minutes (which was awesome, though slightly hard to hear), then finally got up and had him sign my stuff and take a picture. Later that night I drove up to Santa Monica for a poetry reading (yes, I am a procrastinator, and waited until the day before to go to both readings — I’m lucky there was even a poetry reading near me that night), and I was actually pleasantly surprised. I wasn’t expecting it to be all that good, but it wasn’t bad — author/professor Carol Quinn read from her book Acetylene, and afterward I bought it and had her sign it. I had never heard of her before this, so I’m glad she turned out to be pretty good.
Overall a good day. Two book signings/readings, was able to finish my homework barely in time for my Creative Writing class the next day, and I got to meet one of my favorite authors.
A. Page in the Stacks 