Meeting Anne Rice
Can I even call it a meeting? More like I just had a quick word while she signed my copy of her latest novel "Prince Lestat", on Wed. over at Books Inc. The only word I can sum up my experience is disappointing.
I have been a eager fan of her books for fourteen years, since I was an accounting student over at Solano Community College. Her Vampire Chronicles began to heal me from a depression I was feeling about myself: a 20 year old college student who was unsure of herself and what she wanted to do with her life. Especially when I was being encouraged to take up accounting and was not completely sure if this was the career choice for me. Of course, I still finished the accounting program at the college, but I was still feeling empty.
Then came the days when she became self-proclaimed Catholic again. My knowledge of religion and faith were foreign to me. Trying to understand the mystery of faith was something I never could grasp or even comprehend. Even when I was a Mormon, my faith kept wavering. When I finally understood faith and Christianity in 2006 and made the decision to be baptized as a Lutheran, Anne Rice's books were there to help me when I had questions of faith. Perhaps I always had faith and didn't realize it, especially at nights when I dreamed of cathedrals and sitting and staring at the Virgin Mary or the Crucifixion. Who knows? But Anne Rice's journey intermingled with my journey even to the point where she stopped attending church because her beliefs and journey were telling her that organized religion is wrong. While I don't believe in some things churches say, I still go because I believe in God and know I can find answers at Mass. I admired her courage to follow her heart on this decision. I had to do the same at one point after my confirmation as well.
I have loved her interviews and the stories she tells and was pleased with how she communicated with her fans with their questions and comments, myself included. I still had in my possession the emails I got back from her--one was two years after I wrote and I was amazed she wrote back, I was afraid it might have been a forgery. I have not read her Wolf series yet, but I will get there.
Now back to the present. There I am standing in a long line that went completely outside the bookstore, waiting for my book to be signed. I literally sprinted from the Civic Center Station to the bookstore on Van Ness, despite my back aching and feet hurting and breath leaving me, just to get into the line and meet her. I was also sweating underneath my sweater and had to endure it because I had nothing underneath my sweater (beside a bra) to keep my body covered. It was amazing. To think that Anne came to San Francisco after a long time and I could finally meet her and get a signed book with a bunch of other eager fans who enjoyed her novels as I did. Even though, I had to go through a long wait for an hour or less (I was out of the bookstore and across the street at the McDonalds for an ice cream by 8:20), be harassed by a bookseller if I had a purchased book from their bookstore to be in their line, and see a scene of some homeless jerk harassing another homeless person who was just resting in his wheelchair, I thought it was worth it. And it was a bit of comedy relief.
When the lines clear and I have a clear view of the author and her cheerful assistant, Becket, I literally pinched my arm to see if this was a dream. You never know, dreams can have that effect. But then I get closer and I hope I don't start to babble when I get close to her. I am waiting eagerly but patiently and finally I am the next person in line. "Good evening", like I always do at every author event, and she responds with, "Hello, how are you doing tonight?" and then just like that, it is over, and I say "It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Rice" and she says "Thank you" and the next person is ready for their book to be signed. (By the way, dude, where is that photo you promised to email me of me and her signing my book?)
After all this, I am left disappointed. After fourteen years, waiting to finally meet the writer who been with me through my college and adult years and helped save me from my darkest nights and demons, it is all over. It has happened and my goal is complete. And I didn't have much of a chance to exchange more words with her. Though I can't say I would have said much either as I freeze when I see an author I enjoy. But it is now over, and who knows if she will be back in the Bay Area when another book comes out. Well, there is always Palm Springs for a chance to see her again, with her son, Christopher Rice.
Note to Prima Tina: get out your extra pillows and blankets, Prima Sammy may be coming to town around December 6th.
I have been a eager fan of her books for fourteen years, since I was an accounting student over at Solano Community College. Her Vampire Chronicles began to heal me from a depression I was feeling about myself: a 20 year old college student who was unsure of herself and what she wanted to do with her life. Especially when I was being encouraged to take up accounting and was not completely sure if this was the career choice for me. Of course, I still finished the accounting program at the college, but I was still feeling empty.
Then came the days when she became self-proclaimed Catholic again. My knowledge of religion and faith were foreign to me. Trying to understand the mystery of faith was something I never could grasp or even comprehend. Even when I was a Mormon, my faith kept wavering. When I finally understood faith and Christianity in 2006 and made the decision to be baptized as a Lutheran, Anne Rice's books were there to help me when I had questions of faith. Perhaps I always had faith and didn't realize it, especially at nights when I dreamed of cathedrals and sitting and staring at the Virgin Mary or the Crucifixion. Who knows? But Anne Rice's journey intermingled with my journey even to the point where she stopped attending church because her beliefs and journey were telling her that organized religion is wrong. While I don't believe in some things churches say, I still go because I believe in God and know I can find answers at Mass. I admired her courage to follow her heart on this decision. I had to do the same at one point after my confirmation as well.
I have loved her interviews and the stories she tells and was pleased with how she communicated with her fans with their questions and comments, myself included. I still had in my possession the emails I got back from her--one was two years after I wrote and I was amazed she wrote back, I was afraid it might have been a forgery. I have not read her Wolf series yet, but I will get there.
Now back to the present. There I am standing in a long line that went completely outside the bookstore, waiting for my book to be signed. I literally sprinted from the Civic Center Station to the bookstore on Van Ness, despite my back aching and feet hurting and breath leaving me, just to get into the line and meet her. I was also sweating underneath my sweater and had to endure it because I had nothing underneath my sweater (beside a bra) to keep my body covered. It was amazing. To think that Anne came to San Francisco after a long time and I could finally meet her and get a signed book with a bunch of other eager fans who enjoyed her novels as I did. Even though, I had to go through a long wait for an hour or less (I was out of the bookstore and across the street at the McDonalds for an ice cream by 8:20), be harassed by a bookseller if I had a purchased book from their bookstore to be in their line, and see a scene of some homeless jerk harassing another homeless person who was just resting in his wheelchair, I thought it was worth it. And it was a bit of comedy relief.
When the lines clear and I have a clear view of the author and her cheerful assistant, Becket, I literally pinched my arm to see if this was a dream. You never know, dreams can have that effect. But then I get closer and I hope I don't start to babble when I get close to her. I am waiting eagerly but patiently and finally I am the next person in line. "Good evening", like I always do at every author event, and she responds with, "Hello, how are you doing tonight?" and then just like that, it is over, and I say "It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Rice" and she says "Thank you" and the next person is ready for their book to be signed. (By the way, dude, where is that photo you promised to email me of me and her signing my book?)
After all this, I am left disappointed. After fourteen years, waiting to finally meet the writer who been with me through my college and adult years and helped save me from my darkest nights and demons, it is all over. It has happened and my goal is complete. And I didn't have much of a chance to exchange more words with her. Though I can't say I would have said much either as I freeze when I see an author I enjoy. But it is now over, and who knows if she will be back in the Bay Area when another book comes out. Well, there is always Palm Springs for a chance to see her again, with her son, Christopher Rice.
Note to Prima Tina: get out your extra pillows and blankets, Prima Sammy may be coming to town around December 6th.
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