PAPERBACKWRITER, since you asked...
I collect books. Not rare books, not expensive books about lofty subjects that put you to sleep. Not first editions. Just books that I like. Mostly fiction, but a few cookbooks and your garden variety self-help books.
Now I live very close to a wonderful bookstore, the type of store that has lounge areas where you can settle into an easy chair and leaf through whatever catches your fancy. They often have book signings, and this was how I started collecting signed copies of books written by authors that I like.
Paper wanted to know how I got to meet Nora Roberts. Yes, she writes women's fiction. Not great literary classics, but her books are extremely popular. Paper, my darling, it was really much ado about nothing much. She spoke to an audience of a couple hundred people and then signed copies of her book. Honestly I'd have to go back and look for which book it was. I have four books signed by her. She's a charming woman, and a wonderful speaker. I spoke to her for maybe 10 seconds. Bookstore employees are pretty profficient at keeping the line moving.
The three authors that stick out in my mind are the lovely Ms. Roberts, and Sara Moulton and Emeril Lagasse ( well-known chefs) I've had Emeril's cookbook for 5 years, I bet, and I've never once made a recipe from it. Anybody wants it, let me know. I'll give it to you. In person he's very shy and soft-spoken.
Anyway, Paper, that's the non-story story of my brush with greatness.
