I was not even aware that it
was Neil Gaiman whom I loved the moment I fell in love with him. I was sick at
home, doing some homework when the film Stardust came on TV. It instantly
became on of my favourite films (even bumping The Princess Bride down a notch).
It didn’t occur to me that it had been based off of a book (or graphic novel).
A couple of years later, I began reading the comic book series Sandman over my boyfriend’s shoulder.
After Pat told me that it was the same author who had written Stardust (and that Stardust was a
graphic novel!) I was sold.
I quickly came to find that Mr. Gaiman was not only a wonderful writer in all of my favourite genres, but that he was a wealth of inspiration in wisdom in regards to the writing process, a process that still fascinates and terrifies me. If you are an aspiring writer, or even a student looking for inspiration to overcome procrastination, I recommend reading some of Mr. Gaiman’s blogs , or you can spend hours (or days like I did) pouring over his tumblr. (ahem… about that procrastination thing…)
During a shared daydream in which Pat and I fantasized about attending San Diego Comic Con and only one of us winning a raffle to attend the Gaiman signing there, Pat and I burst our dream bubble by arguing about who would get the ticket (reality check: neither of us were going anyways). A short while later, when Indigo announced that they were hosting a Neil Gaiman reading/signing in Toronto, I could not buy the tickets fast enough.
The signing was extra awesome, because not only did Neil (I feel like after our moment, I’m for sure on a first name basis with him) sign and personalize The Ocean at the End of the Lane, he also signed one other book of choice. I got my favourite copy of Stardust signed (the graphic novel illustrated by Charles Vess), and Pat got Sandman’s Preludes & Nocturnes signed (Neil even drew a picture inside the front cover).
For the record (let me state it bluntly in case it isn’t obvious enough already), I highly recommend both Stardust and the Ocean at the End of the Lane, (and Gaiman's entire back catalogue if you've got the time).
For me, what made the event the most special wasn’t that I got to hear Neil read, or even that I got his signature, but rather, the time that he spent with each of his readers. Even though it was only a brief moment, I know you will be able to see in the pictures that follow how Neil genuinely took interest in what each person said when the interacted with him.
He listened careful, and did not look bored, irritated, or even in pain (as one would be after signing for hours). It is a hard feeling to put to words, the feeling of sharing eye contact with someone who has inspired and entertained you for such a long period of time; the feeling of someone so significant to even acknowledge your existence for a fleeting few seconds.
And now you all have an idea of the extent to which I am a literary fan girl.
