I'm also posting my entry to the 4th Annual "No Kiss" Blogfest hosted by the fabulous Miss Frankie Diane Mallis. Please bear with me this month as it may take me a little while to hop around and visit/comment on both. Thanks- and happy hopping!
On Friday, December 21st, instead of sitting around waiting for the world to end, I chose to go to an author signing at my local library. The author was none other than Brat Pack actor/director turned travel writer- Andrew McCarthy.
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Andrew McCarthy, my sis Adrienne-all smiles because she lurves him, ME, crazy lady who jumped in my pic! *true story* |
Now, most of my followers of a certain age (like me) would probably remember Andrew McCarthy best from his appearances in some classic 80's movies such as: Less Than Zero, Pretty in Pink, Class, St. Elmo's Fire, Weekend at Bernie's, Mannequin..look him up on IMDB. He has quite an impressive resume. But he didn't write a biography. And he wasn't there to talk about his acting career. Andrew McCarthy, has become a travel writer, and a very talented one at that.
I didn't expect to like his travel writing all that much, but after reading his book, "The Longest Way Home" was pleasantly surprised at how much I actually did. If I had to compare it to something else current, it was like the male equivalent of "Eat Pray Love". And guess what friends? Believe it or not, McCarthy could be an honorary member of the IWSG.
Mr. McCarthy is very candid about having to push past crippling fear, insecurity and shyness. He is a loner by nature and hates crowds. He attributes traveling alone to far off places that helped him mature and grow, eventually stretching him to move beyond those fears.
McCarthy's travel experiences combined with his honest, heart felt accounts of his inner turmoil including the push and pull of wanting to be home, yet yearning and needing to travel, really spoke to me. Other people in the audience, not so much.
The man was there to talk about his new book. He was excited about his first book being published, as any new author would be. But I guess to some people, when you are a movie star, they will never see you as anything but. I felt sorry for McCarthy, as he had several "Brat Pack" groupies in the audience who made the Q&A section of his signing, all kinds of awkward. He dealt with them very graciously, but it was obvious they never read his book and had zero intentions of doing so. They were just there to have their "Pretty In Pink" posters and DVD's signed. Which was a shame, if you ask me.
My experience has left me curious. So now I must ask all of you- have any of you gone to an awkward author signing? Have you experienced any questions that were wildly inappropriate or threw you for a loop? Anyone ever encounter any hecklers or haters in the audience? And, my IWSG brothers and sisters, do you dread even the thought of doing your own author signing or are you the type who would relish in them?