This past weekend I attended an event that was a highlight of my life.  I had the pleasure of seeing Stephen King, the master himself, speak to a sold out crowd at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.  Do I really need to tell you he was amazing?  I didn’t think so.

He was humorous, self-deprecating, inspiring – and he spent a little over an hour talking about Rock Bottom Remainders, a band of writers he’s in, his books (of course), Bruce Springsteen, and life in Florida, where he lives part of the year.  He also took a few questions from the audience.  The line to ask questions extended up the aisle at every microphone, but we would have been there all night if everyone had asked their questions.  And I would have stayed to listen.

At the end of the evening, attendees were given a copy of his new novel, End of Watch, of which he’d signed 400 copies.  I made hubby go with me – not because he’s a Stephen King fan, but because it increased my chances of getting a signed copy.  He’s not even much of a reader, but we all have to make sacrifices, right?  Totally fair.  As soon as the book was in my hand, I opened it and – nothing.  I grabbed hubby’s copy and….SCORE!  His was signed!  Naturally I confiscated it – he’s never read a King book, so I deemed him unworthy of even holding it.  The book is mine, now and forever.

This book joins many signed by authors I’ve met and although I didn’t meet Mr. King personally, I consider myself very fortunate to have had an opportunity to hear him speak.  A bucket list item checked off.