Speechless

I've known Karin Slaughter for a few years as she has been signing her books when they come out in the bookstore I work at. She always comes to our store for a signing because she meets with the writer's group that has been in our store since it opened. I knew from the first time I met her that I liked her. She is extremely down to earth and listens to what people are saying while making eye contact. This is rare in most people let alone in a New York Times Bestselling author.

I'll be honest, I've only read one of her books from the Grant Park Series. It was a great read by the way, but I don't typically read murder mysteries or thrillers with the exception of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series which I couldn't put down due to my most favorite female character of all time, Lisbeth Salandar.

I enjoyed Karin's book because it is set here in Atlanta and she names a lot of familiar places. I won't comment on the structure of her books or her writing style as like I said, I've only read one, but I know firsthand from many, many fans that come from miles away to her signings that she is very well liked and her books are some of the most favorite thrillers out there.

Last year, I went to the BookExpo America in New York and guess who was there on several panel discussions and signings? None other than Karin Slaughter. My ex girlfriend and I paid our own way to New York for BEA and couldn't wait to see Karin outside of Atlanta. We giggled and felt like stalkers but she immediately recognized us and smiled and made us feel welcome, bragging on me to her publisher.

So when I told her last year that I'd like to volunteer at any other events she had coming up, she told me about this fundraising idea she was going to help with. An event to support the local libraries. She knew about it abstractly a year in advance and I waited anxiously from June until March to find out the details. Seeing her email pop up on my Outlook was exciting and I couldn't wait to see how I could be a part of her event.

Thus here we are on Saturday, March 12th at the Decatur Library and the Murder Mystery Theatre as part of her Save the Libraries fundraising event. Decatur library was the first stop and Mary Kay Andrews and Kathryn Stockett joined her to celebrate libraries and literacy, raise funds for the library and sign their books.

What a crowd. It was a sell out with over 200 tickets sold that included a buffet, meeting the authors while they milled about the library signing their books and visiting with patrons, a murder mystery in the auditorium of which I was asked to take part by joining two others as we drug the dead body off the stage. lol

I met Karin's editor from Random House and her partner, damn, was hoping to hear she was single, and many others in her entourage. All very nice just like Karin, what a friendly group of people. Karin and I talked for a few minutes, while people gathered around to get a moment with the bestselling author. She asked me where my girlfriend was and I told her we'd broke up, secretly wishing she'd say "let's go get a drink after this" no such luck. She surprised me though by saying "her loss" and also that she'd mentioned to the owner of our company in New York a few weeks ago how hard I worked and how much I did to support bookselling. That really touched me. I know he won't know me or really care most likely but to know she mentioned little old me here in Atlanta was amazing.

She is an amazing woman, writer, listener and very compassionate spirit. I will say, for the first time, just for a moment, I was speechless when I had my moment in the sun next to her. You can see it in my smile.

May you get to meet a person that moves you and excites you one day no matter what line of work they are in and may they show themselves to be compassionate and genuine to you as Karin was to me. Here's to being down to earth and never too big to listen to your fans whether they be fans of your work or of your spirit, thanks Karin. Until summer when your new book comes out and you come to my store in Norcross to sign it.

Photo courtesy of Arthur Ratliff Photography 404-284-0055