Tesco is not the place you imagine meeting your hero...
Lurker, first time, etc, etc.

No, really. The man who I wanted to meet more than any other...Mr Stephen King in Tescos, Lakeside. Ever since I badgered my mum to get me his books out of the adult library when I was 13 he has been my favourite authour. I really do think that the man is amazing.

He was promoting 'Lisey's Story' in the UK by doing signings at supermarkets. I arrived early - the signing was at 3ish and I was there by 12. The queue was snaked around the isles and you could smell the fanboy and fangirl sweat. We were told by a man with an earpiece that Mr King would sign one book per person and that you must purchase a copy of the novel in the store. No problem. The man behind me was a Stephen King book dealer and had some super expensive first edition to be signed. We got chatting. I had my camera with me and I asked Mr Earpiece about photos. He informed me that Mr King does not mind having his photo taken but does not pose for photos. Fair enough.
Mr Bookdealer then asked me if I would like him to take a photo of me with my camera whilst I was getting the book signed. I of course said yes and offered to return the favour, then email him the photo. We had a deal.
The time of the signing then came up. There was a couple of hundred people there and there was an hour for the signing. It became pretty apparent that Steve and myself were not going to have the leisurely chat that I had envisioned. This was a few years back and not long after the final book of the Dark Tower series was published, and the internet was ablaze with bitching at the ending of the series. I liked it, and I decided that Mr King should know this. I was not going to queue up for over 3 hours and not have him say anything to me.

The queue was finally snaking round so I could see him. He was taller than I had imagined, and with the smoothest skin of a man near sixty I have ever seen. He was chewing on a toothpick and not really saying much to anyone. I was beginning to doubt my plan of engaging him in conversation, but this was my moment damn it!!! I couldn't not talk to him, could I?

I was getting close to the front now. I handed my camera to Mr Bookdealer and took a deep breath, as I was beginning to hyperventilate. I walked up to him. This was it.

"Hiya!!!!!!" I said. He nodded at me. I was undeterred. The articulate speech I had planned came out in one big rush...

"ThankyouforwritingthebooksyouaremyfavouritewriterdontlistentoanyonewhosaysthatheendingofthedarktowerwascrapcosIlikedit"

Breath.

I saw the camera flash behind me.

The king of weird removed the toothpick from his mouth. He looked at me like I was certifiable.

"Gee, thanks"

I then made a noise halfway between a giggle and a sigh. He nodded at Mr Earpiece.

It was Mr Bookdealer's turn. I dutifuly took his photograph and drove home on cloud nine. I got home and emailed the photographs to the bookdealer.

Then I sat down and thought about it. I had freaked out the man who wrote It. The shame.

As a lovely footnote, I checked Ebay a couple of days later to see how much the signed books were going for. Mr Bookdealer was selling my photographs. Bastard.
(allthatglittersisglitter, Tue 21 Apr 2009, 18:53, 5 replies)

The Photograph will be Copyright of you.*
If you chose to do so, you could probably insist of a cut of the proceeds.

*(The ones you took anyway, I'm not sure about the ones he took).
(Richy_T hundreds if not thousands of dollars, Tue 21 Apr 2009, 19:38, closed)

You have to admit
he has gone proper shit since he gave up the booze.

And yes, you hold the copyright on any photos you take, not any that you're in.
(username1, Tue 21 Apr 2009, 21:10, closed)

You freaked out Stephen King?
Well done!
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Wed 22 Apr 2009, 1:29, closed)

Even the great take a break
King once "drove" my wife and I on the safari ride at Busch Gardens. True.
He was on holiday so I didn't say anything....
(greatoldone Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl f'tagn, Wed 22 Apr 2009, 13:52, closed)

Wow...
Impressed.
It was a few years back now, too late to claim anything on the photos, but thanks for the advice.
(allthatglittersisglitter, Wed 22 Apr 2009, 19:43, closed)