~manga-ka-jen

ok, so i just met christopher poalini... yeah, you heard me. i just met the author of EREGON, ELDEST, and now BRISINGER!!!

it isn't really that cool a story. i went to a book signing here in austin. all in all, it was a pretty normal encounter. but the amazing thing is how i reacted to everything... well, let me start at the beginning.

when he came out all the fans lined up and gave him kind of an honor guard welcome. there were even some guys there in armor doing weapons demonstrations that gave him an armed escort. anyway, as he passed me, he gave me a really good high five. he was giving others high fives, but i got a really good one.

anyway, during the Q&A i finally got the courage to raise my hand. at first i didn't think that he picked me, but i pointed to myself and he nodded. I almost couldn't speak. but i found my voice and asked if he had any advice for aspiring writers. he gave the most fantastic answer!

he said,"read everything you can, write everyday, and never, never, never, never(about 20 'never's all together), give up or let anyone tell you no."

it was that last part that got to me. i am not ashamed to admit but i cried a little bit. i can't say how many times i've been told that i can't do something or that i should pick something more marketable... but hearing him say that, in response to MY question, made me feel like i can do anything. it's been awhile since i've felt this way.

now, though i'm more an artist than a writer, my purpose has always been to tell the stories that have been given to me. i feel it is my responsibility to tell the stories of people that don;t have a physical voice. now i know that no matter what, i can tell those stories, either through writing or other art forms. it's a wonderful, and kinda scary, feeling...

anyway, i went through the line an got my copy of BRISINGER signed. he and i chatted a bit but the line had to keep moving. let me tell you, that boy is HOT! not in a BRAD PITT way, but a much more real way... i got to shake his hand, which means he touched both my hands.XD

...i'm such a fan girl...