I met Stephanie Klein last night.
Stephanie Klein is an author that I look up to, love and admire. Not only is Stephanie a brilliant writer, she is a talented photographer, too. I have been reading her blog for almost two years. I read her first book “Straight Up and Dirty” about a year ago.
It was a book that changed my life in a lot of ways. Her writing is honest, witty and real. She is the kind of writer that takes you to parts of her life where you relate in ways that rock you to your core. In so many different parts of reading her book, I could see myself sitting and feeling the way she did. I recommend the book to so many people, to see what kind of a rise it gets out of them. And what it does to cause a change in them, like it did in me.
It’s her story, living her life in New York City as a young married woman. She faces serious disappointments and let downs. The kinds that would tear most people in half. But she survives it and she rocks it out in a way that makes her a hero to me.
I wonder if she ever could have imagined that her worst life situations actually became her meal ticket? She wrote about some of the most trying, horrible and awful of times in her life. She told the truth about her struggle and her courage. Her honesty and way with words brought her a cult like following of readers, and she is now enjoying a life of success and fulfillment with the man of her dreams, in a gorgeous house in Austin, with two twin babies. If that isn’t karma, I don’t know what is.
Anyway, last night after work, Brian and I grabbed the train into the city. Stephanie had a book signing for her new work “Moose”, a story about her childhood summers at fat camp. (Fat camp, you ask with a raised eyebrow? Yes, fat camp. She spent most of her childhood battling obesity. This is her story of her troubled adolescence, and man is it a good one.) So, it was held at 7 pm at the Borders in Columbus Circle. I got there promptly, camera in tow, busting at the seams to meet her. I didn’t say one word the whole cab ride over. I just kept thinking what the hell I would say to her when I saw her in front of me.
When we got to the signing, we found two seats near the front. There was chocolate from her hometown for everyone to munch on. There were a lot of people there… I guess I was fantasizing that Brian and I would be the only ones there, and she would ask, “What are your plans for dinner? Would you like to join me for a martini, straight up and dirty?” But no. Lots and lots of people.
The first time I saw her, my breath caught. I actually thought I might cry. She was waiting for her introduction. Her husband Phil was beside her, and he kissed her and patted her on the back, wishing her well. I wonder what must go through your head when you have at least a hundred people waiting to meet you.
She was everything I thought she’d be and more. Naturally beautiful and gracious. Funny, witty, goofy and dramatic. Her hair was this amazing shade of red, and most of the time I was there I kept staring at her to figure out how I could get mine to look like that.
She read us a bit of her new book, and took some questions and answers. I wanted to ask her a million things. “How’d you start?’ “How do you feel knowing 400,000 people a month read your blog, and know your innermost feelings?” “How does your family deal with being exposed in such a public way?” So, I finally worked up the courage to raise my hand. The woman next to me did it the exact time I did. And of course, she was the last question. Go figure.
When we were waiting to go up and meet her, Brian kept asking me, “What are you going to say to her? Are you going to tell her you are a writer, and that you love her?” I kept saying I knew what I was going to say. And then I got in front of her and… choked. I just couldn’t believe I was making eye contact with her. I felt like one of the fans you see on Beatles documentaries. I thought for a second I was going to scream and cry at the top of my lungs.
But then she looked at me and told me that she was happy to meet me. We talked like old friends. I told her I adored her and read her blog every day, and look forward to it popping up in my outlook inbox at work. She thanked me and just talked and laughed with me. When I worked up the courage to ask her to take a picture with me, she said, “I can’t believe that someone wants to actually take a picture with me!” and asked me to jump up on the stage with her.
So, I got to give my idol a hug. And take a picture with her. It was really a great experience. It was nice to have my favorite writer come off the pages and become a real person in front of me.
I just wish I could have stolen her time a little longer, and ask her if she could be my guru, and give me some guidance on how to get started. I just wish I knew how to put my story together.
If only I could have the courage to tell the truth like that. To put my real journey down on the page, and say it like it is. I want to make it happen.
To be continued…
Stephanie Klein is an author that I look up to, love and admire. Not only is Stephanie a brilliant writer, she is a talented photographer, too. I have been reading her blog for almost two years. I read her first book “Straight Up and Dirty” about a year ago.
It was a book that changed my life in a lot of ways. Her writing is honest, witty and real. She is the kind of writer that takes you to parts of her life where you relate in ways that rock you to your core. In so many different parts of reading her book, I could see myself sitting and feeling the way she did. I recommend the book to so many people, to see what kind of a rise it gets out of them. And what it does to cause a change in them, like it did in me.
It’s her story, living her life in New York City as a young married woman. She faces serious disappointments and let downs. The kinds that would tear most people in half. But she survives it and she rocks it out in a way that makes her a hero to me.
I wonder if she ever could have imagined that her worst life situations actually became her meal ticket? She wrote about some of the most trying, horrible and awful of times in her life. She told the truth about her struggle and her courage. Her honesty and way with words brought her a cult like following of readers, and she is now enjoying a life of success and fulfillment with the man of her dreams, in a gorgeous house in Austin, with two twin babies. If that isn’t karma, I don’t know what is.
Anyway, last night after work, Brian and I grabbed the train into the city. Stephanie had a book signing for her new work “Moose”, a story about her childhood summers at fat camp. (Fat camp, you ask with a raised eyebrow? Yes, fat camp. She spent most of her childhood battling obesity. This is her story of her troubled adolescence, and man is it a good one.) So, it was held at 7 pm at the Borders in Columbus Circle. I got there promptly, camera in tow, busting at the seams to meet her. I didn’t say one word the whole cab ride over. I just kept thinking what the hell I would say to her when I saw her in front of me.
When we got to the signing, we found two seats near the front. There was chocolate from her hometown for everyone to munch on. There were a lot of people there… I guess I was fantasizing that Brian and I would be the only ones there, and she would ask, “What are your plans for dinner? Would you like to join me for a martini, straight up and dirty?” But no. Lots and lots of people.
The first time I saw her, my breath caught. I actually thought I might cry. She was waiting for her introduction. Her husband Phil was beside her, and he kissed her and patted her on the back, wishing her well. I wonder what must go through your head when you have at least a hundred people waiting to meet you.
She was everything I thought she’d be and more. Naturally beautiful and gracious. Funny, witty, goofy and dramatic. Her hair was this amazing shade of red, and most of the time I was there I kept staring at her to figure out how I could get mine to look like that.
She read us a bit of her new book, and took some questions and answers. I wanted to ask her a million things. “How’d you start?’ “How do you feel knowing 400,000 people a month read your blog, and know your innermost feelings?” “How does your family deal with being exposed in such a public way?” So, I finally worked up the courage to raise my hand. The woman next to me did it the exact time I did. And of course, she was the last question. Go figure.
When we were waiting to go up and meet her, Brian kept asking me, “What are you going to say to her? Are you going to tell her you are a writer, and that you love her?” I kept saying I knew what I was going to say. And then I got in front of her and… choked. I just couldn’t believe I was making eye contact with her. I felt like one of the fans you see on Beatles documentaries. I thought for a second I was going to scream and cry at the top of my lungs.
But then she looked at me and told me that she was happy to meet me. We talked like old friends. I told her I adored her and read her blog every day, and look forward to it popping up in my outlook inbox at work. She thanked me and just talked and laughed with me. When I worked up the courage to ask her to take a picture with me, she said, “I can’t believe that someone wants to actually take a picture with me!” and asked me to jump up on the stage with her.
So, I got to give my idol a hug. And take a picture with her. It was really a great experience. It was nice to have my favorite writer come off the pages and become a real person in front of me.
I just wish I could have stolen her time a little longer, and ask her if she could be my guru, and give me some guidance on how to get started. I just wish I knew how to put my story together.
If only I could have the courage to tell the truth like that. To put my real journey down on the page, and say it like it is. I want to make it happen.
To be continued…
2 comments:
yep, still super jealous.
so cool that you got to meet SK. i so wish she was coming to boston!
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