Meeting Nicholas Sparks

Last week, my best friend Abby and I got to meet Nicholas Sparks.  

Nicholas was going to be appearing at our local college for a question and answer session as part of their Visiting Writer's series.  He was also scheduled for a book signing at our local library from 4-5:30 that day.  

I knew there was going to be a long line, so I thought I'd arrive about half an hour early.  That's the earliest I could get there since I have to pick the boys up from school.  

I don't think *anybody*, even the library, anticipated just how many people would actually be there.  I could tell it was going to be bad before I even got to the library, because there were cars lining up alongside the entire city block.  I drove around for at least 15 minutes before I finally wedged my van in between the cars in one part of the parking lot and the sidewalk.  

The line went all through the library, out into the library parking lot, curved around again, and went all the way back to the Science Center next to the library.  

We waited in line for almost two hours, but it was totally worth it.  

Originally, you were supposed to be able to get 2 books signed, but because of the amount of people that showed up, it was changed to 1 book at the last minute. 

The meeting was a little impersonal, but I guess that's just the way it goes when you have so many people.  A library worker took your book before you even got up to Nicholas and had it lined up on a table with the books of the other people in line.  Nicholas was just signing book after book and pausing for a few seconds in between to take a picture.  

Abby and I were so afraid that we would end up not being able to meet him since he was supposed to leave at 5:30 since he had the session at the college to do after the signing.  Luckily though we made it up to him right at 5:30.  I heard that he stayed until 6:30 signing books :).

Nicholas was really nice and I'm so glad I got the chance to meet him!  

this is just a small part of the line.  The line in front of me
goes up, around, and then down into the library

in line, almost in the library now.  It was sooo hot outside

inside the library
after we went around the first corner, we could catch a glimpse of him ;)

my best friend Abby and I

a little bit of Peeta eye-candy while we waited ;)

signing my book <3

Nicholas and I

finally made it out of there with my signed book!

this is a picture that Abby took
what a great smile, don't you think?  :)