Dear Mr. King,
If the universe aligns right, this short letter will make its way to the King of Horror.
The Master of Modern Macabre.
The Condemner of Ill-Written Vampires.
And if it does, it will bring you, Stephen King, a true tale—and a thank you.
On September 20, 2004, the night before The Dark Tower strict on sale date, I ran across information on the internet(s) about a lone signing taking place in Connecticut at a bookstore named Just Books. You and artist Michael Whelan were appearing together, signing copies of the new book. A certain amount of tickets had been given out for the signing, meaning only a certain amount of copies of The Dark Tower would be signed.
I cursed when I discovered the signing, a mere day before its happening.
Somehow news of the signing had eluded me.
It was just after eleven at night in Seattle, the three hour time difference stark in my mind when I picked up my cell phone. No one would be at the bookstore assuredly. I called anyway, hoping to capture an answering machine letting me know the signing was entirely booked and no more tickets were being given out.
For my sanity, yeh understand?
“Hello?” answered a feminine voice, all too tired.
"Huh, hi," I began, shocked at a live person answering, momentarily worried I had called a wrong number. "I'm surprised you are open," I said tentatively.
"We are still setting up, preparing for the big day," the voice assured. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, I'm sure all of the signed King copies are—"
"They are, sadly" she sighed sincerely.
"Oh, well, that's just my luck..."
"Would you like a copy signed by Michael Whelan?" she asked, a bit more upbeat.
I am positive my eyes nearly crossed at that point. I have been a Whelan fan for years—almost as long as a Stephen King fan—and even the possibility of having the final book in the Dark Tower series signed by the artist made my night.
"Yes," I stammered. I could not believe my good fortune. "I'd love that."
After giving the woman my phone number, mailing address and credit card information, I went to sleep content and happy that I had at least acquired a small piece of literary history. For me, the Dark Tower saga is one of hope with the bitter realization that we must take what life doles out, one of paying an ultimate price for a dream, for doing what's right, and yet having the dream become the very thing that tortures our very long days. The journey of Roland Deschain, last gunslinger and the fulcrum upon which universes pivot, is one we all identify with.
And if we don't, it is our doom to repeat the mistakes of our past.
Having a copy of The Dark Tower signed by Michael would not only make a great addition to my signed book collection, but it would be a reminder how sometimes the universe aligns just right at the right time.
Two days later, the morning after the event, my cell phone rang, an unkonwn area code.
"Hello?" I answered, uncertain.
"Hi, is this Shawn?"
"It is."
"This is Marion, from Just Books Bookstore," she said. Worry tinged her voice.
A quick series of negative thoughts flew through my mind in equal succession.
Something had gone wrong with the event.
My book wasn't signed.
Damnit!
"You ordered a Michael Whelan signed copy of The Dark Tower, right?"
"Yah, that's right," I replied, already annoyed at my misfortune.
"There was a problem with the signing last night," she said timidly.
Of course! I wanted to rage.
"It was a long shot anyway," I assured her.
"No, no, that's not what I meant," she said with a short laugh. "Last night after your book had been signed by Mr. Whelan, Mr. King was walking by it, saw your name and mailing address sticking out and... well... he signed it."
I was so surprised I almost didn't know what to say. "He signed it?"
"He signed it to you. Is that okay?"
I sat there with phone pressed hard against my ear, making sure I was hearing what the bookseller was saying. It took me a second or two to understand.
Yes! Damn right it's okay!
"Oh, that's fine," I said nonchalantly. "Send it when you have the time. No worries."
I could hear her relief in the silence. "Great! Thank you!"
I ended the phone call and could not believe the universe had aligned just so.
I still own the book. It sits next to my Signed & Numbered Dark Tower editions, signed by Michael Whelan but personalized by you, Stephen King. And although a page from each one of my S&N books once sat in front of you as you signed hundreds, Steve, the book you personalized for me that night at the Just Books Bookstore is more meaningful to me.
Why?
Because you took the time to pick up a book that in all assurances was not placed in front of you to be signed—was not meant to be signed by you at all. You took the time, before traveling back home or to a hotel, to get one more book signed. There was no need for you to do it, no number 19 driving you on—that I know of.
I find that incredible.
So thank you. Not only for what you've accomplished but for who you are.
Sincerely,
Shawn Speakman
That's amazing!!! Sounds like a great experience.
It was a great experience and I wasn't even there. :) But what King did is still very touching to me.
That was really nice of Stephen. I use him as an inspiration for writing. He was almost as poor as I am when he started writing Carrie. My friend has seen his place from a distance in Maine and says its really nice.
That is an utterly *terrific* story. Yay!