Meeting our Heroes

A couple years ago, I met Dean Koontz. The first Dean Koontz book I ever read was WATCHERS. I was an instant fan.

A few years after that, my brother-in-law broke his neck (he’s fine now). While he was in the hospital, we traded Dean Koontz books and talked about them. I’ll always remember Koontz for that, for giving my brother-in-law a much needed distraction with his books.

Years later, I was the co-president of my local Romance Writers of America chapter. By this time, I’d had the privilege of meeting a lot of authors and always enjoyed it.

But this was DEAN KOONTZ! I was really excited. I brought my sister with me, and we had about two hundred people at the meeting. During the morning, we did our business as usual. Then I was standing with my co-president when I looked up and there he was—Dean Koontz. Walking in all by himself just like a regular guy. I walked up and welcomed him, then took him over to meet my sister.

Dean was really nice, shook her hand and asked her how she had broken her foot. She stammered a bit so I helped and said, “She fell in the bathroom at work.”

Oddly enough my sister still hasn’t forgiven me for telling him (it’s the truth). I feel absolutely no remorse and laugh every time I think of it. My poor sister puts up with a lot from me!

Dean did an amazing workshop for us. Everyone was impressed. Then when we announced that we had raised a nice chunk of money for the Women’s Transitional Center with Dean’s visit, and Dean matched the donation. After that, there was a line around the entire room to get books signed. Dean stayed until every book was signed and every picture taken.

He was exactly what we want our heroes to be—kind, generous and genuine.

What about you all? What was your experience meeting one of your heroes?