In his two brief talks while we were present, Sparks noted that his appeal lies in the South, from Virginia and North Carolina through Tennessee and all points south. Poking fun at himself, he noted that at most stops, he signs books for 6 hours; in Seattle on a recent tour, six (6) people showed up; he was able to get in a lot of shopping for personal books. Yet, a number of his books have been made into successful television movies. In fact, At First Sight will be the next movie (big cheer!). The script, which he just read, is "too close to the book." The book was somewhat "somber," so some elements will need to be added to lighten its impact.
At this stop, he began signing books for stock about 2:15 in a back room, then moved out onto the floor about 3:30, where there was already a line. We arrived at 5:20 for what was billed as a 7:00 p.m. appearance. More than 200 were already in a line which wrapped, theme park style, nine layers deep, then snaked through the store. The crowd rivaled a recent appearance by Emeril. Sparks has a talent for making each person feel as if she is the only one in the line, and willingly takes time for pictures and signs every book. His fans so adore him that when he told them he could no longer take time to personalize books, they still cheered him. Many had 5 to 10 copies of this book, as well as previous books. Nearly every one it seemed had a camera, or a cell phone with a camera. Women were simply transfixed when they came around the first corner and were able to finally see Sparks no more than 10 feet away. They often just stood there, completely unaware that the line had moved away from them. But, no one hurried them; the people behind just waited patiently for their reverie to end so they could move on. We left the store about 7:45 and the line was significantly longer than when we came in.
Where do his ideas come from he was asked. "I have a tree in the backyard, and I just pick 'em." Really, he continued, "I have no idea where the ideas come from. After each novel, I've said, 'That's it. I'm out of ideas. No more.' I finished At First Sight on August 6. A few days later an image of a photo of a female came to me." Cheers were heard when he said the idea would result in a book in the fall of 2006. "I haven't written a word; I'll start when this tour ends in mid-November." It will take "3 - 4 months to write," the usual amount of time.
Do you ever cry when writing your books? "Yes. I'm not too manly to show my emotional core. The nonfiction book, Three Weeks With My Brother, brought up memories I'd prefer to have not made."
Are you as romantic in real life? "Yes, I am! (to great cheers) My wife loves flowers, a trip out of the blue; arrangements for a babysitter." (As he said this, one of the men there covered his ears as if he did not want to hear.)
Will you write a book about your wife? "Maybe. Lexie Darnell in Sight is very much like my wife. She's tough, caring, sensitive."
Do you ever cry when writing your books? "Yes. I'm not too manly to show my emotional core. The nonfiction book, Three Weeks With My Brother, brought up memories I'd prefer to have not made."
Are you as romantic in real life? "Yes, I am! (to great cheers) My wife loves flowers, a trip out of the blue; arrangements for a babysitter." (As he said this, one of the men there covered his ears as if he did not want to hear.)
Will you write a book about your wife? "Maybe. Lexie Darnell in Sight is very much like my wife. She's tough, caring, sensitive."
Do you have a say in scripts or movie locations? "I have no say in locations. Notebook, for example, while set in North Carolina, was filmed in New England, because our coast had been devastated by two hurricanes. I more say than most on scripts, but I am fortunate to work with good scriptwriters, so that is not a problem."
"My easiest book to write" was A Walk to Remember. "It just poured out of me - perfect on the first draft." The most difficult was The Guardian. "My editor didn't like the male character, or the female character, or the antagonist, and it lacked suspense. The editor said it would be okay if I rewrote the last 40%."
How do you choose where you do your book signings? "I always start at the Walden's in New Bern, then I go to Greenville, SC and Charlotte, NC. My books are released on Tuesdays and on the Friday of that week, my fourth stop is here at the Barnes and Noble in Cary. It worked with my first book, and I am not about to change that."
"My easiest book to write" was A Walk to Remember. "It just poured out of me - perfect on the first draft." The most difficult was The Guardian. "My editor didn't like the male character, or the female character, or the antagonist, and it lacked suspense. The editor said it would be okay if I rewrote the last 40%."
How do you choose where you do your book signings? "I always start at the Walden's in New Bern, then I go to Greenville, SC and Charlotte, NC. My books are released on Tuesdays and on the Friday of that week, my fourth stop is here at the Barnes and Noble in Cary. It worked with my first book, and I am not about to change that."
