Back in 1975, when I was working at the Lewiston Daily Sun, my editor asked me to interview and do a story about a "local author's" new book, Salem's Lot. First I had to read it. I literally could not put it down and read into the night and on into the next morning. Luckily I worked a late shift (sorry). That night I got him on the phone and had a wonderful conversation with him. He told me about how the original idea was a short story, how he had decided just to expand it and have fun with the idea and how thrilled he was to have a little cash to (and this is a little hazy) buy a new car because his old one was pretty much at the end of its journey. What I enjoyed about it was that he was only too happy to read parts that he liked best and he put up with my silly questions and was a little tickled that I called and was doing a story about it. Like so many writers, he was very appreciative that I'd read the book and he asked me what I thought of it. I told him. This doesn't have much to do about anything other than to say the man showed he was not only a great writer but he's also down-to-earth and humble man.
I think he really is just a great, down-to-earth guy. I met him only once, but he was just so normal and real. I peripherally know his sons and one of his grandsons (they call him popop), and they too are very kind, thoughtful and down-to-earth. A little hyper in the case of Joe, but that's not a negative!
First I had to read it. I literally could not put it down and read into the night and on into the next morning. Luckily I worked a late shift (sorry). That night I got him on the phone and had a wonderful conversation with him. He told me about how the original idea was a short story, how he had decided just to expand it and have fun with the idea and how thrilled he was to have a little cash to (and this is a little hazy) buy a new car because his old one was pretty much at the end of its journey.
What I enjoyed about it was that he was only too happy to read parts that he liked best and he put up with my silly questions and was a little tickled that I called and was doing a story about it.
Like so many writers, he was very appreciative that I'd read the book and he asked me what I thought of it. I told him.
This doesn't have much to do about anything other than to say the man showed he was not only a great writer but he's also down-to-earth and humble man.