Let me tell you about the time I met Stephen King...

[hossenpepper]

Hello fellow SKMBers.

I am a newbie and have been having a ball reading all these posts and opinions and such. It's always cool to palaver with others who share an interest. That being said, I did not find a thread anywhere that talked about this particular subject. I apologize if I didn't look hard enough or am too dumb to know how to better search, but I will take a chance that this hasn't been discussed.

What would be cool is for everyone that has met Steve in person to share their story; good, bad or indifferent. Here is mine.

I moved to Florida in 2003 to the TampaBay area from a small town in Oklahoma. I relocated here for a job installing computer systems. One of our clients was the Boston Red Sox Spring Training facility in Ft.Myers. On opening day in 2004 I was at the stadium doing live support for the new system during the game. I was sitting in the office with some of the Red Sox folks and overheard someone say that SK had picked up his tickets. I confirmed I had heard this correctly and was a little giddy to know my favorite writer of all time was only yard away from me. Part of my duty was to walk around to different parts of the stadium to verify everything was running smoothly, so I took a stroll through the stands on my way and lo and behold, the man himself sitting right up front behind home plate. They of course had ushers keeping anyone from going down to Steve during the game and he appeared to be having a good time. I smiled and walked on, feeling like I was somehow cooler because I came so close to one of my personal heroes. I wanted to meet him of course, but at the same time I said to myself "Jeez, let the guy have a personal life and enjoy a damn baseball game". A bit later toward the end of the game, I was watching a bit of the action from the third base breezeway and happened to notice a commotion near home plate. I looked over to see Steve trying to make his way up the steps through a MOB. It was like someone threw bloody meat into a school of piranha. I remember thinking "he can't even walk up some steps in public without getting mobbed." I decided I wanted nothing to do with this scene and stepped back outside to the walking area outside the stands and decided to wait and avoid the mayhem.

After what seemed like maybe 15 minutes I figured it was cool and started to cut through the stands to the other side to check how operations were going. I started to step up and noticed a presence (I was looking down) and looked up to see none other than the man himself. I was taken aback at how tall he was! I am not short (6'2") but he seemed much taller. I was kind of shocked as he made eye contact and smiled and said hi. I stepped forward and stuck out my hand and said "Steve, it's a real pleasure to meet you, I love your writing" "Thanks" he said, almost shyly. It was like time stopped for a second. Steve is one of the few celebrities I would be giddy to meet and here I was in front of him with the chance to ask a question. I did not know that the Wolves of the Calla had come out a few months before and was not one to really keep up with SK's world so I would just see what was on stands and that was it. So the only question I could think of was "When are you going to finish the damned DarkTower books?" Keep in mind this was several years since Wizard and Glass was out and I had read it, so I was waiting like everyone else. Steve gave me what I now know to be a puzzled look and laughed a little and said "Soon, hopefully". He started to walk past and I asked if he would take a picture with me which was quickly refused. I stood and watched him walk past, limping quite badly. I was thinking "Wow, I heard about that accident, but it never seemed real, now there it is, it's real." As he is walking out, no less than ten other people ran up to him, full speed, holding out books and pens. Steve signed everyone, hardly missing a step as he left.

At the time I was actually reading "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon". I had left it at my hotel room, though; as I had no idea I was going to meet Steve that day. I don't think I need to mention the poetic nature of it had I had him sign that book at a Red Sox game. LOL But, I didn't get an autograph, just a handshake, a smile ad few quick words with one of national treasures. Seeing that limp made Steve more than written word or a book jacket picture for me. It made him human and made his stories and his contributions to our culture and minds all that much more incredible. I will never forget meeting him and next time Steve (if there is one), I promise I will have a better question!!

[Srbo]

Welcome to the board and thank you for sharing this awesome story.

[hossenpepper]

Ms Mod,

Sorry I didn't find the thread discussing something similar before, but since you allowed it I assume it's because it is slightly different and only asks for others-that-have-met-him's (<--grammar? LOL) stories.

Steve was genuinely nice to me, but standoffish. To me this said he was not just a celebrity that meets a lot of folks, but that he is at least a little uncomfortable being recognized. I grew up in very similar circumstances as Steve, so I can imagine how I would take it if it were my life. Seems like it would be kind of nice for a bit, but would quickly devolve into annoyance. You have probably seen and dealt with this I am sure.

Thanks again for having me on the board!

-Hossnepepper

[hossenpepper]

Welcome to the board and thank you for sharing this awesome story.

SRBO - I wanted to share this and start this thread because I think all of us here are looking for something similar besides keeping up with what is going on professionally with Steve; to know the guy a little. I don't think anyone here would refuse the chance to go to his house and hang out for an evening, have a couple of brews (tea for Steve of course!), and just shoot the bull with what I believe to be the greatest American story teller. So, in that light I wanted to get others to share their stories and maybe we could all get a little glimpse of this person we admire so much. I think why Steve is so appealing is not just his ability to craft a tale, but the fact that he came from modest beginnings and just using his mind and will to succeed, has become a cultural icon with far reaching influence. I think that it can serve as an inspiration not just to writers out there, but anyone that wants more for themselves and the world.

Thanks for having me on the board, it has re-ignited my passion for SK's writing.

[Bryan James]

Thanks for the story.

I think baseball is half as interesting as watching wheat grass grow in the Spring, but that would have been a cool game to attend.

I don't celebrity grub. Woulda been neat to see him in his happy element. I'd just give him a dorky double-thumbs, order two dogs--mustard and onions--and leave it at that.

~BJS

[hossenpepper]

Thanks for the story.

I think baseball is half as interesting as watching wheat grass grow in the Spring, but that would have been a cool game to attend.

I don't celebrity grub. Woulda been neat to see him in his happy element. I'd just give him a dorky double-thumbs, order two dogs--mustard and onions--and leave it at that.

~BJS

Yeah, I don't know how often Steve makes the trip down to see them. It's a couple of hours from where he winters and City of Palms park is not conducive to celebrity clientele privacy. It was kind of a s%^#hole last tiem I was there. Plus I had to crawl around in the belly of that beast too. Many dead rats...

I actually have another story regarding Steve. I was out boating with some folks and we were parked off shore and riding jet skis around. We all drive up to the beach area for a bit and sat in the sand hanging out. Behind us was this gigantic house and one of the people said "Hey do you know that is Stephen King's house? A friend of mine is the one that did the hurricane shutters, so I know where it is." I know the area was very private and remote and the house looked like some pics I have seen since on the Internet. The best part was that it looked "overgrown" around it and was just a little creepy! I wonder if Steve was looking out at that area when he wrote Duma Key and Gingerbread Girl. The places he describes certainly match that area. BTW out of respect for Steve and his privacy, I will just say this is in Florida somewhere...

Oh yeah, Ms. Mod, if that beach area is private, please tell Steve we are sorry we trespassed, there wasn't a sign then and we didn't leave any trash or anything! In fact after the person identified it, we all decided to leave and everyone seemed to have even more respect for that area and his privacy. It's beautiful there though, don't you agree? I personally love living down here and can see why Steve made the area his 2nd home.

-Hossenpepper

[kingricefan]

What a great story! One for the memory books, eh? Thanks for sharing it with all of us. I know what you mean about the 'limping' thing, I felt the same way the first time I saw him in Seattle after the accident and he did the book tour for Lisey's Story. This was a while after (the accident) and he did look good, but still a little gaunt, at least from what I had seen of him before, but when he first came out on stage and began walking towards the podium, that's when it really hit me (no pun intended!!) that we almost lost him and that the accident had taken a big toll on him. I got abit teary eyed, I must admit! I am so-o thankful to the Powers That Be that Steve is still here with us, writing his tales and sharing them with us all. Welcome and thanks again for the story!

[hossenpepper]

Most definitely one for the memory books. The only thing is, shortly after the meet at the ballpark I found out Wolves of the Calla had been released when I had just asked Steve where the next book was basically. Talk about feeling like an idiot! Basically I got one chance probably to have a moment with Steve and ask a good question and I made myself look stupid. Oh well, he got a chuckle out of it at least!

[Haunted]

Hello fellow SKMBers.

I am a newbie and have been having a ball reading all these posts and opinions and such. It's always cool to palaver with others who share an interest. That being said, I did not find a thread anywhere that talked about this particular subject. I apologize if I didn't look hard enough or am too dumb to know how to better search, but I will take a chance that this hasn't been discussed.

What would be cool is for everyone that has met Steve in person to share their story; good, bad or indifferent. Here is mine.

I moved to Florida in 2003 to the TampaBay area from a small town in Oklahoma. I relocated here for a job installing computer systems. One of our clients was the Boston Red Sox Spring Training facility in Ft.Myers. On opening day in 2004 I was at the stadium doing live support for the new system during the game. I was sitting in the office with some of the Red Sox folks and overheard someone say that SK had picked up his tickets. I confirmed I had heard this correctly and was a little giddy to know my favorite writer of all time was only yard away from me. Part of my duty was to walk around to different parts of the stadium to verify everything was running smoothly, so I took a stroll through the stands on my way and lo and behold, the man himself sitting right up front behind home plate. They of course had ushers keeping anyone from going down to Steve during the game and he appeared to be having a good time. I smiled and walked on, feeling like I was somehow cooler because I came so close to one of my personal heroes. I wanted to meet him of course, but at the same time I said to myself "Jeez, let the guy have a personal life and enjoy a damn baseball game". A bit later toward the end of the game, I was watching a bit of the action from the third base breezeway and happened to notice a commotion near home plate. I looked over to see Steve trying to make his way up the steps through a MOB. It was like someone threw bloody meat into a school of piranha. I remember thinking "he can't even walk up some steps in public without getting mobbed." I decided I wanted nothing to do with this scene and stepped back outside to the walking area outside the stands and decided to wait and avoid the mayhem.

After what seemed like maybe 15 minutes I figured it was cool and started to cut through the stands to the other side to check how operations were going. I started to step up and noticed a presence (I was looking down) and looked up to see none other than the man himself. I was taken aback at how tall he was! I am not short (6'2") but he seemed much taller. I was kind of shocked as he made eye contact and smiled and said hi. I stepped forward and stuck out my hand and said "Steve, it's a real pleasure to meet you, I love your writing" "Thanks" he said, almost shyly. It was like time stopped for a second. Steve is one of the few celebrities I would be giddy to meet and here I was in front of him with the chance to ask a question. I did not know that the Wolves of the Calla had come out a few months before and was not one to really keep up with SK's world so I would just see what was on stands and that was it. So the only question I could think of was "When are you going to finish the damned DarkTower books?" Keep in mind this was several years since Wizard and Glass was out and I had read it, so I was waiting like everyone else. Steve gave me what I now know to be a puzzled look and laughed a little and said "Soon, hopefully". He started to walk past and I asked if he would take a picture with me which was quickly refused. I stood and watched him walk past, limping quite badly. I was thinking "Wow, I heard about that accident, but it never seemed real, now there it is, it's real." As he is walking out, no less than ten other people ran up to him, full speed, holding out books and pens. Steve signed everyone, hardly missing a step as he left.

At the time I was actually reading "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon". I had left it at my hotel room, though; as I had no idea I was going to meet Steve that day. I don't think I need to mention the poetic nature of it had I had him sign that book at a Red Sox game. LOL But, I didn't get an autograph, just a handshake, a smile ad few quick words with one of national treasures. Seeing that limp made Steve more than written word or a book jacket picture for me. It made him human and made his stories and his contributions to our culture and minds all that much more incredible. I will never forget meeting him and next time Steve (if there is one), I promise I will have a better question!!

What an incredible experience for you!! Thank you for sharing this with us. And glad you are here!!

[sprinco12]

Meeting Stephen King (or my other favorite celebrity--John Mellencamp) is only a dream for me....unless I get lucky, of course. If I ever get to meet either of them I'll have a really hard time trying to make small talk with them (talking at all would seem almost impossible, actually). Everyone who has met Stephen King is so lucky!!!