David Sedaris comes to town...

Last night David Sedaris came to Vancouver for his first public speaking engagement in Canada. He is the last speaker of the Vancouver Readers & Writers Festival season. Somehow his visit flew under my radar long enough for the event to sell out before I could get a ticket.

I couldn't let that happen.

He was set to speak at 8pm, so I showed up at the Chan Centre at about 5:30. Brought my current wip to work on while I waited, warm gloves and my dog.

Got there before they'd even put the lights on at the Chan. Seamus stayed in the car. =)

But the box office was open, and they set up a line for stand-by tickets. I was first in line -- and I got my ticket. A very gracious woman sold me the ticket her husband was unable to use and we both enjoyed Sedaris enormously. Even better live than on NPR!

The man is a tiny, imperfect genius -- the best kind, to my mind. He read several of his stories, including a piece that is about to run in the New Yorker. (I _live_ for the weeks that there is a piece by Sedaris in the New Yorker.)

The audience was packed, but the man stayed until every last person had a book signed if they wanted one. This was _hundreds_ of people. In person, at the signing, he was generous and a little shy, and took his time to address everyone. A shining star in the strange and often bizarre world of readers and writers. I must remember to add his name to my list of incredible writers whom I have heard read their work aloud.

Books I bought include HOLIDAYS ON ICE (a huge favourite of mine), and DRESS YOUR FAMILY IN CORDUROY AND DENIM, and ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY.

My idea of a perfect night out.

~kc