My Night With Chuck Palahniuk
I ticked another name off my list last night when I had the amazing opportunity to not only meet one of my favorite authors, but sit down and ask him a few questions, as well as help him throw blow-up dolls and canvas autograph hounds into a sold out crowd at the Triple Rock.
Chuck was incredibly gracious on and off stage, and thanked me profusely for taking part in the event and taking the time to come up with original questions he hasn't had to answer a million times before. I was a little worried because he took such long pauses before answering a couple of my questions, thinking maybe I'd somehow managed to stump him or something, but the compliments from him and his publicist after the interview made me feel positively relieved.
The actual event seemed to fly by really fast, despite having short readings by both Chuck and Knockemstiff author, Don Pollock. We also watched the trailer for the film adaptation of Choke, which will be out this September. What didn't fly by was the personalized autograph portion of the evening, which happened both before and after the event. Very long. I decided to stick around 'til the end (it didn't run very late, so this was no big deal) and I'm glad I did because I had a chance to say a proper goodbye to Chuck instead of waving a "so long" at him from the side of the signing line.
Having been able to talk to him before, during and after the event, I have to say he's one of the warmest and most respectful people I've met in a long time, celebrity or not. He's inquisitive and attentive, and either feigned interest very well or was actually engaged in me babbling about my jobs. He was encouraging as well as kind; I'm apparently expecting a book in the mail soon that he wants me to read.
I'd never done any sort of event like that before, so it was really interesting to find out that everything was so well prearranged. Chuck's publicist was a rock star, and I was happy to be "directed" by him from off stage. I suppose things wouldn't go nearly as smoothly if you didn't have someone (who really knew their s**t) running the show.
All in all, a pretty exhilarating experience. I'm glad I knew the subject matter so well and that everything was went so fluidly. I think I would've been terrified to interview an author I wasn't familiar with and I certainly would not have wanted to be on stage any longer than I already was.
Chuck was incredibly gracious on and off stage, and thanked me profusely for taking part in the event and taking the time to come up with original questions he hasn't had to answer a million times before. I was a little worried because he took such long pauses before answering a couple of my questions, thinking maybe I'd somehow managed to stump him or something, but the compliments from him and his publicist after the interview made me feel positively relieved.
The actual event seemed to fly by really fast, despite having short readings by both Chuck and Knockemstiff author, Don Pollock. We also watched the trailer for the film adaptation of Choke, which will be out this September. What didn't fly by was the personalized autograph portion of the evening, which happened both before and after the event. Very long. I decided to stick around 'til the end (it didn't run very late, so this was no big deal) and I'm glad I did because I had a chance to say a proper goodbye to Chuck instead of waving a "so long" at him from the side of the signing line.
Having been able to talk to him before, during and after the event, I have to say he's one of the warmest and most respectful people I've met in a long time, celebrity or not. He's inquisitive and attentive, and either feigned interest very well or was actually engaged in me babbling about my jobs. He was encouraging as well as kind; I'm apparently expecting a book in the mail soon that he wants me to read.
I'd never done any sort of event like that before, so it was really interesting to find out that everything was so well prearranged. Chuck's publicist was a rock star, and I was happy to be "directed" by him from off stage. I suppose things wouldn't go nearly as smoothly if you didn't have someone (who really knew their s**t) running the show.
All in all, a pretty exhilarating experience. I'm glad I knew the subject matter so well and that everything was went so fluidly. I think I would've been terrified to interview an author I wasn't familiar with and I certainly would not have wanted to be on stage any longer than I already was.
I don't really know his work and thus far have only skimmed Choke, but I can imagine how nervewracking doing this event must have been for you (or exciting/nervewracking). Congratulations - so glad it was a success!
Posted by: Rachel Kramer Bussel | May 23, 2008 at 12:35 AM
What a great way to spend an evening! Way to go, Lex!! See you in the garden.
Posted by: MOM | May 23, 2008 at 07:21 AM
Dear lord! Someone actually said something positive about PR types online!
Super sweet to meet Palahniuk though. I've heard he's incredibly nice, and I've heard him do some awesome interviews.
Posted by: Rich G. | May 23, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Was there, Good Job Alexis! I won one of the Don Polluck books, which I've now read and it's fantastico.
Cheers!
Posted by: Hanson | May 23, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Thanks Hanson, it's nice to hear from someone that was there. A friend of mine heard a secondhand complaint that I asked too many yes or no questions. Unless you count the segue to asking why he no longer participates in Cacophony Society events, I didn't ask any yes or no questions!
Posted by: Alexis | May 23, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Nope, i thought you asked great questions. Heck, I didn't even know he was in The Cacophony Society. However it was probably the cranky young girl (i'd say lady, but...) that spit on my friend during the show-- as in hocked a loog on my friend's back after I won a book.
Yeah, it was HER who didn't like ur questions... or she didn't like that ur smart... either way, still a great job!
Posted by: Hanson | May 23, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Hooray for Alexis! Congrats! But really, I'm not surprised -- I'm sure you were a pleasure to talk to and were extremely well prepared. You're just that kind of lady.
Posted by: Eda Cherry | May 23, 2008 at 01:13 PM
You did well. And I was totally enthralled with (a) Chuck's short story about losing "The Price Is Right" while on acid; and (b) his epic rambly answer to an audience member's question about doing research.
Posted by: Simon | May 23, 2008 at 02:18 PM