Well... today's been something of a dream come true for me. For a couple of precious minutes this morning I had the pleasure of sitting alongside Miriam herself having a little chat.
It may be said you should never meet your idols (and, frankly, there are very few people on this planet I’d be prepared to queue to meet anyway) but I'm happy to report that meeting Miriam and having a one-to-one chat has only deepened my affection for this national treasure. So forgive me if I have a little gush.
If memory serves, this was my first in-person book signing event. My closest frame of reference for this would be a couple of times meeting a pop group for an album signing. Oh, and Valene Ewing's book-signing in Dallas. From this I thought I had a good idea what to expect: celebs seated behind a table as punters are conveyed past, with time for perhaps a quick word or two and - if one is really lucky - a photo as you walk quickly along.
Happily, this was a far more laid-back event than I could ever have anticipated. Miriam was set up in a little nook of the bookshop:
I'd assumed the second seat would be for somebody accompanying Miriam... perhaps even security or something. But nope. Attendees sat alongside Miriam and had a very authentic chat with her. Excitedly nervous as I was, I was awake at 4:30 this morning, but deliberately didn't go too early because a quick search online told me the nearest public conveniences didn't open until 9 (the time I planned to be at the bookshop) and I wasn't going to lose my place in the queue over needing a wee.
What with traffic, parking and navigating my way round, I arrived pretty much bang on 9 for the signing at 10. I feared being greeted by a horde of Potterheads queueing round the block, but was one of the first to arrive. Even better, once the shop opened at 9 we could queue inside, out of the cold.
Something I took away from out conversation with Miriam was how very interested in people she is, and how she can form a meaningful rapport instantly. I've seen it in her documentary series, where she can chat with anyone and seems to have an appetite to learn about them, and to experience that first person blew my mind a little.
I had a few mental post-its of things I might say, given the chance (I was interested, for instance, to hear her opinion about the outcome of the Voice Referendum. I'm sure she'll have been very disappointed by it). As it was, Miriam was the one asking questions about
me, and I found myself chatting away as though we'd known each other for years. I'm a complete introvert, but the conversation just came so easily.
She was certainly on form, and it was fascinating to see her extend the rapport to the entire assembled company. There was a really special balance between making the person beside her feel she's there only for them, and keeping everyone entertained by simply being Miriam. A couple of times there were laughs among the people watching because of a cheeky question or comment she put in my direction (after one direct question she asked me, someone accompanying her said a jokily exasperated "Oh, for God's sake").
With a queue of perhaps 100 people and only a 90 minute signing window, I felt extremely privileged to get a full couple of minutes quality time with her.
Something else that struck me about the event was the diversity of attendees. Before going, I had trouble trying to envisage just what Miriam's demographic would be, and it seems the answer is: everyone. Everyone was very friendly, respectful and clearly delighted to see her.
