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Stephen King was not recognised in Alice Springs bookshop
There was a piece on the BBC text service, about the bookshop seeing this guy writing in books. They said they get a bit 'toey' about things like that, and when he'd gone they went and looked and found he wasn't a vandal as they thought but had signed his books- all unannounced.
Typical Australians though! If they hadn't been too embarrassed to walk up the bloke while he was in the shop writing in their books, they'd have found out immediately who he was. Hahaha. Dropkick Aussies.
Many of King's novels have been successfully adapted for screen
Author Stephen King was mistaken for a vandal when he started signing books during an unannounced visit to a shop in Australia, according to local media.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said staff at the Alice Springs book store did not initially realise the writer was autographing his own novels.
Bookshop manager Bev Ellis said: "When you see someone writing in one of your books you get a bit toey [nervous].
"We immediately ran to the books and lo and behold, there was the signature."
Ms Ellis later approached the author at a nearby supermarket and said he was "very nice, charming".
"Well, if we knew you were coming we would have baked you a cake," she told the writer.
'Embarrassing'
The prolific author, best known for works such as Carrie, The Shining and Misery, signed six books including his most recent novel, Lisey's Story.
Most of the books will be given to local charities, though one was purchased by a customer who was in the store with King.
Ms Ellis added that it was common for authors to visit the shop, check if their books are on the shelves and sign some copies.
"If they're not on the shelves, they'll ask about them. It's embarrassing if we haven't got their work," she said.
King's representative in Australia told the media he was unaware the author was in the country.
Ha ha. My point, Carol. He'd signed six books and they caught up with him in the supermarket. Obviously, when they 'ran' over to the books, he'd already left the shop. Or am I reading that incorrectly?
Anyway, what a great story. I suppose if you live in Alice Springs, SOMETHING good has to happen to you. :-) (For those of you who are unfamiliar with Australian geopgraphy, 'The Alice' is in the outback - dry, dusty and verrrrry isolated)
Well there was a customer there apparently who seemed to know who it was.
Perhaps he was on a touring holiday!(incognito)But it just goes to show that even best-selling authors can't resist going into a book shop and checking if their books are there.
Comments
Author King 'mistaken for vandal'
Many of King's novels have been successfully adapted for screen
Author Stephen King was mistaken for a vandal when he started signing books during an unannounced visit to a shop in Australia, according to local media.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said staff at the Alice Springs book store did not initially realise the writer was autographing his own novels.
Bookshop manager Bev Ellis said: "When you see someone writing in one of your books you get a bit toey [nervous].
"We immediately ran to the books and lo and behold, there was the signature."
Ms Ellis later approached the author at a nearby supermarket and said he was "very nice, charming".
"Well, if we knew you were coming we would have baked you a cake," she told the writer.
'Embarrassing'
The prolific author, best known for works such as Carrie, The Shining and Misery, signed six books including his most recent novel, Lisey's Story.
Most of the books will be given to local charities, though one was purchased by a customer who was in the store with King.
Ms Ellis added that it was common for authors to visit the shop, check if their books are on the shelves and sign some copies.
"If they're not on the shelves, they'll ask about them. It's embarrassing if we haven't got their work," she said.
King's representative in Australia told the media he was unaware the author was in the country.
Anyway, what a great story. I suppose if you live in Alice Springs, SOMETHING good has to happen to you. :-) (For those of you who are unfamiliar with Australian geopgraphy, 'The Alice' is in the outback - dry, dusty and verrrrry isolated)
I can imagine some mischievous person wandering round a bookshop, signing all the books with the appropriate names!
Perhaps he was on a touring holiday!(incognito)But it just goes to show that even best-selling authors can't resist going into a book shop and checking if their books are there.