I want to say thank you.
The first thing I ever read of yours was Neverwhere. I had no idea about any of your other work--it just happened to be in my high school library, and I liked the cover. I think I only had time to read the first chapter during legitimate library time, but I checked it out and skipped the next three periods hiding in a locked bathroom stall so I could devour the rest of it. Then I went to the public library and put a hold on everything else of yours that I could find. I spent all the money that I made at my weekend job on buying the Sandman trade paperbacks one at a time.
A few years later, I was in my first year of university, living on my own in a new town with no friends. You came to town to do a signing for Anansi Boys. Standing in line to get my books signed, with my head too full of your reading to be shy, I noticed that the girl in line just ahead of me looked... really cool. And cute. And about my age. So I said, "Hi. Sorry. You look really cool. Do you want to be friends?"
We went up to get our books signed together. You were really kind to us. Her roommate didn't have a book, and asked you to sign her shoe. You signed it. You said some other young woman had asked you to sign her breasts, so a shoe wasn't a problem.
It's fifteen years later, and the girl I met in the line is still the best friend I've ever had. All I knew about her was that she liked your work. I was lonely, awkward and eighteen, and knowing that your writing meant something to her, too, made me brave enough to reach out.
I have no idea what my life would have been like without her. Worse, though. Much less interesting.
So, thanks. Thanks for all the worlds and the people in them and their stories, and most of all, thank you for my best friend.
That made me smile. So widely. You are welcome!
