Roberto Macedo Alves

I am writing this lines minutes after leaving Colleen Doran at Funchal Airport, making sure everything is ok so she can return to the USA and back to work.

Now, one more book fair has concluded. But this one was definitely the best EVER. We had two really fantastic guests (and my gratitude to the organizers of the Book Fair and the “Funchal 500 anos” organization will be forever on Display).

The visit of our delightful guests this year, has been one of the most wonderful memories and experiences to me. Ever. This has been really really unforgettable.

Our fist guest was renowned national author  José Carlos Fernandes, and we did a presentation session of his latest book “O que está escrito nas Estrelas” (what is written on the stars) – and he did lots of signings, including one for me that included for the first time, the Constellation of the Rhino:

Our second guest of this book fair was an unforgettable delight. After knowing her work since the early nineties, I finally had the pleasure of meeting personally the wonderful Colleen Doran, who shared her insightful advise with the local comic fans, she was with us for the “12 Hour Comics Day” and did also lots of book signings. The best seller of the fair was actually her series of books “A DISTANT SOIL” (if someone never read it, I strongly suggest they should!) and all the books she signed included lovely sketches. All fan loved her visit, I had the marvelous experience of talking with her for HOURS about everything, from Opera to Comics to Books to Harlan Ellison – and I have to admit that few things are sweeter than having Colleen calling me “my buddy”

Actually, I don’t know if I have words to say how important that visit was, or how wonderful a person Colleen is. I learned a lot, laughed a lot, and now I see what Neil Gaiman meant when he was saying on his blog that she has the most “delicious dirty laugh”. He is absolutely right. I will be forever glad that she accepted our invitation to visit us.

Thank you so much, Colleen! These were really really 10 wonderful days. It was really an honor to be a host to a guest so graceful and nice as you!

And finally, I also received on the mail, the latest Chuck Palahniuk book, signed by the author, with one of the most strange dedications I ever received on a book:

I won’t confirm or deny anything. And certainly I won’t be forgetting this book fair anytime soon!

The Best Book Fair Ever (Until now, at least) by Roberto Macedo Alves, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Portugal License.

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