Sunday afternoon with Neil Gaiman

i finally got to meet him!!! and i finally had my books signed!!

it was sunday afternoon, marlin and edward and i tagged along with pj, because he said he will be interviewing neil gaiman that day in fully booked bonifacio high street.

i brought almost all of my gaiman books with me in the vague hope that pj would get a chance to have them signed.

neil gaiman wasn't really there for a book signing. he just dropped by for the formal launching of expeditions -- the compilation book of the winners of the first philippine graphic fiction awards.

before the launch, he held a mini presscon. marlin and edward were the first to spot him as he came in. he even paused in the hallway, right beside my two friends!!

and then he entered the room, wearing his signature black t-shirt, black jacket, black pants and black boots (i think). yes he doesn't like black.

he was very, very tall, with a mop of brown hair, a slightly hooked nose. he didn't sit down and started the presscon straightaway.

he was funny, intelligent, witty... and fielded questions rather well.

then it was over before you could say agnes nutter.

but he also had one-on-one interviews with select media people. and that's where pj came in, along with karen (hami!!) and her friends from another station.

before we got in the room for the interview, we were told by the fully booked personnel that only 1 book per person will be allowed for signing.

but when the guy turned around, i snuck in my big plastic bag and put it just near the door.

neil was already sitting in the conference room.

it was all a blur to me. just to be there in the same room with the mad genius was enough, but to actually be there to talk to him and answer my questions -- it was amazing!

he actually really likes the philippines. and he believes pinoys are some of the greatest talent around. he even regrets not having had the chance to work with some pinoy greats in the comic book industry -- including the late great alfredo alcala.

when we finished the interview, he got to signing our books.

and when my turn came, i dashed for my big bag of books and thrust it to him. he gladly signed all of them -- and even made cute drawings to accompany his autograph. he said my misbound copy of coraline (it's binding was upside down) was cool!

hay... i'm so happy.