Today I had the privilege of finally meeting Mitch Albom.

Albom has had a meteoric rise over the last 20 years, going from a hometown columnist for the Detroit Free Press (I still enjoy reading his pointed words every Sunday) to a novelist known around the world after successful titles such as Tuesdays with Morrie.
His latest inspirational tale, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, was released last month and he has come home to the Detroit area on his book tour- this time at the Barnes and Noble store close to myself. Frankie Presto is a yarn about the power of talent to change our lives and is filled with Albom’s signature prose, known for its passion and inspiration.

I waited in line with Racheal, fresh off of my own memorable signing event last week, content to be just another fan. I went over what I would say to him when finally face-to-face.

I introduced myself and we chatted about Frankie, and I mentioned his words earlier regarding starting as a relative unknown outside of Michigan and that I am now where he was those many years ago. He asked what genre I work with and I told him about my non-fiction and my censorship and literacy cause. I also mentioned that I had a signing event recently for my sixth book. He smiled from ear-to-ear and said, “Six?! That’s a bookshelf! Congratulations!”

In this moment we were equals; kindred spirits with a shared love of the written word. I would have loved to talk to him in detail about the industry but other fans were waiting as eagerly as I was. He signed the book with a smile:

Yes, Mr. Albom, I have found my six strings. I shall play them for as long as I can.