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| Fans eagerly await to get their books signed by Nicholas Sparks |
“We extended the hours to be nice…well…he
extended the hours to be nice,” said Tony Astran, Manager of Publicity at
Seneca Niagara Casino.
Sparks finished up signings around
4:30, and the entire line of mostly women that had went all the way through the
lobby down the hall, had met, signed and taken pictures with him.
According
to Security Operations employee, Eric Miller, fans started lining up in the queue
for the 2 p.m. signing at 10 a.m.
Sparks’s lecture found the author
discussing how he uses real life, family stories as inspiration for his novels.
For example, he discussed in length how his signature novel, “The Notebook,”
was based off of his wife’s grandparents, their dramatic war time correspondence
and her struggle with Alzheimer’s.
The lecture itself capitalized on
the wholesome, emotional nature of Spark’s novels in an engaging way, his
slight southern drawl endearing and his hands expressive. He told a succession
of romantic and uplifting, but occasionally hokey, stories from his family to a
crowd eager to hear more.
After
the lecture there was 15 minutes allotted for an audience Q &A session.
During that Sparks discussed his, as of yet, untitled, next book, his
increasing involvement in the film adaptations, as well as his apathy towards fame.
“I tolerate fame…I can live without
it…I’m internally motivated I guess to write the best book that I can and that’s
what I need,” said Sparks.
Despite
the large, enthusiastic crowd at the book signing the lecture itself had
seating gaps left.
“They didn’t advertise enough, they
didn’t promote it. Wayne Newton’s coming but I wouldn’t know unless I had come
here,” said Rick Chojecki, who was given comp tickets right before the event
and took his very pleased wife.
