I met Markus Zusak last week! FINALLY!
The Book Thief was published 20 years ago - in 2006. (How has it been 20 years?) To this day, it remains one of the best books ever written. Are you familiar with the book? Set in Nazi Germany, the book is narrated by Death. A young girl named Liesel steals books and then shares them with others, risking her life to share the words that the Nazi's don't want others to see. The book is haunting. I highly recommend reading it if you haven't yet had the opportunity.
As part of his talk, Markus Zusak shared that his parents had grown up in Europe during World War 2. Many of the atrocities that he mentions in the story were first hand accounts of things that his parents had seen when they were growing up.
I'm going to segue back in time for a minute: Let's back up to 2007. I was a younger librarian and I had been sent to my first ever conference for the American Library Association. (ALA). The Book Thief had just won the Printz Award and Markus Zusak was signing copies of his book!
I had a copy that I really wanted to get signed. I tried standing in line, but his people chased me out of line, telling me that "Mr. Zusak was not signing any more autographs."
Fine.
I was in the presence of literary greatness. I could make this work for me. I worked my way around until I could get a decent picture of him signing books. I then heard a voice over my shoulder. "Look at all these people fawning over Zusak when they have true greatness standing right here."
I turned to look, and standing less than a foot away from me was Garrison Keillor.
"Oh My God! You're Garrison ----"
He shook his head and interrupted me "Don't even" and walked away. To this day, 19 years later, that encounter still tickles me when I think of it. Just the absolute whimsy of that encounter!
Last week, Markus Zusak came to my local public library. He spoke to a group of over 200 fans. He was funny, introspective, and gave excellent writing advice.
He has written many books since then. He has won many awards. But he is humble. He listens and talks with his fan. He is a genuine nice guy.
You know what? I got to meet him! I shared the story from 19 years ago, and we all had a good laugh.
I got his picture. (Several pictures, actually.)
He even signed my book for me.
FINALLY.
19 years later, I finally got my book autographed by Markus Zusak. It's the same book that I took with me 19 years ago, hoping to get his signature.
