David Selby Book Signing in Orlando, Florida

Dateline: Barnes and Noble, Orlando, Florida 7-9 pm June 10, 2005

After and long ride from Tampa in off and on showers I arrived at the bookstore at 630 pm. I saw several posters announcing the event in the windows. Entering the store the table with his books was front and just to the right of center. I estimated that there were about 50 or so books on that table and after purchasing my book I heard the sales clerk mention that there were more behind the counter.

I made my way to the reading area where about 10 rows of chairs were set up approximately 50 or so. Lucky for me Patrick McCann, the president of the Central Florida DS fan club, was there with several other club members and I had a saved seat in the 3rd row, perfect. We were all anxious with anticipation and happy to see each other, catching up and talking that we almost missed his entrance.

David came up from the back and shook hands with the people sitting on the outside seats. He tanked us for coming. I was again lucky enough to get an out side seat and he shook my hand. Now it is probably my imagination/or his skill at acting but I had the distinct impression that he had a glimmer of recognition in his eyes as he shook my hand (wishful thinking?)

.

He again thanked us for coming and so did his publicist (she interrupted him to do that) who was buzzing around him like a mother hen. He asked if there were any DS fans present and we responded by raising hands and applause. He then went on to explain what DS was to the uninformed and that he goes to the Fests as a thank you to the fans for their loyalty over the years. He gave a brief history of how he came to write the poems and how they got published. Said that he wrote them to exercise his grief over his mother's death and that she has been gone about nine years. A friend gave them to a college English professor who told him that he needed to perform them. Upon his first try he only got half way through them before the inevitable happened he said. Embarrass he apologized to the audience and put them away for several years. He said he read a couple of them at the 2000 Fest and then while performing in a movie in Spokane WA he did a reading at the B&N there. That was such a success that B&N told him they had 300 more stores. Big laugh. He had been in the Ft. Lauderdale area earlier that week and mentioned that he had never been to Orlando before and was surprised by the size.

David then went on to tell about the last time he had gone to an amusement park Disneyland and that it was in the 80's for the Michael Jackson movie and it was closed to the public so he got to ride the rides without waiting in line and get right back on a ride.

David started the reading by saying that there were 39 poems and that he would not read them all, and that he didn't want to tire us. I am not sure but I believe he did end up reading most of them. I was very familiar with the poems as I had listened to the CD recording on my ride over. But as I sat there listening to him read them the tears started to come. To anyone who has lost a parent or close family/friend can not help but relate to his words. With that being said I was crying my eyes out and I swear every time he looked up he seemed to be looking at me whipping tears from my eyes. I hoped it didn't make him want to cry although I thought he looked a bit teary on some of the poignant poems. I dare anyone to read them and keep a dry eye.

He finished to the sound of much applause and opened the floor up to a Q&A. I asked about how long after his mother's death did he begin writing (6 months). He went on to say that he had no intension of publishing them but that his friend had read them and encouraged that. I asked about the CD and he said it was his son Jamison's idea. Jamison produced and edited the CD. The music that is part of the background was done live during the reading and that it was "good old country boys" doing it.

There was a question about working with Barbara Streisand in "Up the Sandbox". He was very gracious in his comments about her. He related the story about being called in to meet the producers about being in the movie and that he noticed his sweater had a whole in it. It was one he had had since school and he crossed his arms in front of him to hide the whole. He didn't say much in the interview and thought he had blown it and told his agent about the whole and that he thought he wouldn't get the part. But we know he did. David told about going to a McGovern rally at which Babas sang and that he met some very big names, including Gregory Peck. He seemed to be quite an admirer of Mr Peck and commented on his being a true gentleman.

Another fan asked about "Raise the Titanic" and David went on to relate how his friend Jason Robarts had insisted he do the film because they would be taken all over the world. He even imitated Robarts' gravely voice. He told another story about going into a pub in Ireland or Scotland with Jamison and Alec Guinness, who was also in the movie was there and Jamison starting to cry and turn to his dad and say "It's Obi Won Kenobi". He later related that after he got a part in some other movie several years later the producer told him that he had be recommended by Sir Alec Guinness.

Someone else asked if he stayed in touch with Frid and if he would come back to the fests. David said that he phones him and that he tried to get him to come to the one in New York since it is closer to Canada. Frid told him that he gets up in the morning and puts on his slippers and doesn't take them off and that he keeps in touch with the world via his computer. Someone suggested that maybe he would relent for next years 40th anniversary. David seemed surprised that it was the 40th next year.

I asked if he had any comments about "Headless body in a Topless Bar" He asked what I thought and I said I was embarrassed and he laughed. He then got rather serious and said how the story and headline was true and that the movie could have been a lot darker and a lot funnier as well. He didn't really elaborate on it.

The audience was very respectful and let him go on his tangents ala Roger Davis (I have already been chastised about that remark). One of his most animated stories, and no he did not touch his hair (inside joke about RD and his hair touching in DS) was about his driving his daughter Amanda (named after the DS character played by Donna McKacknne, I wonder) and her friends home from school. One of the little girls whispers in Amanda's ear but loud enough that he heard "Your Dad's Hot". When he got home like "Peck's Bad Boy" he teased his daughter that he had heard the comment. This of course sent her into a melt down and running screaming to her mother about it. David relating this story was holding his sides from laughing.

Concluding the Q&A Patrick McCann got up to present a thank you basket to David on behalf of the Central Florida Dark Shadows fan club. He seemed genuinely pleased and surprised that there was "such a thing?" He wondered out loud how he would get it past airport security. His publicist asked Patrick and CynD to pose for a photo, at which point David asked if there were others from the club to come up too, well about 25 of us gathered around "The Man". His poor publicist kept asking us to squeeze in (¢â‚¬Ëœcause several of us gals, myself included, are big boned). David finally said turn sideways and when we did she snapped the picture. David then invited those who had things for him to sign to come up. Slow to the gate as I always am, and talking to those around me I failed to notice everyone had jumped in a line. But it was not like a Fest line so I didn't mind getting in back. By the time I got to the head there were only a few others hanging about and I had him sign my book and got a picture with him (his arm around my shoulder, I may never wash that shoulder again, swoon) along with shots of some club members with him that had not bought their cameras. As we were leaving the B&N staff brought up about 15 books and asked him if he would mind signing a few (as many as he wanted to) his publicity said he will sign them all. Kind of bossy she was. We were almost out when I thought about asking for one of the store posters advertising the event. Pat and I ran back and asked the B&N staff if it was ok and they said sure. David was still there having just finished signing the books and I asked if he would mind autographing it, being the gracious gentleman that he is, he said sure and signed it. I was to say the least Thrilled to death and for a moment in time 12 again and all was right with my world.

The evening concluded with our happy little band of Dark Shadows fans meeting for a wonder dinner at a local steak house (of course we asked David if he wanted to join us declining our invitation due to an early flight) where we shared good food and fellowship with each other.

Photos to follow, I hope you like my report. I am not in the same league as ProfStokes's reports!

LdyAnne