The public perceptions of him being pretentious, cold and too-cool for anyone are all, I can inform you, wrong. He was warm, talkative and just as equally excited to see me and Emily as we were to see him. The moment I realised that he wasn't the person I had read about was...wonderful. Me and Emily were first in line to get our books (Imperial Bedrooms) signed. I remember standing in front of his table, feeling very awkward. He looked at me through his sunglasses, for a moment looking just as unsure as I, but then his face broke out into a smile. He slapped the table with both of his hands and said "Well! Shall we get started then?" Happiness and excitement flowed out of me. I handed my book over to him and exclaimed how pleased I was that he had wrote a sequel to Less Than Zero. I remember him glancing at my name written on a sticky not inside of the book. I remember him saying "So Hayley... To Hayley..." But the BEST thing I remember was saying "I hope you don't mind me asking... but can I have a hug?" His reaction being- "A hug? Of course! (Emily informed me he said this next bit) I get hugs? I never get hugs!" Being bear hugged by my hero was unbelievable. Seriously.
While he signed Emily's book he told us how late of a night he had. He was all smiles and unguarded excitement.
Later we attended the opening of Grazia Book Club, where he was interviewed. There were lots of lovely free things: cup cakes (which Bret remarked on and was a little concerned about considering the role they played in Imperial Bedrooms), champagne, and free bags full of little treats. As he sat down to be interviewed he glanced and smiled at me and Emily (we caught this on camera). During his interview he was very patient with people who persistently asked him questions about morality despite him explaining he wouldn't answer them(because, he said, he felt he did not have justify himself anymore). He was funny, charming and looking incredibly cool with his suit and his thick-rimmed glasses. He was thoughtful and very intelligent.
After his interview me and Emily approached him to ask him questions (who was his favourite character, his answer being Clay. Then he asked us who his favourite character should be) and he offered to have more photo's taken with us and even asked whether they were taken properly.
I cannot emphasise enough how endearing and warm he was.
