Ms. Stockett

A week ago today, I had the most incredible, amazing opportunity to go see Kathryn Stockett, author of the best-selling book, The Help. The Scottish Rite Cathedral in Wyomissing, PA was her ONLY tour stop. And I was fortunate enough to be one of the thousand people that were in attendance.

Let's rephrase that. Yes, I was one of the thousand people there, of which probably ten were men, and looking around, I had decided quickly I was one of the youngest, if not THE youngest person there. (My aunt had leaned over and said, "Kayla, I'm pretty sure you're the youngest person here. There's a lot of old people here..." to which I replied, "yes...and a lot of dentures.")

The auditorium filled up quickly, all in anticipation to see and hear from this amazing woman who wrote about the 1960s south. The Help centers around how white women treated their "help" back then; essentially, how the black help was treated in the home. I'm sure a white female author, telling a story from the perspective of two black women in the 1960s has caused Kathryn Stockett a lot of unnecessary hardship. As someone pointed out later in the evening, almost 99% of those in attendance were white. To this, Ms. Stockett replied that she's talked in front of groups of whites, and groups of blacks, but hardly ever did she talk in front of a well-mixed crowd.

Her book may tell a story set fifty years in the past; however, there are universal truths that will always be present in this world. She talked about growing up in the South, how her grandmother had a black maid named Demetri; and although she loved Demetri, and Demetri knew every last hair on her head, the first time she saw Demetri out of her white uniform, was in the casket. Eye-opening stories poured through the author's mouth last Thursday about her experience writing the book, what inspired her to write it, and the SIXTY rejection letters she faced for five years before her book was finally published.

Hysterical, cute, friendly, typical southern-accent out of a movie, Kathryn Stockett captured our attention for over an hour, reading excerpts to us, talking about Demetri, and also talking about her experience during the movie-making process. She came out on stage, and the first words she spoke were, "Shit! There's a lot of people here! Holy crap!" which ensued several seconds of loud laughter from everyone in the building; it was a great icebreaker.

And of course, there was a Q & A session; I wanted to ask so badly, "Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?" so, timidly, with the next-to-nothing self-confidence that I have, I raised my hand, and one of the microphone guys saw me and nodded. I was next to ask a question! Nervously, I turned my attention to the person before me who was speaking. Her question? "Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?" SHIT! I think frantically, what to do--turning to my aunt, she goes, "Think of something!" No crap.

So the microphone guy comes over, and I'm suddenly aware that number one, I'm the last one to ask a question, and number two, how silent 1000 people can be. Something came out along the lines of: "Hi, I'm Kayla, I'm a huge fan obviously as we all are...I'm currently studying writing in college..." which sounded like: I'mcurrentlystudyingwritingatcollege. "And I had to think of a question fast because she actually asked what I was going to and I was like crap!"  to which everyone started laughing and put me at ease. So I asked, "Did you always know you wanted to be a writer and when did you first know you were going to be one?"

Ms. Stockett responded by saying she ALWAYS knew, ever since she wrote her first short story in grade school and "sold it to some sucker on the playground and made a 50% profit." And after she talked a little bit about that, she looks back at me, hand shielding her eyes from the bright lights that were on her, and she asks, "You're in what? College, high school?" and I respond, "College." And this is what she responded with:

"Well I'm just going to tell you don't EVER give up on your dream. There's going to come a point in your life when your parents are going to come to you and tell you 'it's time to put the dream away, it's time to get a real job, we're done supporting you'. Don't listen to them. They're lying to you! They'll actually support you forever!" To which everyone laughed a lot, she bowed (remember, I was the last question), and we all gave her a standing ovation.

I wish I had more opportunities like this to see the authors and writers I admire so much. To be rejected SIXTY times, and not give up--it's such inspiration and motivation to me to never give up on my dream of being a published novelist of some kind. As she said, "What if I would have given up on rejection 16? or even 59? Never give up."

Marcus Zusak, author of The Book Thief, another incredible book, is coming to Kutztown next week, and I cannot wait to attend his lecture, after experiencing such a positive and motivating visit from Ms. Kathryn Stockett herself.