Vince Flynn, another favorite author, on the other hand, came from a large family in law enforcement in the Boston area, and wrote a series of books featuring a fellow who is essentially an undercover agent, working to save the country from various plots by serious bad guys. A very absorbing series!

He was also one of the featured authors at a Savannah Book Festival, several years ago, and gave a talk at a local church downtown, in conjunction with the release of his newest book. Because this event was also billed as a “book signing,” I took a chance, and brought a bag with the dozen or so books of his I already had read.

Two noteworthy things happened at that event.

The first thing was, he started off by telling the packed church that he started school as an “undiagnosed dyslexic,” meaning he had a neurological condition which caused him to see printed words backwards, or as a jumble, making it very difficult for him to learn to read.

He also told us he managed to get all the way through high school by “listening closely,” and managing to “fake it.” But when he got to college, that tactic no longer worked. A professor called him on it, early on, and told him he needed professional help; which he eventually got, and learned techniques to help him navigate printed words.

At the end of that hour, when he opened the floor up for questions, one woman asked how in the world he was able to stand up and speak for an hour, without using a teleprompter?

He just smiled, and responded, “How would I do that? I am dyslexic, remember?”

The audience erupted with laughter, charmed by his humble admission. I was awed. Afterwards, folks lined up to buy his latest book, and get his autograph on them. I didn’t have the money to buy that book at the time, and hung back until the line was mostly gone, and got in the end of it. When I got to him, I told him I had thoroughly enjoyed his first dozen books, and shyly asked if he would be willing to sign them for me? I told him it was fine if that was too much to ask.

Ever gracious, he told me he would write an inscription on the first one, and then just autograph the rest, and was that OK? I was floored by his kindness, and gratefully nodded my acceptance.

And that is exactly what he did, patiently, smiling all the while. At the end, he thanked me for being a reader of his work, and wished me well, before turning to whoever had come up in line behind me. I was very saddened to learn, later on, that he had come down with cancer; and despite the best efforts of his doctors, and his own valiant fight, he eventually succumbed.

He had at least one other work in progress at the time, and his publisher arranged for someone close to him to finish it; and when it was published, I bought it, read it, and couldn’t tell where his writing stopped, and the other writer’s took up the mantle.

I have never forgotten his talk that day, or his kindness in being willing to sign the dozen books of his I brought with me that day.

Both meetings with those authors have been highlights of my life. And I am so very glad my parents instilled in me a love of reading from a very early age! It has made a world of difference.

Rafe Semmes is a proud graduate of (“the original”) Savannah High School and the University of Georgia.

He and his wife live in eastern Liberty County, and are long-time Rotarians.

He writes on a variety of topics, and may be reached at rafe_semmes@yahoo. com.