Los Altos readers of Mary Higgins Clark formed a double line stretching around two corners and into the parking plaza behind Heintzelman’s Bookstore at 7:30 p.m. on May 30.
A festive atmosphere prevailed, with fans discussing their favorites among the super-successful author’s 22 titles. A few stalwarts brought all 22 of Clark’s novels in giant shopping bags, determined to have the author sign every one of them. And a gracious Clark complied, remaining at the store until 10:30 p.m.
“We got here at three,” said Hilda Beck of Monterey, who was first in line outside the bookstore, with her friend Sharon Borg. They have read every one of Clark’s books, except the latest, “Before I Say Good-bye,” and had fortified themselves with an extra-large lunch to prepare for their literary quest.
Upon the author’s arrival, in a car driven by a publisher’s representative, Mayor John Moss presented her with a proclamation declaring May 30 “Mary Higgins Clark Day” in Los Altos.
“She is really a very nice lady. We don’t often have someone of her stature come to town,” Moss said.
After officially greeting Clark, he stepped back and joined the fans waiting in line for a personal book inscription and a few words with the legendary novelist, who recently signed a $64 million contract with Simon and Schuster for her next four books.
Despite Clark’s fame and considerable fortune, her manner was as friendly and down-to-earth as a next-door neighbor.
“People just feel very comfortable with her, like she is a friend,” said Jo McNichols of Los Altos.
McNichols bought Clark’s latest bestseller and had it signed and then she rushed home to return with another title she’d already read.
“I asked myself why I was driving back again, and then I thought, it’s because I like her,” she said.
Clark’s husband, John Conheeney, a retired businessman, sat near the velvet throne chair installed for Clark’s appearance and read USA Today as if he were in his own living room.
“I cased the town while Mary was pre-signing,” he said. “You have a beautiful little town here – even an antiquarian bookstore.”
When asked about his wife’s writing techniques, he described an ongoing exchange between husband and wife, with Clark reading her latest pages to him in the evenings, using him as a sort of test pilot.
“I read the manuscript as she’s writing it; she makes several copies and writes in 25-page blocks. Then she discusses each section with her agent, Michael Korda in New York, before going on,” Conheeney said.
Conheeney said he usually doesn’t accompany his wife on one-day author trips, but on longer journeys “she gets lonely” and enjoys his company.Does he ever feel overshadowed by his celebrated spouse?
“Not at all,” he replied. “I take a vicarious pleasure in all the attention she gets.”
One of Clark’s locally illustrious fans was Los Altos Police Chief Lucy Carlton.
“I’ve read just about all of her books,” Carlton said. “And if I don’t read one, I’ll listen on tape, because I have a long commute. Every book is suspenseful, intriguing and exciting, and they are void of graphic sex and violence, unlike so many books today.”
Los Altos au pair Elise Panchout, a one-year visitor from Paris, was thrilled to see Clark in person.
“At home, my mother and I fight over which of us gets to read her newest book first,” Panchout said.
Another mother-daughter fan club are Nancy Boyle and daughter Rebecca, 13, a student at Cupertino Middle School.
“You just can’t put her books down,” said Rebecca, who has read every one.
Susan and Conrad Heintzelman had geared up for the Clark visit for weeks in advance, planning the logistics of moving hundreds of Clark’s readers through the doors to the book-signing table and then out again smoothly. The shop windows were mysteriously decorated, one with a sheet-shrouded body, complete with curly blond wig; the other dominated by a female sleuth in a trench coat and dark glasses, pockets bulging with a flashlight and magnifying glass.
“This is definitely a Garrison Keillor kind of night in Los Altos,” said Cheryl Sharpley of Los Altos. “It shows there’s a lot of readers around here.”
