By Staff
FANFARE – Sela Ward signs her book, "Homesick," for Megen Chatham, foreground, and Miranda Chatham. Hundreds of people showed up Tuesday at Wal-Mart SuperCenter for the book-signing. Shortly after 7 p.m., all 1,200 copies were sold out. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Oct. 23, 2002
There weren't enough copies of "Homesick" by Sela Ward to accommodate the large crowd of people who showed up to buy her new book and have her sign it Tuesday.
In about an hour of Ward's book-signing at the Wal-Mart SuperCenter, all 1,200 books were gone and the line of people that snaked through the aisles looked like something at Walt Disney World.
As Fu Yao Wang bought his copy of Ward's book, he said he and the famous Meridian native have something in common.
Wang has been a resident of Meridian since 1971. He moved to the United States from Taiwan in 1964.
Ward said she was happy with the turnout for the book signing. "That means we can raise a lot of money for Hope Village because a portion of the proceeds go to the kids."
Hope Village for Children, in which Ward has played a key role, is a home in Meridian for abused and neglected children.
Martha Bancroft, 71, is a native of Meridian who bought a copy of "Homesick" on Friday and had already finished reading it by Tuesday when she brought her book to be signed.
Ward said writing the book was the most difficult and intimidating thing she has ever done.
Asked how she was being received as an author, Ward said: "We'll see. I'm sure people will have mixed reviews. But you know what, it's my personal journey I thought would resonate with people who, like myself, have left home and moved away to pursue their careers and yearn for that sense of community and belonging."
While waiting in line to have her copy of "Homesick" signed, Christina Thomas, 23, of Meridian, started reading the book. She said it was interesting.
Old friends and family members of Ward's also were at the signing, including former U.S. Rep. G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery.