Last week, I got to do something I always enjoy — I had the privilege of interviewing a friend.
Sean and I became friends a couple of years ago after my wife introduced me to his online blog and his books. Before I knew it, my wife and Sean’s wife were talking like old friends by phone, text or email, even though they’d never met face-to-face, and we were on our way east to see Sean and his band perform in a small venue and meet the couple officially.
I was not looking forward to it, really, because throwing myself into unknown territory has never really been at the top of my list of fun things to do. Now, I’ve done it plenty of times. I’ve often volunteered to be the first in line at new experiences, especially when others in the group with me seemed to be more nervous or ill-at-ease than I was. Still, it’s not my first choice.
Four-plus hours after we left home — or 20-something Dollar Generals passed — we arrived at our Alabama destination.
Tall, thin, redheaded and red-bearded Sean was easy to spot on the front porch of the establishment. As we approached, my wife saw his wife Jamie, too. Sean was expecting us, as his greeting of, “You must be Donna!” to my wife caught us both a little off guard.
Before long, we were enjoying the show and conversation and felt we had just stepped into lifelong friendships.
I didn’t expect that to last, though, to be honest.
This couple from the Florida Panhandle didn’t know us from Adam’s house cat, really, and I would not have been surprised if they inadvertently forgot us as they proceeded with their lives.
But they didn’t.
Sean has continued performing, speaking and writing, and we’ve developed our friendship pretty well for people who live that far apart. We’ve caught up with each other in person a few times, and hope to do so again very soon. Sean is scheduled to be at Books-A-Million in Meridian on March 2, signing copies of his newest book, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken? A Memoir of Learning to Believe You’re Gonna Be Okay,” and talking with the crowd. The book is not even scheduled for market-wide publication until March 10, but it’s already available in various places.
Lord willing, my wife and I will be there to spend a little time with Sean and his wife once more.
Sean’s down-home wit and style of writing makes anything he pens entertaining, but it’s his heart that bleeds through everything that really gets your attention.
If you are a connoisseur of fine literature, the works of Sean Dietrich will not be your “bag,” so to speak. But if you love books that read like conversations and speak deeply to the hurts and hopes of people in general, and echo with the taste of the South, you will love Sean’s work. Do yourself a favor and pick up something by him. But be warned — you may have a hard time putting it back down.
When I interviewed Sean last week about the book, we really just talked for 45 minutes. I asked about things I wanted to know, not really catering anything toward whoever may read whatever I write about reading and writing.
And it was fun.
Sean is not really what you’d call a celebrity, and I don’t think he really wants to be. But he is what you’d call a really nice, approachable guy. He’s a construction worker, piano player, guitar picker, singer and storyteller who doesn’t think “writer” should be one of his labels.
You can call him any of these things, though, and be accurate.
I’m happy to call him my friend.
Brett Campbell can be reached at chunkybrett@mail.com
