Four days have passed already since my third-degree encounter with ENGIN AKYÜREK. I’m still decanting images, sounds, feelings, words said. I’m still in shock, looking at the pictures the girl from the bookstore took for me. God bless her! I don’t think I will ever get over this encounter. It was me on Bagdad Caddesi at D&R, or I was dreaming all this? Engin’s glances when I talked to him, are priceless. It’s like he was telling me a love story with the eyes. As he stared into my green eyes, I also stared into his magnetic dark eyes, in which I saw extinct worlds and an entire galaxy of hidden meanings, by mirroring myself in them. I thought my poor heart was going to explode from such intense emotions. Then I held out my hand to him and he took it firmly, shaking it. I admire his gorgeous hands. Then I heard his unique warm voice with such special timbre, recognizable from millions. It was like a divine music into my ears. I could listen it endlessly.
Believe it or not, I was twice in front of him that day because I realized that the first time, I didn’t take a proper picture with him and his books. Due to the crowd over there and my huge emotions, I felt lost. I was so close to tell the security present all over the place “Bir saniye, lutfen!” (One moment, please!). But I immediately saw that my request didn’t bother Engin at all. He gave me his well known gorgeous smile, and he complied with my wish, as you can see in the pictures. That’s why I love him so much. He is a kind, humble person, and a warm soul.
I need to tell you also a few words about summer of 2022, when I have asked a very good friend of mine, who lives in London, to bring me the book Sessizlik in Turkish. He delivered it to me personally when he came to Bucharest. Yep! In Turkish. Didn’t matter to me that I don’t know the language. Yet! The most important thing was to have the book. I went home extremely happy, finally having the book in my hands, and I put a small note inside saying: “I have Engin’s autograph on Sessizlik. Thank you with gratitude”. The rest is history. In less than a year, eleven months to be more exact, on 10th of June 2023 this dream came true, even sooner than I expected. The saying “Dream until your dreams come true” it’s never been truer.
Knowing him as an exceptional actor, the biggest surprise was when I discovered him as an author. I write, too, so I see things from this perspective. I was really overwhelmed. I completely fell in love with his brilliant and complex mind. Fascinated by his stories, his writing style, and the multitude of topics he choose to write about. I fairly admit that he caught me forever in his magic world.
Then, by absolute chance, at the end of last year, I met online his UK publisher of English translation of Sessizlik, Ramona Harper Ferguson, from Kismetpublishers, an exceptional woman and a special human being. Also, very professional in all she does. One day, I saw on a FB group dedicated to him, she was asking if anyone wants to write a nice message for Engin for the 14th of February. Well, I wrote right away “me”. I went home that day, and wrote quite a few pages. Ramona took my long text and made summary, then she put my review on the last cover of his book. This was mind blowing for me. I was never expected this when I wrote that text. Then, with heart tightened with emotion, we’ve been waited for one month for Engin’s approval for the cover. I would never hoped and dream before that such a thing would ever happen to me. But the Universe has infinite and better ways to show us we are capable of great things, and our hopes and dreams can come to reality if we put a little faith in it. KISMET made its job flawlessly. So, this is the story of how I was ended on being on the cover of the English translation of his first book, Sessizlik. Isn’t it fascinating how things work when you put good energy into what you do?
My deepest desire since ever was to meet Engin in person one day. But I would never thinked that day would be so close on the time scale. And I can tell you that you can never be enough prepared to meet such a star like him in real life. When Ramona sent me the information and all details for the joint signing event on 10th of June, for the new book launching, Zamansiz (Timeless), and English version of Sessizlik (Silence), with about one week before the event, my heart almost exploded of emotion but also, I panicked. I thought I would have a heart attack. So, the BIG DAY was coming, even faster than I expected. Many things to do in such short time, and to think of. First, I was in shock, and my mind has been blocked for a few moments. Then, after I recovered a little, I called my daughter to tell her the big news. She offered me this trip as a birthday present, which was in May. What more to wish myself for, ladies and gents? I thank you from the bottom of my heart, #mydivastar @oliviaaddams! Yes, cause my daughter is also an international awarded star, as a singer. God bless you, my love!
I must tell you that I first “met” Engin on the screen almost one year and a half ago, when I saw him in “The Ambassador’s daughter”, and I was shocked to see such a great and talented actor, and at the same time, amazed how I didn’t know about him before. “Where have you been hiding until now Engin Bey?” Since then, I have seen all his series and movies, some of them even twice. Yes, I know, it became an addiction, madness, you can call it whatever you want, I couldn’t care less if you’ll judge me or not.
So, to cut it short, I arrived at Istanbul Friday evening on the 9th, and at D&R bookstore the next day, with 2,5 hours before! Yeah! I went inside the bookstore, I bought several copies of Zamansiz and one more copy of Sessizlik, which I intend to give it to a translator for the translation into Romanian. Then, I looked into the bookstore for a book by his favorite writer, Paul Auster, but I didn’t have any luck. Luckily, I had with me Don Quixote in English, another of his favorites, which I bought it before I left Bucharest, alongside with other gifts, but the most important gift was one personalized with his name on it…shhhhh!! This is top secret! I will not reveal. Sorry! I also put in the bag a CD with Chris Botti, his favorite jazz singer and also mine, toys for SEFA, his cat, and one of my published articles in a Romanian magazine, which I translated into English. Inshallah he will read it.
Waiting for the big moment to come, I also met his Turkish publisher from Dogan Kitap, Ozgur Emir. Engin appeared right on time, no delay, like you would expected from a person of his magnitude. This is what I like about him so much. His humbleness, his simplicity, and his big heart for everyone. When I saw him in flesh and blood, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I knew he was tall but, he is literally tall. And thin. He saluted all the people present on spot, took off his sunglasses and sat down relaxed, preparing to start the signing session. During the whole time he never ceased to smile to every person who went in front of him, while signing and taking pictures with his fans. At some point, some journalists took him an interview. He answered to all questions in the most natural possible way. He obviously has very well-developed skills to do that. The formed queue was huge, but he stood until the end, for five hours, he signed books for all the people that came and took pictures with everyone. What a man!!!
After he signed me all the three books and I took pictures twice with him, I remained close, in a corner, staring at him until the end, when he left, studying his gestures, everything. I wanted to feed my eyes and my soul with his image as much time as possible. People from security were continuously telling me to walk away from the place “you’re not allowed to stay here, neither there, and not beyond”. I said to them, “I don’t care if I’m allowed or not, cause I’m not leaving the spot, you can’t argue with a lawyer, you will never win”. Hahaha! And I underlined in Turkish “Avukat ben”. They smiled at me and after a while they were tired of repeating me the same thing and left me alone. So, I won!
When the signing session was over, he left the same way as he came, through the back of the bookstore, like he was walking on water, never touching the ground. When he “left the stage”, I immediately felt a huge gap of emptiness in my heart. The whole day was under the sign of surrealism, as if I was in a time capsule or in a magic fairytale. I just wanted this day to never end. I had to look at all my three signed books to be sure everything it was all real and not just in my imagination.
I guess I am so lucky that after such a short time of being aware of his existence and knowing him through his acting and writings, I was able to meet him in person, feel his energy, touch him, breathe the same air with him, staring in his magic eyes and talk to him in Turkish and English. It was a bliss. He is the pinnacle. I feel blessed that I had this huge opportunity to meet him!!
My heart stayed with you!
Until next time,
Her şey için teşekkür ederim! Seni seviyorum!
cuciocolata 