After my recent interview with actor and author Andrew McCarthy, he invited me to the Chicago stop on his book tour. Yesterday I joined a packed house of 400 at the event, hosted by The Book Stall.

The night started with about an hour-long discussion between host Mike Leonard and McCarthy. I always enjoy hearing other interviews to see how my questions compare. I was happy to see Leonard asked several questions I posed to McCarthy. Of course, with more time, Leonard was able to go more in-depth.

The focal point of the discussion was Walking with Sam, McCarthy’s latest book, about walking 500 miles across Spain’s Camino de Santiago with his teenage son. A bonding experience between father and son, it also was a deeply personal journey for each.

McCarthy explained how the journey breaks down the individual but ultimately rebuilds everyone along the way. I likened this to my feeling of doing a marathon. Although a much shorter distance, marathons give me the same feelings. While running with thousands, it is still a personal time for me.

McCarthy indulged the audience with a few fun stories from his time with the Brat Pack, an association he originally eschewed but one he now embraces. McCarthy is happy, even proud, to be one of the faces of an era. Admitting he probably will never attain that sort of notoriety again, McCarthy is comfortable with his place in life.

Part of that comfort comes from his travel writing. Although it brings less fame and money, writing is a passion for McCarthy. Having read The Longest Way Home, a previous book of his about finding himself through travel, I appreciate McCarthy’s love of travel and willingness to share his life-changing moments.

At the conclusion, as I approached McCarthy, he greeted me with a warm smile. After chatting for a bit, I thanked him again for our interview before heading home to begin reading Walking with Sam.

Although it was late and I was tired when I got home, I had to read a few pages at least. I was immediately drawn in and stayed up later reading more than planned. As McCarthy told me, the book is about him, his son, them and ultimately every reader. Much like the walk itself, reading Walking with Sam is already proving to be quite an experience.

— John Wroblewski, online writer