making friends

There's an author/illustrator who's work I admire-let's call him Sir Albert Twomblypants-and after reading his (presumably) self-written biography on his website, and concluding that he seems like a really down-to-earth guy, I thought I'd write to him and say...uh...say...um...

Exactly. I don't know what to say, and so I still haven't written to him. Let me rephrase that: I do know what to say (I said it it the first paragraph-I really admire his work), but I'm worried that my primary intention isn't to compliment him (although I really do like his work).

I can't speak for other authors or illustrators, but I've found it incredibly difficult to meet and develop friendships with my peers. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, if I'm doing anything wrong, if my distance from the hub of the publishing world matters (I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it seems like every artist I know lives on the East Coast), if I smell like trash, or if it's some kind of combination of elements that are conspiring against my attempts at making friends. I can't even blame the fact that I'm shy, anymore, primarily because I'm thirty years old, and it's creepy to describe myself that way, but also because I'm not, one-on-one (groups of people are another story).

So, my lack of luck/skill/charisma in befriending fellow artists has, perhaps, led me to considering writing to someone to ask if he'll be my pal, under the guise of complimenting his work.

Did I mention I really do like his work?