Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I was walking our dog when I ran into an author who lives close by, and I told her how much I'd enjoyed her new book.  We got to talking about what we like to read, and she loves spy novels and detective books, and I said I did as well.  I told her how much I appreciated reading about these topics partly because it's such a violent and often cruel world, and the books allow that knowledge in, but on a limited and controlled basis.  She said the books were puzzles she liked solving.  Her last book is a memoir/poem/flight of fancy that is beautiful and defies genre.  She is genuine in person and friendly.  Grounded is how I'd describe her.  But what touched me is she asked my name several times until she got it right.  She was registering me and our interaction in a "present" way.  She was fully with me for a few minutes.  No wonder she writes so well.