Stephan Pastis, creator of “Pearls before Swine” recounts the impact of his visit with Charles Schulz back in 1996.
Fed up with life as an attorney defending insurance companies, Pastis had abandoned his legal files for the day and driven to Santa Rosa in hopes of bumping into Charles “Sparky” Schulz, the legendary creator of the “Peanuts” gang.
He found him in the cafe, finishing the last bites of an English muffin.
“Hi, Sparky,” he said. “My name is Stephan Pastis, and I’m a lawyer. But I also draw.”
They talked for an hour. Schulz posed for a picture, and he gave Pastis hope that one day he could achieve his dream.
It was all the inspiration Pastis needed.