In The Pipeline:

There’s always something strange when a bigger-than-life figure enters a space that you’re familiar with. In a moment, if the figure is substantial enough, it can change the dynamics of the space, forever marking it as a place brushed with a significant presence.

I saw Jackie Kennedy Onassis once in the drugstore in the lobby of an office where I worked in New York City. I could never go there for a pack of gum again without thinking, “She stood right there, right next to the greeting cards and Zippo lighters.”

Such was the case here in Huntington Beach last week at the Barnes & Noble in the Bella Terra mall.

My family shops there quite a bit, so we’re familiar with the place, and I had done a book signing there just the week before.

But on this Saturday, a heavy-hitter author would be visiting our city to sign his new book, “My Remarkable Journey” — none other than Larry King.

For this column, I had inquired about talking a bit with Mr. King, and so Jeanne Ferrara, the terrific community relations manager at the store, was nice enough to put me in touch with his publicist.

At the last minute I found out that Mr. King would have a few minutes to spare. My 12-year-old daughter, Claire, a reporter for TIME for Kids magazine, was also interested in an interview.

Given Mr. King’s time constraints, I deferred to Claire, who by now has already interviewed much bigger celebrities for TIME than I most likely ever will. This way, we’d both still get to share some time with him, and I could report on their meeting together.

Claire and I waited at the appointed time at the top of the stairs in Barnes & Noble, and right on time, there was the venerable, familiar face, voice and suspenders coming up the escalator.

The first thing Claire and I both learned is that it’s not Mr. King — ever. It’s “Larry.”

And so Larry strode over to the table where he would be signing — the same table at the same spot where I signed a week before!

Genial and patient, the famed Brooklyn baseball nut who talks to kings, presidents and celebrities sat down to speak with a young reporter. This time, he wasn’t asking the questions, he was answering them, and he did so with grace and seriousness of purpose.

Claire started off by asking Larry what he felt was the most memorable interview he’s ever done.

He said, “It’s hard to pick one, because there have been so many. Probably the singer Frank Sinatra, because he was very hard to get to do an interview and he was also a terrific guest. But there have been so many others — Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, all of the presidents since Nixon — but if I had to pick one out of the hat, it would be Sinatra.”

And if he could interview someone he hasn’t yet?

“Probably Fidel Castro. He was the longest leader of a country in the 20th century. He’s been a mystery in America, and he’s a fascinating person. Obviously, the government doesn’t like him, but someone must like him in Cuba.”

As a young journalist herself, Claire was curious about any advice Larry might have for younger journalists.

“Stay with it!” he implored. “There’s always room in journalism. The best thing about journalism is it never, as a field, is full up. In other words, you always have an opportunity — there’s always an opening somewhere. But the big thing is — you’ve got to want it. Because so many other people want it. But if you really want it, you can make it.”

And the key to being a good interviewer?

Larry told Claire, “One is obviously curiosity. You’ve got to really be curious; you can’t fake that. And two, you’ve got to know how to listen. Listening is as important as asking questions. Because often the answer will bring you another question. Some interviewers will have a planned list of questions and don’t listen to the answer because they’re thinking about the next question. So a combination of curiosity and listening.”

Larry also pointed out to Claire that he felt that kids would enjoy his new autobiography, “My Remarkable Journey.”

Smiling warmly, he told her, “They’ll get a lot of laughs because there are a lot of things that happened to me when I was a kid that are in the book.”

Adults will certainly enjoy the book, too. It is loaded with fond memories and fascinating anecdotes from Larry’s storied life.

Plus, they’re told the way real New Yorkers tell stories, with heart, humor and gusto.

Few people have had the career Larry has, and thanks to his visit, I’ll now never be able to visit our favorite local bookstore without thinking, “He sat right there.”

And for being so professional and giving with another journalist, thank you, Mr. King.

I mean, Larry.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 14 books, including the new “Huntington Beach Then & Now.” You can write him at chris@chrisepting.com .