Meeting Richelle Mead

Last Wednesday, I was pretty stoked for the opportunity to meet Richelle Mead. I LOVE her books, I was almost done reading Gameboard of the Gods and she wasn't doing many appearances. The signing was at the Barnes and Noble in Santa Monica. It was a wrist banded event, so it was quite full and I sat towards the back, but that is okay.

A cool little surprise is Margaret Stohl was at the event and even introduced Richelle, she stayed for the whole thing and even most of the signing. I saw a couple people go up and talk to her and take pictures with her and she seemed to be a super nice and relaxed person. I did not go up to her, but maybe that is just because I am kind of weird and feel like I am bothering them. 

Richelle started talking about Gameboard of the Gods and how the book had been in the works for 10 years and was almost her ideal world. She talked about how she thought it was in interesting concept about a world where religion was banned, but where people in general are spiritual and how would they handle not having religion.  She told how Justin March was based on a colleague in college who basically they would always lose on nights out and who all the girls in other departments hated because of his womanizing ways.

After that they moved on to talking about Vampire Academy and the development of the movie. Which wasn't anything too different then want we already know about it. Besides that Richelle did say she has fangirled over some of the movie scenes, that she has seen.

Through meeting her and listening to her, I learned that she is a very quite and reserved person with a dry sense of humor. She is really sweet and we didn't talk much but she did say she respected book bloggers/reviews and they fact that they have to be honest about their opinions. Although, I assured her I hadn't wrote a negative review of her books (I don't think I have at least!)  She signed 3 of my books and then my Vampire Academy box set. With that being said I had a great time and met quite a few other FanGirls at the signing. 

Meeting Gayle Forman

This Post Is LONG Overdue!!! On April 22nd. I had the pleasure of attending a Gayle Forman Meet and Greet at my local Burbank Public Library. If I Stay and Where She Went are some of my favorite books, So I was pretty elated when I got the chance to meet her.

However, this meet and greet was a little different then any other one I have been to. When I walked in and sat down.. a projector ready for a slide show greeted me.

Gayle started by welcoming us, and saying how excited she was since she grew up in Burbank. Then she took out her very well loved copy of Just One Day and began by explaining the concept of the book and the story behind the 1st photo in the slideshow. What was cool about the slideshow was that every slide tied into a section in her book and essentially she read several pages from her book at various parts. So, I got a VERY good understand of the book, but also got to find out the personal parts of them for her.

After, that she took some questions and surprisingly... I asked a MAJORITY of the questions! I normally like to sit and listen and laugh and observe. I will admit I got most of my questions from the day before at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. After that it was time to get in line and  get my books signed! 

The Women In Green Is Author Robin Benway!

As Usual I was pretty nervous, but I told her about how much I loved her books (DUH) and that Adam Wilde has been my favorite bookish boyfriend for the LONGEST Time, but that I was starting to like Willem form the excerpts. She had also said that there is a new male character in a book she is working on that is WAY hot in a bad boy kind of way.. I believe she called him Ben and I look forward to that! She thanked me for asking a lot of questions and I think that was about it!

 Needless, to say I had a GREAT time and I would DEFINITELY go to a book signing of hers again.

Meeting Ally Carter and Gail Carriger

On Sunday, I went to Mysterious Galaxy (an Independent Bookstore) In Redondo Beach to see Ally Carter for a book signing for Pretty Scoundrels.  It also ended up being a book signing for Gail Carriger, whose name didn't ring a bell until I saw that her book was Etiquette & Espionage. Which I ended up getting along with Pretty Scoundrels.

Redondo Beach is about 30 minutes from where I live, I timed it out so that I would get their about an hour ahead of time. Unfortunately, we hit traffic and we got delayed. We made it just before they began, however, the place was packed and it had turned into standing room.

I managed to get a decent enough view and listened as the author answered a few questions and made us all laugh. The whole thing went by SO quickly. Or maybe, it was just shorter than I am used too but we soon were ready for the book signing part of the day.

Even though it seemed like most of the questions were asked to Ally, it turned out Gail has quite a loyal following which resulted in a REALLY long and very slow moving line. A weird quirk of mine is that I like to be close to the very end of the line, this is usually because I have a lot of books with me and it usually gives me more time to talk to the author.  This was the wrong time to make that decision A) because I only had a total of 3 books and B) I started to get hungry and that dazed and confused feeling you sometimes get when hungry, started to kick in. Luckily for me they decided to take people who were there for Ally and put them in their own line. Thus, I met Ally Carter.

 Ally was beyond nice and really knows how to make people feel comfortable around her. She started by complimenting my scarf and then asking about myself. I bullet pointed it out for her 23.Married.Book Blogger and Co-Owner of a Backpack Company. She asked about the backpacks and was pretty impressed. I than asked her how she got the idea for the crossover (Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story) and she gave a really in depth answer about how it was a question that was asked a lot during her last book tour and so on and so forth it came together. Although, she was hesitant about it at first. Apparently, there are a lot of people who are really into one series and anti the other.

After, my lovely meeting with Ally I was prepared to get into the back on the line for Gail but they pulled me aside and basically allowed me to cut the line and meet Gail. At this point I was on a high from meeting Ally and my hunger dizziness had hit an all time high, which means my brain had no function and it resulted in an mumbled attempt at conversation, Gail saying "would you just like me to sign the book?"  Me: "oh yea..." and a semi awkward photo. 

Southern California Author Signings (Jan - March)

So as a blogger in Southern California, I have had trouble finding author events in my area. Here are some that I have found (hopefully it will help other So.Cal Bloggers) and I will update this as I find out more. If you know of Any, Let Me Know.
Jan.
15th - Melissa De La Cruz - Gates of Paradise (Blue Blood Series) - Barnes and Noble, Santa Monica
24th - Nicholas Sparks - Safe Haven- Barnes and Noble, The Grove LA


Feb.
10th - Brenna Yovanoff - Paper Valentine - Barnes and Noble, The Grove LA
10th - Marie Lu  - Prodigy- Barnes and Noble, The Grove LA
10th - Jess Khoury - Origin - Barnes and Noble, The Grove LA
10th - Andre Kremer - Rise - Barnes and Noble, The Grove LA
11th - Ally Carter - Pretty Scoundrels (Heist Society Series) - Barnes and Noble, The Americana Glendale

March
21st - Cassandra Clare - Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices Series) - Barnes&Noble, The Grove LA

Meeting Rachel Hartman

Wow! I have been meaning to write this for awhile! On September 28th My Mom and I made the LONG grueling drive to Santa Monica... 30 minutes with No Traffic. We arrive early and gave ourselves a lot of time to buy the book, scoop out the crowd and eat dinner.

To my surprise, as it was with Melissa De La Cruz there wasn't a big turn out. It was literally me, My Mom, A PreTeen Girl, He Parents and the B&N Employee (his name is Shane BTW) The Picture below actually depicts this well.

As we sat in the event room waiting about 15 minutes prior to the event starting Rachel Hartman came in and she actually ended up sitting with us and talking to us. Normally. It was AWESOME. However, as you may know Authors are my Celebrities, I get star struck and have nothing productive to really say to them, besides be in awe and complementing their writing. It is sad really. On top of that, I was not feeling well, making my brain even less functioning. 

Eventually a few more people came in, a few people were her friends and I think the others who were young men, just saw an event happening and decided to sit in on it (Side Note: I have noticed Santa Monica B&N attracts a very fine specimen of male readers, ladies..) Rachel told us of how she got started on Seraphina and how her journey of being an author began. I enjoyed listening to that, especially to learn that the version of the book now, if really nothing like it was when she first wrote it.  

 Then Came the Q&A portion which wasn't crazy long, but still fun. I did find out that Seraphina will have a sequel, but that this is probably the end of her story. I was glad to find that out since, when the story came to a close the ending was so open-ended I wasn't sure if there was a sequel or not. I also decided that from now on I am going to write my questions for the author out before hand.

 After The Q&A Rachel did a reading and then it was time to have the books signed. I really did enjoy the signing and it is funny cause half of me wishes there was a bigger turn out, but half of me enjoys the more "intimate" interactions with the authors.

My Review of Seraphina

Melissa De La Cruz Signing

So, A month or so ago I was suppose to see Melissa De La Cruz at LA Festival of Books but I ended up getting sick and not going.. (same situation as Maggie Stiefvater) Anyways, this week I was looking up signings and discovered that Melissa would be at Barnes and Noble Santa Monica - about an hour away from me depending on traffic. I was stoked that is was only a few days away, but was worried I wouldn't be able to go since Barnes and Noble as a policy that you must purchase the book the author is promoting to attend the signing and only the 1st 200 people get to attend. Being as I am without a personal car and not rolling in the dough.. I wasn't sure how this would happen. Luckily, I have mother who is VERY supportive of my blog, has a car, has money and lives 1 mile away from me. In other words my mom went with me and bought the book for me. I also knew there is usually a limit on the amount of books that could be signed, but I brought all my books by her, just in case.  The event beginning at 7pm, we left at 4:30 expecting Traffic and  a long line.We arrived a 5:15 and after purchasing the book, sitting alone in the conference room, until 6:20, when two other girls arrived. We talked to them and shared our interests in books, etc. This is where we learned also that at all the Barnes and Noble signings they have been too, they have not enforced the purchasing a book rule.  (which is good to know for future signings).


Anyways, a little past 7 Melissa arrived and by then there was about 15 people in attendance (which shocks me!) Melissa began talking about her book and then proceeded into a Q&A which was a little awkward, since I guess no one really had any. So it turned into another chick and I basically asking Melissa Questions.. and surprisingly my mom even asked one! The good thing is Melissa is VERY good at giving long and in depth answers and I really learned A LOT more about her. After the Q&A it was time for the Book Signing.. where I proceeded to make sure I was the last in line.. I mean I brought like 6 books, on top of having Serpent's Kiss. So, I figured since there isn't a lot of us, and I am at the end, this could probably work in my favor and luckily it did! Melissa, complimented my shirt (I wore my Book Blogger one) asked about my blog, which I gave her one of my new Moo Info Cards... I am sure she will lose it haha. and basically was pure joy to talk to, cause she is freaking AWESOME. And Now I have realized I am not good at talking to Authors, this is when I get star struck.. this is when I decided to tell them over and over how much I love their books and why and blah blah blah... She was nice enough to take photos with the three of us who stayed and hung out and she even gave me a hug and said I was So Sweet.   So, now that I am babbling on and on.. here are the photos. (Ignore How Bad I Look)