HIGHLIGHT: Jojo Moyes Discussion, Q&A, & Signing of "Me Before You"

What a fun and exciting "last minute" event. Yes, this event was only posted about two weeks ago...haha! For many fans, this was definitely "last minute." I know it was for me!! Thanks to my good friends, I was able to attend and meet up with friends. Moreover, this event had very strict guidelines since the author, Jojo Moyes, was on a very tight schedule. The event was so strict that there was a limited number of wristbands available, a three book limit, only one book can be personalized, and no posed photos. Regardless of the time constraint of this event, I had fun! However, a small amount of Advance Screening Passes were given out! Whoa!

Yup! Ready for this event!

The event started off with a viewing of one of the trailers for the upcoming film Me Before You which was based on the novel of the same title by Jojo Moyes. Following right after was a brief discussion with a Q&A with the audience. There were the usual questions: What was the inspiration behind the book? What advice would she give to aspiring writers?...so on... I could never get tired of all the different answers from different authors. It's always interesting and informative. It was even very cool to find out that the Christopher Reeve Foundation was very supportive of the film! Wow!

Although the book and the film involves a very controversial topic, this discussion involved one very important point...having a choice. Yes, these characters have choices, but, ultimately, it is their choice. In particular, both book and film focuses on Will's choice. Yes, there is life with this disability, but it is Will's choice...no one can make it for him.

I got emotional during this! LOL! A lot of good points this book and film makes...even Jojo. I think she wrote all this with the utmost respect. No disrespect to any one, I think.

This discussion was very informative and inspiring. Come to find out that this novel was inspired by a friend in a similar situation; and that there is something in the book that comes close to being personal for her...something she can relate to. A fan asked her that particular question, if there was something in her life that she completely "obsessed" about like the bumble bee tights to Louisa in the book.

As for that advice for aspiring authors...basically, I'm paraphrasing here, she said to keep writing; make time to write; don't that tenacity to write no matter how busy life can get. Plus, don't let life deter you from writing. Very sound and similar advice that I have heard from the various authors I have met. And...look at where they, including Jojo, are now! Damn, I love being a reader...haha!

Jojo even expressed how much she enjoyed writing and being a part of the making of the film. It's not very often that the author and the director were able to work together in the making of this movie. She expressed how much she wanted to stay close to the book when she wrote the screenplay.

Oh... A fan asked Jojo what her inspiration to write the sequel was? Guess what...her response was "the fans!" Fans were always asking her about Louisa after Me Before You. And, of course, she even admitted that she even wondered that, too; hence, the sequel, After You.

Yeah! I can't wait to read the sequel. After reading Me Before You, OMG, I was absolutely emotional...haha! I seriously had to have a moment after I turned the last page of the book. <sigh>

After the discussion, fans lined up for the signing...and that went smoothly. Of course, the fact that we got passe to watch the movie helped the line to move along...haha! I'm just thrilled to have met such an amazing writer.

Jojo's signing my book!

Had a lot of fun last night! Of course, watching the movie early was a bonus! My review will follow!

View the full event album on Facebook!

RECAP: Twilight 10th Anniversary Tour with Stephenie Meyer

It is hard to believe that it has been ten years since Twilight...the book...was released! Wow! How time flies! And look at how far this book has come for bestselling author Stephenie Meyer! I know...it took me a while to finally write my recap, but the job keeps getting in the way...hahaha!!!

Anyways...

I was in awe when that realization came to light when I found out that Stephenie Meyer went on tour for this. I even got more excited when there was a tour date in Los Angeles that I was able to go to! There was actually two days that Stephenie had tour stops at...one at Barnes & Noble at The Grove and the other at The Last Bookstore, both in Los Angeles. Luckily, the event date for The Last Bookstore was on my day off! Yes! What did I do!?! I purchased an event ticket and planned out my day!

Giving myself plenty of time to drive out to L.A., I arrived with a couple of hours to spare. However, before I even got to park my car, I already noticed a line outside of the store...haha! It was great! Many fans of various ages, came out from all around, to this exciting event!

Being my first time to an event at this particular venue was somewhat apprehensive since I was unsure about how they organize their events. Moreover, I was glad that they did close their doors to the public an hour before the event, so that they can set up for the Q&A. The event even included a professional photographer to take photos. At this particular event, The Last Bookstore had two types of tickets: a Q&A + signing ticket and a signing ONLY ticket. I got the Q&A + signing ticket! Yes, I did! I was not going to drive out to L.A. for just a signing...lol! Besides, it has been a long while since Stephenie Meyer was out on tour! What made it even more memorable and exciting was that, on this particular day, The Last Bookstore was the last stop on Stephenie's Twilight 10th Anniversary Tour!

We even had a bonus special guest at this event! OMG! I was so excited to find out that Jake Abel was going to moderate the Q&A! Of course, I was already a fan since his part in Supernatural, then when he starred in the film adaptation of Stephenie's adult novel, The Host. What a treat was that! Yes, it was...hahaha!! I was able to record most of the Q&A that was filled with many laughs with these two amazing people! 

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Watch it now!

After the brief Q&A was the signing! I really liked how they organized the signing...with wristbands! Yes, they called up fans, twenty at a time, to get their book(s) signed and photo with Stephenie taken. It was great! At first though, there were those who got confused on which three numbers on the wristband they were calling out...haha! Yes, they did say the last 3-4 digits on the wristband...LOL! Anyways...it was awesome! Made some new friends, saw some familiar faces...it was definitely a lot of fun and worth the day in L.A.!

Jasmine with bestselling author Stephenie Meyer

All the while we were in line for the signing, we were looking around for Jake, in hopes that we could catch him for a photo op and signing...haha! Alas, we were not able to roam around in the store. After the signing and photo op with Stephenie, we were directed to the exit...<sigh>. But, that was totally okay since Jake actually exited the store! Yes! We were hanging out just outside the exit; and, low and behold, Jake walked out! OMG moment! Yes! Jake signed my The Host memorabilia...Yay!

Jasmine with Jake Abel (Supernatural, The Host)

View Event Album

Becca Fitzpatrick & Christina Lauren Discussion/Signing at Barnes & Noble

Making the trip down to the Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach, California for another exciting author event always gets me excited being a booknerd and all...haha! When I found out that Becca Fitzpatrick and Christina Lauren was scheduled for an event near enough for me to make the drive out...AND I was not scheduled to work, I was all too excited that I was finally going to meet Becca Fitzpatrick! Although I haven't read her books yet (yes, her books are on my TBR pile), I was excited to learn and get to know this popular author. Several friends have recommended her books to me, so I just had to meet her!

Becca Fitzpatrick

As for Christina Lauren, the amazing writing duo of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, I had met them at a previous event with Melissa dela Cruz! That was also so much fun! Check out the event video, HERE! But this time, with Becca Fitzpatrick, Christina Lauren discusses and signs their latest release Sublime, a young adult paranormal romance. Yes, this time, their latest book is YA, not Adult. It's funny, Christina and Lauren even stated that this was their first YA event...and it was totally different from their adult events...They said that their adult events are more...rowdy...haha!!

Christina Lauren

On this Wednesday night, October 8th, I met up with other booknerd/fangirl friends for this exciting author event! These events are always a great way for booknerd/fangirl friends to get together, have a good time, have a lot of fun, and catch up with each other. Coming from various parts of Southern California, sometimes, getting together can be difficult to do. But on this night, it was as if not a lot of time has passed. There was a lot of fun and laughs to be had that night. And, what a turn out it was! It was great!

Check out the event video and relive the fun we had as Becca Fitzpatrick and Christina Lauren discuss and sign their latest releases, Black Ice and Sublime, respectively!

After the exciting Q&A with the fans, these amazing authors took the time to sign and take photos with everyone! After all the signing and photo ops, I was able to take home some Sublime swag that I will give away! Just keep scrolling to the bottom of the post for the rafflecopter!

Jasmine with Christina Lauren

Jasmine with Becca Fitzpatrick

View the event photo album at: Movies, Shows & Books on Facebook

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Now, let's talk about Becca Fitzpatrick & Christina Lauren's latest releases:

Genre:

Young Adult Romantic Suspense Thriller

Publish Date:

October 7, 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target. 

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally? 

Black Ice is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

  

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Genre:

Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Publish Date:

October 14, 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

True love may mean certain death in a ghostly affair of risk and passion from New York Times bestselling duo Christina Lauren, authors ofBeautiful Bastard. Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author ofShatter Me calls Sublime “a beautiful, haunting read".

When Lucy walks out of a frozen forest, wearing only a silk dress and sandals, she isn’t sure how she got there. But when she sees Colin, she knows for sure that she’s here for him.

Colin has never been captivated by a girl the way he is by Lucy. With each passing day their lives intertwine, and even as Lucy begins to remember more of her life—and her death—neither of them is willing to give up what they have, no matter how impossible it is. And when Colin finds a way to physically be with Lucy, taking himself to the brink of death where his reality and Lucy’s overlap, the joy of being together for those brief stolen moments drowns out everything in the outside world. But some lines weren’t meant to be crossed…

  

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Now, for the Sublime giveaway! Up for grabs are the following:

- 1 Winner will receive a Sublime small notebook & signed bookmark

- 2 Winners will receive 2 signed Sublime bookmarks & a 'boy meets ghost' button

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unmarked by Kami Garcia Release Event at B&N at The Grove

Ever since I was introduced to the Beautiful Creatures Series written by co-authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, I have been following these two authors. I absolutely fell in love with their characters in this series. Since then, these two amazing writers have released their solo books as well. So, you can imagine my excitement when I found out that Kami Garcia was scheduled for an event at the Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles. I was absolutely stoked about it, and I knew I cannot miss it! But, of course, this event was scheduled after the weekend I move my daughter in to her dorm up at UC Davis. So, yah, I was in for a very busy five days...hahaha!! But...oh so worth it! Not only that...this Barnes & Noble store is one of my favorite ones to go to, especially because of the amazing events that takes place there. Yes, I do make the drive to Los Angeles for these events!

Well, on September 30, a few friends and and I attended the fun event celebrating the release of Kami Garcia's book, Unmarked, the second book in The Legions Series. We even had another amazing author, Melissa dela Cruz, to moderate this discussion with Kami! What fun this night was! I'm always learning something new about these authors...it just makes me admire what they even more! It also makes me enjoy reading their books even more....and appreciate everything they put into writing these amazing stories that fans loves to read about!

Kami Garcia and Melissa dela Cruz

Kami Garcia

Of course, Kami's partner in crime, Margaret Stohl, was also there to support Kami, as well as several other authors that I have met before and then some. What an amazing night filled with various authors! Several authors joined in for a fun lightning round of questions and answers! And...that was hilarious! However, I had to contain myself since I was holding the camera...hahaha!! Oh the pain of not being able to really let my laugh out...hahaha! The amazing authors that participated in this fun lightning round were: Katie Alender, Lissa Price, Chrstopher Rice, Gretchen McNeil, Robyn Schneider, Eric Shaw Quinn, and Margaret Stohl...as host for this lightning round.

View the event album at: Movies, Shows & Books on Facebook

Just watch the video below for all the fun and laughs that Kami, Melissa, Margie, and all the authors having a great time at it, and you'll see what I was talking about...haha! All their antics and fun banter made this event so lively and enjoyable for everyone! I know I had a good time.

Many thanks to the great staff at Barnes & Noble at the Grove in Los Angeles, California for holding such awesome events at their store!

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Now let's talk about Unmarked, the second book in The Legion Series, we are celebrating!

Genre:

Young Adult Paranormal/Supernatural Romance

Horror/Suspense

Series:

The Legion Series, #2

Publish Date:

September 30, 2014

Publisher:

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Synopsis:

The heart-pounding sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, Unbreakable, by New York Times bestselling Beautiful Creatures co-author Kami Garcia.

He is here... and he could be anyone.

Kennedy Waters lives in a world where vengeance spirits kill, ghosts keep secrets, and a demon walks among us–a demon she accidentally set free. 

Now Kennedy and the other Legion members–Alara, Priest, Lukas, and Jared–have to hunt him down. As they learn more about the history of the Legion and the Illuminati, Kennedy realizes that the greatest mystery of all does not belong to any secret order, but to her own family. With the clock ticking and the life of someone she loves hanging in the balance, Kennedy has to ask the question she fears most: what is it about her past that has left her Unmarked?

   

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Sequel to:

     

Read my review on Unbreakable here!

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**About the Author**

Kami Garcia at SDCC 2013

Kami Garcia is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Indiebound and international best-selling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures Series -- and the author of Unbreakable, the first book in The Legion Series, which releases on October 1, 2013. Beautiful Creatures has been published in 50 countries and translated in 39 languages, and it was named Amazon's #1 Teen Book of 2009, and #5 on the Editor's Top 100. The Beautiful Creatures movie based on the novel, released in theaters in February 2013, from Warner Bros., directed by Richard LaGravenese and starring Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Emmy Rossum, Thomas Mann, Viola Davis, Jeremy Irons, and Emma Thompson. 

Kami Garcia has an MA in education, and taught in the Washington DC area until she moved to Los Angeles, where she was a teacher & Reading Specialist for 17 years. In addition to teaching Kami was a professional artist and led fantasy book groups for children and teens. Kami is fascinated with the paranormal, and she's very superstitious. When she isn't writing, Kami can usually be found watching disaster movies, listening to Soundgarden, or drinking Diet Coke. She recently moved and now lives in Maryland with her husband, son, daughter and their dogs Spike and Oz (named after characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

Stay connected with Kami Garcia

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