RECAP: Discussion & Signing with Jennifer L. Armentrout, Monica Murphy & Melody Grace

I was absolutely thrilled when I found out that Jennifer L. Armentrout was going to be out in Los Angeles! In addition this amazing author, Jennifer L. Armentrout was also in good company with bestselling authors Monica Murphy and Melody Grace! It was a triple delight of excitement for booknerds! 'Coz I know I was since this was the first time meeting these amazing authors! Not only that...Jennifer L. Armentrout brought two special guests with her! Yes! She brought the book cover models Drew Leighty and Pepe Toth from the Titan Series and the Lux Series, respectively! Whoa! What a treat!

Thankfully, I was able to attend this amazing event that was held at the Barnes & Noble in Calabasas, California! Hey...it was a Saturday, and L.A. traffic wasn't too bad! Yay! L.A. traffic is such a pain to drive in...ugh! Anyways, after picking up fellow fangirl Mina (My Fangirl Chronicles), we were on our way to Calabasas! After arriving at Barnes & Noble, Mina and I had plenty of time to roam the store since it was the first time we visited that store. As we waited, a couple more fangirl friends joined us for this fun event!

The Barnes & Noble in Calabasas is really a nice store! Jane and the staff were awesome in handling the event, but, at first, I wasn't sure if the entire staff had correct information...just saying. It didn't seem like they all were on the "same page" in regards to the details of the event. But, in the end, the event had a pretty good turn out! I got to finally meet three amazing authors!

Check out what I was able to record of the discussion...before my battery ran out...haha! Watch it now! However, I must warn you that the sound isn't great, no mics were used, so there will be parts that is barely audible. But, I think I got most of it.

After that fun discussion, the signing ensued right after the chairs were removed and the tables set up. Everyone lined up to their perspective authors. Most everyone lined up for Jennifer L. Armentrout; however, I took advantage of the long line for Jennifer that I went over to meet Monica Murphy and Melody Grace!

Jasmine with bestselling author Monica Murphy

Jasmine with bestselling author Melody Grace

I was totally gushing like a fangirl...lol! No way I was going to hold back! The excitement was infectious! I was able to chat a bit with both authors, and it was so delightful to be able to chat with them about books and books to come.

We didn't just meet authors, we met two book cover models, too! It is so cool to meet the models that are on the covers of favorite! We also got to meet Pepe Toth (LUX Series) and Drew Leighty (Titan Series)!

Jasmine w/ Pepe Toth

Jasmine w/ Drew Leighty

View Event Album

All in all, we had a blast the entire afternoon! Meeting all these amazing people made the day worth the drive out! Oh...and we even got all our books signed! Yes...all! We weren't the only ones with a bunch of books. We even saw someone who brought a luggage full of books for Jennifer to sign...lol! Yah...that's the life of a booknerd! Gotta love it!

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)

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RECAP: Authors In The OC 2015

Well, it's October and it is officially Breast Cancer Awareness month. All throughout October various campaigns, events, and fundraisers takes place to raise awareness and support programs dedicated to the research and education for treatment and a cure for this disease. And...Authors In The OC is just one event, among many, that has taken place this month to raise funds for this worthy cause. For more information about Breast Cancer Awareness, go to: http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month

About Authors In The OC

Authors In The OC event is a book signing event with a Meet & Greet afterwards. We come together to meet our favorite authors, meet new ones and hang out with our fellow book lovers while raising money for a very good cause: Our Tatas!

Money raised from this event will benefit the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer via the Fifty Shades of Pink team.

For more information about these events, go to their site:

Authors In The OC

Fifty Shades of Pink

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

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Well, this was the second year I have attended this awe-inspiring event, in which proceeds goes to benefit such a wonderful cause! This year, just like the last, had an impressive list of authors attending. However, there was a very last minute drop due to Health reasons. Alas, the author that had no choice but to drop out was Colleen Hoover. Although many fans were disappointed, we all had an abundance of compassion for her and understood. There was a lot of love pouring out for Colleen before, during, and after this event. And, of course, we all know there will be other events and opportunities to meet this amazing author!

I got to the hotel a bit early with about thirty minutes to spare, and already a line had formed and had almost reached the lobby...at the time. Of course, the line continued to get longer! Yup! Many attendees had come from all parts of the United States to attend and support this exciting event benefiting an incredible cause! Soon we were able to check-in and pick up some pre-orders (that's if you pre-ordered swag and/or books). In addition to all the "check-in" activity in the lounge, there was an official bookseller present! Yup, Barnes&Noble was the official bookseller! Yay! Moreover, we were there to support this great cause, even attendees were treated with raffle giveaways! That was totally fun! Basically, we were given a table map of where each author table; we get a stamp from each table, then turn it in...for a chance to win a Kindle Fire! Although it was a great incentive, I was just as determined to meet ALL the authors...raffle or no raffle! I wanted to meet all these cool writers!

Luckily, I got a VIP upgrade...woohoo! That allowed VIP ticket holders in early for an hour before the official event started to meet & greet authors! I was so amazed at how many people had come to attend this wonderful event! I mean...last year was so incredible that this year's event got even bigger and even more successful. I can only see this getting bigger and bigger every year! I was definitely awe-struck! I didn't see any difference between VIP and General Admission tickets...much. VIPs just get that hour early meet & greet, plus VIP tickets to ticketed authors. Yes, a few authors had to be ticketed due to their popularity. After that VIP hour, it was time for lunch! But, it didn't look like anyone was going to lunch, except the authors, since people just started to line up again. So...that pretty much meant skipping lunch...hahaha!!! And...I did! I definitely did not want to miss meeting all these awesome authors...LOL! However, VIP or not, there was plenty of time to meet all the authors...that's as long as attendees arrive on time.

VIP line waiting to enter for that early VIP hour

Tarryn Fisher line (ticketed author)

Since this being my second time at this event, I pretty much learned to pace myself and pick out which authors to see first and which authors to come back to. Otherwise, there is an opportunity to see all the authors, get books and souvenirs signed, pick up a bunch of swag, and even get photo ops with the authors. Oh yeah! Posed pictures are so allowed! On top of all that, there's plenty of opportunity to make new friends with booknerds!

By the end of the day, I was exhausted and hungry! But, I was very happy to have meet them all! I even had a collage made (actually three) for them to sign, because I already knew my budget. But, it definitely was not going to stop me from meeting them. Mission accomplished! I totally had a blast meeting favorite and new authors...and made some new friends! I was absolutely thrilled to have met a few authors that I have been wanting to meet since reading their books; in addition, to returning favorite author(s). Shanora Williams, Ruth Clampett, Cambria Hebert, and Mary Ting were just a few authors that I definitely was determined to meet. I was absolutely thrilled about it that I was completely giddy with excitement. Oh yeah, I was so fangirling the entire day...LOL!

Jasmine with Author Shanora Williams

Jasmine with Author Ruth Clampett

Jasmine with Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke

Jasmine w/ Author Cambria Hebert & model Nathan Weller

My collage signed by all the authors & models!

View more photos at: Movies, Shows & Books on Facebook

Can't wait til next year!

RECAP: Cassandra Clare & Holly Black Launches "The Copper Gauntlet" in Menlo Park, CA

We had the great pleasure to attend a fun author event at Kepler's Bookstore in Menlo Park, California....for the first time! I was definitely excited! Kepler's has hosted various events that I would have loved to attend, but of course, location doesn't work for us since we live in Southern California...haha!

Well, it just so happened that it was time to take Mariah back up to Davis to start her second year at UC Davis. When news got to me that these amazing authors were going to be having an event, I purchased tickets.

On the day of the event, we took a short drive (about 2 hours) to Menlo Park for this exciting event. This was our first time going to this bookstore since we weren't exactly local to the northern part of California. It was a beautiful and sunny Friday afternoon as we made our way to Menlo Park. 

When we arrived to Kepler's, a few fans had already started to line up outside the bookstore. Being that it was our first time to an event at this store, we definitely asked questions. The staff was extremely helpful. Thankfully we got there early allowing us to have a good spot in line. Yay! Soon more fans for this ticketed event started to line up. Of course, "check-in" started about an hour before the event, and everyone had filed in to take their seats. We even noticed various reserved seating for the authors' guests. The few that I noticed with reserved seatings were author Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes) and Sophie (Mundie Moms).

After a little intro and a reminder of event/store etiquette by the event host turned over the mic to Sophie to introduce the evening's special guests! Luckily, we were able to record the event...thanks to Kepler's... We are able to share the fun and laughs we had with Cassandra Clare and Holly Black!



After all the Q&A, lightning round, and laughs, the book signing followed. Due to the large turnout, posed pictures with the authors was not allowed. We were allowed to line up for the signing as long as each person had a copy of either The Iron Trial and/or The Copper Gauntlet...They are, after all, celebrating the release of The Copper Gauntlet. As a bonus, Cassie allowed 2 other books of hers and Holly allowed as many of her books to be signed. After Cassie and Holly were set up at the signing table, the staff released the audience, row by row, to the signing line. It was great! Everyone followed the rules and lined up in an orderly manner! Wow!!! The excitement was definitely undeniable, but still everyone was so well-controlled. I've been to several book events, and I was definitely impressed at how Kepler's organized and maintained conduct during the event, especially when it was Cassandra Clare and Holly Black. We totally enjoyed our time there...even the husband laughed with the audience!

It was also great to see fellow fangirl, Mina of My Fangirl Chronicles, at the event! That's another bonus to attending author events! Meeting booknerds and meeting up with fellow booknerds just adds to the fun and excitement!

Well, I can go on and on, but I think the video will pretty much cover most, if not all, of the Q&A of the event. But, here are a few photos from the event!

Sophie of Mundie Moms

 

 

Authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

 

For more photos, go to: Movies, Shows & Books on Facebook

Now, if you live in that area and you want to know more about events happening at Kepler's Books, go to: http://www.keplers.com/

RECAP: San Diego Comic Con 2015

It was that time of summer...again! For many geeks and nerds, we all know that time of year to be the annual San Diego Comic Convention, where fans of all genres of pop culture come together to celebrate and enjoy a 4-day weekend of fandom festivities. I will have to say that those four days was exciting, yet exhausting! Nevertheless, we can plan all we like, plans always changes once we're in the middle of all the festivities.

Quite frankly, we start preparing for this amazing event one year in advance! Oh yeah! This preparation is mainly saving up monies that we will spend at this Con which includes: food, souvenirs, signings, hotel, and etc. So far, our method of saving all our change for a year before has helped us to provide our pocket money...and, it works! For us, anyways!

 Every year, San Diego, particularly the Gaslamp Quarter, gets all decked out for Comic Con. And, every year, they always work at outdoing last year's set ups, especially with the onslaught of new movies, TV shows, books, and, of course, comic books. It's pop culture at its peak! Fans of all ages and all genres of pop culture enjoy a four-day weekend filled with exhibits that are amazing and interactive! Yes, several booths were set up for fans experience their favorite shows up close and personal. Booths such as AMC, ABC, SyFy to NBC's set up outside of the convention center, all to give fans a sneak peek and fun experience of many favorite and new TV shows. Let me just say that every year is always an amazing surprise to see all the cool and exciting set ups.

Oh, can't forget those religious fanatics preaching during this entire weekend....haha!! It's always the same thing every year. We actually saw a couple of ladies getting worked up over it. Wow! Those religious speakers accomplished what they wanted....a reaction! Anyways, just had to throw that out there...haha!

Even in the early hours, SDCC 2015 attendees line up to enter the exhibit hall, Ballroom 20, Hall H, and all the other rooms where many panels are held. There are those that also camp out, especially for Hall H and Ballroom 20, in order to get seats near the stage. Yeah... Mariah and I decided against that. We camped out one year, and that was the last time...not fun at all. Well...maybe a little bit of fun, especially when with friends and meeting new fellow fans
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Even celebrities and authors were out and about in San Diego for this exciting four-day weekend; hence, the long lines and camping out just so they can get a decent view of their favorite celebrities of whom cast in movies and/or TV shows. Mariah and I got to sit in the panels for A&E's Damien and Fox's Lucifer! Both panels had the cast in the panel. Moreover, we got to watch the pilot episode for Lucifer. That was just awesome...what a sneak peek! A&E gave the audience an exclusive sneak peek with an exciting trailer! As for the other panels we attended, we focused a lot on anime and manga since Mariah is an aspiring artist and this is what her focus is. Sooo...that's what we took advantage of at the Con. Some panels were informative and fun, but others....eh...not so much.

I can't forget meeting authors! I can never get tired of meeting new authors and favorite authors! It's so much fun to catch up with them, especially with their latest books. So, of course, being a booknerd, I brought several books from home to get signed...that is if I can get to the signings...haha! When signings are ticketed, it can be difficult. Luckily, I got most of the authors that I wanted to meet, such as: Sarah J. Maas, Melissa de la Cruz, Cecil Castalucci, Marie Lu, Leigh Bardugo, Mary E. Pearson, and Thomas E. Sniegoski! This last author, Thomas E. Sniegoski, was a chance meeting, too! I just took a chance that maybe he would be at SDCC and brought my books...just in case, and it paid off. Thank goodness I brought my Fallen books with me...haha! 

On top of everything that was happening, it was especially exciting to see and catch up with friends! Even with thousands of people crowded in the convention center, we were able to run into friends...and make new ones, too!

We can't forget all the cosplayers out there! And, wow, there were some that were very elaborate. I am just amazed at how much work they put into these costumes, especially in getting it close to accurate! It's definitely very cool! They even cause a crowd! And...every year, checking out the costumes is always fun to check out.

By the last day of the Con, Mariah and I spent it walking the exhibit hall, snapping photos, gathering swag, and obtaining more signings. Luckily, we were able to get a few signings throughout the entire weekend. Most notably, the signing with the cast of Batman v. Superman! This was a ticketed signing at the DC comics booth. Huge "thank you" to Sue, Chelsea, and Jenevia for getting a couple guys to holler at me as I walked by them...hahaha!!! At the time, I was making my way to another booth to get a ticket for another signing, but the line they were in was a lot more exciting...haha! A chance to meet Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Holly Hunter, Jeremy Irons, Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Adams, and director Zack Snyder...yeah, I definitely got my Con priorities straight...haha! I was definitely swooning after meeting these amazing people, even when the DC crew was ushering us along the line! However, I totally understand why the rush... it's Comic Con, after all!

Now, for those who are after autographs and photo ops with celebrities, the autograph area, located in the Sails Pavilion, is the place to go. However, there are those that charge a "pretty penny," I say it is totally worth it, especially if these opportunities to meet favorite celebrities don't come often. For instance, meeting some of the cast of Battlestar Galactica (2003), totally made it worth it! Oh yeah! Mariah and I met Kandyse McClure, Tahmoh Penikett, Sam Witwer, and Edward James Olmos! I was totally giddy like a fangirl...haha!

Though it was an exhausting four-day weekend, it was expected with all the walking we did. Although we didn't get our usual parking at the Hilton Bayside, due to a lottery by ACE Parking, parking at the Horton Plaza wasn't too bad. However, along with other attendees, I wasn't all too happy with this parking lottery that took place in April. Many attendees, including myself, weren't aware that it even took place....oh well!

We'll be highlighting each panel that we attended in separate posts. I'll also be posting more photos on our Facebook page, here!

Well, another year of the San Diego Comic Con has come and gone...and all the festivities has ended. Time to save up for next year...hahaha!!

View all the photos from all four days, HERE!