Marie Lu's Last Stop on her Champion Tour at Mysterious Galaxy, Redondo Beach

New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu went on her Champion Tour to celebrate the explosive finale to her Legend Trilogy! December 7, 2013 marked the end of her exciting whirlwind tour (in her home town) at Mysterious Galaxy in Redondo Beach, California.

Photo by Mysterious Galaxy

Event info from Mysterious Galaxy Calendar of Events:

Marie Lu's epic dystopian young adult trilogy was a huge hit at MG even before Legend hit our shelves. Join Marie to celebrate Champion, as June and Day deal romance, politics, loyalty, betrayal, and necessary hard choices. Publishers Weekly's starred review notes: "A happy-ever-after glow was never in the cards for these two, but Lu displays a hint of Charlotte Brontë in the resolution her characters find." 

~~~~

My daughter, Mariah, and I was looking forward to an afternoon with an amazing author. Although we haven't read Marie Lu's books...yet, I've read enough to know that these are books that intrigues us. And, of course, many of our booknerd friends have highly recommended her books to us as well. Therefore, that Saturday afternoon was an event not to be missed.

What started off as a beautiful Saturday afternoon turned dark with its rainy weather. Mariah and I was on our way to a fun book event celebrating the release of Marie Lu's Champion release. After Mariah attended her AP Calculus Saturday class, we were ready and on the way to Redondo Beach to meet Marie Lu. However, all did not go as planned on this Saturday afternoon. Yes, as I mentioned earlier, Saturday afternoon turned out to be a rainy afternoon which led up to slower traffic and an accident along our way to Redondo Beach. Oh the frustration...hahaha! We would have made it on time if we didn't have the weather against...LOL!  Despite the weather and traffic, we were still determined to get to Mysterious Galaxy...even if we missed the discussion and the audience Q&A. As long as we made it in time for the signing so that we could meet her was all that was left to look forward to. After getting through the traffic and rain, we made it...even though we made it to the end of the Q&A...we made it in time for the signing...yay!

While Mariah got in line with many other fans that attended the event, I had purchased the book and found other booknerd friends. We even brought our other two books, Legend and Prodigy, that we purchased at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, for Marie Lu to personalize. We did have the opportunity to meet her then, but we missed the scheduled time...<sigh> No worries, there's always other opportunities to meet authors such as: book signings at bookstores, book festivals and conventions. So when we found out about the Champion Tour, we definitely planned on going. As we waited for our turn to meet and to chat with Marie Lu, we chatted with our booknerd friends that was also in attendance for this fun event.

The start of the signing line!

Fans in line to meet Marie Lu!

Marie Lu chatting with a fan

Fan photo op!

Marie Lu signing for fans!

When our turn came, we were definitely excited! I even told her that we barely made it in time driving in from Coachella. Marie Lu was happily surprised that we drove out for her event. We chatted a bit about making the drive out to meet authors and to talk about books. Marie expressed her appreciation that we came down for her in support of her books. We even chatted a bit about the Champion book trailer! I mentioned it to her that the book trailer looked like a movie trailer. Marie expressed how happy and amazed at how well the trailer was made.

Mariah with Marie Lu

Jasmine with Marie Lu!

To view the entire event photo album, go to: Movies, Shows & Books

~~~~

Synopsis

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has.

  

~~~~

Read The Legend Trilogy from the beginning...

  

Legend (Book 1 of the Legend Trilogy) book trailer

Prodigy (Book 2 of the Legend Trilogy) book trailer

Champion (Book 3 of the Legend Trilogy) book trailer

~~~~

About Marie Lu

I write young adult novels, and have a special love for dystopian books. Ironically, I was born in 1984. I like food, fighter jets, afternoon tea, happy people, electronics, the interwebz, cupcakes, pianos, bright colors, rain, Christmas lights, sketches, animation, dogs, farmers' markets, video games, and of course, books. I suck at working out. I also get lost very easily, but am a halfway decent driver. At least, I like to think so. :)

I left Beijing for the States in 1989 and went off to college at the University of Southern California. California weather sweet-talked me into sticking around, so I'm currently in Pasadena with my boyfriend, two Pembroke Welsh Corgis, and a chihuahua mix. In my past life, I was an art director in the video game industry, but now I write full-time.

Stay connected with Marie Lu

Website

   

~~~~

Thank you Mysterious Galaxy for hosting this amazing event! 

Thank you Marie Lu for coming out for your fans!

Leigh Bardugo Discusses Books with Guest Host Robin Lafevers

After Leigh Bardugo's Fierce Read Tour, she still made time for a few signings in the Los Angeles, CA area. Hence, my excitement for her signing event at Mysterious Galaxy bookstore event in Redondo Beach. At first, my plan was to go to Barnes & Noble at The Grove, but there was a conflict with another author event...but, I'm not going to go into that quite yet. That's another post for later...haha!!

Where to start!! Friday morning, June 21, 2013, I checked out my Twitter feed, low and behold, Leigh Bardugo has been tweeting about the event! She even mentioned that she will have "swag!" Not only "swag" was mentioned, a guest host was also mentioned, Robin Lafevers, author of the His Fair Assassin series, Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph! Now, my excitement escalated another notch. Now, knowing that traffic can be a "pain in the ass," I decided to leave somewhat early...we pretty much left Coachella about 1PM.  Well, that was how excited I was..haha! My daughter and I were soon on our way to a fun night with a couple of awesome authors. 

It was a sunny and beautiful day in Redondo Beach! We made good time to Mysterious Galaxy bookstore where this exciting author event was held.  We purchased our books and patiently waited in the coffee cafe that also shared the building with the bookstore. Not only were we waiting for the authors, other booknerd friends were also on their way to this event. As time passed, fans trickled in to the store to meet these fun authors. With that said, the excitement in the atmosphere was definitely filling the store. Soon enough, the staff arranged the event area.

Soon after everyone took their seats, Leigh Bardugo and Robin Lafevers arrived. And, the event and the fun began! It was such an amazing night! Both authors enlightened the audience with so much animated discussion on their books, their characters, ideas and writing. Not only did they share their thoughts about the whole YA trend, they also discussed points of views in their stories and advice for aspiring writers. It was definitely a fun night filled with awesome information about the great books readers enjoy! Wow! What an amazing turn out! With the arrival of more fans, the event area became "standing room only" since all the seats available were all taken.

A Mysterious Galaxy author event

Leigh Bardugo and Robin Lafevers

Leigh Bardugo

Robin Lafevers

The discussion began with the "favorite character" question in which Robin Lafevers asked of Leigh Bardugo, as seen in this first clip:

As talks on books continued, the topic of the "beauty standard" in YA novels was discussed with quite a bit of amusement, as seen in this second clip:

After host questions, the Q&A continued with audience questions in the next couple of clips:

In this fourth clip, a fan asked their thoughts on possible books on their character's points of view:

For a few of the fans, whom are aspiring writers, both authors were asked for advice on what references to use on how to start writing. Another fan then asked about character being inspired by real people they know, as we can view in the final two clips:

As the discussion ended, the signing began. The staff asked that everyone in seats to remain seated so that the fans that were sitting on the floor and that were standing could line up for the signing first. It was great that everyone proceeded with the signing "in an orderly fashion." Despite the excitement to meet both authors face to face, everyone did proceed accordingly. In addition to meeting Leigh Bardugo and Robin Lafevers face to face, we were able to take posed photos with them. They absolutely rocked that night!  Leigh even had some swag for her eager fans...me included! Robin even told me that she usually has swag for fans, but it was such short notice that she didn't bring any. I could only reply, "next time at another event." And, when there is another event, especially when the third book in the His Fair Assassin series is released, we will definitely be there. I'm just thrilled that she signed my books and got a pic with her!! Yup!!! I am so a booknerd...haha!!!

What a way to have a fun Friday night!

Leigh Bardugo

Robin Lafevers

Leigh Bardugo and Robin Lafevers

Fans excitedly waiting for their turn with these awesome authors!

Jasmine and Leigh Bardugo

Mariah and Leigh Bardugo

Robin Lafevers and Jasmine

My books signed by Leigh Bardugo

My books signed by Robin Lafevers

For more photos of this fun event, go to:  

Movies, Shows & Books

Enjoy!