Machinations of my Muddled Mind: Resonant Recaps: Stephanie Perkins Book Signing

I have reiterated numerous times in this blog that YA Contemporary has never been one of my strongest suits. So the moment I finished reading Anna and the French Kiss, I immediately knew I was hooked to the writing style of Stephanie Perkins, and the only problem I was facing that time was, "What time do I come to the book signing event?"

I don't know whether or not it was sheer luck or divine intervention in the process, but here comes my friend, Laurence of The Lucius Flux -I didn't know him that well at the time- asking me what time I went to the Veronica, Tahereh, and Riggs and Jenny Hann book signings so he could estimate what time he should go there. And when he decided to camp out in front of NBS in the middle of the night, I decided "Might as well join him in camping".

I arrived in NBS at around 5 PM last July 5. We decided to shift our time of arrival from 8 to 5, because there were A LOT of rumors going on around the internet about people camping out for the night. And lo and behold; when I got there, there were already 2 people - Jerzon and Pamela - who were already camped out, and I was the third, and after 40 minutes, Laurence came. A couple of minutes passed then two more arrived, Anjeli and Vanessa, and an hour or so later Wenna arrived. AND OUR SEPTET IS NOW COMPLETE


Left to Right: Vanessa (6), Pamela (2), Anjeli (5), Laurence (4), Wenna (7), Godwin (3), Jerzon (1)

And then the actual camping experience, that lasted from closing time to the reopening of National Bookstore.

During around 1 AM, everyone was basically tired and over-fatigued, and all of us just want a long relaxing sleep, and then we discovered the secret to beating those drooping eyelids.

Fanboying!

One of our friends kept of tweeting National Bookstore and the author herself, Stephanie Perkins, and god were we surprised to see STEPHANIE PERKINS AND HER HUSBAND when they decided to drop by and say hi. THAT WAS EVEN BETTER THAN THE ACTUAL BOOK SIGNING EVENT!!!!

Of course, as soon as their visit was over, all of our droopy eyes were now alert; it's like all of us drank 5 cups of dark coffee. We were that hyped up! And for me, the adrenaline coursing through my veins lasted until the registration time of the signing. I was supper hyped up!

And then come registration 10 AM everyone started taking pictures, talking, pictures, catching up, taking pictures, fanboying/girling, and taking more pictures.

And then the moment we have all been waiting for arrived. Stephanie Perkins came in the house with all her green dress glory, and along with her was Jarrod! Everyone went ballistic the moment she passed through those doors.

Stephanie talked a lot about her inspiration about her series. She told us it started in a dream of her in Paris; she was with an extremely hot guy with an English accent. And when she woke up, she can't seem to get rid the thought out her head, and thus the birth of our favorite YA Contemporary book series.

When the interview was over, the host called the names of the first seven fans who camped outside National Bookstore, and of course, Laurence and I were there. And then the author noticed I tried to cosplay as Josh Wasserstien from Isla and the Happily Ever After, from which resulted the obliteration of my dignity in front of nearly 700 people.

Stephanie: Oh look, he dressed up as Josh! *points to my Sharpie drawn tattoo and then gives the mike to me*
Me: Uhhhhhhh. . . HAI!!!! *internal facepalm*