August-December 2014 Book Signing Events

August to December 2014 Book Signing Events in the Philippines made possible by National Bookstore.

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Alex London’s Book Signing Event

August 30, 2014- SM Aura, Metro Manila

 

About the author via Goodreads:

Alex London writes books for adults (One Day The Soldiers Came: Voices of Children in War), children (Dog Tags series; An Accidental Adventure series) and teens (Proxy). At one time a journalist reporting from conflict zones and refugee camps, he is now a full time novelist living in Brooklyn, NY, where he can be found wandering the streets talking to his dog, who is the real brains of the operation.

 

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As some of you may know, I was not able to attend Alex London’s book signing event due to my Saturday classes. Believe me fellow Bibliophiles, I really wish that I had the utmost honor of meeting him. Since I really wasn’t able to attend, I just had my copy of Proxy signed instead, a very special mention to my friend, Godwin, for bring my copy!

I talked to some few people about their meeting with Alex London and it was fun to hear from people about their experience at the event. It’ll be a pleasure to share it with you.

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TOMI CHUA

-Arrived at 10:30am and was number 65.

-Third time on a book signing event

-“I’ve read the first four chapters (Proxy). I liked the way the novel started and well… It’s had a fresh new take on the dystopian genre that I really, really loved.”

-Tomi went to the event with two of his Pinoy Book Freaks United or PBFU friends. Also, “I met with an old friend and made new ones. Overall, it was fun. It’s always a happy moment when in a book signing.”

-Tomi to Alex London:

“Best part is that he won’t stop talking… Kidding. But honestly, I loved how he was able to inspire people especially war refugees just by writing novels.”

“He was very friendly… As in super and he really loves talking and meeting with fans… Oh his favorite color is green. The signing was very different compared to the other one. One thing I liked was there was no rush for him. You could actually stay and chat with him. I wasn’t able to do that with the other signings.”

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ETHAN LEE

-Arrived at around 12nn and was number 132.

-“I have read Proxy and Guardian and loved the way he had characters of different ethnicity and sexuality.”

-First time on a book signing event

-“I met up with a friend there but made two more and later was invited to join a book signing group.” The group is named the Peculiar Family.

-Ethan to Alex London:

“When he was asked about the possibility of a movie he asked for us to stay tuned for the next two weeks. When I finally met him (after 3 hours) he said I looked nervous which I was, and I said it was because I REALLY liked him and his books. Then I don’t remember exactly what he said but I remember him saying I had Knox’s hair (!!!!) which was probably the best moment of my life, then I got a picture and said bye.”

-Ethan shares that, “I plan to cosplay as Knox (after his comment) I did some art I planned to give him but it wasn’t done on time :(( and I did meet some fandom members and they were all fun people.”

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ROMMEL REDUCTO

-Arrived at 11am and was number 85.

-“I already read his books (Proxy and Guardian). I am really a fan of dystopian and apocalyptic novels, which is the books’ genre. I have many reasons why I really love these novels. First off, Syd’s character has a strong personality regardless of him being a gay. How he change peoples’ lives, even his Patron’s life. I like the way he show his courage. Secondly, the ways Alex London write the novel. It is awesome, as if I’m the characters themselves.. Lastly, I JUST LOVE Alex London. He is so kind, awesome.

-First time on a book signing event

-Rommel went to the event alone but luckily, like Tomi, he’s a member of PBFU. “I found out that some members also went there, we met, and I gained them as new friends. Shoutouts to Camille, John Cedie, Jerneel, Mary Joy and his boyfriend, Joshua and Mia!”

-Rommel to Alex London:

“The best part was when Alex talked about his life as a journalist. In a refugee camp where he once worked, he met a kid who loves reading books. One day the kid asked him if he could give him a book. Then Alex gave the kid his copy of The Prince. Alex found out that the kid, who is now a teenager, built the biggest library in the refugee camp. I had goose bumps when Alex was telling this story. It is inspiring.”

“I readied myself before my turn since I was in the fifth batch. I practiced what I’m going to say to him, keeping my mind and body relaxed because I am nervous during that time. Then my turn came. I was standing in front of him and I said hello. He keeps on talking to me even though I didn’t respond to him. So here is the exact conversation that I had with him:

Me: Hello.

Alex: Hi.

Me: ….

Alex: How is your day going?

Me: (I’m just staring with him)

Alex: Thank you for supporting me and reading my books.

Me: (I just keep on staring with him)

Alex: You’re speechless.

Me: Just really don’t know what to say. I’ve been waiting since June. And here I am standing in front of you and can’t even talk because… I really don’t know. Thank you, Alex. Can I hug you?

Alex: Sure!

And he hugs me, twice! Yay!

I was starstrucked. Speechless. I can’t handle my feelings. My throat dried, my voice hardly came out. As if the world around me stopped for a while. The short time talking with one of my favorite authors is amazing. He inspires me through his works, that is why I love him.”

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JANISSE

-Arrived between 11:45-12-15nn and was number 100

-“I have read Proxy, but I haven’t read Guardian yet. I love everything about Proxy! I love the action, explosions, and the fictional futuristic world. I love the fact that the characters have different races, sexuality, beliefs and perspectives. I enjoyed the peaceful moments in the book where Syd, Knox and Marie just joked around. I LOVE KNOX!!

I think I’m one of the few people who love the ending. Yes, I was shattered by Knox’s death (I love him!) and it was difficult for me to accept what happened to him, but just as Alex said, the world he created is a very dangerous one and awful things will inevitably happen. I really like that Alex made it clear throughout the book that there was nothing romantic between Syd and Knox. I love romance as much as the next girl, but Syd and Knox’s relationship is all about friendship and loyalty (and debts!). Knox did not choose to die because he loves Syd in a romantic way. Knox wanted to give Syd the life that he [Knox] owes him [Syd]. Besides, the world of the story changes after Proxy and I don’t want that world to change Knox. I want Knox to always be Knox (clever, charming, flirty and defiant) and because he died, he won’t change and he’ll be cemented as KNOX.”

-Second time on a book signing event

-Janisse went alone but met two new friends.

-Janisse to Alex London:

“I got to talk Alex for a few minutes. I told him that I really love Proxy and I’m so thankful that he wrote it (My voice kind of sounded like I was about to cry… I really wasn’t about to cry.) He asked me if there was a particular part of the book that I liked and I told him that I love the ending (and I stated my reasons). Then, our picture was taken. At the end of our conversation, I asked for a hug and he gave me one! I didn’t want to let go. He told me that it was so nice to meet me and I said the same.”

-Janisse shares thatm “National Book Store gave free Proxy bookmarks to everyone who was at the book signing event (as if you needed more reason to be envious… Lol)! Alex was really cool during picture taking. He was game with whatever crazy pose/s his fans wanted to do.

I am so busy with college stuff (I’m 17 and a sophomore) that I didn’t get to make signs or anything.”

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MIA GARCIA

-Arrived at around 12nn and was number 109.

-“I haven’t read the book because unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of time. But I really, really wanted to finish it before the book signing but my schedule didn’t allow me to. I’ve read the synopsis of Alex’s books though. I’ve also read reviews as well as quotations from the book from Goodreads.

-Not her first time on a book signing event

-Mia went to the event with her boyfriend who also got his books signed and was actually his first book signing event to attend on. Mia met some of her book friends online too.

-For Mia, the unforgettable part of the event was, “When Alex London shared his experience at a refugee camp. I tried so hard to prevent, myself from crying since his story was so moving. You could feel the emotion he felt when he spoke. He was so inspiring and that made me admire and look up to him so much.”

-Mia to Alex London:

“Honestly, I couldn’t explain. I was still having an instense hangover from his story about the refugee camp so when it was my turn to meet him… It was so surreal. I was so starstruck and I’m not the type of person who gets starstruck.”

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JERNEEL MALONZO

-Arrived at 8am and was number 35.

-I was reading Proxy at that time. I like that Syd (The Proxy and main character) is gay because I am gay myself. It’s nice to have a gay main character in a mainstream YA book.

-First time on a book signing event

-Jerneel came with his friend and met with other PBFU members.

-Like the others, Jerneel’s unforgettable moment during the event was when, “It was when he told us this story about a boy in a refugee camp. I literally had goose bumps.”

-Jerneel to Alex London:

“I was not a fan (because I was not yet done with his book, at that time, okay?) so meeting him is something I would describe as a pleasant experience. Hearing him talk about his work and being goofy, perky and all made me like him a lot. I guess, I like him as a person. That’s what I can say at this time. As an author, let us say, he made me interested. I will definitely read and buy (legit copies) Guardian and will let you know if I love him as an author (because it takes time, okay?).

Some of the Pinoy Book Freaks Untied members at Alex London’s Book Signing Event

The Peculiar Family at Alex London’s Book Signing Event

The Peculiar Family’s group photo with Alex London!

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Jennifer Smith and Lissa Price’s Book Signing Event

September 20, 2014- SM Aura, Metro Manila

 

About the authors via Goodreads:

Jennifer E. Smith is the author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, The Storm Makers, You Are Here, and The Comeback Season. She earned her master’s degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and currently works as an editor in New York City. Her writing has been translated into 28 languages.

Lissa Price’s debut novel STARTERS is an award-winning, international bestseller published in over thirty countries. Dean Koontz called this YA futuristic thriller “a smart, swift, inventive, altogether gripping story.” The LA Times said it is “Dystopian science-fiction at its best,” and “Readers who have been waiting for a worthy successor to ‘The Hunger Games’ will find it here.”

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Jennifer and Lissa’s arrival at Manila from Cebu was welcomed by the aftermath of a heavy storm the night before. This resulted into a lot of readers who was supposed to attend the event to back out due to the effects of the storm. Still, the event must go on and despite the unfavorable weather, a lot of fans was still able to attend the event at SM Aura. Both authors were very grateful for the effort that their Filipino fans have exerted, showing their utmost love and support. 

I, on the other hand, was not supposed to be able to attend the event but because of the cancellation of classes that said day, I was able to meet the two authors. They were both really nice and sweet. They took their time chatting one-on-one with the readers who came to get their books signed and of course, had photos with them. The authors even thrilled everyone with the new of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight being optioned as movie and Starters being optioned as TV show. The authors even gave away freebies like bookmarks to tons of early birds.

It is very unfortunate that a lot of people were not able to attend but luckily, the day after, National Bookstore had extended the slots of the signing at the Manila International Book Fair from the original 200 slots became 300 slots in consideration to those who were affected by the storm.

 

Some of the members of the Pinoy Book Freaks United at Smith and Price’s Book Signing Event

 

Bibliophiles at the book signing event

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Claudia Gray and Madeleine Roux’ Book Signing Event

October 18, 2014- Glorietta 1, Metro Manila

 

About the authors via Goodreads:

Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn’t choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn’t), because I’d always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven’t) or even because I’m hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do thing

MADELEINE ROUX received her BA in Creative Writing and Acting from Beloit College in 2008. In the spring of 2009, Madeleine completed an Honors Term at Beloit College, proposing, writing and presenting a full-length historical fiction novel. Shortly after, she began the experimental fiction blog Allison Hewitt Is Trapped. Allison Hewitt Is Trapped quickly spread throughout the blogosphere, bringing a unique serial fiction experience to readers.

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Gray and Roux was very fun to meet for they have very colorful personalities—they are sweet, enthusiastic and very hyped all throughout the event. And I must say that I was truly honestly stunned with their beauty, not to mention, Madeleine Roux’ amazing hairdo! Claudia Gray shared to us the story behind her pseudonym name, which was nothing but just her dream to have her own for it really does seem cool. While Madeleine Roux’ first thought when asked what she loves most about being a writer was because she can look anyway she wants—she can wear pajamas while working and can have a badass hairstyle.

I arrived at Glorietta between 4-5 in the morning and was number 6 at the event, my closest number to #1 yet. For the first time, I had no friend to accompany me for the event so my interaction with other fellow readers was closer now than it is. Like I’ve suggested, always do your best to meet tons of people during such events for this is your opportunity to meet people who shares the same interest as yours.

Here are tons of photos from Gray and Roux’ first ever book signing here in the Philippines:

  

Bibliophiles at the event!

Pinoy Book Freaks United members at Gray and Roux’ Book Signing Event

 

 

 

 

Roux’ selfie with the fans!

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Marie Lu’s Book Signing Event

November 23, 2014- Glorietta 1, Metro Manila

 

About the author via Goodreads:

I write young adult novels, and have a special love for dystopian books. Ironically, I was born in 1984. Before becoming a full-time writer, I was an Art Director at a video game company. Now I shuffle around at home and talk to myself a lot. 🙂 I graduated from the University of Southern California in ’06 and currently live in LA, where I spend my time stuck on the freeways.

 

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The happenings on Marie Lu’s book signing event lived up to my expectations.

Remember Stephanie Perkin’s book signing event wherein eleven (including me) people, the Team Eleven, already lined up outside the mall the night before? Well, I have anticipated that the same thing would happen with the Dystopian Queen, Marie Lu’s book signing event. So my best friend and I decided to camp-out the day before, which was on November 22, 2014. Since she has classes, we can’t go to the mall earlier than two in the afternoon. And upon our arrival, as expected, there were already few people lined up for the event. We were already number 10 and number 11, wow! Our friend, who’s a member of Team Eleven from Stephanie Perkin’s book signing event was the first one to arrive at 9:30am (Hello Cerise!). As time passes, more and more arrives and before the mall closes, we helped the National Bookstore staff on arranging the seats for the event. At midnight, about 60 people are already lined up for the book signing even! Tons of fandom groups were present, and I, myself, had the privilege of helping the admins of the Facebook group called Legend PH with the freebies they are giving away to early birds—bookmarks and paper clip rings. This is the very first event where everyone exerted so much effort; from banners, to signs, to amazingly illustrated poster, even gifts! Just wow!

Upon the start of event, about 800 people have registered already. Everyone was tired and all, but when Marie Lu has finally arrived, people were cheering and screaming, their joy from seeing our Elector couldn’t be lessened by exhaustion.

One thing that really awed the hearts of Marie Lu’s Filipino fans is the fact that she’s married to a Filipino! Couldn’t she be any closer to our hearts?

Marie Lu’s book signing event was a total success. And we definitely have National Bookstore to thank for, for bringing here to us such a kind and well-loved author.

 

I had such a great time at the event, not only because I met Marie Lu, but because I got to spend great time with my book friends from different groups—Team Eleven, Legend PH, Pinoy Book Freaks United, Peculiar Family, and so much more fellow bibliophiles. They make every book signing 10x the fun and the waiting less exasperating!

From the admins of Legend PH

Number eleven!

Some of the Pinoy Book Freaks United members at Marie Lu’s Book Signing Event

Team Eleven of Stephanie Perkin’s event. Two were not able to attend Marie Lu’s event.

See you on the next book signing event!

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Lang Leav’s Book Signing Event

December 6, 2014- Shangri-La Plaza, Metro Manila

 

About the author via Goodreads:

The enchanting work of contemporary author and artist Lang Leav swings between the whimsical and woeful, expressing a complexity beneath its child-like facade. Her imagination stretches across a variety of disciplines encompassing art, poetry and books. In 2013, Lang launched her latest book Love & Misadventure, published in the US by Andrews McMeel. The Amazon #1 Bestseller is now available from major bookstores worldwide including Barnes & Noble, Kinokuniya, Fully Booked, Waterstones, Periplus and Chapters/Indigo.

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For the second time, Philippines once again welcomes the well-loved contemporary author and artist Lang Leav! Lang was supposed to visit Cebu City first before setting off to her two book signing events here in Manila, unfortunately, due to the safety concerns brought by the threat of the typhoon Ruby, the Cebu leg of the scheduled book signing has to be cancelled. But of course, the two signing events here in Manila were pushed through!

Some of my Pinoy Book Freaks United friends and I decided to line up for the registration at around 11:30, evening of December 5, the night before the first day of the book signing here in Manila held at East Atrium, Shangri-La Plaza. We, of course, had a lot of fun—we were so sleepy, yes, but there was never a dull moment with these friends of mine!

 The event started out with Lang Leav saying a prayer for the safety of everyone for the coming typhoon Ruby. Filipino fans loved her even more with her show of love, support, and care for the Philippines and she made everyone loved her even more and more when she begun reading some of her poems from Lullabies—Second Chances, All There Was, and Broken Hearts. If you wish to see my video of Lang reading these, here’s the link:

Poetry reading

To those who have read Lang Leav’s Love and Misadventure and/or Lullabies, you should know how with only her words, she can make her readers feel all kinds of emotions all at the same time. And for those who have not read it yet, I’m sure you have at least saw a poem or any line of hers and she has already managed to spike your emotions. Now, imagine Lang Leav’s ability with words to not just only be used through poems—but through a novel! Yes, a novel! One of the best parts of Lang Leav’s book signing event besides her poetry reading is this amazing news of an upcoming novel that I’m pretty sure would break our hearts and could make us drown with our own tears!

Warm, sweet, loving, and caring—Lang Leav does not only reaches through the hearts of her readers using her words, but because she is our Lang Leav.

“She expresses through her words what we cannot express on our own!” –Me. ❤

Her second time to visit the Philippines, Lang promises that she’ll find her way back (hopefully with Michael Faudet *winks*) to our country to meet more of her Filipino readers. 

 

PBFU members who are the first nine at the event

Early birds!

 

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Thank you so much National Bookstore and Powerbooks for giving us the chance to meet such great, inspiring, and awesome authors! We all look forward  to other book signing events that you will be hosting this 2015!!!