Sunday, March 3, 2013

Tahereh Mafi in Manila!

So this is what happened today:

Tahereh Mafi's Book Signing at National Bookstore, Glorietta 1
Woohoo! This was really exciting for me, because this is the first time I ever went to a book signing, for two specific reasons. One, international authors visiting Manila is quite rare up until recently. Two, whenever there would be a signing, it's either I can't go or I wasn't a fan of the author. So yeah, imagine how much fan-girling I was doing this day.

(Left to Right: Me, Celina and Maria)
Front row seats thanks to Maria @ Bookchilla! Well, make that second row since the first row was reserved. Way to go setting our meet up time, girl! Woohoo! Even though I totally screwed that up for myself, getting lost and having a hard time finding the parking area and all.


And so there we were, waiting along with hundreds of people. Then Tahereh walks in...


We all kind of went crazy when she walked in. Anyway, since I mentioned reserved seats, guess who gets to sit there...

Tahereh Mafi!!! *gasp*
...and Ransom Riggs!!! *faints*
Awesome, yeah? And so the Q&A began...
Host introduces Tahereh to the audience. *Screams and shouts commence*
I love her dress. It flows so beautifully. :)
Q&A
That portion was so much fun and so full of laughs. But then, we had a special guest joining the stage...

Ransom Riggs comes up on stage. :)
Ransom answers a few questions as well.
And on went the signing. Since I was the idiot who came late (see excuse above), I had to wait for my turn (I was number 109), my friends went on since they were numbers 1, 2 and 3. Here they are waiting for their turn. while I sat at our seats. Boo!

Maria, Celina & Kwesi
I may have been a little late but I got my books signed and photo taken. While she was signing my book, I had quick chat with Tahereh that went like this:

Tahereh Mafi: (reading my name on the post it) Janus! So how are you?
Me: I'm good. (I think I lost all train of thought for a minute there, but I got out a few words eventually).
----
Me: I love the song you wrote.
Tahereh Mafi: "Adam has a power"?
Me: *laughs* Yes!
Tahereh Mafi: (looks at Ransom) See? She loves it! I'm a rockstar!

Oh, Tahereh! You totally are!
Photo with Ransom Riggs and Tahereh Mafi
The good news about my three Goodreads buddies being first, they got their books signed immediately, the bad news, Ransom hadn't taken his place with Tahereh yet, so when my turn came, they got the chance for a photo. Point, Janus. Haha!

*Sigh* That was fun! Thank you, National Bookstore for this amazing experience. I can't wait to see other YA authors come visit the Philippines.

Le signed books!