First of all, this event would not have been possible without National Book Store, who just keeps granting Filipino bookworms’ wishes by providing us with such fantastic book signings. Thank you, truly, National Book Store!
ALL THE FEELS! No other words can sum up how amazing yesterday’s event was! So much fun and so much bookish love all around! Now let me tell you all about it:
Yesterday, January 18th 2014, Gayle Forman was set to do a book signing event in Manila, specifically in National Book Store Glorietta. While registration time was 10 am, very eager Gayle Forman fans, including myself, lined up for queue an hour before. We are enthusiastic like that, thank you very much. Registration was crazy! Roughly about 500 fans came to see Gayle!
After registering for the public signing, most of us Filipino book bloggers headed to Powerbooks for the Bloggers Forum with Gayle. I was lucky enough to have been a part of it. So grateful to Kazhy for inviting me along!
Kayla of The Bookish Owl, Sab of Sab The Book Eater, Dianne of Oops I Read A Book Again, Kazhy of My Library In The Making
Gayle on the ‘hot seat’
The bloggers forum was a chance to ask Gayle each of our questions! I learned so much- Gayle told so many stories and she was so excited to give juicy details! Here are some additional tidbits (discovered from the forum and from the signing) about Gayle and her books:
- Gayle is not a musician but is often mistaken as one. She is however a huge music fan.
- Gayle stayed to Amsterdam when she was younger. Apparently a Dutch guy broke her heart then and she had her revenge through Willem. (Funny, isn’t she?)
- She’s terrible at French.
- Her husband Nick was a musician and was a slight inspiration for Adam.
- Gayle likes reading and writing Contemporary. Gayle wants to stick to the genre: “I kind of think our world is so interesting already, there’s just so much that goes on that I find fascinating. I don’t want to leave it.”
- I Was Here, Gayle’s next book coming out Winter 2015, deals with suicide and depression.
My own question for Gayle was this: If you were to pick a favorite from any of Adam’s songs, which one would it be and why?
“I like Bridge best. Second is Hush. Originally when I wrote the song (Bridge), I only wrote a line or two.. I just wanted to show how devastated and angry Adam had been after the break-up.. And then Hush was the one where he’s so tired… At that one I just felt so tender for Adam and I just wanted somebody just to take care of him.”
– Gayle Forman
You crossed the water, left me ashore
It killed me enough, but you wanted more
You blew up the bridge, a mad terrorist
Waved from your side, through me a kiss
I started to follow but realized too late
There was nothing but air underneath my feet
– from”Bridge” on the Collateral Damage album (Where She Went)
Someone wake me when it’s over
When the evening silence softens golden
Just lay me on a bed of clover
Oh, I need help with this burden
– from”Hush” on the Collateral Damage album (Where She Went)
And then she asked us if we wanted to take care of Adam and volunteer for the job (yeses all around) and said “Team Adam all the way.” <3 Love this sweet sweet author. Another fun thing about Gayle, she kept singing ‘Do you want to build a snowman?’ (yes, that song from Frozen) and it was way too cute. After the round of Q&As, we were able to take pictures with Gayle and get her to sign our books. Gayle also encouraged all of us to make silly faces and poses with her.
Gayle and Jesselle of The Life Long Bookworm
Bloggers at the forum
Gayle with Nicole and Michelle of The Twins Read
Louisse of The Soul Sisters doing a silly selfie with Gayle
After the forum, we headed back to NBS Glorietta for the signing. The area was crazy crowded but the buzzing anticipation was marvelous! Then Gayle came in with her rockstar entrance and the crowd went Wilde– I mean wild- laughing and clapping and just totally happy that Gayle was there. After an interview and another round of questions, Gayle was ready to sign books for the public.
Mega-Rock Star author, Gayle Forman
Gayle Forman and I *cries because dream come true*
Signed books
Asked Gayle to sign my book with my blog’s name and she did!
ALL. THE. FEELS.
Gayle was soooo energetic while signing everyone’s books. (She was having a dance party while signing- how cute right?) She gave everyone tight hugs and made all of her fans feel special. Gayle is such a wonderful author and it was such a memorable experience to have met her! To all the organizers, the bookworms and fans who came, to my fellow bloggers and my bookish friends- thank you for making the event an awesome one!
PS: If you missed out on getting your books signed by Gayle, watch out for tomorrow’s post. ;-) Giveawayyyy~
19 Responses
I was there and it was the best day of my life! :) OMG I wish I could’ve been invited to the blogger’s conference too! Need more of Gayle in my life please. She’s too cute! ;)
Here’s my recap too, though I’m really looking forward more to your post tomorrow! (Fingers crossed you transcribed the whole thing xx)
Same here! *high five* Maybe next time you could come. Loveeee Gayle so much too! Didn’t expect her to be so adorable and funny!
I shall check out your recap! I was able to record most of the bloggers forum but I only transcribed my part/question and just summarized the rest (see bullets). My post tomorrow isn’t actually related to the event anymore, sadly. I updated my little PS to make it clear. ;)
ALL THE FEELS!!! I seriously feel like crying right now. I hate that I was not able to go to the book signing event. And there’s a blogger’s conference, too! It looked so much fun. Why? Why do I have to live 173683829283 lightyears away from Manila?? Why? *sorry for the ranty post.. Anyway, Gayle sounds like an extremely fun person. I wish I could have also met her.
Yes, Gayle really was an awesome woman in person! Aww, don’t be sad, dear! Maybe Gayle will come back again! Keep those fingers crossed!
I LOVED LOVED If I stay and boy, do I wish that I lived in PH when I see these pictures! Gayle looks and sounds like a totally fun author. It must have also been great opportunity meet your fellow bloggers. Glad to see that you had fun, Hazel! :D
Well, it was a fantastic book! And Gayle was even more fantastic than I imagined! Wish you lived here too so I could have met you as well! Thanks for checking out my recap! :)
Lucky! I’m super happy you had fun at the signing. I would love to meet Gayle Forman one day. She’s so enthusiastic and such a sweet person. I’m surprised she’s not a musician. She can definitely be one because the songs that she composed for Where She Went were amazing. I really love that “All the Feels” bookmark. She definitely know her fans. :)
I’m sure you’ll get the opportunity to meet her sometime as well! True! The lyrics were stunning! And yes, I love the bookmark too! :’)
Oh, maaaaaan, I am insanely jealous right now. Everyone looks like they had so much fun. Gayle sounds like exactly like I thought she would be! I’m super jealous that there was a blogger forum, too. We don’t have anything like that here; author events just stick to a Q&A and a signing, which is still awesome but it would be nice to attend a blogger-specific event. I’m so glad you had a great time, Hazel! Your photos with Gayle are so cute. :) (And your photography is beautiful!)
Gayle was so awesome, Nikki! She was funny and she had this way of speaking that’s pretty much as lovely as her writing AND she was so patient and accommodating! It was actually my first time to attend a blogger-specific event (besides last year’s blogger Christmas party) and it was a great experience for me! Hehe, glad you liked the photos! <3
Thats amazing :) it seems that everything was great, you have photos and autographs,thats awesome,
2015, I cant wait
This sounds like such a wonderful event. I’m so sad I wasn’t able to go. I adore her If I Stay series. But I’m glad you had a lot of fun. She seems like a really nice and wonderful person. :D
Aww don’t be! I hope there’s another opportunity for you to get to meet Gayle too! She’s really amazing. :)
WOAH. Are you one lucky girl!! :D I’ve personally not read any of Miss Forman’s works (I should, right?), but it sounds so awesome to get to meet her! :D It’s great to know that she has such a wonderful and quirky personality as well :) I’m glad you had fun!!
Yes, I feel extremely lucky!!!! AND YES YOU SHOULD, EMILYYY!!! The event was unforgettable. <3 Thanks for dropping by and checking out my recap of it! :)
It was so nice seeing you again! Thanks for my braid and for the cooler than cool pictures! Anyway, I forgot to ask Gayle to include my blog name in her autograph but it was still one of the funnest signings I’ve been to what with her karaoke fest and all. All the feels, indeed.
You too, Kayla! <3 No problem at all! The karaoke fest was a blast, was it not? The event was just so awesome!
This looks like it was so much fun! I’ve yet to meet Gayle Forman, but it will happen ONE DAY. Seriously though. She looks like such a fun person to meet. Also, her upcoming book sounds totally like something I’d love. Ahh.
Just finished reading If I Stay and Where She Went. Both we’re amazing but where she went just took my breath away the entire time.
Can someone please explain to me what All. The. Feels. Means?
Thank you.
Terri