BUT. I have other exciting things!
First off—run over to Julie Halpern's blog for ANOTHER chance to win Into The Wild Nerd Yonder OR Get Well Soon. I know there's still a ton of you around wanting this book, and all you have to do is follow and comment! Easy!
I got to meet Aprilynne Pike last night, and oh my goodness is she just the most wonderful person! She was soooo fun to listen to! I think I could listen to her all night, but then I got really hungry and had to leave. Stupid hypoglycemia.
Anyway, Aprilynne is another one of my personal heroes. I'm not sure if you're familiar with her publication story, but it was a long, tough journey. Though she worked so hard, things didn't just happen for her immediately. It was so comforting to remember that sometimes it doesn't work out exactly as you'd like, but it still works out. Sometimes better than you imagined.
I really, really needed to hear that this week. I totally teared up at the book signing. Yes, I'm a dork.
But it gets worse from there, because when I went up to have Aprilynne sign my books I started FREAKING OUT. Total fangirl moment. I'd brought this picture of her main character, Laurel, to give to her:
Laurel from Wings by ~nataliewhipple on deviantART
I shook. My heart pounded. I kept thinking, Oh my gosh, I'm acting like a DORK. But Aprilynne was so nice and she said she loved the picture. She signed my books and made me feel really special even though she's probably seen hundreds of people over the past couple weeks. Then she let me get a picture with her, in which I look entirely over-excited. Which I was.
I LOVE authors.
LoL, you two look like sisters.
ReplyDelete(And you don't look over excited. If anything, the way the two of you are standing, it looks like she's the one there to see you.)
How great that you got to meet Aprilynne!
ReplyDelete(and I'm so jealous of all the fun signings and writerly events that take place in Utah. Florida never has the fun stuff.)
LOL! Your eyes tell the whole story!
ReplyDeleteAwesome. I haven't read Aprilynne Pike yet, but she's on my list. The drawing of Lauren is gorgeous. If I were Aprilynne, I would treasure the fact a fan took so much time to draw something like that for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm in an area not a lot of authors come to. The only 'author' I've ever met was Ellen Burstyn, who signed her autobiography for me when she came to my university's film festival. BUT I am going to go see Jennifer Weiner when she goes on tour this summer, because she's one of my favorite authors.
Sorry - LAUREL. Typefail. :P
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Wings and Spells. I didn't think I was going to, but they were both such smooth, addicting reads. I think I lost sleep on both.
ReplyDeleteThat's great. You are so funny! =)
ReplyDeleteI loved listening to her publication story. It gives me hope :)
ReplyDeleteIt's OK there's no sketches today--I'm sure the one you're working on will be awesome.
You are too cute, and what a lovely drawing! I'm sure she was honored. I know I would be.
ReplyDeleteYou are not a dork. And I think it's wonderful and beautiful. I've taken your words to heart. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSheri~
That's awesome. You do look very excited--in a good way.
ReplyDeleteIt was such a fun night!! And you aren't a dork. ;-) Thanks for all the laughs. You rock!
ReplyDeleteYea for meeting authors! I'm glad you got the chance to meet her. Do you follow her blog?
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ReplyDeleteHey Natalie! I met you at the signing last night and decided to drop by your blog. I also really enjoyed hearing Aprilynne's publication story. And she was SUPER nice!
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ReplyDeleteAw! Yay for author connections! Aprilynne was actually in my neck o' the woods a few weeks ago...stupid school made me unable to go :( Lucky you!!
ReplyDeleteThat's great! That picture shows your enthusiasm!
ReplyDeleteLucky you! You've posted that picture before, haven't you. I could swear I've seen it. Only I hadn't read WINGS yet - the first time I saw it.
ReplyDeleteI love authors too! I read Wings but when is the other one coming out? Or is it already?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, that's an adorable picture, both the one you drew and the one of you and Aprilynne. Thanks for sharing!
I was a total dork at the writers conference last month when I met her. I took our picture. I totally just stopped her when I'm sure she had other places to be. But yeah she was super sweet about it.
ReplyDeleteCool! I got to meet her at the writer's conference I went to. I can't wait to see this new project you're working on - it sounds all mysterious and fun. :)
ReplyDeletei love the foto, natalie! yay to aprilynne's awesome signing too!
ReplyDeletei popped in to peek at drawings. just when you're too busy to draw, it seems. i'll look at archives. =DD
What a happy story!! You and Aprilynne are both such enthusiastic, cheery, and encouraging bloggers. :)
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