Last week, Books of Wonder in NYC hosted what has to be one of the most interesting and entertaining book signings I’ve been to yet for Maureen Johnson’s new YA novel “The Name of the Star”.
A huge crowd of fans waited for Maureen’s arrival, while two “Jack the Ripper” impersonators roamed around and scared audience members.
There were plenty of awesome buttons for “survivors” of the event to wear.
After a short wait, Maureen finally emerged to a cheering crowd, and entertained us with tales of Ripper research in London, her writing process, and how she’s always shocked when people actually READ the stories that come out of her head. Like magic!
After the somewhat crazy and incredibly lively Q&A, Maureen began to sign. The line was quite long, so fellow book blogger Bethany and I decided to indulge in some cupcakes and wine (which, at least for me, was a Books of Wonder first). There is just something *naughty* about drinking wine in a children’s book store.
We all know what wine looks like. These cupcakes were much prettier.
Not pretty: the table “decorations”.
More pretty.
Maureen signing.
By the time it was my turn to meet Maureen, I was slightly tipsy, and remembered why I don’t usually have wine (and sugar!) before dinner. Or at public events. Pretty sure I mumbled something about how her “rambling, Mean Girls word vomit style stream of consciousness speeches make me feel better about my own propensity to talk too much made me feel as if I’d met a kindred spirit” scared her.
And then someone took a very blurry photo of us together.
Luckily, I learned a long time ago, there is always someone weirder or more intense than you in the audience. Case in point: this dude, who had Maureen sign his forehead.
Awesome. But weird.
After much more book talk, and a very in depth discussion about Game of Thrones with some new bookish friends, Bethany and I realized the store was about to close, so it was time to go home. We took the conversation outside, and ended up looking like creepy stalkers who were waiting for Maureen, probably scaring her once again. But I feel like if any author would understand this, it would be her.
The Name of the Star
®2011 Bookshelf Lust
LOL @ “there is always someone weirder or more intense in the crowd than you”
Ooooh fantastic photos. Thank you so much for sharing with them. Wish I could have gone.
I am so jealous that you were able to go to this event! I love Maureen and this “Jack the Ripper” themed party sounds so cool!!!
Honestly, I could never understand people who want you to sign a body part. IT’LL WASH OFF DUMBASS!
Love the pics tho, makes me feel like I was there when, sadly, I had to miss it. Hope all is well dear.
Great photos of the event. I like the picture of you and Maureen!