Monthly Archives: June 2011

This is Teen – a Scholastics Book Signing Event

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The Scholastics Store hosted Libba Bray, Meg Cabot and Maggie Stiefvater for a Q/A session and book signing as part of the This is Teen tour. (Yes, I know, I’m far from my teenage years, but listen, Libba Bray was going to be there and I’ve yet to meet Meg Cabot – who’s Princess Diaries I enjoyed as a teen – and Maggie Stiefvater – who’s books I’ve heard good things about, you would have gone if you were me. Stop judging!)

  

They shared a few fun things with us; Maggie loves researching, Meg loves writing in her diaries and Libba loves to steal Maggie’s research and Meg’s diaries. Meg has a crush on Hades . (Ok, this is how rumours start, don’t believe a word I said, you just had to be there.)

Then they had the signings. Libba remembered me from Twitter handle – thumbs up my “unique” name – and I have decided to label that fangirl moment #3.

 She also humoured me in holding up a peace sign.

Meg commented on my name – I’ve never thought of my name being different or nice in any way, but I suppose I’ve grown up hearing it often and familiarity causes it to lose it’s uniqueness.

And I caught the tail-end of Maggie’s line as we chatted about her books and the fact that there are only few people whose recommendations we trust. (See those books on the desk? They were being signed, I’m sure the Scholastics Store might have a few signed copies, so go and take a look if you want one.)

I’m looking forward to reading these books – stranded beauty queens, wolves and greek myths retold? What’s not to love!?

Arizona, The Vacation

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Several weeks ago I decided to visit Arizona. I have a friend, Michell, who moved there to teach and since the end of her school year corresponded with Memorial Day weekend, I decided to take advantage of the extra day off and have myself a mini vacation to Arizona.

I had two requirements for this trip. First, I needed to see the Grand Canyon. I didn’t have to do anything, I just wanted to see what the hullabaloo was all about with this gigantic hole in the ground. Next, I wanted to get a photo standing next to a cactus that was taller than me. You see, in New York, the tallest I’ve seen a cactus grow was well, not very tall.

My trip began at 8 on Friday night, when I flew out of JFK to Phoenix. Michell picked me up at the airport at and we had an authentic Arizonan dinner – In N’ Out Burger.

On Saturday we took a trip to Williams to visit our friend Jay, and to see the Grand Canyon. Williams is a small town, about an hour south of the southern rim of the Grand Canyon. It’s WINDY. It’s chilly. It’s quaint and it has a strip if Route 66 running through it.

We arrived at the Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon. It was breathtaking. Yes, it is a giant hole in the ground, but what a grand hole it is! I can’t explain the beauty, I think this is something one needs to see for themselves. I mean, it’s a lot of rock, but the vastness of it and the history of how it came to be is just mind boggling. Water is powerful.

I promptly found my favourite rock.

I mean, come on … it is cute. Right? Continue reading →