MEETING THE AUTHOR: SARAH J. MAAS IN MANILA 2016.

Where I relive the experience and share all the feels before, during and after meeting these fantastic authors WHO ARE BASICALLY LIFE.

Yesterday, March 13 of Twenty Freaking Sixteen, was the day when one of my ultimate bookish dreams came true. I've been wishing for years for this author to grace the Philippines shores with her presence but all I could only do was wish and be envious of those people who met her. While I was writing THIS POST, my heart was swelling with joy because SARAH J. MAAS is coming.

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After grabbing a cup of coffee from Starbucks, Greenbelt, we headed to Powerbooks and the the fan flailing began. When we saw her coming upstairs, OMG my heart just exploded from happiness that this is really happening. Sarah J. Maas was literally a few feet away from me and OMFG! SHE'S MAGESTIC! She's so elegant and funny and talkative and emotional and beautiful and amazing and humble and kind and everything I hoped she would be and more. SHE IS QUEEN AFTER ALL. This Q and A is the longest I've listened to and I drank every word that came out of her sexy mouth (I am stating to sound so creepy, I am so sorry). This was also the first time I asked a question after a long time BECAUSE I WOULDN'T PASS THIS OPPORTUNITY UP. Here goes my question:

"My question is a little bit personal. Now that you're a New York Times Bestselling Author, what are some personal changes it brought you as opposed to when you were just starting up? Have you experienced, like, being chased by fans and all that?"

QUEEN SJM: "Umm, you know it's amazing to me how the fandom has grown in the way that it has and I said this earlier this morning actually, but I feel like a lot about this is because of the Filipino readers. You guys has been so vocal, so supportive of this series. Umm, and like going online and talking about it and making like, beautiful edits and stuff, you guys have played such a big role in the way this has grown on a global level. Umm, and since becoming a New York Times Bestseller, you know, things have changed and also not changed. I mean, at the end of the day, like, I still sit at home and write my books and like, walk my dog and like pick up her poop. I have not become the glamorous-celebrity type at all. But then when we go to events, it's been like, amazing.. Like I had some events when I was first starting, what we had like, five people in the audience and now, we have to cap events. Otherwise, you know, I would be signing for 18 hours - which is amazing, there's that many people interested in the series - but its just been umm like, crazy to see this happen in just a span of a few years. From a very early age my dream is just to see my book on a shelf in a book store. That was the one thing that like ,at the end of the day, the end of my life and if I accomplished that? Like, I told myself that was all I wanted, that was the only thing I wanted, anything else will just be you know, icing on the cake. Umm so to get the call that I'd become a New York Times Bestseller, umm that was the dream I, like, quietly, secretly hoped for - is I think most writers do - but it was also something I didn't see coming. And my parents have always been really supportive of my writing. But when I was in college, I was saying, "I wanna be a full-time writer" umm you know, they saw me living in a cardboard box under a bridge. Umm and I'd get to these fights with them about you know, "you have to get a full time job" and I'd be like, "you don't understand my dream, I wanna be like a full-time writer" and my parents were absolutely right to be concerned like that but when I got the call, that I was a New York Times Bestseller, and I finally got to like, call my mom and tell her the news, uhh the first thing my mom said to me was, "I regret ever telling you to be realistic about your expectations for yourself". Which like meant, it still means the world to me uhh that my mom said that, that she admitted that. Umm so becoming a bestseller, you know, it's been amazing but it also has not changed like, like who I am uhm, you know, getting to get on tour around the world like, that blows my mind! Sometimes I'd be on a plane like, like going to somewhere and I will start crying because that's like.. everything that's happened it's just been beyond what I ever ever hoped for. And I had to set new goals for myself because once I reached that dream of seeing my book published like, what then? I had to set new expectations and you know, I like to think that I have not changed. To be honest, the publishing industry is tough. It is a really hard industry. I've known some very very talented writers who wrote brilliant books, the other one didn't get picked up by a publisher or their first book came out, you know, nothing really came of it. So I know how tremendously lucky I am to be here, to be able to write full time. There's not a day, not even an hour that goes by that I do not remember, that I am not phenomenally grateful. So being a Bestselling author, having that on the book, that is some kind of a security in a way, that is something that writers hoped for I think because it means it might get a little less hard to like, be able to do this for a living. Every moment of every day, I just can't believe that this has happened and I don't think I'll ever stop being grateful for you guys and for all of it."

Hardest Selfie v14 with SJM! Thanks for the photo, Jesselle!

True story: I was teary eyed while listening to her. I felt her sincerity. And since I was legit in front of her, I was just staring at her, memorizing her face and all that, I could sense the feels behind all her answers. Truly, Sarah J. Maas is a person you would want to be BFFs with. She's not just all face and brain -- but heart as well.

You can check out the other questions from recaps here:

- I'll add them once available mehehe -

If you listen to the recording and heard someone sneezed, that's me. I tried to hold it. Sorry.

Now on to the signing part. Since National Bookstore posted the mechanics that only three books are allowed, I didn't bother buying the rest of her books. I thought it just wouldn't make sense having multiple copies if the second set would be all signed. My Maas books are all US hardbound (first ed) copies bought from a different bookstore. As a sign of respect, I didn't bring anything. (CAN YOU HEAR MY HEART BREAKING) The only thing I got signed were the Throne of Glass paperback, a Post-It, my question and the poster. Then took a ton of photos and I told Sarah I've been waiting for this moment, I thought it would never happen, I couldn't believe she's in front me and all other awkward reader-author convos. I slightly embarrassed myself because aside from I sneezed while she was talking, I cannot stop flailing and I was so hyper and I even asked Papa Maas for a selfie! This is freaking SARAH J MAAS HOW COULD YOU BEHAVE YOURSELF LIKE THERE IS NO WAY TO STOP plus she hugged me, I think she hugged me the longest and I don't wanna ever let gooooo.

MY QUEEN. I PRAISE THE ROAD YOU WALK ON.

The public signing was packed! I was able to get a photo of the cosplayers (here) and they were all amazing! The fans just couldn't wait to meet Sarah (here's a vid, listen to the screams!) and even though the event was capped to 350 persons, I could say that this signing was one of the events I've ever went to. The stress was all worth it because this is all about SARAH so I do not regret anything. No hate, just bookish love and massive respect.

Group shot with the Maas Royalties. Thanks Jesselle for the photo!

 

I bought the frame and this one is now hanging on my wall.
Those swag are from Louisse aka Throne of Glass PH.

THE AELIN TO MY CELAENA. THE CHAOL TO MY DORIAN. THE MANON TO MY ABRAXOS.
SARAJ J MAAS IN THE FLESH.
THE REALITY TO MY DREAM.

SARAH'S MESSAGE TO FILIPINO FANS!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Just because I am feeling generous and I would like to give away the only book I got signed (it's pictured above). Oh, I'd also like to share the Sarah J. Maas love to people who weren't able to make it to the signing! This chance is for you! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We've experienced so much stress over this signing and some people just won't stop saying hateful words toward us. But at the end of the day, I met Sarah J. Maas, got to hug her and talk to her and that's all I want to think about. She's the sole focus of this event and my gratitude to Bloomsbury UK for exclusively allowing posed photos for Manila event, National Bookstore for all that you've done and to Sarah for appreciating the warmth of the Filipino readers' love. Thank you. Thank you for giving us one of the best days of lives.