What's Cool? #StephaniePerkinsinPH + others!

What's Cool? is an anytime meme where I feature all the Cool things I got and happened,
and Cool blog announcements.

After years of waiting, I have finally met one of my favorite contemporary romance author, Stephanie Perkins. It was held in Glorietta 1 on July 6, 2014, hosted by the ever so wonderful, National Bookstore.

*Event photos are taken by National Bookstore (source here). I have my own but unfortunately, my phone got lost 2 weeks ago (so un-Cool worthy) and so I wouldn't be able to post pictures--ESPECIALLY the one that I'm with her and her husband, Jarrod *cries*---and the interview that I recorded. Ughh.

Part of the crowd

You can't find me here. I'm waay behind those backs.

Registration started at 10 am but I arrived 8 am and I'm already #296 (or was that #292?)! And here I thought I was early! I also heard that morning that there were 10 or 13 people waiting the day BEFORE the signing--Steph was just signing in Cebu that time! Talk about being a fangirl. I salute you guys. And envy too.

Why?

Because they received an ARC (advance reading copy) of Isla and the Happily Ever After (publishing on August)! O___O My heart was stolen and torn and dropped and stomped on the floor a million times the moment Steph handed Isla to each of them.

I've  learned a lot from Stephanie and her upcoming book Isla and the Happily Ever After during the interview. She said that [Isla] is about a girl who's been loving a guy from afar for years (crowd went "aww") and finally got her happily ever after (I was like, that sounds like a spoiler) but then she'll realize that it's not the happily ever after that she wanted and searches her real happily ever after (or something like that. I couldn't remember. Recording's on the phone!) Stephanie also mentioned that Isla is a really, really shy girl who strives to reach her dreams. That's when I knew that of all three books, I am most likely Isla. My excitement and enthusiasm for the book surpassed the highest level.

Stephanie mentioned that she met her husband when she was 17 years old (cue: aww) and that Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door most likely describes her husband but she also spread a bit of him on other main male characters (another crowd cue: awww!). Stephanie was asked what is her tip or message to aspiring writers. She said that aspiring writers should read, read, read a lot of books. You don't have to enroll on a writing course to learn. Most of the great writers she knew learned writing by reading a lot. She also mentioned that she has an upcoming horror novel in 2015.

NBS team set up a separate table for Jarrod Perkins (Stephanie's husband) to sign our books too. Jarrod, like her wife, is very warm and friendly. He's been smiling the whole time I wondered if his cheeks hurts. We are so lucky indeed.

Jarrod Perkins signing books.

The day got brighter when I finally came face to face with Stephanie. She was so nice and she have a huge friendly smile! She's so pretty. I love her vibe! It was a surreal moment that I didn't mind my haggard face when we took a picture together. Now I'm not sure I feel bad about the lost photo..

Stephanie Perkins signing books.

Here are my signed books!

I love that Stephanie used particular colors on signing each of her books!

Jarrod's section. I didn't know he wrote me a hidden message on my copy of Lola!
When I searched it on Google, I found out it meant "Don't Forget To Be Awesome".
Aw, thanks Jarrod!

Thank you National Bookstore for another fun-filled event! We are looking forward in meeting more exciting authors on the following months *wink, wink*.

For now, get ready to meet Alex London, author of YA dystopian sci-fi Proxy and Guardian, on August 30, 2014, 2 pm at National Bookstore, SM Aura. For more details or updates, stalk NBS on Facebook or Twitter.

                     * * *

Other Cool stories:

• Books!

My recent book haul..

Of course, my copies of Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door bought from NBS. ;)

Traded:
Free to Fall by Lauren Miller (ARC)
The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda (ARC)
Beautiful by Cindy Martinusen Coloma

Borrowed:
Unteachable by Leah Raeder
George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans by Janet Benge

I got this bookmark from Jennifer E. Smith Philippines during Stephanie Perkins signing. Thanks to the generous admin, Dianne! :D

For review (ebooks):
Prelude for a Lord by Camille Elliot
Magnolia by Kristi Cook


Thank you so much to Precious of Fragments of Life, Celine of Two Ends of a Bookshelf, Jen E. Smith PH, BookLookBloggers, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Simon and Schuster, and Netgalley!

• Celebrating Debutantes 2014

Celebrating Debutantes official button

The biggest and Coolest blog event for the current year's AMAZING debut authors will be back SOON!

If you're an AMAZING (yes, we need capitalization) young adult, new adult, or middle grade debut author of 2014, then Celebrating Debutantes is the event for you!

If you are an enthusiastic bookish fangirl (like me), tweet/email/message your favorite/anticipated YA/NA/MG debut author of 2014 about this event and make them join us! You would definitely want them to join here! *hints giveaways and more* ;)

To learn more about CD and check out the lovely authors who participated since 2012, check out Celebrating Debutantes page here.

To share or sign up, here's the FORM.

Dianne of Oops! I Read A Book Again and I are looking forward on featuring the most gorgeous debut authors of 2014! :)

• Trade

I still have books to trade so if you're interested, please visit my Trade page. Unfortunately, this is only applicable to Philippine residents. International shipping is scary.

Those are my Cool stories for now! Do you have too? Share them below! :)

If you have StS, In My Mailbox, Sunday Post,

or self-made meme like this, you can also link them up!