If you don’t know her, you should! She’s Carrie Ryan, author of the fantastic zombie trilogy The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Her author signing was so much fun. It was my first author signing ever and I really didn’t know what to expect. I was hesitant about it and almost didn’t go but in the back of my mind, a voice kept shouting at me “Go Already, You won’t be sorry!” and I can tell you, I was far from sorry.
Carrie Ryan is a lovely, lovely person. She’s not only smart, witty, funny, she’s also so so nice! Do I sound like I’m gushing? Because I was/am. I sat there so nervous just being at her signing. I don’t think she really noticed because I sat very still and just listened. I’m a bit shy that way and I didn’t want to interrupt her introductions. What I wanted to do was tell her how much I’ve loved her books, her writing, and especially the inspiration that it gives to those who find strife and then overcome them no matter what the obstacles or odds that are pitted against you. But as I said, I just didn’t want to interrupt. I hope that she knows after reading this (if she has a bit a time to read) that she is adored by me for her creativity and her enthusiasm for her books and her fellow fans/readers.
She brought her husband along who I had the pleasure of sitting very close to. In her first book, she dedicated it to him and thanked him for giving her the world. How can you possibly thank anyone who gives you the world and supports you through your books signings as well with such a big grin at that to show how awesomely proud he is of her. I was able to sneak a picture of J.P. when he wasn’t looking…. (Sorry J.P. but you were so engrossed in your book I didn’t want to disturb you.) I’m not sure what book he’s currently reading here but I have a sneaky suspicion that it is her latest book, the finale in The Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy entitle The Dark and Hollow Places. Aren’t these book titles great? I learned that “J.P.”, Carrie’s husband is the one who comes up with them or so she says during her book signing montage.
Carrie Ryan is also very generous with other authors as well passionately advocating and promoting other authors on her book tour as well. This brings me to two known authors: Sandra Mitchell and Holly Black. Ms. Ryan brought along The Vespertine by Sandra Mitchell and Red Glove (White Cat’s sequel) by Holly Black along as prize giveaways for her audience. I was lucky enough to answer one of her trivia questions right – the question was how long before you should kill someone before they turn into a zombie after being infected, the answer is 10 days (I’m paraphrasing but this is the gist of the trivia question) – and had the fortune of picking up The Vespertine as my prize, which I held very close to my heart (literally) because I could hear and see the girl in front of my sigh in disappointment (sorry nice girl in the front seat) – and I say this with much adoration for fellow readers because I knew exactly how she felt even though I was the one who won the book. I think I would have felt the same if it were her who won, but I’d also be happy for her as I knew she was happy for me too – respect between reader enthusiasts and bloggers is the best prize thus far after the love of books in my opinion.
Although The Dark and Hallow Places is the end to The Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy, she did mention that she is currently working on a few other projects, of which she cannot just share yet because it is still in the works and set for release during the year 2012. However, she did give us a preview of a project she is working on called “The Dream Mistress” (I think that I’m remembering the wrong title here…sorry about that) , a paranormal YA literature which describes a young girl in a village who goes out into the town at night and captures all the town peoples bad dreams so that they won’t suffer while she endures their melancholy herself and saves them from a life filled with sadness, suffering, or strife. This sounds interesting already just from this brief description and I can’t wait until it is published.
Thank you Ms. Ryan for such a wonderful book signing and for giving us a glimpse into your literary life as well as what is to come in the future. That voice inside my head was definitely right. I wasn’t sorry, in fact, I was elated to have the opportunity to have been there at your Oceanside, CA book signing and look forward to many more of your books and future signings for those.
Cheers to Carrie Ryan!
p.s. If your publishers (I whole heartedly and firmly believe that they should) allow you to create more stories for The Forest of Hands and Teeth, I will be one of the first to go out and grab that story!
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