It has been on my bucket list since my very first draft (Yes, I've made several rough drafts of my physical, color coated bucket list, including improvements, ya know just additions and cancellations. It's a very serious matter and a full time job). I am, of course, talking about meeting my favorite author and having her sign my book. My favorite author happens to be the one and only Sarah Dessen, and she happened to be coming to a town near me on her tour for her new book, Saint Anything. I also just so happened to nonchalantly and unexpectingly check her website and find this information out a mere THREE DAYS before Saint Anything came out. After not checking her website for at least a year. A coincidence? I think not. A sign from God above? I think heck to the yes.
The first book I ever read by Sarah Dessen was Just Listen, which, during the talk, she said was the book that held the most special place in her heart. (Another sign I see?) I read this book when I was in 7th grade, and I haven't stopped since then. In the six years between then and now, I've not only read every single one of her books, but re-read three of them. Her character development, her way with words and how she effortlessly forms the most magical story every time is too good not to. Another one of my favorite things about her books is how she threads a constant similarity between each and everyone of her books. Whether it's one of the towns (my favorite being the beach town, Colby), a bakery, a restaurant, a high school, a casual mention or guest appearance of another book's main character, whatever it may be, the geek in me comes out whenever I make the connection.
During the actual talk and signing, Sarah was extremely down to earth and informal, it was like talking and having a conversation with someone you've known for years. Everything she said sounded like it should be made into its own book all by itself, which I guess should surprise me less since she is a New York Times best-selling author, but I still couldn't get over it. A fun fact that she just dropped on me was that she was cleaning her attic out one day and found about 13 manuscripts she's written. Completed. Unpublished. If she could send them all my way it'd be much appreciated.
Yet another fact I thought was so cute and interesting about Sarah was that she's extremely superstitious. One superstition she heard and lets control her life furthermore is that whatever you do on New Year's Eve, you'll do for the rest of the year. So, every year Sarah writes something, anything, even when she's not in the process of writing a novel. This New Year's, she wrote the very beginning and first chapter of Saint Anything.
Overall, even though I got flustered and a little bit starstruck when it was my turn to go up, causing me to forget practically EVERYTHING I wanted to say to her, meeting Sarah Dessen was everything I'd hoped it would be and more. I'm incredibly thankful and happy. I will forever be the biggest supporter of her and her work. Shine on, Sarah, shine on.
As you can tell from the ear to ear grin on my face, I was the happiest kid on the block. Without a doubt.
I apologize for the low quality photos. Quite frankly, I wasn't really able to mentally focus on taking pictures when I was in the presence of absolute greatness and royalty.
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