London Film & Comic Con with Sarah J. Maas & Samantha Shannon

I never thought that I would get the chance to write an author recap post for you guys. Rachel has had the chance to attend many author events, that I was hoping that I would finally get my chance in the UK. Then when I heard about Samantha Shannon and Sarah J. Maas taking part in an Question and Answer session at the London Film and Comic Con, I just knew that I had to go. They're both such fantastic authors and I loved their books, you can read my reviews for Sarah's books Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight and for The Bone Season here.

Being the person that I am, I'm one to plan in advance and to think of all the possible things that could get in the way (just ask my friend, I'm sure I stressed her out with all my worries). I decided to book my train extra early to ensure that I would get tickets for the YA talk. London Film & Con had made it so that you had come in person to collect any tickets for talks, also depending on how popular the event was they could go pretty fast. Me and my friend unfortunately didn't get the chance to purchase online tickets for the event, so had to wait outside. I was worried that all the tickets would be given away, but the event organisers did a great job of ensuring that everyone got inside pretty quick (we only had to wait in the queue for 15 minutes) and as soon as I was in I ran over to the main stage to grab a ticket for the YA talk, my friend in the meantime had got overhwhelmed by spotting the wrestlers, so I was on my own. Thankfully I was able to get a ticket for Samantha and Sarah's talk and I could breathe normally for the rest of the day.

Sarah and Samantha weren't going to sign books until 12, and their talk wasn't scheduled until 1:50, so me and my friend had a great time browsing around and chatting with the celebs. My friend was really excited about chatting with wrestlers Chavo Guerrero and Shawn Hernandez, we didn't realise that they would be just sitting casually for everyone to chat with. And can I just say that both of these guys were super sweet! Me and my friend ended up lurking around their table for ages, but they were happy to chat with us every single time. My friend is one of those people who ends up talking loads when she's nervous, whereas I clam up and just have this huge smile plastered to my face. My friend did a great job chatting with the wrestlers, I was just pretty nervous counting down the time to the author signing.

Sarah signing my book and me signing hers! 

Finally when that time arrived I was a wreck, I had all these smart questions and comments I was going to say, when I got to the front of the queue, but couldn't talk when I got to the front. I managed a few sentences, I can't even remember what I asked, but Samantha remembered me from a tweet that I had sent to both authors the previous day about how excited I was about meeting them, how awesome was that! I also think I rambled about how Rachel had met Sarah previously in ALA and that I was so happy to finally get the chance to meet her. Both Sarah and Samantha were lovely in that they took their time in chatting with their fans and personalising your books. Sarah actually had a pretty neat idea where she got all her fans to sign her books! 

Me with Samantha

Me with Sarah

Then we had the amazing Question and Answer session with Sarah Maas and Samantha Shannon! I of course was there on the front row with my pen and paper at the ready! 

Samantha first got the idea for The Bone Season in 2011, it was actually her second book she'd written, her first book was called Arora. Originally her idea was to write a dystopian set in Oxford. 

Sarah first got the idea for Throne of Glass when she was 16 years old, when she was listening to the Cinderella soundtrack. She realised that the music was better suited to a darker Cinderella, and so got the idea that she wanted to write a story about a Cinderella who was an assassin. About a girly girl who enjoyed getting dressed up and going to the ball, but also who was a kick butt heroine. From the age of 16-22, she worked on the first three books in the Throne of Glass series (she said there will be a total of 6 or 7 books) and 10 years later Throne of Glass was released. It was originally titled Queen of Glass!


Samantha first got the idea of The Bone Season when she was 19 years old and it was at the London Book fair, where her book was picked up. She has now sold movie rights for the book. 

Both authors said they're really embarrased about discussing their hobbies outside writing, when previously asked, Samantha said her hobbies were baking and Sarah's was jigsaw puzzles!

Sarah was obsessed with Teen Wolf and ended up watching all three seasons in a space of a few days, Samantha said the same thing happened to her with Game of Thrones.

Books/Authors which inspired Samantha include: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, George Orwell and the poet Emily Dickinson. For Sarah it was Robin Mckinley's The Hero and the Crown, Harry Potter and Garth Nix's Sabriel. Sarah's other inspirations include movie scores and Pinterest. Samantha also likes trailer music, especially ones with no words to it and said that she had started a pinterest board for her second book to The Bone Season. 

Samantha said that you should just write what you want to write, Sarah said that she listens to her gut instincts if she's told to change things in her books and also listens to her writer friends. 

There wasn't enough time to ask my question in the session, but I got to ask Sarah later, I wanted to know who she would choose between Chaol and Dorian. She said she would have to imagine them as if she would meet them in real life at the bar. She could imagine Dorian sitting there will all ladies surrounding him and Chaol brooding in a corner and in that situation she would probably choose Chaol. But otherwise she'd like to have both! 

Going to the London Film & Comic Con was truly a fantastic experience, I got to hang out with TNA wrestlers, see the Power Rangers and take pictures with numerous Bane's. But meeting with Samantha and Sarah, was definitely one of my highlights of the year!