Friday 11 October 2013

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! 



24 comments:

Jen (Books and Other Happy Ever Afters) said...

Jasprit! That is SO awesome that you got to meet some more authors, it doesn't happen to me very often, either. IAFHPAEORIFA I'm so jealous you met Sarah J. Maas! I would totally blank in front of her, too, it's totally acceptable. I wish I continued reading The Bone Season, since Samantha seems like a great person. Lovely post, Jasprit, thanks for sharing!

Henrietta @ Leisure Reads said...

Thanks for recapping the event! Samantha and Sarah are among my top favorite authors and it's wonderful to learn that you got to sign for Sarah :)

Melanie said...

OH GOSH YOU ARE SO LUCKY! These two are some of my favourite authors of this year eeep!

Thanks for the recap <33

Unknown said...

Ahhhh looks like you had a fab time it's so exciting to see how authors write as develop their ideas into the books we love. So happy you had fun and got to meet some wrestlers :P

Mary @ BookSwarm said...

That sounds AMAZING! We rarely have authors come to our part of the country so I don't get to attend many events. But I do love a good recap -- and great pictures, too!

Jenny said...

"I managed a few sentences, I can't even remember what I asked..."

YES JASPRIT! That is exactly what happens to me! I just start rambling and then when I'm done I have no idea what I actually said and I just walk away hoping it was nothing embarrassing. I love us:) What a fantastic event to get to go to, both of them seem so incredibly nice! And how tall is Shannon? Thanks for this awesome recap!!!

Carina Olsen said...

Ahh! I'm so jealous. Would love to meet some amazing authors. <3 glad you had an amazing time :D and happy you were able to go :) Thank you for sharing sweetie. <3

beccabooklover said...

I was there too! It was my third film and comic con of the year but I especially went to this one because Sarah J Maas was there. I think I squealed so loud when I saw the announcement a few weeks back! It was such a great day and I had my books signed by all three writers there but was most excited for Sarah. She actually mentioned to me whilst signing my book that she preferred Chaol because he was the handsome brooding type. Loved the talk too wish it could have gone on for longer! :)

Becca @ Lost in Thought

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Sounds like a lot of fun! That's great you got to meet the authors and they were both super sweet. I love the idea of having all your fans sign one of your books to have; I'd totally do that if I ever got published.

Jess said...

I'm such a worrier and I'm sure I'd be the same! I was thinking with us living fairly close to each other if there are any blogger events we both get invited to in London we could always go together some time? It sounds like you had an amazing time and I'm so jealous! I love that Sarah would pick Chaol :D Thank you for sharing!

Maja (The Nocturnal Library) said...

I just finished The Bone Season on audio like, 3 seconds ago and I adored it, so your post couldn't have come at a better time. I must admit I'm a bit jealous, but then, aren't I always? I'm just more used to being jealous of Rachel and other US folks. :)
Thanks for the recap. And I'm an obsessive planner too. :)

Tanja - Tanychy said...

You might not attend many author events but when you do you hit jackpot girl! I'm so glad you get to meet two amazing authors and I love Throne of Glass series so much. I still need to read The Bone Season and I'll! Amazing recap. Thank you for at least letting me imagine all that :))

Keertana said...

Ooh, I'm so glad you got to meet two such wonderful authors, Jasprit! I loved The Bone Season - and cannot WAIT for the next book - and I have to agree that I'd pick Chaol any day! ;) Great re-cap post, dear!

Jasprit said...

Hah I'm glad I'm not the only one who goes a bit starstruck when I see authors whose books I really love! I'm only 5'2, but felt like even more of a hobbit standing next to Samantha! And yes they were both such lovely authors! :)

Jasprit said...

Jess I'd love to travel down with you to an event in London sometime! I can imagine all the fun we could get up to and we'd have so much to talk about! I hope we do get to do this one day! :)

Jasprit said...

That's awesome Becca! It was my first time, but I've decided that i will definitely have to go the next Comic Con's, it was just so much fun! And I so wish that they had longer for their talk too! :)

Maji Bookshelf said...

omg this sounds sooo cool!! Looks like you had SO much meeting these two lovely women!! I actually haven't read The Bone Season, but sounds pretty cool!! Glad you have fun Jas!
- Farah @ MajiBookshelf

Unknown said...

I'm so excited for you, Jasprit! It's tough watching other readers attend great events, yes? Thanks for such a great recap of the event!

Unknown said...

Great event! I'm so jelly. I'm about to buy the bone season. Glad you enjoy the event. Thanks for sharing.

-Dannielle

Siiri said...

Ha! We're a match made in heaven, my friend! I finished Cinder last night and picked my next read from my paper slip jar--I got Throne of Glass ;-) SOOOO excited for that one. I've read the first two chapters and I regret it since I have another exam on Monday and I ought to study instead of pining over a reading book lol. I'm so glad you had fun and you look gorgeous next to these beautiful ladies :-) I love the idea of fans signing and author's book--I bet it's awesome to look them in the future. Btw, I read your response to Jenny as I was scrolling down and I'm 5 ft 2 as well. Exactly 160.0 cm :-) See? A great match heh :-D PS.I'll work on the questions and I'll e-mail them to you asap :-)

Unknown said...

This is amazing! I love to hear about your whole event (and I am RIGHT there with you, I obsess into all the what-ifs and play the worst scenarios to be prepared), the pictures are fantastic (you all are so cute!), and AH...just great :) Love!

Lucy Powrie said...

In the past few weeks I've seen both Samantha and Sarah and found them both awesome. Thanks for sharing, Jasprit!

Unknown said...

Okay, Jas. Either you're very short or Samantha's very tall! Lol. Just kidding, hun. I'm so jealous! Even though I haven't read their books I know for a fact that they're much coveted. And to have met them in person is a bonus! :)

Unknown said...

hahaha Power Rangers. I'd love to go to Comic Con one of these days! I haven't read Sarah Maas's books yet but I'm currently reading The Bone Season and enjoying it. Sounds like you had a great time, thanks so much for the awesome recap!

Bonnie @ For the Love of Words

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