Event Recap: Gayle Forman All The Feels Philippines + A Giveaway

This post is 3 weeks late (sigh. Life.) but I'm posting it anyway because I have to admit, I'm still not quite over it. I got to meet the awesome Gayle Forman last January 18th thanks to National Book Store! I finished reading If I Stay the week of the signing so I was super giddy the day itself. I couldn't wait to meet the woman who wrote the book that made me cry in school... around other people. (And yes, I will never get tired of telling that story) This recap is pretty much a photo dump but I hope you enjoy looking through the photos! :D

Before the book signing, I, along with other book bloggers, attended a forum with Gayle. There, we got to ask her questions about her books and her life. Some even asked if they could touch her hair! (she let them by the way) It's so pretty, you just have to touch it. 

Fun fact: Gayle recently watched Frozen so she kept singing let it go and do you want to build a snowman during the forum and the book signing. Cute!

Photo from Hazel of Stay Bookish

I asked her about Allyson's travels in Just One Day and whether they were inspired by her own experiences. I also asked what adventure she'd go on if she was able to. Gayle answered by sharing her travels before college and while preparing for the book. Gayle went to different places in Paris that weren't the usual tourist spots and she just fell in love with everything and everyone. She also said that since she has kids now, she couldn't travel much anymore but if she could she'd visit South America, probably Brazil. She'd also love to travel to South Africa, because her youngest daughter's Ethiopian, and go on a safari. Cool, huh? Since I forgot to record everything (lesson learned), I recommend you check out The Bookaholic Blurbs' event recap because she recorded and transcribed the entire thing. :P

Here are photos from the forum:

Waiting in line...

(L-R) Algel of Tea-rrific Reads, Kim of Divergent Gryffindor and me
Photo from Hazel of Stay Bookish

(L-R) Kayle of The Bookish Owl, me, Dianne of Oops! I Read A Book Again, and Kazhy of My Library In The Making
Photo from Hazel of Stay Bookish 

Gayle signing our books!

Photo from Hazel of Stay Bookish

Me photobombing and not photobombing Kayla

Both photos from Hazel of Stay Bookish

Instagram photo dump!

With awesome bloggers and me almost freaking out in the middle

Posing with Gayle Forman (Left: gangstas; Right: yay not so much)

PH Book Bloggers with Gayle. She made us say "Let it snow" instead of "cheese!" That's why our smiles are like :D

Photo from Dea of Teen Readers' Diary

After the forum, we finally went to the book signing and booooy there were a lot of people. SO many that a single photo won't even cover it. Everyone screamed and went on fan girl mode the moment Gayle arrived. It was so much fun watching Gayle in front. She took her jacket off, swung it around a bit before tossing it to the side. She made the crowd put up their books (photo below) so she could take a selfie with them. And of course, she sung a few lines from popular Frozen songs. I honestly thought she was the low key, quiet type because of her books. But man, I was wrong! She's soooo much fun! 

Photo from Kate of The Bookaholic Blurbs

Gayle, dancing.
Photo from Hazel of Stay Bookish

Thank you to National Book Store and to all the awesome people who made this happen! WE LOVE YOU! :D

Check out the other event recaps from some of my fellow PH book bloggers!

The Bookaholic Blurbs

Amaterasu Reads

Stay Bookish

Tean Readers' Diary

GIVEAWAY

Didn't get to go the signing? Well, I'm giving away a signed copy of If I Stay and a bookmark from Gayle to one lucky winner! Open to Philippine residents only. Make sure your tweets are not protected so your entry will count! :D

Also, Dianne of Oops I Read A Book Again is raffling off a signed copy of Just One Day. So be sure to drop by her blog! You might get lucky on both our blogs :P

Side story: I wanted Gayle to write, "Do you want to build a snowman?" When she saw the message, she smiled and added, "Maybe a snow amoeba..." because, obviously, it doesn't snow in the Philippines. 

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