After a really nice opening from a young fan on the book, Marissa came out and talked a little about how she came up with the idea for The Lunar Chronicles and her road to publication.
- Marissa Meyer started writing fan fics for Sailor Moon (a show I loved growing up)
- She got the idea for The Lunar Chronicles while writing a fan fic she entered into a contest
- Wrote first drafts of Cinder, Scarlet and some of Cress during NaNoWriMo.
- She wrote over 150,000 words that month for a contest going on. The winner got to visit the set of Star Trek. She came in third. The winner beat her by 1,000 words.
- Marissa Meyer comes from a family of proud nerds!
- She can entertain you with a bunch of history about fairy tales
- The movie rights for Cinder are in talks right now (doesn't mean anything is going to happen but there is interest)
- Marissa Meyer thinks Angelina Jolie would make an excellent Lunar Queen
- She just sold a standalone fantasy which is probably going to be her next book after The Lunar Chronicles ends
The question she answered that I found most interesting was when she answered why Cinder is set in China. Marissa explained that several historians believe that Cinderella was first told in 9th Century China because of the fixation on small feet and foot binding.
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| Marissa Meyer reading from Scarlet |
I have to say that I was pretty dang impressed. I've been to a lot of book signings but they're usually with multiple authors. To get up there and pull off talking by herself for almost an hour was really impressive. She was personable, knowledgeable, and completely engaging. This is even more notable because she had to handle some tough questions (like a little girl asking her why she was even in Vero) and she did it with grace.
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| Me, Marissa Meyer and my friend Andi (see Andi, you're famous now too) |
After we all got our books signed and since it was such an intimate crowd we got to spend quite a bit of time chatting with her.
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| My book signed. I got Scarlet signed too! |
While I was there, I snagged an extra signed copy and some swag for you! So if you live in the US and want a signed copy of Scarlet, make sure you fill out the form below!
Hmmmm I don't know if I have a favorite fairytale! I guess I love the story of Snow White and also Little Red Riding Hood, if that counts as a fairytale. :)
ReplyDeleteHey, great giveaway and what an awesome opportunity. I'd much more enjoy more intimate signings so that's great.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fairy tale? I think Beauty and the Beast. I just loved that one as a kid and it stayed with me. I'm still on the look out for a good retelling.
My favorite fairy tale is Rapunzel, because it's slightly different from the whole princess meets prince scenario. Thanks for the chance to win! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the little mermaid. I think because I have a fascination with the sea (though I can't swim). And the idea of fighting for your love against all odds. And the original story too is tragic, which I kind of prefer over the Disney version.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Cinderella. I think everyone dreams at one time or another that their real life is right around the corner and so is their prince charming :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fairy tale has always been Sleeping Beauty. It's beautiful even in it's horrifyingly brutal nature.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's hard to pick a favorite fairy tale. I've always loved Cinderella and Snow White, Rapunzel and Red Riding Hood, but I also like Hansel and Gretel. Of course I've read so many "altered" fairy tales in the past few years, it's hard to tell if I'm thinking of the originals or the newer versions.
ReplyDeleteBeverly aka Booklady
I've always Had a soft spot for Cinderella. I think because it is truly a happily ever after.
ReplyDeleteBeauty and the Beast was always my fav but Cinder is remarkable!
ReplyDeleteMine is Cinderella. She stayed true to herself despite the abuse she suffered. The good always wins out.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway, Amber! I have to say...my favorite fairytale is probably The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but my favorite fairytale character is (without a doubt) Rumpelstiltskin. :)
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I've always liked the story of Rumpelstiltskin. The gnarly little gnome is just too funny and the idea of spinning straw into gold captured my imagination as a kid. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is Beauty and the Beast - I've always loved the idea of looking past the surface to see the real person underneath!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Leanne
Cinderella just because it's a classic - oh and the dresses. Love big ball gowns :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fairy tale is probably Snow-White and Rose-Red. With the ungrateful dwarf and the bear that's really a prince, it's just a nice story :) Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteCinderella has always been my favorite. I just fell in love with it as a child with the Disney movie version. I think as a girl, it was really all about the dress, and how the underdog wins in the end.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fairy tale is the 12 Dancing Princesses. I have a beautiful illustrated version from when I was a kid. I also really love Jessica Day George's YA interpretation of the story "Princess of the Midnight Ball." So good!
ReplyDeleteSleeping Beauty has always been my favorite. I used to read the book every night when I was little and I loved the movie :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fairy tale has always been Beauty and the Beast because of the great message behind it. Don't judge people by appearances - judge them by their actions and such. Wonderful message. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fairy tale is Beauty abd the Beast because it talks about how love can occur with anyone. It also teaches not to judge people by their looks and also that people are capable of change. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI love the little mermaid because I love all the fish and everything about the ocean.
ReplyDeletehi. surely choose the beauty and the beast, I think most talked the same, but for me it is the best fairy tale I've ever read because it carries an impossibility in love, but not impossible.
ReplyDeleteI love Beauty and the Beast for the Romance and the love that goes beyond physical appearance.
ReplyDeleteMy current favorite fairy tale is Snow White & Rose Red because I'm reading through the Fables graphic novel series by Bill Willingham (which is amazing, by the way) and the one I'm currently on (#15) is all about their stories. I'm really excited to read Scarlet but I'm pretty far down on my library's holds list so it will be a while:-/
ReplyDeleteMy tastes are far too eclectic for me to just choose ONE, but I remember absolutely adoring Hansel and Gretal when I was growing up.
ReplyDeleteI love Little Red Riding Hood the most of any of them! There are SO many variations of this story it's mind-blowing! The 12 Dancing Princesses is a favorite too! :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fairy tale is BEAUTY AND THE BEAST hands down. It reminds me of my wife and I and our marriage. In fact, I'm writing a retelling in a YA steampunk version, and SHE is the BEAST. Thank you very much for this fabulous giveaway. I don't live near a signing, or I'd be there myself. I appreciate you sharing with your followers.
ReplyDeleteI agree it would be tough to pull off a signing as a solo writer, and the fact that she can handle silly questions with aplomb is a testimony of her character. I know she ALWAYS responds to my tweets, and I know she's busy. She is serious about every follower/reader. I'm also eager to hear what this next standalone book is. Woot. Great post.