Personal Experience: Meeting Erin Hunter

Hi Everyone! I’m sorry I haven’t been posting much lately. Both writers block and life have swallowed me up but I’m back with a personal experience post about meeting one of my favorite authors Erin Hunter. A bit of some back story: Erin Hunter writes fantasy books about dogs, cats, and bears (not in the same book of course) surviving, fighting, and thriving in the wild. Whether it be set in a icy tundra or a dark and dismal forest, these books used to and still are some of my favorites. Now I will tell you my personal experience meeting an author for the first time.

    It was just another normal day and I was heading off to the local Barnes and Noble with a family member. I can never get enough of bookstores and can stay there for hour upon hour. The atmosphere is relaxing and all the books provide opportunities for adventure and escape from the world. Entering the sliding doors is normally… A normal thing to do. But today was downright exciting. A sign advertised that Erin Hunter was going to be doing a book signing. All I thought at first was “Oh well. Another book signing I can’t make it to.” but then I noticed the date. February 15th. That was today! Suddenly my heart skipped a beat. Could it really be true? I took a double take at the sign. Yes it is! Wait 1 pm? It’s close to 1:30! I rush inside and towards the stairs like my life depends on it. A employee asks me if I’m going to be seeing Erin Hunter. My family member has followed me and answers “Maybe” and then we hop on the escalator and off we go. My heart is beating like a drum, my stomach is filled with butterflies and I’m sure my hands are shaking. We make it to the top and there she is. Erin Hunter in flesh! All I could do at that moment is stare in awe like I just met a true celebrity. Everyone has had or will have that moment and mine was now. My family member, let’s call her M. M went over and asked an employee/guard if Erin was going to be wrapping up anytime soon. He said that she was going to stay as long as she could or until the line ended. I felt myself breath a sigh of relief. But then panic arose once again. I didn’t have any books with me for her to sign and I could go home! I texted my friend about Erin Hunter and how she was at the bookstore. My friend was on here way ASAP. I realized the obvious and just went and purchased a brand new book. Just my luck, her books were all over the place to help people who were in the same boat as I am. Now to the exciting part. 

 

Source: My Camera

Book I got signed my Erin Hunter

 

   Every second that ticked by waiting for my friend was absolutely brutal. All I could think was “The author could leave before my friend even gets here and our chance would vanish in a snap.” Being the slightly paranoid person I am, I was worried for a long time. After buying my book I could finally go get a wristband. It turns out that those wristbands didn’t do a thing in the world in terms of what space in line you stood. Seconds turned into many minutes. Finally all I could do was rush back upstairs and find the back of the line. Of course I was behind two obnoxious little boys who told outrageously annoying knock knock jokes. I sighed and continuously checked my phone waiting to see if my friend was on her way. My family member M was downstairs reading a book and smiled up at me. I mustered a slight grin. Waiting and waiting was all I did until my friend and her mom appeared behind me and once again a sigh of relief. The boys in front of us continued on quizzing each other on our state basketball team and saying more knock knock jokes. My friend who I will now call J informed me she had contacted a couple of our friends about the author being here at the local bookstore. One was a humongous fan who had read almost all of one of the series that the author had written. That was the one that was also out riding horses and not answering her phone. As we inched our way in line, J tried to contact our friend over and over again until she finally answered. Of course she was estatic! 

       While our friend and her sister started to come, we waited in line for exactly an hour and a half. Maybe more. As we made it to being next in line. A lady asked our names which she spelled out correctly in a sticky note each. J then explained our situation of our friends not being able to make it. She was unsure if Erin would do extra autographs or signatures for people she wouldn’t meet. Finally our turn came and I was shaking. I stepped forward next and there she was. One of my favorite authors was going to sign my book. She signed it with a special message special to the specific book. My friend took our picture as I realized how excited I was. I confessed to her I wanted to be a writer just like her. She gave me some advice I haven’t yet forgotten .”You need to be able to persevere.” Simple yet powerful. Before I knew it my time was up and it was J’s turn. My heart was still racing but I was happy. When one of our other friend that I will call R and her sister came, I walked by to go downstairs to got home. R was talking to Erin and making her laugh. Before I disappeared, I heard her say “Two of my friends were here earlier. J and Makayla.” I smiled at the authors  response. “J and Makayla? Ah yes I remember them.”

I hope you enjoyed my personal experience story. I wrote  to my best ability and would love some feedback.

Let me know if you would like some more personal experiences.

Stay tuned for hopefully daily posts and Thank you for reading!

~Makayla the Bookworm 🙂

Erin Hunter

 

Source: http://www.watchungbooksellers.com/event/erin-hunter-survivors-2-hidden-enemy

Here are some links to help you learn more about Erin Hunter

http://www.warriorcats.com/meet-erin-hunter

http://www.warriorcats.com/meet-erin-hunter/interview

 

 

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