Wicked Journey: Stephanie Perkins in PH!

So, hello! I know I haven't really updated my blog because school just started and as usual school is such a B with everything.

Last Sunday was the Stephanie Perkins book signing. I arrived at around 6 am and I was number 92 already! Tweets were overflowing the night before that there were already 11 people in front of National Bookstore since 1 pm last Saturday. I'm proud to say that two of them were my friends. And before they opened the store, a black SUV drove by and inside was Stephanie and her husband Jarrod, and they waved to the crowd.

Here are our pictures with the extremely awesome people of the Peculiar Family! (Photos from Eriele and Charm <3)

Prepping up Eriele before showtime!

Eriele aka Lola Nolan and Apolo aka Cricket Bell! <3 Cuties the two of them!

To say that the crowd went crazy is an understatement. I'll let the photos do the talking. It was just crazy.

She talked about how she started as a full time librarian and now she's a full time writer. She shared that librarians are really great researchers. Her first novel, Anna and The French Kiss, is based on her research on Paris. She's just so full of energy! And even her husband, Jarrod was game with everyone. He was seated at the front row too! She also shared that the boys, Etienne, Cricket and Josh were based on her husband. It's the sweetest thing ever! Here's some of my sneaky photos of Jarrod and his back. Yes, that's how near I am to him at the time.

The crowd was gushing everytime Stephanie mentioned her husband and to add to our feels, Jarrod went up the stage and gave Stephanie a kiss on the lips. I mean, *sighs dreamily* such a perfect couple. He reminds you of a young Mr. Fredrickson from UP right? The eight lucky early birds got themselves a copy of Isla and the Happily Ever After, which will be out on August! So watch out for it!

The first book signing in Cebu last July 5, Jarrod got mobbed by fans who wanted his autograph. Being a crazy fan myself, I walked up to him and asked for his autograph immediately after the interview on stage. They set up a table for him too but I didn't line up because the line was just too long. I didn't get a picture with him. *cries* It was longer than the actual line for Stephanie's signature.

When it was my turn for Stephanie's signature, one of my friends, Alia, asked me to ask her what's Etienne's height. All of the fans know that Etienne is two inches shorter than Anna. I think that's been a question on everyone's minds for a while.

Shakily, I went up to her and asked the question. She laughed and said, "Well, you've been wondering that too, huh. You'd have to read Isla to know his height. It's the big reveal." To us the unfortunate who didn't have an advance reading copy of Isla, we'd have to wait for August!

Huge thanks to Eriele and Charm for the photos and of course to the Peculiar Family for spending time with me. Also to National Bookstore for making this happen!

Till the next book signing!

Wicked Journey: Reunited at the #ChalkCampusTour2014

Last July 10, Chalk magazine, in partnership with the Far Eastern University Mass Communication Society, dropped by my school for the Chalk Campus Tour 2014. It was an eventful day filled with so many laughter, beautiful people, ice cream and amazing insights from featured speakers, Camille Co, The Morning Rush's DJ Gino and Chico and Gretchen Ho.

This is also the first time my group of friends were complete. It was sad because we didn't have classes together due to scheduling constraints.

The event was hosted by the university's very own Christian and Andrea. It was followed by a performance of the Institute of Arts and Science's Dance Company and a few words from Chalk Magazine's Managing Editor, Elaine Carag.

The first speaker was Gretchen Ho. Gretchen Ho is a former player of the Ateneo Lady Eagles and now she's a sports commentator and host at ABS-CBN Sports and Action and at Balls TV. She's still playing volleyball, as she's also playing for Petron. She shared how to #LiveGood and to always be passionate in everything that we do. We should take the leap. I agree with everything that she shared last Thursday. She was so full of wisdom and she's just so beautiful in person!

Before the second speaker came on, there was a dating game, featuring one of SM Youth's Fashion model, LA. Man, how I wish I was picked from the crowd, but alas, my friends and I stared at him from afar while three lucky girls got to be with him on stage.

The second batch of speakers were from The Morning Rush, DJ Gino and Chico. The Morning Rush is a morning show on radio on RX 93.1, Mondays-Fridays from 6AM-10AM and hosted by Chico, Delamar and Gino. I listen to them every morning on my way to school ever since I was in high school. They are simply the best radio show for me. They shared the Top 10 Payo sa Sawi (Top 10 Advises for the Heartbroken). Every day, they have a Top Ten list with topics given by their die hard listeners. Their topic last Thursday was perfect for the #LoveHard segment. It was a very loud segment, with others just sharing their love problems and experiences and even sharing the entries from their show that morning.

Another dating game happened, this time with Tommy, another SM Youth Fashion Model. Now, I got a chance to take a picture with him before he went on stage. He's so dreamy! *sighs*

The final speaker was Camille Co. She's a fashion designer, owner of Coexist and a fashion blogger. She's one of my favorites and she's always on the Top 10 of Lookbook. Her fashion sense is just something to be admired of. She shared practical fashion tips, even if our school requires us to wear our uniform (booo! Just kidding!)

To say that the event is a blast is an understatement. I'm still reeling from the experience and the selfies I took with one of the Bright Young Manila Campus Hotties. Visit my Instagram account (@anettethewicked) to see the selfies from Thursday. Many thanks to my friend Nicole for these pictures and the Mass Communication Society for making this happen!

Till the next post! Bye!

Wicked Review: Burn For Burn by Jenny Han

Published: April 24, 2012

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers

Series: Burn For Burn #1

Acquired: Paperback

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{Blog Tour: Excerpt} More Than Music by Elizabeth Briggs

Title: More Than Music

Author: Elizabeth Briggs

Date of Publication: June 17, 2014

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

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SYNOPSIS:

Music major Maddie Taylor just finished her junior year of college and has a summer internship lined up with the LA Philharmonic, yet every night she practices guitar and secretly dreams of a louder life. But geeky girls like her don't get to be rock stars. That is, until tattooed singer Jared Cross catches her playing guitar and invites her to join his band on The Sound, a reality TV show competition.

Once on the show, Maddie discovers there’s more to Jared than his flirty smile and bad boy reputation – and that he’s just as big a geek as she is. With each performance their attraction becomes impossible to ignore, but when the show pressures them to stay single they’re forced to keep their relationship secret.

As the competition heats up, Jared will do whatever it takes for his band to win, and Maddie must decide if following her dream is worth losing her heart.

EXCERPT:

The crowd’s cheering took on more of a screaming sound, and one girl even yelled, “Jared, I love you!” I rolled my eyes. Not that I blamed the girl. With dark hair that always stuck up like he’d just gotten out of bed, a perpetual five o’clock shadow, and blue eyes that could charm any girl into giving him his phone number, Jared was impossible to resist. I wanted to, believe me, but every time he opened his mouth and sang it was all over. 

Jared gave the audience a wicked grin while he grabbed his guitar, a black Fender Stratocaster almost identical to my own except for the color. Like Kyle, he had tattoos running up and down his toned arms, and I couldn’t help but wonder if they continued under his shirt. The entire club buzzed with excitement, every one of us poised on the edge, holding our breaths and waiting for the plunge. In this moment, right before the music started, it felt like anything could happen—and I was ready.

Hector yelled out, “One, two, three, four,” and the band launched into their first song. Jared’s hard guitar riffs filled the small club, matched with the deep pulse of the bass, the fierce beat of the drums, and the eerie moan from Kyle’s keyboard. The music ripped through me, touching the wild, dark part of my soul I kept locked away. My fingers itched to form the chords myself and play along, but I kept my hands in fists at my sides. Instead I nodded my head to the music, picking out each note Jared played and feeling it in a way only another musician could.

When Jared leaned into the mic and sang, his smooth voice washed over me like a soft caress. It was like the last, decadent bite of a chocolate-covered strawberry. The smoky burn of whiskey as it slipped down your throat. The final night of passion before your lover left forever. I sang along to the words, feeling each line strike me deep inside. I understood exactly what he was saying, like he’d written every word just for me, like somehow he understood me in a way no one else did. Of course, every other girl in the club probably felt the same way I did. And a few guys, too.

GIVEAWAY:

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elizabeth Briggs is a Young Adult and New Adult author who lives in Los Angeles with her British husband and a bunch of fluffy white rescue dogs. She's a guitar-playing geek who loves books, rock music, and video games, goes to Comic Con every year, and is still hoping to be a Jedi when she grows up.

Elizabeth currently works with WriteGirl to mentor at-risk or pregnant teen girls in writing, to help them get through high school and into college. She also volunteers with Bichon FurKids to help rescued dogs find a new, loving home. She previously worked as an intern for literary agent Jill Corcoran of Jill Corcoran Literary Agency, an intern for Entangled Publishing, and an editor for Curiosity Quills Press.

Elizabeth is represented by Kate Schafer Testerman of KT Literary and is a member of SCBWI and RWA.

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{Book Blitz} The V Girl by Mya Roberts

Title: The V Girl

Author: Mya Roberts

Publication Date: July 1, 2014

Genres: Dystopia, New Adult

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SYNOPSIS:

In post-apocalyptic North America, rape and sexual slavery are legal. Lila Velez, desperately wants to lose her virginity before the troops visit her town and can take it away by force. She makes plans to seduce her only friend, Rey, the most attractive man in her town. Lila does not love him but he is the only man who has shown her true affection, an affection she is willing to take as a substitute of love.

Lila’s coping mechanism to her mother’s rape and kidnapping is her secret. A secret that will bring her closer to Aleksey, a foreign, broody man. Lila does not trust him because his links to the troops and his rough, yet irresistible appearance. Aleksey offers Lila an alternative to her plans, a possibility that terrifies her…and tempts her in spite of herself. 

All the while Lila will have to find a way to live in the constant company of death, slavery, starvation, sexual abuse and the danger of losing the people she loves the most.

This book is recommended for readers over the age of 18 due to strong language and sexual content.

GIVEAWAY:

Win 1 of 3 ebook copies of The V Girl by Mya Roberts + $20 Amazon GC or 1 of 3 T-shirts + $20 Amazon GC. This giveaway is open internationally.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

I am a bookaholic and regret nothing.

I spent years trying to become a contemporary dance choreographer. Eventually I realized that I enjoyed writing my stories rather than creating dances for them.

I am obsessed with books that present damaged characters, swoon worthy guys, controversial topics and happy endings.

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