Ally Carter

Author

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Tour tips and suggestions

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Hi, everybody!

I write to you tonight from my hotel in Washington, D.C. where I will mark the release of the fifth Gallagher Girls book tomorrow with a few school visits and a signing at the wonderful Bethesda Public Library.

We’ve been getting a few of the usual questions about signings, signing protocol, and whatnot, so here is a quick and dirty recap.

1. Always check with the host store (websites are great for this) to confirm the date, time and location. (sometimes events are held off-site).

2. Also check with the store to find out if they have any signing policies.

For example, sometimes stores will ask that you buy the new book from them. Sometimes they just ask that you buy a coupon that can be used for any book. Sometimes no purchase is required (but, on a personal note, I always appreciate it when you guys support the store that has gone to the trouble of having me. So even if you buy my book elsewhere–if that is allowed–please buy SOMETHING at the store to show your thanks and to encourage them to bring in other authors you might want to see.)

3. I am happy to sign all of my books if time allows. Usually it does, but sometimes the crowds are so big that we have to limit it to two or three books. Or sometimes we will say that the new book can be personalized (To Jessica, For Emily, etc) and the others will just get a signature only.

Really, it all varies depending on the location, crowd, space, etc.

4. Another thing that will vary is how long the event will last. I really, truly don’t know. I will usually talk for 20-30 minutes taking questions and speaking a little. Sometimes the store will do door prizes or have some announcements. And then we will do the signing, and how long that lasts is entirely dependent upon crowd size. Needless to say it is faster to sign books for twenty-five people than it is for 250 (and I’ve had ranges just that big)

If you really need to know how long the event will last, then the best thing is probably to, again, contact the host store and see how many people they might be expecting. Beyond that, I’d allow for an hour and a half to two hours (but it could be quite a bit longer).

Thanks, everyone. And have a very, very happy #GallagherGirls day!

Ally

Comments

  1. I finished it and I am in love. By far the best one yet… Now all I have to do is find something else to capture my attention until the next one come out!

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  2. I JUST FINISHED READING IT AND ITS SOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOODDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALLY YOUR THE BEST AUTHOR EVER!!!! I WAS SO ENTHRALLED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BOOK!!!!!!!!! KEEP WRITING FIREVER AND EVER CUZ I CANT STOP WHEN IM READING YOUR BOOKS!!!!!!!!!

    Love,

    Jessica Spirit

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  3. Thanks so much for posting this Ally!!!!! it’s really answers alot of my question (cant wait till saturday when you come to NC!) but I kind of had a question…. see I got GG5 on Saturday as in March 10th at my local book store how is that possible? Not that I’m complainning about getting it early because seriously IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVED IT TO DEATH!! but the same thing happend with Uncommin criminals I got it a couple says before it came out.
    Also to anyone or most spacifily Ally (but if you can answer it PLEASE I would be very thankful)
    Ally will you answer questions about GG5? because I had a couple but not spoiler type questions

    Thx Ally!
    -alexandra

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    • I got Uncommon Criminals early too. I think somewhere Ally said that it was preety much up to the people who run the store as to when they put it out after they get it. 🙂

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  4. I’m very close to crying. Guess why.

    A) I don’t have a cookie.

    B) My computer is slower than a dead snail.

    C) For some weird reason, I can’t read the new book on my nook even though it says it’s supposed to be released today, every time I tap on it, it won’t open, it says it’s only up for Preorder.

    If you guessed C, then you’re correct, even though all of those things are true.

    HELP ME!!!

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  5. Got the book and finished it in just a little over three hours. I couldn’t put it down!! OSOT was just as great as I imagined it would be. I can’t wait for the last book. Ally you are the best!!

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    • I have you both beat-I’m 23! lol I bought I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You not long after it came out, loved it, got hooked on the series, and haven’t been able to stop reading them! I even got my 13-year-old niece hooke on both the Gallagher Girls series and The Heist Society series because they’re both so good=)

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  7. oh my gosh i finished out of sight out of time this morning it was amazing i got to read about half of it last night because i’m in cali and it came out around 9ish and i couldn’t put it down. i’m seriously in awe of you’re amazing writing skills. I hope that I can be as great a writer as you one day <3

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  9. It’s Tuesday. And Out of Sight, Out of Time just came out.
    ~Flips out~
    But I’m borrowing it from the library so I have to wait…:(
    I might buy it though. Maybe. Or maybe I’ll wait for a paperback. 🙂

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  10. Mannnn you are an amazing writer !! I am already over halfway through Out of sight, Out of time and let me say you are truly talented keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  11. Just finished the book and it was by far, the best book in the series and ever! I cried within the first 60 pages and had to take little breaks to stop from crying through the rest of it. (I didnt want to get those ‘why is she crying at her laptop’ looks) But seriously. I am so excited for the last book. It will definitely wrap up nicely in 6books. BEST BOOK EVER!

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  14. congratulations on GG5. I love your books, I love the language aspect of the books. How many languages do You actually speak?

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  16. Ally, I just finished reading it like 3 hours ago and OHMYGOSH it is sooooo gooooodddd!!!! lolll 🙂 just as good as ever!!!!! haha i love it sooo much!!!

    you keep writing books cuz im not able to tear myself away from them!!!!
    Awesome job, Ally!

    Love,

    Jessica Spirit

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  17. AH!!!!!!! The book was sssooo epic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait for the next one!!!!!!

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  18. I had the book delivered today! I finished reading it and it’s awesome!!!!!!!!!
    Ally, you’re a genius.

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  19. I just read the book today(march 13,2012) and finished it. Is it possible to go from the biggest Gallager high ever! too, like, an emotional mess because of the fact that I have to wait for another YEAR! (not to say that the ending was bad; it was by far the best book of the series!) I’m just….. processing.

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  22. hey ally.
    i got your book a few hours ago. Out Of Sigh Out Of Time. And i have been reading it obsessively since the second i paid for it. i think it is incredible. The way you write is inspirational. Its as if you can feel everything that Cammie is feeling. When Cammie wants to scream and cry the reader wants to do the same. I just want to personally thank you. When I first started reading your books I wasn’t big on reading and such but now…Now I want to a writer. People cant get me to stop writing all the time. Thank you ally, for introducing me to this magical world of writing and reading. I will forever be a Gallagher Girl

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  23. I’m so upset. Right after school today I rushed to our closest bookstore, which let me tell is, is not very close at all, and they don’t have the book! GAH!

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  25. Ohhh my god I just finished it it took me five hours ohhhhhhhhhh myyyyyuuy gooooooodddddddds love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love

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  26. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!! THE BOOK WAS AMAZING! I HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO PLEASURE READ IN SOOOO LONG BECAUSE OF SCHOOL! I am like bouncing off the walls. Took three hours almost cried a couple of times! Took about 3 hours!!!! I couldn’t be happier!!!!!!! Your and amazing author! Can’t wait to come see you on the tour! Now its time to reread it like a billion times!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  27. Oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I pre-ordered the book but when i got to the store they didn’t have it yet!!!!!!!!!!!!! the suspense is killing me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the way Ally you are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so SO much for all the hard work you put into your books they are truly one of a kind, lots of love and lots of luck on your tour!

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    • ME TOO!!! I’m wating for mine from Raleigh, NC after being sighed – btw Ally, Thanks in advance for sighing my copy!! I cant wait to read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  28. i just finished the book! it was sooooo amazing!!! seriously just a great book. my mind is reeling from everything I stayed up wayyy past by sleeptime to finish this!!

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  29. just finished the book it was amazing the best i read out of all the books but it sounded like it was ending…please tell me theres a finle
    i wont say any more in case i accidently spoile the book everyone if you thought her last book was amazing this one will blow you away.
    michaela

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  31. I got the book at 3:30 PM yesterday, and finished it by 6 PM, and I think I’m going to reread it again. And again. And again. This was the best book in the series so far, it was so much more serious [although my friend’s and I have noticed the books progressively becoming more serious] and intense, and… amazing. It made me cry, and it made me laugh, and it made me go… wow. Now I can’t wait for the sixth and [sadly] final book. You inspire me Ally, to be a better writer and a better reader. Thank you.

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    • yeah I noticed that too! It progressed from boys…to… the Circle. Cammie’s getting older, she has different things to worry about, so that explains it. But there still is a good(e) amount of Zach. 🙂 I loved the Zammie in it. There wasn’t too much, not too little. Perfect. 🙂 Thanks, Ally. Totally awesome of you.

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  32. Hey Ally! If you have time, please go to Georgetown Cupcake and have a chocolate squared for me!!! Love those cupcakes<3

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  34. Finished it in 4 hours. In love with the series. And Ally. Oh, and Zach. Ally, I’ll be seeing you Saturday.

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  35. Ally, can I just say I love you? Your book is awesome! I have grown to love Kat and Cammie (and who can forget Zach and Hale?) I cried and laughed and everything in between. Out of Sight, Out of Time was amazing!!! Thanks for writing.

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  36. sooo whens the next book coming out becasue OH MY GOD THIS BOOK IS AWESOMELY PHENOMENAL…. i wished there was more kissing and more zach and cammie scenes but its ok cuz i think zach got hotter.. if thats possible.. lol best quotes were “all the cool kids are doing it” and “im right where i need to be” lols.. btw ally do you like milk duds? cuz you talked about them in the first gallagher girl book and in heist soceity lols.. GALLAGHER GIRL FOR LIFE! <3 🙂

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  37. okay so i just read out of sight out of time and it was amazing!!!! i preorodered it and just got it this morning and as soon as i read the first page i was hooked. literally my hands were shaking from excitement!! 🙂
    is this the last book in the series or will there be another one? i really hope this isnt the last book!
    have fun on your tour!!

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  38. Finished the book during lunch!!!!!!!!!!!!! Less than 17 hours! But that includes my school classes and Sleeping. Yes, sadly I put the book down to sleep! But still! Best book ever!!!! I thought it was amazing! I love your writing Ally! Your such an inspiration!

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  40. Omg best book ever! It was so weird in that one chapter, no spoilers don’t worry I was slightly confused then I got it. I
    And I was like O.o I finished it in 12 hours most of those hours I was sleeping and going to school soo…..but I soo luv it. Ally u are a genius.

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  41. When I have my liscence next year, I AM going to a signing. I don’t care how far away it is, I am going.

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  42. ALLY YOU ARE A GENIUS!!!!!! IT WAS SO GOOD!!!!!! Got it atfour yesterday and finished it a ten!!!! Rereading process has begun! LOVE IT!!!!<3 It hasnt left my sight since ive had it!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!<3

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  44. I already finnished the fifth book thanks to you I’m having ANOTHER spas atack over the sinking 6th book!!!!!!! Now I have to wait ANOTHER year for it. Ally if your trying to kill me mission aclomplished Cu’s I’m sending this from the grave yard.

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  45. OMG i am getting this book for my birthday but that is 3 days from today and i
    am just KILLING myself by RE-READING the series!!!!!!!!!!!!
    #torture

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    • I bought it yesterday when it came out and I already finished it. Amazing job, Ally! The book was perfect. I’ll probably end up reading it again and again. The twists throughout were awesome and I can’t wait for book six! 🙂

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    • Ally has said there will probably be 6 books. And the 5th kinda ends with another semester in anticipation. I’d probably cry if there wasn’t another one. OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF TIME was amazing!!!

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  47. I’m clearly very, very, very much upset. I couldn’t get the book yesterday (the day it came out), so I patiently told myself that I can get it the next day. No big deal.
    So today, I made sure to call my mom early and ask her to go to Chapters to get the book. Only to come upon the fact that they’re sold out. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the lovely –or not so lovely– story as to why I’m silently fuming at every comment that says how amazing GG5 was, while I sit here counting the hours down ’til I can get it tomorrow (IF they have the book. IF.) and procrastinating studying for my French midterms.

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  48. Best Gallagher Girls book yet. I LOVED IT. I loved the fourth one too, but this one is even better in my opinion. I’m so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D:D:D:D

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  49. I still have to wait for mine to get here. It sounds likes it going to be really good!!

    Keep on writing!

    ~Sara

    Ps. Where is Molly?

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    • Looooooool ‘hear hear’ i feel like the only reason to go to america is to buy the book but don’t worry patience has it’s own reward and anyways it’s only till April

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