Ally Carter

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Guest Post from Operative Briana!

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Hi all,

Ally here, welcoming a very special guest to the blog today.  When I was on tour last spring I saw quite a few familiar faces, readers who have been to signings/events before and keep coming back.  This is always super fun!  One such reader (and frequent blog commenter) is an awesome girl named Briana.  When I asked if she might be interested in writing a guest post here for all of you she graciously accepted.

So without further ado, I’ll give Briana the floor!

-*-

Hello all you Gallagher Girls and Blackthorne Boys out there! My name is Briana. I’ve been a Gallagher Girl since I was 16 and Love You, Kill You was not yet out in paperback. This means that yes, I have graduated from the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women and am now a fully-trained field operative at the ripe old age of 22.

My mission was as follows: to attend and report back on Agent Carter’s book tour as well as give my impression of book signings in general.

 

Step the first: Acquire transportation and back-up for the mission.

(The Operative recruited her partner in espionage and said partner’s car, codename: Bing.)

Step the second: Acquire chocolate. It’s a requirement when there’s a chocolate shop in the same parking lot as the bookstore.

(Not to mention the fact that The Operatives stood no chance against sea salt caramels.)

Step the third: Recon. It was observed upon entering the venue that the number of Gallagher Girls at the signing had quadrupled since Agent Carter’s last appearance in the area.

(The Operatives were highly pleased with this fact.)

Step the fourth: Interrogation. Most book signings are paired with a question and answer session. Agent Carter’s signing was no exception.

Step the fifth: Engage the target. Upon completion of the Q&A session, The Operatives presented Agent Carter with a plethora of novels, all of which she most graciously signed.

(It was at this point that Agent Carter asked one of The Operatives to write this post for her blog.)

 

As you can probably tell, there’s a lot that goes into a book signing. First off, there has to be a venue and an audience. Third Place Books up in Lake Forest Park, Washington turned out to be the perfect place for a tour stop. It’s a massive, independent bookstore with everything from food vendors to a stage to little nooks and crannies you can get lost in with a good book. Third Place set up Agent Carter’s signing in a nice cozy section of the store lined with bookshelves on all sides.

The setup was completely different from Agent Carter’s last stop in the area, back when Don’t Judge a Girl By Her Cover was released. That signing took place around a table piled high with cookies and pastries in a Barnes & Noble café. While the signing itself wasn’t a very large one, the environment made it feel like a tea party among friends (or perhaps lunch in the Great Hall).

Even though Third Place was a larger venue than the Barnes & Noble signing, and the number of Gallagher Girls in attendance had increased, the atmosphere remained the same three years later. We all loved the characters. We all loved the stories. We were among friends. Book signings create community. C.S. Lewis once said “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” There’s a touch of magic in that.

Agent Carter was kind enough to allow us to practice our interrogation techniques on her during her visit, and a lot of great questions were asked. I have to admit, the Q&A session is my favorite part of any book signing. It’s kind of like watching DVD extras for your favorite movie. Q&As can reveal everything from the author’s writing process to scenes that never made it into the story to teasers about upcoming novels. Agent Carter’s interrogation covered all the standard fare, but we threw some curve balls in there just to keep her on her toes (e.g., When will Hale next find himself in want of a shirt?). To the surprise of no one listening, Agent Carter fielded each question with the expertise of a seasoned operative.

The Q&A went by all too quickly, and soon enough, we had moved on to the title event: the book signing itself! As a veteran to book signings, I was more excited than nervous, but my partner in espionage had never been to one before, and she was a bit nervous while we waited in line. During a Q&A, interacting with an author is a group effort. You’re one of many people asking questions. During a signing, it’s one on one, so it can be a little intimidating. It’s doubly so if you’re a writer yourself. Agent Carter managed to put even my partner in espionage at ease when we finally got to the head of the line. Overall, I believe it was a highly successful interrogation.

All mission reports aside, book signings and tour stops are great ways to interact with authors offline and outside the pages of their novels. Communicating with them in a different medium gives you the opportunity to ask questions you might not have asked otherwise, meet people who love the books as much as you do, and see the stories and characters from the author’s side of things.

I think everyone gets something different out of a signing. As a complete and utter bookworm who also likes to write, I see signings as a way to learn more about the craftsmanship that goes into translating a story from my head to the page. Every writer has their own process for creating a story. The more processes I’m exposed to, the more I have to draw from when trying to figure out what works best for me. And I think in the end, it makes me a better writer and a more engaged reader.

So, if you ever get the opportunity to attend a signing…go.

 

 

PS from Ally:  Thank you so much for writing and sharing this with everyone, Briana!  It is such a joy to see familiar faces as I go on tour, and I’m just counting down the days until I’m back in Seattle for signing #3!

I hope all of you enjoyed reading Briana’s account as much as I did.

Have a great one,

Ally

 

 

Comments

  1. I hope I get to go to a signing I would love to meet my role model as an author because I want to be one myself and I wish Ally the best success in the world

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  2. I think it is soooo cool that a gallagher girl got to write on the blog, and it just makes me even MORE anxious ( if possible ) to go to one of ally’s book signings! ty for the surprise agent ally, and i wish the best of luck to you agent briana ( salute ) 🙂

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  4. I would love to go to one too but no one ever comes anywhere near where i live! Oh well! To Briana, just from this comment i think you are a wonderful writer! 🙂

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  5. I definitely agree with Jeiselynn. Since I was ten I’ve wanted to be an author. You’re definitely my role model. I hope to see you sometime in person in Tulsa, OK.

    Great Briana! Love this!

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  6. Oh I’m so excited for that! I think I live close enough to Seattle for my mum to let us go to that one! I live in WA and all of the siginings that I know you have done in WA before my mum wouldn’t let me go to, I’d really like to meet you and get my books signed and ask questions and…have a blast! Can’t wait!!(:

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    • I Agree Siobhan, I wish i can go to a signing too. I live in Michigan, and my mom is medically retired so my parents can’t afford to travel with me and my sisters. I really love The Gallagher girl and the Heist society series.I just started Uncommon Criminals and I read all of the Gallagher girl series. I hope there is a new Gallagher Girls book coming out soon. I have Dyslexia, so reading is not easy for me, I have a hard time understanding some things that I read. I can understand and read these book very well, and that encourages me to read more. Thank you Alley Carter. I would really love to meet you, and get my book signed, because i am a big fan…..

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  7. I’ve never been to a book signing but I really want to. I like the way Briana wrote as if it were a Covert “Summary of Surveillance” procedure. I loved it. I really hope Ally has another guest blogger in the future!

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  8. i really enjoy all of allys books she is like the best author ever!!! and i really hope i can go to one of her singing so bad i want a keepsake of my teen years and i cant wait for the las gg!!!!!!!

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  9. This is awesome!! I had so much fun reading this, and as there have not been any signings in MI yet, it was nice to hear Briana’s experiences. I wish you the best in your endeavors, Briana! I’m sure you will rock the world.

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    • Agreed!! This was awesome and omg i know ally hasn’t visited Michigan yet, but i hope she comes near here soon and i would absolutely love to experience seeing you in person ally!! Also nice job briana and keep writing!!!

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        • Meeting THE Ally Carter would be absolutely amazing! But I think the best day of my life would be if I ever got the chance to meet One Direction… Ally would be a veeeerrrry close second though :p

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  10. I can’t wait for new book signings! I’ve never been to one of Ally’s, but I really, REALLY want to. Ally, your books are amazing and I can’t wait for Heist Society 3! 🙂

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  11. Wow! I was at that signing too! Hahahaha! I was the one who nervously paced at a place where I could watch both entrances, and then screamed and ran away when I finally saw Ally. I got to apologize for it and give her a hug, but it was still eternally embarrassing. Once she entered the building and was whisked away to some back room, I just stood their in the front row of seats, talking a million miles an hour, and never sitting down. IT WAS AMAZING! Ally was so awesome, and because me and my friends were the LAST people in the line, we got to hang with her for a few minutes, and she gave us a hint about Heist Society 3. So much fun!

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    • Wow your supper lucky! I keep trying to look when she will come over to my part of town. Your so lucky that you got a tip on HS3! Was it Hales first name? Brian’s you did a great jobs with the post. And be sire that Ally knows how kind that was can wait to find out HS3’s title. Keep writing both of you.
      Ashley 🙂

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      • No it wasn’t Hale’s name, lol. I wish it had been. It was just something about the cover. We should all see it pretty soon!

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  12. Wow! That’s a very well written piece and quite entertaining as well.
    Thank you Ally and Briana for that (:

    ~Vixen

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  13. When I went to the siging for Out of Sight Out of Time in Bethesda. I literally flipped out. Reading Ally’s work and seeing/listening to her are so different. If was amazing to really see inside her mind with all the questions we asked and i have never been more inspired in my life. She asked if I could get her into the Greek Embassy and right then i knew that she would always be my favorite author! Ally will always be my inspiration

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  14. Luckeyyyyyyyyyyyyy I’ve NEVER been able to go to one of the signings.Hey ally do you think you could scedule one for mankato minnesota?

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  15. Awesome blog Briana! Some day, I will be a proud graduate of the Gallagher Academy as well! You did an amazing job!!!

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  16. Great Job Briana!! I bet you had fun at the signings and writing that blog. And P.S I don’t think 22 is old! 🙂

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  17. Hey, Nice job Briana! I laughed at your wording at the beginning. I’ve never been to a book signing, but I hope that i get the chance someday. Thanks for sharing!

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  22. I’d love it if you toured in the UK somewhere (I’m in the Channel Islands and no one ever comes her, so I won’t expet that), but the UK somewhere would be fab!!

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  23. That was really cool Ally and Briana! I just have to say though I’ll always look for Brianna’s comments because who knows? She might have inside info 🙂

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  24. It was such a huge privilege to write a post for Ally’s blog! Thank you for all your kind comments. You’ve made my night!

    Briana

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  27. So good comment,
    hey, if anyone is looking for some good books to read you should go on the goodreads website, tells you what eg if you like cross my heart and hope to spy then you’ll like this book.
    it is a good website.
    By Gallagher Girls
    and Australian’s Gallagher Girls

    Reply

  28. Awesome guest post, Briana! I’ve wanted to go to a signing for awhile. I couldn’t go to the last signing that was near me,cause I didn’t have a ride. I’m hoping that for the next one I’ll be able to drive myself. Love you Briana and Ally.

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  29. cute new blog i think us Gallagher should help get a quick start… please visit and comment on

    nextteen.blogspot.com

    thanks
    Miranda

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  30. i was at that signing too!!! it was awesome!! i loved the Q and A it was really cool! i got to ask a question. i really liked it. it was really fun.

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  31. It would be sooo cool to go to a book signing!! but sadly there hasnt been one close enough for me to go! Great post! have a super day!

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  32. I am also a complete book worm but I’m. Writing to thank briana for the quote instead of a diary I keep a journal full. Of my favorite qutoes and tis one is my new fave so. Thanks

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  33. RAMDOM…
    I just reread cross my heart and hope to spy and imma still wonderin how Zach knew that “she had a cat named Susie ” lol and all those other times when he said ‘spy’ it bothers me I wanna knowwww!!!!!(:

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  34. i’m a bookworm and i have my head always in a book. (I do other things to though) but unfortunately i don’t live in America so i can’t go to a book signing. Ally would you ever come to Britain to do a book signing?
    Thanks

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  36. This was really awesome! I really enjoyed reading something from a fellow Gallagher Girl’s perspective! I would really like to see more people do this and maybe even have Briana come back for a second one? Just a thought…Grat Post!
    ~Killian

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  37. Haha briana u must be 10 years older than me!! I wish I could go to a signing; I live in Australia! I soooooooooo want to meet ally!! When I’m older I want to be an author, and write short stories. All my friends say I can’t though, because I just go on and on and on!! I proved them wrong though. I know a quote that goes “A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do” – Walter Gagehot I totally agree!!

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  40. Ally, please come to Australia for the next Gallagher Girls, me and my friends would love it if you did! Come to all the major cities (cause it would be really sad if you did come to Australia but only went to Sydney when you are needed here in Brisbane!!!)

    Emsy

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  41. Oh and… you ROCK Briana and you are sooo lucky to have been to all those signings and to have met Ally!! I’d say that I’m jealous but jealousy gets us nowhere, so I have to Hope and have Faith that Ally will come to us in Australia(Brisbane) as well.

    Your fellow Gallagher Girl
    Emsy

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  42. Okay so i am literally only seeing girls posting here (except for the GallagherGirl_BlackthorneBoy person, who i’m not ACTUALLY sure which they are) so i am saying that Gallagher Girls is such an amazing series! 😀 Yah, just thought i’d like to say that, and i seriously want to go to a book signing! Yupppp… BYE!

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  43. Lucky you, Briana! I’m wondering if you could’ve exposed us secrets in the next Heist Society book.

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  44. Briana if you made a book I would totally read it! I really hope to go to a book signing one day
    and hopefully meet one of my writing inspirations, Ally Carter! I loved reading this post!
    Good luck in the field agent Briana!
    ~Maggie

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  46. Ahh!! I was at that book signing!! That’s awesome that there was an undercover operative in our midst!! I wonder if Ally remembers me, I was the girl who was ‘worried about grades’. =)

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  48. Its nice to Knorr all the do’s and dont of a book signing from an expierenced operative, especially a Gallagher girl :). I’ve never been to a book signing because she ever came to Boston (yet) and I’m still waiting for the glorious angels·in·heaven experience of finally getting to meet one of the best authors ever face·to·face :). And until that day comes, all I can do for now is continually stalk the blog until the book·signing list says ”Boston” 8D.

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  49. Its nice to know all the do’s and dont`s of a book signing from an expierenced operative, especially a Gallagher girl :). I’ve never been to a book signing because she ever came to Boston (yet) and I’m still waiting for the glorious angels·in·heaven experience of finally getting to meet one of the best authors ever face·to·face :). And until that day comes, all I can do for now is continually stalk the blog until the book·signing list says ”Boston” 8D.

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  50. OMG! I’m reading the last book right now. I’ve been recommending this book to the entire sixth grade. I do hope Cammie remembers everything…. And I hope there won’t be any trouble for Townsend, Abby, Bex, Macey, and Cammie in Rome! Wish i could meet you Ally, brcause you ROCK!

    Reply

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