• HOME
  • BOOKS
  • ALLY
  • BLOG
  • NEWS & EVENTS
  • FAQS
  • Media Room
  • For Writers
  • Ally Gear
  • CONTACT

Ally Carter

Author

JOIN ALLY'S MAILING LIST
 Facebook Twitter Instagram Tumblr Pinterest
Follow Us on RSS

Categories

  • Books
  • Contests
  • Double-Crossed
  • Embassy Row
  • Excerpts
  • For Writers
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Gallagher Girls 5
  • Gallagher Girls 6
  • Heist Society
  • Heist Society 3
  • Movies
  • My True Love Gave To Me
  • Retro Throw Back Posts
  • Shellie
  • Tours and events
  • Uncategorized

Recent Posts

  • A Gallagher Girls/ Not If I Save You First crossover scene!
  • Going back to the Gallagher Academy!
  • New York Times best-seller!
  • Tour!
  • Almost time to go to Alaska

Archives

Guest Post from Operative Briana!

June 19, 2012 by Ally Carter 71 Comments

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

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Jeiselynn says

    June 19, 2012 at 5:41 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Viperess says

      June 24, 2012 at 10:25 pm

      I want to go to one too, but they are never less than three hours away and my mom won’t drive me that far.

      Reply
  2. Sasha says

    June 19, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    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 ) 🙂

    Reply
  3. Kat says

    June 19, 2012 at 6:29 pm

    just saying i HEART BRIANA:) and good luck on the next books. i really would heart to go to a signing

    Reply
  4. PavementArtist says

    June 19, 2012 at 6:42 pm

    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! 🙂

    Reply
    • PavementArtist says

      June 23, 2012 at 8:40 am

      post not comment lol 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kenzie says

    June 19, 2012 at 7:24 pm

    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!

    Reply
  6. Siobhan says

    June 19, 2012 at 7:31 pm

    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!!(:

    Reply
    • Keiko says

      June 22, 2012 at 6:19 pm

      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…..

      Reply
  7. Alyssa Silvia says

    June 19, 2012 at 8:07 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • ZachLover says

      June 24, 2012 at 11:28 pm

      I know right? I thought it was really amusing 😀 hehehe. And it was pretty cool that Ally actually asked Briana to post for us!

      Reply
  8. Lexa says

    June 19, 2012 at 8:21 pm

    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!!!!!!!

    Reply
  9. Liz the Wiz says

    June 19, 2012 at 8:31 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Brittaney says

      June 20, 2012 at 12:02 pm

      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!!!

      Reply
      • laladaisy says

        June 21, 2012 at 2:19 pm

        OMG I hope Ally could come to MI!!!!! That would be the best day of my life!!! =)

        Reply
        • ZachLover says

          June 24, 2012 at 11:31 pm

          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

          Reply
  10. Niki says

    June 19, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    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! 🙂

    Reply
  11. Elise says

    June 19, 2012 at 10:06 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • ashley says

      June 20, 2012 at 12:08 am

      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 🙂

      Reply
      • Elise says

        June 20, 2012 at 4:52 pm

        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!

        Reply
        • Gabriella says

          June 21, 2012 at 2:40 am

          I think that Hale’s name is simply WoW …
          Lots of Love to all of you! Well written, Briana!

          Reply
  12. Vixen says

    June 19, 2012 at 10:12 pm

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

    ~Vixen

    Reply
  13. Cassie says

    June 19, 2012 at 10:43 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Sara says

      June 21, 2012 at 6:13 am

      Hey I think I went to the one in Bethesda too with my friend!!!!

      Reply
  14. tami says

    June 19, 2012 at 10:54 pm

    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?

    Reply
    • Kendra says

      July 22, 2012 at 11:34 pm

      That would be soooo awesome if she came to Minnesota!

      Reply
  15. Caroline :D says

    June 19, 2012 at 10:58 pm

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

    Reply
  16. Skyelerr says

    June 19, 2012 at 11:01 pm

    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! 🙂

    Reply
  17. Anna (Bookworm) says

    June 19, 2012 at 11:35 pm

    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!

    Reply
  18. Kylie says

    June 20, 2012 at 12:15 am

    This was so cool! I loved it! Briana our amazing! This was really fun to read!

    Ky

    Reply
  19. Cynthia says

    June 20, 2012 at 4:13 am

    I just can’ t wait for HS3, thanks for the great read, it was really I interesting!!!

    Reply
  20. Flo says

    June 20, 2012 at 7:56 am

    I wish you would do a book signing in Britain! Pweassseeee! <3 Operative Fisher 😉

    Reply
  21. GallagherGirl_BlackthorneBoy says

    June 20, 2012 at 1:04 pm

    Aweeeeeeeeeeeeeesome!

    Reply
  22. El says

    June 20, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    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!!

    Reply
  23. Clare says

    June 20, 2012 at 6:17 pm

    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 🙂

    Reply
  24. Briana says

    June 21, 2012 at 1:15 am

    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

    Reply
    • bav200 says

      June 22, 2012 at 4:54 pm

      it’s a little long so i didn’t read through all of it but i’m sure it’s great

      Reply
  25. Maya T(from England) says

    June 21, 2012 at 2:15 am

    Ally please come to England to singhn books so me because can get our coppys

    Reply
  26. Sara says

    June 21, 2012 at 6:16 am

    You were really great Briana!!!!! How did you get the chance to write it? Did Ally just ask you?

    Reply
  27. Madeline says

    June 21, 2012 at 6:26 am

    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. Holly says

    June 21, 2012 at 2:32 pm

    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.

    Reply
  29. Miranda says

    June 21, 2012 at 5:54 pm

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

    nextteen.blogspot.com

    thanks
    Miranda

    Reply
  30. yoly says

    June 21, 2012 at 8:53 pm

    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.

    Reply
  31. katye says

    June 21, 2012 at 9:45 pm

    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!

    Reply
  32. Elizabeth says

    June 22, 2012 at 9:56 am

    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

    Reply
  33. Taylor says

    June 22, 2012 at 10:59 am

    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!!!!!(:

    Reply
  34. Anna E says

    June 22, 2012 at 11:53 am

    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

    Reply
    • Hwa Sun says

      June 23, 2012 at 2:47 am

      I’m pretty sure she went to Britain last year.

      Reply
    • Kit says

      June 25, 2012 at 9:22 am

      Or what if she just came to Denmark?:D But, no……:(

      Reply
  35. Miranda says

    June 22, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    It’s acually lastteen.blogspot.com it’s by nextteen

    thanks,

    miranda!

    Reply
  36. Killian says

    June 22, 2012 at 8:01 pm

    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

    Reply
  37. rr_ac_lm says

    June 22, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    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!!

    Reply
  38. Hwa Sun says

    June 23, 2012 at 2:44 am

    Omg… If you come to Seattle, I will so be there.

    Reply
  39. Julia says

    June 23, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    i wnt to go to a book signing so could u have one in fort myers florida

    Reply
  40. Emma R says

    June 24, 2012 at 6:35 am

    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

    Reply
    • rr_ac_lm says

      June 25, 2012 at 2:20 am

      Dont forget about Melbourne!! But yeah, you HAAAAAAAAAAAVE TO COME TO AUSTRALIA!!!!!

      Reply
  41. Emma R says

    June 24, 2012 at 6:38 am

    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

    Reply
  42. Nate says

    June 24, 2012 at 7:34 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • rr_ac_lm says

      July 9, 2012 at 5:46 pm

      Technically I could be a guy!! But I’m not though. 😀

      Reply
  43. Pianist707 says

    June 24, 2012 at 9:28 pm

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

    Reply
    • Nate says

      June 25, 2012 at 12:41 am

      Hey! Just wondering, is the Heist Society a good read? I’ve read Gallagher Girls but not Heist Society so just asking 🙂

      Reply
      • :) says

        June 25, 2012 at 5:42 pm

        YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT TOTALLY IS! YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE INSANE IF NOT TO LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        Reply
      • Sparkles says

        June 25, 2012 at 8:09 pm

        It’s by ALLY CARTER so ya of course its a good read lol! 🙂

        Reply
        • GallaGirl :) says

          July 7, 2012 at 5:54 pm

          Its basically law to love ally Carters books 🙂 it just is ^^

          Reply
  44. Maggie says

    June 24, 2012 at 10:56 pm

    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

    Reply
  45. :) says

    June 25, 2012 at 5:41 pm

    That was cool, I love this post!!!!!!!! 🙂

    Reply
  46. Lydia says

    June 25, 2012 at 7:03 pm

    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’. =)

    Reply
  47. Lois says

    June 29, 2012 at 5:02 pm

    Come to LA. Thats like the closest big city I can think of! 🙂 I live 1hr30mins away from there.

    Reply
  48. GallaGirl :) says

    July 7, 2012 at 5:49 pm

    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.

    Reply
  49. GallaGirl :) says

    July 7, 2012 at 5:50 pm

    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.

    Reply
  50. I'm A Gallagher Girl @ says

    December 11, 2012 at 11:31 pm

    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

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Copyright © 2022 Ally Carter