Event Recap: Veronica Rossi, Tahereh Mafi, and Ransom Riggs' signing in Manila! (04/26/2014)

The day we've been waiting for has finally arrived. A huge thank to National Book Store for bringing not 1, not 2, but 3 authors here in the Philippines. To say we were excited is an understatement—we were thrilled. We were able to meet Tahereh Mafi, and Ransom Riggs for the second time, and—last bust not the least—Veronica Rossi for the first time.

Unlike what had happened during Tahereh Mafi's first signing, there were already a lot of people by the time we arrived which was around 9am. By that time, there were nearly 400 people in line to get their books signed and meet the three New York Times bestselling authors. (Did you know? The first person in the line arrived at 1:54am.)

(Photos by Hazel of Stay Bookish)

Fortuantely, we were to be invited to a blogger's forum. (Thanks so, so much, NBS!) During the bloggers forum, we got to ask the authors questions and bond with them. Sadly we weren't able to record the whole thing, but we do remember some of the things they said.

(Photos by Hazel of Stay Bookish)

Here are some of the things they said:

1. Veronica Rossi has meant for Aria and Perry to be more than just friends.
2. The prose in the Shatter Me series was always meant to be a visual representation of Juliette's mind.
3. If Ransom were to describe Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children with just one picture, it would be his heart. A literal image of his heart. Black and Squishy. 
4. Veronica doesn't regret killing any of her characters. 
5. Tahereh has always known who Juliette will end up with after Shatter Me.
6. Ransom is very excited for his novel to be turned into a film, and he said that as long as you're 18 and above, you can go ahead audition.
7. Tahereh meant for Juliette to be weak because she believes that those who are physically weak are really the strong ones. 
8. If Tahereh to were to be 'bffs' with any of their characters from their books, she said it would be Kenji from her series, Roar from V. Rossi's Under the Never Sky trilogy, and Emma from Ransom's Miss Peregrine's.

After the Q&A, they started our signing books. We were able to take pictures with Ransom and Tahereh but sadly none with V. Rossi because they were really in a rush because it was already past 1pm.

(L: Elyssa with Tahereh Mafi. R: Celine with Ransom Riggs)

(Celine's signed books)

So that's all for our recap! A huge thanks to National Book Store, HarperCollins, and Quirk Books for making #VTRinPH happen. Hopefully we'll get to see them again!