Cultural Experience: Book Event with Carrie Hope Fletcher!

(Post written 18/7- thought I had posted it, but apparently not!)

(I have since read the book, and it's great! I gave my second copy away to a friend, to spread the love.)

Last Friday, I got to meet my favourite Youtuber, the ridiculously talented Carrie Hope Fletcher. She is a Youtuber, author, and my favourite, a star of musical theatre, having played Eponine in Les Mis, Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Beth in War of the Worlds, and currently playing Wednesday Addams in the Addams Family musical.

She released her newest book, All That She Can See, on Thursday. I received my first copy on Wednesday (thanks, Waterstones!) as I had preordered a copy, and had enough time to read it on my commute before the event on Friday!

I arrived around 6:45, and the queue outside the church (it was at the St James church in Piccadilly, just a few doors down from the Waterstones) was wrapping almost halfway around the church still! Doors had opened at 6pm, clearly I should have gotten there earlier. By the time I got into the church, it was almost time to start, and I had a seat about 3/4 of the way back. I did have a clear view though.

Carrie was introduced, the chair asked her some questions (some really interesting ones, and some which I kind of already knew from reading the book), and after a few questions from the audience, it was signing time! This took FOREVER. They lined up a row at a time, which meant that it was 9:30 before I even got into the line! Once in the line though, it moved fairly quickly, and before I knew it, I was in front of Carrie!

Carrie was so lovely and grateful. I (finally) managed to give her her gift, which I had intended to give to her at Addams family stage door, except she didn't come out at that time. But now she has it! I told her that it looks strange, but it goes with her tea, and that she would understand when she opened it. I hope she likes it. She also signed my second book (tickets to the event came with a copy of the book), and thanked me for buying it twice. We even got a great photo!

It was a fabulous night, and I'm so glad to have had the chance to meet her.

Cultural Experience: An evening with Tim Winton

This evening, I did something really cool. I went to a bookstore, and I met Tim Winton!

I discovered Tim Winton for the first time back at school. I had decided college that I wanted to be more 'literary' in my reading (and also all the spots in the speculative fiction classes were taken), so I chose to study Australian literature for a year. One of our assigned books was Cloudstreet. And it completely blew my mind. I remember some scenes vividly from that first reading, the way I felt when I read it, and it had a profound impact on me in terms of both content and writing style. While I've read a few other books, it's Cloudstreet that always stuck with me the most.

  

I discovered this event while browsing books online, as I do occasionally when bored (it's so much better than online clothes browsing). I discovered Waterstone's had a membership system, signed up, and then discovered they did events. So, being in central London, I thought there might be something cool... And there was. I also have a ticket for another event in July I'm also really excited about.

  

I managed to get a seat in the second row, and a glass of wine, and it was great. Tim is about the most Australian guy ever, from the way he dresses to his surfer hair and his proper Perth accent. And he is really down to earth about his life and how it has shaped him and his writing. The event was for his newest book, a collection of autobiographical stories and essays (The Boy Behind the Curtain), which I have to admit I haven't finished yet, but some of the stories are so fantastical they're hard to believe!

 

After the interview, there was time for a few questions, then lined up for the book signing. I actually bought a new copy of Cloudstreet to reread it after I booked my ticket, and I brought that book with me to get signed (it was my first, and is my favourite). He actually apologised when I mentioned I first read it at school! He was really lovely, and it was a fantastic night. I'm already looking forward to the next event!