Author Event & Signed Book Giveaway: Gayle Forman Author of I Was Here

Gayle Forman Author of I Was Here

Vromans Bookstore Pasadena, CA

February 2015

It’s been quite a while since I’ve been to an author event, so when I heard Gayle Forman would be promoting her new release I Was Here at one of my favorite independent bookstores, Vromans, I was excited to meet my long-time partner in book crime Rachel from The ReadersDen for the event. As always, Rachel seems to time her events much more carefully than me, so a huge thanks to her for saving me a spot in the second row where we had prime view of Gayle and her entourage.

Joining Gayle Forman was the incredible narrator of the audio for I Was Here, Jorjeana Marie. She kicked off the night by reading an excerpt of the book and did an amazing job with the narration! It almost brought my reading buddy Rachel to tears!! :) The small portion she read convinced me that the audio book is the way to go. I can’t wait to give it a try. At the end of the event, Rachel and I were fortunate enough to get some time with Ms. Marie and chat a bit more. Amazing lady!

Gayle Forman shared a few tidbits with the crowd, but the most exciting news I took away from the night was that Just One Day and Just One Year will be made into one movie!! I loved this 2.5 book series, and I can’t wait to see this hit the big screen. So stay tuned for more information.

Gayle Forman was also joined by her best friend Deanna Kizis and fellow YA author Margaret Stohl. The ladies did what could be compared to a stand-up comedy show. There was definitely chemistry between these three, and they had many in the audience laughing throughout their lively discussion. I have to say, the funniest moment came at the end of the discussion that was at about the 40 minute mark.  A little boy who had joined his mom raised his hand to ask a question. When his turn was called, he asked the author panel, “When is this going to be over?”  The crowd roared in hysterics, and we quickly moved on to the book signing portion of the event for his sake.

So before I tell you about what I walked away with, let me share some book details on I Was Here.

I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Published January 27, 2015

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Purchase Links: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

I was fortunate enough to get my hardcopy edition of I Was Here signed my Gayle Forman, and I’ve also brought an additional copy to giveaway here! This giveaway is open to US Residents only. Be sure to fill out the rafflecopter and share with us your experience with Forman’s books. Happy reading.

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