A Day to Remember: Meeting Nicholas Sparks

Yesterday was one of the most exhilarating book signing experiences I ever had as it was  with bestselling author Nicholas Sparks.  Since I am the only reader in my family and among my friends, I was so happy to see so many Pinoys who actually read all in one place (and this is just because of one author), and to find friends who shared my passion :-D  I estimated around 1500 fans endured hours of waiting in line for the rare opportunity to come face to face with Nicholas Sparks, but in the end it was all worth it!  

The coupon that came with the purchase of The Best of Me only allowed for a chance at getting a signing pass, but National Book Store announced that the first 50 early birds at the venue would automatically be given one.  I tried my best to go to bed early the night before but I was so anxious that it must be 2 am already before I fell asleep!  Luckily i was still able to get to The Podium early enough. When I got there at 7:40am I was the 27th line! :D. The mall was still closed so we had to wait outside the entrance. By 8 am I think there were already 50 people, and by 9 am maybe a hundred.

By 9:30 we were allowed to enter the mall and sit at the Atrium area where a stage was already set up, then by 11 we were given our signing passes!  With all that time in the waiting line, I got to chat with my queue-mates and we became Nicholas Sparks signing buddies!

Me with my early bird signing buddies Natassha, Anna May and Peachy!

Our Signing Passes :-D

After we got our signing passes we had the chance for a quick breakfast and to take photos. The signing was scheduled to start at 5pm.  You can see how the crowd had thickened between 2PM and 4PM, an hour before the signing.

The Podium Atrium at 2PM (left) and at 4PM (right)

Waiting fans take turns taking photos on the stage

The queue

A hopeful fan drawing for a signing pass (left) and a girl who drew a "yes" (right)
By 7pm I saw signing passes numbering 1,100+ being given out.

Finally at around 5:30 pm, Nicholas Sparks himself emerged amidst the excited screams of fans.   The crowd was so thick he had to come down to the stage from upstairs.  He took one look at the crowd and I thought I saw him say "Oh my God."

Xandra Ramos-Padilla, Purchasing director for National Book Store, introduced Nicholas Sparks and did a short Q&A portion (see interview below).

Nicholas Sparks waves to excited screaming fans
Photo courtesy of National Bookstore FB Page
www.facebook.com/national-book-store

Then Nicholas also talked a little about his new book The Best of Me.

Nicholas Sparks himself

Samantha Sanchez was the first early bird at scene - she had been waiting since 2 am!  I saw her take out a pile of what looked like a dozen Nicholas Sparks novels. She fell in love with Nicholas sparks in 2001 when she was 9 and has been hooked ever since.  After she was asked to come up on stage to meet Nicholas she was so overwhelmed with emotion she broke down.

First early bird Samantha Sanchez who was waiting since 2am broke down upon meeting Nicholas

Finally came the book signing!  The organizers from National Book Store were very systematic and quickly had a "book signing production line" of sorts going.   While in line you passed your book to the first marshal who opened it to the title page while you handed your camera to the next marshal.  While Nicholas signs your book, you take a quick pose for the camera.  Then the 2nd marshal hands you back your camera while a third marshal took your signing pass!  It was done in less than a minute!

Here we are, the proud owners of our newly signed Nicholas Sparks books :-D

Here is a close up of my signed books.  I got two signing passes so I had my The Notebook and A Walk to Remember signed.

All in all it was a one-of-a-kind experience - I met the man behind these well-loved novels, got to shake his hand, got my favorite books signed, and the best of all I found friends who shared my passion - all in one day!

Me, Anna May, Peachy, and Natassha

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Q&A with Nicholas Sparks:

Q. What is the inspiration behind your books?

A. I write about what I would like to read. I try to draw from a wide range of human emotions, those stories that make us laugh or cry. Most of all I want to write something that people will remember.

Q. Who are your characters based on? Are they based on real people?

A. The Notebook was based on my grandparents story, while Jamie Sullivan in A Walk to Remember was based on my younger sister who died of cancer. Message in a Bottle was based on my father after my mother died. I always try to draw from real life experiences.

Q. Why do you always kill-off your characters?  

A. I lost my sister to cancer. I also lost my mother in a horse-back riding accident, and later my father in a car accident.  Because I lost most of my family in a short period of time, I always thought that love and tragedy go and in hand.

Q. Among all your 17 novels, which one is your favorite?
A. I would say A Walk to Remember. It was the easiest to write, unlike The Notebook where I was writing as an 80 year old man when I wasn't.

Q. Can you describe to us how your typical day is like?

A. I would wake up pretty early, take my coffee, read the newspapers, spend some time with my kids. I exercise. Then i would be in my office by around 9:45, check my emails. And write from 10:15 up to about 3pm.  After that I would spend the rest of the day thinking about what i would write the next day.

Q. Where are you from?
A. I'm from a place called New Bern in North Carolina. All my novels are set there. There is actually a Nicholas Sparks tour - showing the places featured in the book.  The boat ride passes by my house, and if you take the afternoon schedule, around 4pm, you will find me sitting on my porch and I will wave!

Q.  Any new film adaptations for your books coming up?The film adaptation for The Lucky One will be released in 2012, and The Best of Me will start filming in August.