The Land of Stories 2 : Book Tour 2013

How sweet!!    

MoviesAreLife wrote:How sweet!!    

Indeed, how sweet.   He must love all those drawings.


Imagine that there are kids who primarily and exclusively (at the moment) know Chris as the author of one of their favorite books. Mind blowing.

Yes! He has a young fanbase now of little kids who know nothing of Glee!

Little kids (TLOS1 and 2)

Teens and young adults (Glee, SBL)

His fanbase is growing. Though I'd argue that SBL has themes with the adult characters that appeal to adults too, and even Glee has moments with Burt that reach adults and not just teens.

Glorfindel wrote:

When I saw this pic, for a moment I thought it was like being in Japan and I felt so proud that Chris is taking the world . But then I realized they're probably japanese-american, but anyways, is truth that his fanbase is growing now that children have been reading TLOS.

Didn't someone mention TLOS2 selling out in China?

MoviesAreLife wrote:Didn't someone mention TLOS2 selling out in China?

 Maybe but I'm not sure?

This fan was at the Grove signing, and her mum went up to Will and said he was very lucky, meaning he was lucky to have Chris, and Chris overheard and said "Thank you, thank you, meaning that he was the lucky one to have Will.  

Can Chris not be more perfect. 

ColferInspired wrote:This fan was at the Grove signing, and her mum went up to Will and said he was very lucky, meaning he was lucky to have Chris, and Chris overheard and said "Thank you, thank you, meaning that he was the lucky one to have Will.  

Can Chris not be more perfect. 

I think it was not at the signing, it wrote the woman who met Chris and Will profesionally (the one who took picture with them), still lovely story though.

This is funny story from Gleeforum, I hope the guy would not mind.

Meeting Chris Colfer

Okay, I'm ready to recap my experience meeting Chris! I think I'll just recap the experience as a whole for those not able to make a tour date, feel free to skim to the Chris part!

First let me say that the Barnes and Noble at The Grove is so awesome and organized. This event was so stress free and well organized and put together. I recommend any signing event there.

I left San Diego at around 5:30am. With wristbands being distributed at 9am, I was told from previous experiences that arriving at 7 would be good and safe. 8 might be pushing it.  I was a bit nervous because I was leaving later than planned (Google Maps estimated a 2.5 hr drive...not including traffic), and simply because I didn't know what to expect. It didn't help that BN were understandably being hush about the number of wristbands.  Luckily for me, traffic surprisingly turned out to be nonexistent the entire drive. I've done that drive from SD to LA many times at every hour of the day, so I was shocked! Feeling good after the drive, we were able to relax a bit (I convinced a friend to come with). We found a bathroom first, lol, then took pictures in front of the store with his banner. There was no one there at the store, so we were being touristy and admiring the mall and its stores.  THEN an employee told us that if we were here for the signing, there was a line of people that started on the sidewalk outside of the mall. Panic set in because of the time we wasted!

So we make our way outside of the mall area and we see they are already condensing the line and marching them in closer to the shopping center.  People had blankets, chairs, and other essentials. It didn't hit us until half of them passed that this was the signing line (IDK why it took that long to realize...who else would be there at 7am??!? Haha). We found the back of the line, and felt okay again (Lies, i was still nervous about not getting a wristband).  I'd say we were probably at the 120ish mark in line. Me and my friend just killed time talking and ranting, and listening to others, and people watching. It went by really fast. Promptly at 9 the line started to inch its way to the store, as people were purchasing their books and getting wristbands.  As we got closer, an employee was handing out purple fliers with information/instructions about the day's events. Shit just got real. We noticed on the flier that BN members got priority wristbands, so my friend let me use hers.  They ran out though, but it was fine since I was still in the beginning of the ever growing line.  I bought a copy of TLOS2 and got my wristband. I was a part of the C group, and i think they were doing A-Z.

Then it was the waiting game. The signing was at 2, and we were instructed to line back up according to letter at 1.  It was nice because we were able to explore and didn't have to be in line the whole time.  That's when I updated my status here. Then we ate, found an atm, looked around, and then decided to scope out the BN store.  First, it was 3 stories which was awesome. We also wanted to see where the actual signing was taking place. My friend was there for moral support and not doing the signing, so we decided she would be on pap duty and take a pic when I got my chance (since posing for pics is not allowed). They had a blocked off staging area on the third floor where the signing was taking place. Luckily, the children's book section (which itself is blocked off and self contained) was right next to it, and it had a glass window thing above the shelves.  It was a perfect spot to snap a few pics.  We agreed that I would text her when I was approaching the table, and she would take a few.

Next thing we knew, it was time for me to go and line up. The silver wristbands and letter A's got to line up directly on the 3rd floor. Me and the other B-E's were on the second floor. F and on had to line up outside (!) and a couple stores down. So again I was glad we arrived when we did. This part was pretty boring since I didn't have anyone to chat with. My friend was texting my the happenings going on in the signing area ("people moving in and out"..."lights just turned on"...etc.). We heard the screams on the second floor and new shit just got real-er.

We were all instructed to prepare our books for easy signing. Remember me mentioning already buying my book from Amazon before the tour was announced? Well...I was a little bad.  I of course bought my book at BN to get the wristband. I asked at the time if we needed our receipts, and they said no just the wristband. Soooo, because I had brought my other copy along with me on the drive up, I brought it with me to get signed too (Shhhhhhhh). This meant a little extra time with Chris, and getting both copies signed! They started condensing the line again, and my group got moved up to the third floor.  I started getting nervous. And when I get nervous, I sort of start to dry-heave/gulp a lot?? IDK. It was a mess. Then all of a sudden, i got into a break in the line (they had us weaving through shelves), and got my first glimpse of Chris.  It was crazy. I've seen the pictures, I've watched videos, and I've read other fan's recounts....so it was dreamlike to be experiencing this in person.

I surprisingly started to calm down as the line was working its way through. THEN, I noticed as people were getting closer to the table, people w/o wristbands would hop out of line to this roped off section..and they would take pictures of the person they were with as they got their book signed. UGH! It turned out you could have people with you, but they just couldn't get anything signed. So I scrambled and texted my friend that friends can take pics. I was worried she wouldn't be able to get to me in line, but after explaining to the employee that she was simply there to take pics, she was able to join me.

OK, meeting Chris:
I think the people before me were either serious/deep encounters or really brief.  Which is cool! I decided I wanted to go more for the light/fun angle.  I handed my book the lady you see in all the pics prepping the books. The guy in front of me was talking to Chris for a bit, so I was sort of standing awkwardly there (since I wasn't quite at the table with Chris, but not exactly in line anymore either since I already handed my book over). So it was funny, and I posed for pics just standing there. But because I was occupied making faces at my friend's camera, I didn't notice that the dude in front was done...and it was my turn!

I got to Chris and decided earlier that I would introduce myself. So I got to the table and held out my left hand to shake his...and do just that. I'm not left handed at all...but I noticed no one else before me going in for a handshake, so i thought it was because his right hand was occupied holding the sharpie and signing, hence, sticking out my left hand instead. BUT BUT BUT, when I approached him and said "Hi Chris I'm Josh, how are you?" with my left hand stuck out....he grabbed it with his right hand...because duh, he's right handed. So, if you can imagine...there's not much of a shake you can do with that, so he was literally just holding my hand as I was speaking.  Then I cringed internally about how awkward this must appear and chuckled and was like "whoop...*let's go of his hand, and grabs it again with my right hand to properly shake* haha, sorry." He laughed too because it was just a funny scenario. haha. But it was cool, I got to hold his hand and we exchanged pleasantries again as a do over! Then it went something like this:

Me: Hi Chris I'm josh, how are you?

Chris: I'm doing great thanks! How are you?

Me: I'm doing good. I gotta say though, I'm looking around and I get the feeling that a may be a bit out of the target demo *sweeps arm to the line of girls)....but I really love the books!! (26 M, for context)

Chris and Alla and myself all laugh

Me, Internally: Yes, my attempt at breaking the ice and making a joke is a success!!

Alla: Awww nooo

Chris: What? Nooo no no there's no such thing. It's for everyone! I'm glad you're enjoying them!

Me: Yeah no thank you. I like it. The storytelling is great.

*I blank out right here about our convo because I'm trying to keep a cool facade while having trouble holding eye contact because I'm dying!*

So after some other typical pleasantries, he's done signing and hands the books back to me. Then before I leave, I promised my friend i would say:

Me: Thanks! You know, I got take the opportunity before my friends outside kill me...But I gotta say that your my (finger quotes) "male celeb i'd go gay for"

Alla gets a kick out of it and laughs hysterically. Chris' reaction was priceless as well.

Laughing/smiling, Chris: Oh wow! *laughs* Well that's quite the compliment!!!

Me, keeping the light hearted banter going: Oh, you're welcome. It's a highly selective process! Not many spaces available.

More laughter

Chris: Well thank you!!

Me: Thanks, take it easy! (He was a good sport)

I walked away to meet my friend in the little photo staging area.  I tried to do the whole, stand with Chris in the background so I can have a pic with him, but it wasn't working out because he was blocked by the next fans. My friend and I go to collect ourselves and regroup in some random section on the other end of the store away from all the cray, but still on the third floor.  She was showing me the pics, and some video she took from the staging area. I was telling her about our conversation.  Then I'm like "Show me the video again!" and as she's fidgeting with her phone, Chris walks right past us! I was stuttering to her like "it it he he it's" trying to say "gah get your camera chris just walked by." Haha.

After the initial shock and laughter at ourselves for missing Chris pass by as we were trying to watch Chris on film, we took a few steps toward the general area that Chris went, but he disappeared.  There was an elevator in the area that had just closed, so we assumed he was done and was being escorted out. That was fine, we were cool...we just had Chris walk past us with no other fans around! We ended up just browsing the funky postcards and books that were there. Then we see the guy that was escorting Chris standing just past the elevator. We later found out that was the bathroom area and he was just taking a break.  We deffff stayed put where we were at across the store and away from that area, because that's just not cool.  As he passed by again to return to the signing, I was able to take a quick video this time.

We went to go check the line and there were still people on the second floor. He had a long way to go.  We decided to sit in there cafe and chill out. We missed his exit that people have video of, but it was fine.  The trip was more than fulfilling!


Chris and Alla reaction to the male celebrity crush thing

arina wrote:

ColferInspired wrote:This fan was at the Grove signing, and her mum went up to Will and said he was very lucky, meaning he was lucky to have Chris, and Chris overheard and said "Thank you, thank you, meaning that he was the lucky one to have Will.  

Can Chris not be more perfect. 

I think it was not at the signing, it wrote the woman who met Chris and Will profesionally (the one who took picture with them), still lovely story though.

 I thought it was.  

My mistake. 

Look, Will truly is an assitent :-D

arina wrote:Look, Will truly is an assitent :-D

hahahaha

arina wrote:Look, Will truly is an assitent :-D

And doing it all wrong too.  

If I were Chris I'd fire him.

Lottie2303 wrote:

arina wrote:Look, Will truly is an assitent :-D

hahahaha

The way Will is handling them so carefully as if they were fragile, and Chris going to grab them.  
I love this couple. 

ColferInspired wrote:The way Will is handling them so carefully as if they were fragile, and Chris going to grab them.  
I love this couple. 

Considering one of those books is mine, I expect upmost respect and priority   

arina wrote:Look, Will truly is an assitent :-D

 So sweet. But what if some people are right and he's an assistant  ? Well I bet Will can handle both, being the boyfriend and assistant.

I read the guy's story, and I died with this  

Me: Thanks! You know, I got take the opportunity before my friends outside kill me...But I gotta say that your my (finger quotes) "male celeb i'd go gay for"

Glorfindel wrote:

arina wrote:Look, Will truly is an assitent :-D

And doing it all wrong too.  

If I were Chris I'd fire him.

I agree, completely useless. He's not paying any attention how the Little, Brown lady does it. I wonder why?

The Chris/Will story was sweet.

That other story was hilarious and priceless. I'm glad Chris has a sense of humor and got a good laugh out of it. Also, it's nice to be reminded that adult guys (who aren't always gay) love him, too. The wider the demographic, the better it is for him in the long run.

And to think he used to drive across town after school to his local Barnes and Noble in order to read/study the script for Sophia Coppola's "Marie Antoninette". It was in a $45 dollar book he could not afford. He taught himself to screenwrite from it. And now he's in Barnes and Noble bookstores across the country for his own booksignings! It's a full circle moment!

^



He's come a long way from Clovis.

I know! :D