A Charming Afternoon with My Boys and Aprilynne Pike

Saturday I took the boys out for a meet the author at The Kings English, a local independent bookstore.  Normally I go on my own to these things, but I'd been missing the little guys all week and mom needed a good pre-mothers day nap time.  So off we went.

The Kings English is located in a residential neighborhood south of Salt Lake City.  It's part of a small smattering of businesses.  If you haven't visited yet I suggest that you do.  The shop is full of charm and is anything but ordinary.  The store is built on different levels and rooms and is very fun just to be in.

LC Piper and Aprilynne Pike

Aprilynne is a New York Times best selling novelist.  She's written Wings, Spells and Illusions.
Aprilynne's reading and Q and A was held in the stores largest space which was very cramped even with only about 30 people visiting for the signing.  It didn't seem to bother anyone and we all enjoyed her company.  She spoke about her writing and the upcoming novels. She also commented briefly on her new series she has started as book 4, following illusions sometime in 2012, will be the last in the series. 

One of the questions answered that I like the best was about outlining.  She explained that she does outline.  Her plot points (in detail on this post linked here) are often just three words, but she adheres to her plot firmly and her characters have free range within those plot points. 

It was funny that there was so little space at the Q&A that the children sitting on the floor in front of the chairs very nearly came to Aprilynne's feet. 

When we met with her in line for signings my boys both had comments for her and were very proud to point out that dad was a writer also.  (Unprompted.)  She even gave them bookmarks and three temporary tattoo's to give to mom holding down the fort at home.  Mom was, of course, thrilled with the gift and is excited to meet her June 4th in Provo, Utah at the Utah Festival of Books.