Friday, January 23, 2009

I Met Ted Dekker and Erin Healy!!! Come see!! - Autographed give away!



Alright folks! I am now the most excited blogger in the Alliance!! Ted Dekker and Erin Healy came to Kennesaw, GA last night for a book signing! My dear husband and I packed up the car after lunch and headed North! We arrived at Lifeway Bookstore a couple of hours prior to the signing and I spent some time meeting a lot of really terrific folks! The fans came with their Dekker clothes, Dekker jewelry, and their entire collection of Dekker books! We were all primed for a great evening!

While I was in line, I met some really delightful folks! I had a special surprise when I found out that Nora St. Laurent was also in attendance! You all know her from the Christian Fiction Online Magazine Book Club corner! She also has her own blog Finding Hope Through Christian Fiction.
Nora is queen of the book clubs, and meeting authors is her specialty!


Then...it was time! They arrived!! First there was clapping...then an amazed hush..We were about to meet Ted Dekker and Erin Healy!!



Okay, then we got down to business! Some folks brought their entire Dekker collection...some brought their movie posters...and for every single request, Ted and Erin were so gracious and patient! They made sure names were spelled correctly, they asked readers what they thought about particular characters and scenes from their books...nothing was too much! They smiled for a jillion pictures and were fully engaged with everyone! It was hard to tell who was more excited, the fans or the authors!


Ted and Erin loved answering questions. I learned that Kiss was Ted's first true collaboration. He approached Erin about writing together, and it took her three days to give him an answer! But these two have worked together for years and they know each other well, so their efforts were a huge success! Erin pitched the idea, Ted countered with the idea of how the concept would be delivered. Erin wrote the first hundred pages, Ted took it and wrote some more. The writing process was much slower than Ted's normally frantic writing pace, but he and Erin both said it was very rewarding. While Ted loves to physically act out scenes from the story, Erin is more comfortable working the drama out on paper. Their efforts burned up the internet and mobile phone lines, but the results...FABULOUS!

This was my first attempt to travel away from home to pursue meeting the authors I love to read, and it is truly an experience I will never forget! I loved Ted's quick, witty sense of humor and how easily he made folks laugh. Erin was so gracious and so quick with that warm smile! These two make a terrific team, and it will be a pleasure to follow their careers! Ted will introduce Boneman's Daughter in March, and their next collaborative effort, Burn, will be published next January. We will see Erin's first solo novel - working title is Ill Will - in the Spring of 2010. This is an evening I will LONG remember!!


And NOW....a special gift for my readers!!! I purchased a copy of Kiss and had it autographed by Ted and Erin! If you will leave a comment and share the word about this fabulous book, you will be entered to win this treasure!

Don't forget to leave your contact information so I can contact you! And tell me about your favorite Dekker story.

I am still so excited I can't stand it!! And I am thrilled to share this experience with YOU!!

23 comments:

ReadingRobin said...

Wow, I know you are not to covet your neighbor,,,but I must say I am a bit envious! How wonderful for you!!
I would LOVE to win this book!
cmrobin at bellsouth net

Rachel said...

You know Ashley is a HUGE Ted Dekker fan! It is so nice to be able to provide her with reading material and know that it is "safe" reading!

ME!ME!ME!

Rel said...

Fabulous post! Loved feeling your excitement through your words :)

Thanks for dropping by my blog - you are a true encourager!

Hugs

Rel said...

BTW I posted about your giveaway :)

Scrambled Dregs said...

That is SO COOL. How far did you drive? And your hubby went with you? I've always wanted to go to one of Nora's book clubs, too.

And you're pretty cute, too.

M. C. Pearson said...

Way, way, way too cool. :-D

Tami said...

So cool! And very exciting.

donna said...

I'd love to read this book!
P.s. i came via Rel's blog :)
(left by Sarah)
rebornbutterfly.wordpress.com

Merry said...

Kiss is on my wish list, how fun to meet the authors!
worthy2bpraised{at}gmail{dot}com

Dawn said...

Sounds like you had a great time.

Mary S said...

I am always looking for good reads. I came via Rel's blog. And how exciting to meet the authors

mkshriver (at) gmail (dot) com

Carol M said...

I would love to read this book and then pass it along to my grandchildren. I've heard so much about it! Thank you for the giveaway!
Carol M
mittens0831 AT aol.com

Anna Weaver Hurtt said...

That's awesome! My brother, a huge Ted Dekker fan, would die if he knew this! Thanks for the giveaway!

Anna
writer_weaver(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Hey there! It was great meeting you at the event! I made myself a blog... The same as my my novel title. Head over and check it out. The address:
http://www.28yardsfromsafety.blogspot.com

Anyways, I see that you had a fun time as well! You definitely don't have to enter me in the drawing for Kiss... I don't need another signed one! Yeah, and I have no idea who brought the movie poosters... Haha.

Anyways, It was great meeting you and I look forward to reading more blog entries.

Drew

Carolynn said...

Wow, lucky you! I would also love to meet him! Thanks for sharing your experience with us and for the chance to win the book! :)
carolynnwald at hotmail dot com

Anita Yancey said...

I'm sure it was very exciting. This is a book that is on my wish to read list. So I hope you will enter me. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

mudrash said...

Thanks for the chance to win. I am an avid Dekker fan.

The Circle Trilogy is my favorite Dekker book(s)

mudrash[at]gmail[dot]com

David said...

I'm a big Dekker fan, especially of the Circle trilogy. I'd love to get this one too.

The Book Club Network - TBCN said...

"Hey, I was there too with Nora. Really enjoyed meeting and speaking with
you. I agree that both the authors were wonderful and very kind in giving
each person there as much time as they wanted.

Enjoyed your blog and you don't need to put me in on the drawing, I already
have an autographed book since I was there.

Maybe we will meet again.

Gail"

(I posted this for Gail :D)

The Book Club Network - TBCN said...

It was GREAT to met you there that night. I look forward to meeting you again.

Blessings to you friend.

Nora :D

Katie said...

Please enter me .... Thanks...
katie
katie8407(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Your lucky for meeting Dekker... *not fair sigh*

I hope I win! I'm at: PO. Box 764, Westminster, CO, 80030

Anonymous said...

Oh, I forgot... My favorite story by Ted is the Lost Books. I love how they provide more background info to the Circle Trilogy!! Oh I so hope I win!!!!!!!! SIGNATURES ARE AWESOME! Thanks. -Hunter Uland, hunter.uland@gmail.com. (Address in previous post in case I win and miss your email as "spam"...) Thank you again for your awesome idea!