Sunday, July 1, 2012

FandomFest and James Marsters


So, today was the last day of FandomFest in Louisville, KY.  And lemme tell you, it was crazy.  Not crazy for me, of course.  Bruce Campbell was there for one day only on Saturday, and the line to see him was scary long.  I'm talking down the hallway, across the foyer, and out the door long.  I'm talking two hours standing in the 103 degree heat just to get inside long.  It was long.

Needless to say, I did not stand in this line.

I only wanted to see one person, but we'll get to that in a second.  I was part of the literary track, and got to see cool authors like Jim C. Hines, Timothy Zahn, and Ernest Cline of Ready Player One fame. (Ernest was absolutely hilarious and the biggest geek I've ever seen. He deserves every second of his success.)

The biggest rush for me was getting to do a signing with Robin Hobbs, who is one of my favorite authors ever.  I brought a whole backpack of her books for her to sign, and she did because she is so nice.  So we sat together and chatted about book stuff and signed books, and then it was time for me to go meet JAMES MARSTERS.

I had been bugging one of the con managers for a meeting with James ever since I learned that he would be coming to FandomFest.  I adored Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Spike was my favorite character, and when I heard James would be in the same building as me, I HAD to meet him.  Because Spike is also the inspiration for one of the characters in The Immortal Rules (Jackal), and I wanted to give James a copy of the book, too.  Hopefully without sounding too much like a squealing fangirl.

It took a massive amount of cajoling and talking and pestering James' manager, but we finally pulled it off and they agreed to let me meet him.  So I waited until his autograph line had left, waited as his manager spoke to James, and then--

EEEEK, OH MY GOD I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF JAMES MARSTERS.



That was my little fangirl self screaming on the inside.  On the outside I shook his hand (AAAAAH), introduced myself, told him he was the inspiration for one of my characters, and gave him The Immortal Rules.






*Fangirl self*  SPIKE IS TALKING TO ME.  SPIKE IS HOLDING MY BOOK.






Sadly, I couldn't get a picture with just him and me because he was only allowed to take those kind of pics at the photo opps booth, but I did get several shots of us talking.  And James said the book looked awesome and that he would read it, so that was enough for me.






So that was my day at FandomFest, ending on the biggest high I could have hoped for.  There were some other really cool blips, like Luke Perry passing me in the hall, and Nicholas Brendan sitting in the very next booth, and of course Robin Hobb and all the readers and fans I got to talk to.  I floated home on Cloud 9 this afternoon, and it will be a day I won't soon forget.

Now, I wonder what stars have to align for James to actually play Jackal in an Immortal Rules movie?  ;-)  








 

26 comments:

  1. I didn't know that Jackal was based on Spike! I KNEW there was a reason I loved him in spite of the crazy. And yes, if the stars can align to get James to play Jackal (or any vampire, really - I'm not pick) in the IR movie, that would be amazing.

    I also completely adore Robin Hobb, and would have been there right next to you with my backpack full of books. Also, Nicholas Brendan, ♥

    Sounds like an awesome time! Now I'm wondering why I was down here in Nashville all weekend when all this awesome was happening in Kentucky.

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  2. How awesome!! I would have been totally freaking out inside!!

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  3. Wahooo! I love that published authors can fansquee. ;)
    And did you ask Robin Hobb when she was going to put out another book? Because seriously, I can't go more than 2 years without re-reading the Rain Wilds or White Fool trilogies. :D

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  4. This is going to sound really pitiful, but I'm not a Buffy person. BUT that's still SO COOL because he was kind of epic as Brainiac in Smallville.
    So happy for you!!!!

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  5. Oh! I just fangirl squeeed for you! That pic of him holding The Immortal Rules? I was like "AHHHH! HE'S LOOKING AT IT!" I've always had a crush on Spike. Jackal kind of freaked me out a little, but I can definitely see the resemblance :)

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  6. Oh wow Julie! That's freaking awesome!! Loved Jame Marsters!

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  7. I'm with Jennifer, love him, too. I'd have been jumping up and down I'm embarrassed to admit. Heck, I'd have wanted to meet them all--Bruce, too. I love him on Burn Notice.

    Congrats on going with your book! Must have felt AWESOME. I'd love to do something like that with one of my books!

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  8. You're so cute. He was probably thinking, Oh my gosh that's Julie Kagawa standing in front of me. I so want to be in her movie!

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  9. Oh, just wait until he reads your book!!! *runs around screaming and acting like it was my book he took to read* I will so be waiting for the "Spike plays Jackal" stars to align!

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  10. It's so funny that you're fangirling with 'Spike'...when your reader fans, like me, would be fan-girling if we met YOU!!! lol!

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  11. P.S. That was cool that you gave him a copy of The Immortal Rules! I bet he can't resist reading it!!

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  12. That is so cool and totally awesome!! :D

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  13. I would be squeeing right there with you Julie, and I think we need a fan-driven campaign to get James to be Jackal!!!

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  14. Always the ever-relate-able fangirl, Julie. It's one of the things I love about you. <3 -Kirra

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  15. OMG!!!!!!!!!!! I love Spike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had no idea Jackal was based on him!!!!!!!!!! Thats awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So lucky!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XD So cooooooooooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  16. This the The Wackness.2 and Iam back and badder than EVER!
    If you puck fans think you won the fan war, you are SOERLY mistaken!I am fiecer and more determined than ever to win, with the help of Team Ash (of course).SO WHO'S WITH ME!Let's show team puck WHO'S BOSS!

    Your's Psyhoctically,
    The Wackness.2

    P.S. TEAM ASH FOREVERMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. Oh after an eternity you appear again? Well read the post we had the fight on & see what was decided in the meantime ;)
      TEAM PUCK FOREVER!

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    2. You know, The Wackness.2, you're the worst kind of coward. You know why? You act all big and bad, but I don't see any fighting! Look, if you want to fight, GIVE ME PROOF. I want proof. Respond to this in ONE DAY, and maybe I'll believe you're serious. Maybe.
      P.S. TEAM PUCK FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    3. This is just what I was waiting for Puck's lady.
      I don't really know what kind of fighting you mean but I'm all for it if it means defending Ash.
      I VOW TO BEAT YOU IN THIS FAN WAR IF IT'S THE LAST I EVER DO!!! and if I can't, I will NEVER visit this blog EVER AGAIN!!!
      You have my word.

      Your's Psychotically,
      W
      P.S.The quote I always wanted to p[ost is...
      "An Iron Fey Valentine" ( and yes, I do mean the whole thing)

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    4. I am insanely jealous. James Marsters WAS Spike - and, let's face it. Buffy with Spike was so much more interesting than Buffy with Angel, don't you think? I think it was all the snark. I'm sure he will love The Immortal Rules as much as I did.

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    5. You know, The Wackness.2, I'm surprised. You actually responded, although in two days, not one, but I'll cut you some slack. I can understand not being able to get to a computer. Well, my quote is: "I'd love to have to I.Q. of a rock. No, wait, that'd be an insult to the rock!" ~Puck.
      P.S. TEAM PUCK FOREVER!!!!!!!!!
      P.S.S. Bring it on, my friend. Bring. It. On. *smirks*

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    6. And here comes another Puck quote: “Good idea,” Puck echoed from the back of the cave. “Why don’t you take first watch, prince? You could actually be doing something that doesn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out with a spork.” ;)

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    7. Good one, my friend. That made me laugh out loud! :D
      P.S. TEAM PUCK FOREVER!!!!!!!!

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  17. Glad to hear you had an awesome day! I wanted to come to one of your panels and meet you, but it was, like you said, absolute chaos at the con.

    Seeing your pic now, though, I think we might have met a few years ago at Novels In Progress Workshop at Spalding. You look familiar.

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  18. OMG! OMG! I LOVE James Marsters. (Fan-girling here) Ok. I am under control. I don't know how you were able to stay calm while meeting him. That is so awesome!

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