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Health & Fitness

Marissa Meyer Event and Book Signing

Marissa Meyer comes to Book Passage, Corte Madera, with her futuristic fairy tale retellings- Cinder, Scarlet and Cress.

Last week, while braving a treacherous down pouring of rain, I had the opportunity to meet NYT Bestselling author, Marissa Meyer.

 Nestled within bay area city of Corte Madera, The Book Passage awaited fans of Marissa Meyer and the Lunar Chronicles series, with stacks of the books. The author signing room quickly swelled with people and soon became standing room only, as readers waited to hear about the newest book in the series, “Cress.”

Marissa Meyer, was greeted with an enthusiastic, warm welcome, while diving straight into her personal story of how the Lunar Chronicles came to be.  A longtime fan of writing, Marissa Meyer knew from a young age that she wanted to write. While entertaining a crazy overactive imagination as a child, she learned that as she got older, the best way to channel that energy was by writing down the characters in her head. At fourteen, Marissa was introduced to the TV show, Sailor Moon, which ultimately changed her life and shaped her writing career. Where she quickly turned her time and energy into writing fan fiction about Sailor Moon, continuing to write throughout high school and college. Eventually, using that inspiration to enter a Sailor Moon fan fiction writing contest. While only 2 entries were received, sadly Marissa was not chosen as the winner. However, a greater reward soon ensued, the idea was sparked in her mind to turn her focus into writing futuristic stories.  Awoken from a dream about Cinderella, Marissa came up with the idea for Cinder. When instead of Cinderella’s shoe falling off at the bottom of the palace steps, it was her foot, birthing the idea of a Cinderella cyborg.

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While the dream was in August, November was quickly approaching and so was NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month- an annual internet- based writing project that takes place every November). While many authors get their start writing with NaNoWriMo, many novels, contests, as well as guidance have come from the support of this organization. However, it ultimately was a contest that really sparked Marissa Meyer to write Cinder.

 While growing up in a self-proclaimed family of nerds, where dressing up as Trekkies for Star Trek movies is a tradition, the contest for a walk on role in Star Trek, was a contest she had to win. While writing beyond her goal of 150,000 words, sadly she came in third. Breaking her heart, that she would not receive the walk on role of Star Trek, Marissa once again was able to rise above the competition, coming away with the first drafts forCinder, Scarlett and Cress.  While it took two more years to rewrite Cinder, the potential was there, and once she sent off the finished draft, Cinder was signed within a few days. Sending Marissa on her own crash course of futuristic proportions – with her next three books.

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Marissa ended the evening by captivating the audience with the telling of the true story of Rapunzel. The audience responded with giggles, gasps and ahhs, asking her for another one, as she wrapped up with a few questions and answers, and even a little sneak peak of what’s to come. Yes, there is a fourth book in theLunar Chronicles called Winter, which is about Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. While a new book is in the works for fall of 2015- Heartless, (a prequel to Alice in Wonderland, about the Queen of Hearts.)

 While the retellings of classic fairytales have come to life in futuristic ways, Marissa Meyer, captures the essence of their magic, heartache, and adventure with Cinder, Scarlett ,Cress and next to come Winter.

 

For more information, or to participate in NaNoWriMo please go to their website at: www.nanowrimo.org

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