Meg Cabot Book Signing Barnes & Noble Carmel, IN

On June 18th, I received the wonderful news in my gmail inbox that Meg Cabot would be signing in Indiana. Not only would she be in Indiana on July 19th, but she would be in CARMEL, Indiana. A mere 45 minutes away from home! In my excitement, I began calling everybody to share the news.  I received responses like, "Who is Meg Cabot?" 

You know, Meg Cabot? Best known for her Princess Diaries series? Allie Finkle? Heather Wells? Anyone? Anyone?

Lizzy, my sister and book signing buddy, was on-board for the short jaunt.  Especially since our last book signing adventure lead to an overnight trip to Chicago and the one before that resulted in a mid-week ramble to yon Cincinnati, Ohio.  Carmel was doable.

Our plan? I would pick Lizzy up at 6:00 p.m. to begin our journey. Some may not know that I have bred readers. My 10-year-old son, Athen discovered our intentions and begged me to go along. It went something like this:

Mom, please, please, please can I go along?

Athen, you have no clue who she is.

Just tell me about her, please?

She doesn't even write books for boys.

I don't care, I've never been to a signing. I want to go to a signing. How will I know what to expect, If I can't go with you now?

(Lots more whining ensued.)

Finally... Okay, you can go. (several threats were issued revolving around appropriate behavior.)
The deal was struck.  Athen and I waited out front of Lizzy's house for her arrival.  She was 10 minutes late.  Anyone who knows Lizzy, shouldn't be surprised. I drove with the single minded intent to arrive without incident and on time.  Upon arrival  --- after many laps around the parking lot searching for a parking space --- we stormed in, with a bevy of excitement, asking where to go. 

Once we were banded and books were purchased, we stood and listened to the witty and toothsome, Meg Cabot.  Athen listened, pink cheeked and beaming.  There was standing room only.  Spectators continued to trickle amidst the crowd of enthusiasts. 

We waited for our turn to meet Meg Cabot patiently.  Our photo was taken, our books signed (including our autograph books --- thank you, Meg Cabot), then Athen had his turn.  He presented his newly purchased Autograph book, explaining that this was his FIRST book signing, with a "Can you please use the silver marker?"

As we were leaving, my enthusiastic son discovered that one of the gentlemen near Meg was responsible for booking book signings.  Athen promptly stepped behind Meg and asked the gentleman if he could book Rick Riordan to sign. Aghast with Athen's audacity, Meg asked, "Would you not do that behind me?"  Athen was oblivious to her rancor (albeit put-on --- I hope), and continued to ensure his request was heard. Rick who? Rick Riordan. R-i-o-r-d-a-n.  This faux pas gave us a giggle,or three all the way home.

From Wikipedia:

Meg Cabot (born Meggin Patricia Cabot on February 1, 1967 in Bloomington, Indiana, United States) is an American author of romantic and paranormal fiction for teens and adults and used to write under several pen names, but now writes exclusively under her real name, Meg Cabot. She has written and published over fifty books, and is best known for The Princess Diaries, later made by Walt Disney Pictures into two feature films of the same name.

Her books are as follows (my personal favorites are the Insatiable series and the Heather Wells Mysteries series):

Princess Diaries
Project Princess: Volume IV and a half (2003)
The Princess Present: Volume VI and a half (2004)
Sweet Sixteen Princess: Volume VII and a half (2006)
1. The Princess Diaries: Volume I (2000)
2. Princess in the Spotlight: Volume II (2001)
     aka Take Two
3. Princess in Love: Volume III (2001)
     aka Third Time Lucky
4. Princess in Waiting: Volume IV (2002)
     aka Mia Goes Fourth
5. Princess in Pink: Volume V (2003)
     aka Give Me Five
6. Princess in Training: Volume VI (2004)
     aka Sixsational
7. Party Princess: Volume VII (2006)
     aka Seventh Heaven
8. Princess On the Brink: Volume VIII (2007)
     aka After Eight
9. Princess Mia (2008)
     aka To the Nines
10. Forever Princess (2009)
     aka Ten Out of Ten

Mediator
1. Shadowland (2000) (writing as Jenny Carroll)
     aka Love You to Death
2. Ninth Key (2001) (writing as Jenny Carroll)
     aka High Stakes
3. Reunion (2001) (writing as Jenny Carroll)
     aka Mean Spirits
4. Darkest Hour (2001) (writing as Jenny Carroll)
     aka Young Blood
5. Haunted (2003)
     aka Grave Doubts
6. Twilight (2005)
     aka Heaven Sent

 

1-800-Where-R-You
1. When Lightning Strikes (2001) (writing as Jenny Carroll)
2. Code Name Cassandra (2001) (writing as Jenny Carroll)
3. Safe House (2002) (writing as Jenny Carroll)
4. Sanctuary (2002) (writing as Jenny Carroll)
5. Missing You (2007)

Boy
1. The Boy Next Door (2002)
     aka The Guy Next Door
2. Boy Meets Girl (2004)
3. Every Boy's Got One (2004)

All-American Girl
1. All-American Girl (2002)
2. Ready Or Not (2005)

Heather Wells Mysteries
1. Size 12 Is Not Fat (2006)
2. Size 14 Is Not Fat Either (2006)
3. Big Boned (2007)
     aka Size Doesn't Matter
4. Size 12 and Ready to Rock (2012)

Queen of Babble
1. Queen of Babble (2006)
2. In the Big City (2007)
3. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched (2008)

Avalon High: Coronation
1. The Merlin Prophecy (2007)
2. Homecoming (2007)
3. Hunter's Moon (2009)

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls
1. Moving Day (2008)
2. The New Girl (2008)
3. Best Friends And Drama Queens (2009)
4. Stage Fright (2009)
5. Glitter Girls And The Great Fake Out (2010)
     aka Glitter Girls
6. Blast From the Past (2010)

Airhead
1. Airhead (2008)
2. Being Nikki (2009)
3. Runaway (2010)

Insatiable
1. Insatiable (2010)
2. Overbite (2011)

Abandon trilogy
1. Abandon (2011)
2. Underworld (2012)
3. Awaken (2014)