The Beyonders

Two weeks ago we had an outing to the library where we saw this poster:

Jack and I have enjoyed the Fablehaven series and the Candy Shop Wars.  Jack has read the first Beyonders as well.  When he spotted this poster he was so excited to go!  Then we read it was in Salt Lake at 7:00 on a school night.

I didn't give him much hope.

But, the thought nagged and I knew Tuesday morning that I needed to go.

I asked a couple friends to go with us..  One had a soccer game and one was having dinner with the governor. 

It was time to go beyond my comfort zone. 

When the boys came home from school I told them the plan, and believe it or not I had to talk Jeffrey into it (I promised dinner at In-N-Out).

Jack, however, had a grin that the announcement alone made it worth the effort.

We headed out, had the burgers I had promised, and made it to the highschool with the blessed invention of the GPS.  Bless you forever, my friend.

When we got to the highschool we decided not to purchase a book signing ticket, but shared the cost of an already autographed copy of the second Beyonders.

Jack read a couple of chapters in line and while we were waiting for the show to start.  The lady behind me had suggested we sit on an aisle so we could get the glow sticks they throw out at every book launching.  We didn't get one but the show made up for it.

 The lady behind us in line went a different way when the doors opened but ended up sitting right behind us.  She took our picture.  Her boys got glow sticks.  I'll have to get the hang of this thing!

I should have tried harder to get a picture of the professional looking set.  This was no throw something together kind of affair!   After this picture my camera lens cover wouldn't open.  It worked as soon as we got home.  Oh bother.  We enjoyed the skit put on by Shannon Hale (I'm a HUGE fan!), Brandon Mull, and a few other authors. 

After that a comedy group, *DC Pro Tour,  that Mr. Mull used to belong to did a few skits.  I loved

*The dating game where Katniss Everdeen had to choose from Harry Potter, The Wimpy Kid, Percy Jackson, and Jack Sparrow.

*Auditions to replace Mother Goose.  I've never seen Jack and Jill performed in Shakespeare style, Brandon Mull style, Twilight style, or Edgar Allen Poe style.

*The references throughout the whole night to Twilight (if you are a die hard Twilight fan, then these would have made you very angry.)

Jeffrey was very star struck by seeing REAL AUTHORS in REAL LIFE.  He was glad he went, and looks forward to reading Fablehaven this summer.

After the show, which ended at 9, we were glad we didn't have to wait around for an autograph.  We enjoyed an easy drive home, happy that we had taken the time to do something out of the ordinary!

We are planning to go to the next book launch party in March 2013...you're welcome to join us!

*DC Pro Tour used to be called Divine Comedy, which you may have heard of.  Check out THIS VIDEO to see some of their work.