Author Event: Meeting Stephenie Meyer, Author of the Twilight Saga

I'm pretty sure everyone can say that there are certain moments or points in their life that really stand out. One of mine was when I first started reading Twilight. I was on vacation in Los Angeles. My travel mate and I decided to go take a bus ride to from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for a weekend while we were on the West Coast. A few days prior before we set out, she told me about this book series she started to read. Now mind you my travel mate did not read books for pleasure. She was the type of person that had an active social life, and was not one to stay home and read a book. The last book she read before Twilight was assigned reading for school. So I was very intrigued that she was so into these books. She was currently reading Eclipse, and it was the week that the last book in the series Breaking Dawn came out. I remember on the plane ride to LA her getting really excited because the girl sitting in front of us was reading Breaking Dawn. She tapped my shoulder and said, "Look, she's reading the latest book!" After rolling my eyes at her, she then proceeded to tell me that she brought the first book Twilight with her for me to read while we were in LA. I told her that since she was so into these books, I will give them a try. So on our 4 hour bus ride from Los Angeles to Las Vegas my journey with Twilight began. It is definitely a moment that I will never forget.


I'm sure everyone knows the story of Twilight by now. And millions of people wonder what it is about these books that has caused such hysteria. Now I can't describe what Twilight means for every Twilight fan out there, but I can for me. I was in a very dark place in my life. Yes as I mentioned before I was on vacation when I started reading them, but the reasons for my vacation weren't mentioned. I was mentally and emotionally drained. I was letting my job run my life, and it was causing me unnecessary stress. I had decided to go to LA for a week and a half for a concert and to visit a very close friend of mine to cheer myself up. I had such an amazing vacation, and had started reading this book that I loved so much. I actually started crying on my plane ride back home, because the reality that I was going back to my life was settling in.

I'm not the fastest reader, so I didn't finish Twilight until the day I got home from Los Angeles. I took a red eye back, so I remember taking a nap when I got home and finishing the book when I woke up. I asked my mom if she could pick up New Moon on her way home from work for me because I wanted to read the next book as soon as possible. I was sucked into the world of Twilight and things just went from there. I was fascinated by the Cullen characters in the books, plus Edward's love for Bella. I love this fantasy world of vampires that was so different from your traditional vampire. I always say that Twilight is a love story first and foremost, it's just that Edward just happens to be a vampire.

Because of these books I was able to have more balance in my life. I was able to separate my work life from my personal life. Instead of coming home from work and being anxious about going back the next day I started reading. I realized that reading relaxed me in ways that nothing else could. Twilight was the book that got me into reading for pleasure. I knew that one of these days I wanted to meet the author of these books Stephenie Meyer and thank her for writing them. I wanted to thank her for helping make my life so much more enjoyable. I've also made many amazing friends because of Twilight. Friends that have helped me so much these past 3 and a half years.

About a year and a half ago after the world premiere of the 3rd Twilight film Eclipse, I had decided that I was going to the official camp out for the 4th movie premiere Breaking Dawn. A lot of my friends thought that I wasn't actually going to go, because I'm a city girl and didn't think I could sleep outside. I knew it would be one of the few chances where I could meet the majority of the actors of the films, plus it was one of the rare appearances that Stephenie made once a year. So I knew I'd have to suck it up, and give up comfort for a few days so I could experience the trip of a lifetime. And after hooking up with a few other who were going to the premiere, so I didn't have to camp out by myself. I set out for the premiere in Los Angeles.

A short summary of what occurs at a Twilight premiere camp out aka "Tent City" is basically Twilight fans pitch tents in LA Live for 3 or 4 days before the world premiere of the film. The camp out is complete with camping tents, lawn chairs, and sleeping bags. It was something that Summit Entertainment (the company that produces the Twilight films) came up with to keep the fans safe who had camped out for the previous movie premieres. Summit provides a security team to monitor the camp site. Over the course of the days of the camp out it's not unusual for actors from the films to "surprise the fans" and visit them. This year the camp out was from Thursday to Sunday with the movie premiere on Monday. Thursday and Friday featured visits from actors Kiowa Gordon, Tinsel Korey, and Kellan Lutz.

Saturday morning I got the biggest surprise when Stephenie Meyer visited us in Tent City. I just could not believe it. I didn't think I would see her until premiere day on Monday. Stephenie didn't come empty hand either. She took her time walking down the line and gave out signed copies of Breaking Dawn! She was also gracious enough to take photos with fans. As I calmly waited for Stephenie to make her way to my area I was so happy to finally see her in person. To finally meet the person who created these characters that I love so dearly. When it was my time to get my photo with Stephenie, I was ecstatic. After I got my photo with her, I looked at her and I attempted to start talking to her. I told her that her books saved my life, and then I burst into tears. She gave me a hug and told me that it would be okay. No words can express what that moment meant to me. I calmed down a little and told her that I am so happy that she wrote the Twilight books and that I will forever be grateful for her. I was on such a high, that I almost didn't get an autographed book from her. She was about to take a picture with my friend that was next to me, when she asked me if I got a a book. I was so overwhelmed with meeting her that I almost didn't even get the gift that Stephenie was giving us!



Afterwards my trip was basically complete and the premiere didn't even happen yet. I had already received my highlight. I truly felt that even if I didn't get to meet the lead actors from the films, I would be okay. That the camping out was completely worth it because of my moment with Stephenie. Luckily for me that wasn't my last encounter with Stephenie during this trip. At the premiere, I was not only lucky enough to get her to sign one of my own copies of Twilight, I was able to get her to personalize my book as well. I was definitely more composed at the premiere than I was when she visited Tent City. I was able to speak like a human. I told her that her books really saved me and that Twilight opened up this passion for reading. She said that she loves hearing that. She loves hearing fans tell her that her books got them reading other books.



I've never in my life had a reaction like that with anyone who is a celebrity. I do not get star struck. In the past I have met some of my favorite musicians and actors, but I've never been so overwhelmed with emotion that I started crying. I think it's because of how much these books have affected my life. The bonds and beautiful friendships I've made because of them. I can go into work now and realize that my job is just something that I do, it's not who I am. It's the little enjoyments and pleasures that make life grand. If we stop and take a breather, things will be okay.