The staff has been working on something for awhile now.  Our costs have been going up. For those of you who have listened to our Forks-Casts, you know that we had to buy more server space since we are getting upwards of 6,000 unique visitors a day. This resulted in us having to layout an additional $240 (again that is additional, above what we already spend) a year to pay for The Lexicon. The last thing we want to do is run advetising on our boards because franlkly, who wants to look at advertising?

So, we came up with a solution. We have opened a shop at CafePress for Twilight Lexicon merchandise. There is a bit of everything from clothing, to stickers, to mugs, to calendars…the items go on and on.  We are making approximately a $1.00 profit on each item someone buys. The money will then go to defray the costs of running the Lexicon, so it’s not like we will be getting rich here. All we are trying to do is to keep up with expenses.

We were very careful with the merchandise. We personally spent a couple of months testing out ideas and checking quality.  In fact, our original idea was to put the Leela Starsky Lexicon image of Bella and Edward on all the products.  Sounds great, right?  HA!  Turns out that the Leela Starsky image, because it has so many colors running through it, only looks good on paper-based products, and I have the black blog Bella and demonic-eyed Edward tee shirt that proves this. So rest assured what is there is quality.

Another nice thing about CafePress, is that they will ship anywhere all you need is a credit card. So if you are from Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Singapore, and yes even Costa Rica (can’t imagine who we might have from Costa Rica 🙂 ) you are in luck.

So, those of you who offered to lend a hand with the expenses, here’s a way you can, and can get something out of it. There are even several items under $5.00.

~Pelirroja~

We have a couple of new items today:

1. Chapter 21, Phone Call, is now posted. Hop on over to our discussion boards.
2. We have a new podcast up. Where we attempt to answer more questions on the question thread
3. Lastly, if you are coming to the Cheesecake Factory in Nashville, you ABOSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, HAVE TO…THAT’S RIGHT…HAVE TO..RESPOND ON THIS THREAD OR YOU WON’T HAVE A SEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!. It can’t be a maybe. It has to be a yes and a firm number.

Alphie and I have been busy this week. We recorded a second Forks-Cast. Hopefully if explains some of the technical difficulties we are having as well as being entertaining.  So click here for Forks-cast number three!

Pel

New Moon is holding its position on the New York Times Bestseller List  in the number one position again this week. That makes seven weeks total on the list. To read the NY Times web site you have to create a free account there.

Week One:       Five

Week Two:       One

Week Three:   One

Week Four:      One

Week Five:      One

Week Six:       One

Week Seven: One

Week Eight:  One

Twilight is number three on the paperback bestseller list marking it’s seventh week on that list.

Both Alphie and I have been so amazed by the questions that have been asked of us in this thread. Very impressive questions, kudos to all of you! One of the "themes" that seems to have arisen concerns just how the Lexicon got started. What we soon realized was several things:

1. I had no idea (at least not all the gory details) because I wasn’t on board until March 9, 2006
2. There was no way we could adequately explain this in another chat where we were answering other questions
3. In going over old information (emails, voice chats, letters) Alphie realized that things didn’t always transpire in the order she had thought

So, what seemed to be the best course of action was a podcast devoted to Lexicon history. In fact ,the history was long enough that we realized we needed to split it into two parts or you folks on dial-up would be waiting until the next ice age for it to download.  So here is where Alphie explains it all (part one). I just do color commentary because I wasn’t  there for most of this.

Anyway, being the technical geniuses that we both are, it should be noted that we tried to record this thing no less than five times. The first four versions had horrible feedback because someone who shall remain nameless *coughALPHIEcough* did not have the right button pushed. There is a little feedback at the start of the podcast, but it soon clears up.

Happy Listening!

~Pelirroja

Today I went to the signing in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Here’s a bit of an account as to what happened.

11:45 Arrive and find that they have 25 seats set up all of which are taken. Fortunately five minutes later they came up with five more chairs and I was able to scarf one up. I was then able to take this picture of the signing table.

12:15  A Twilight and New Moon quiz was handed out by the staff. Top people got a prize. I bobbled the questions on who was the first person to talk to Bella in Forks and what kind of car Edward wants to buy for her or I could have won a prize.

12:20  Store manager starting to look alarmed, about 100 people in the store now and they are still coming in. She assures us that Stephenie is on her way and has just flown into a New York airport today. They also create this red taped line for people to stand on when the signing time comes. Mentally I think "I hope she has a lot of tape, because a 20 yard standard roll is not going to do it."

12:30  Stephenie arrives and the whole place goes dead quiet. She is whisked away into the back and (from what I think I overheard) fed lunch.

12:45  Begin eavesdropping in the crowd and hear a variety of things:

             "You think she’ll like my pictures?" (Girl next to be drew a really cool Alice and even cooler Victoria picture)

             "These guys came all the way from New Hampshire." (Made mental not e to catch them for a picture later)

             "It’s not really a vampire book, it’s not really a romance book, it’s…just read it…"( girl next to be trying to explain the book to her friend who had only just started the first chapter)

             "OMG! I just read Twilight two days ago and now I’m on chapter 6 of New Moon." (girl in front of me to six of her friends who are each more excited than the next)

             "Ok, how creepy is it that there are old guys waiting on line?" (Old mean approximately 30 and I seriously consider what they must think of me)

             "So have you guys ever checked out her website?" (Lean forward to hear more)

             "Oh yeah, there is a site with forums too, I love that site." (Rely on 30 years of theatrical experience to hold character and not go huzzah! and pump my arms in the air)

1:00   Stephenie comes out and is introduced by the store manager to thunderous applause. I soon realize that I am going to have to Photoshop most of the pictures because this Boarders is pretty dimly lit and the really high shelves block a lot of the light. Note to Boarders, personal opinion, this is not a visually welcoming store. The shelves, layout, and lighting make the place look cluttered and intimidating. Plus 30 seats for over 200 at a signing and lots of high shelves so people can’t see well when they have to stand, not a great layout. The best thing about the store were the staff who were really professional and enthusiastic, someone needs to give these guys a nicer work environment. Anyway, back to the report…

1:00-1:20  Stephenie does a question and answer with the crowd. No really new information was divulged, but she expanded on some points previously mentioned around the boards at the Lexicon and MySpace.

~ She did confirm that there would be a book four and that after book four was done she’d go back and publish Midnight Sun.

~She said she has worked on Midnight Sun a bit lately and is just about up to the section where Edward takes Bella to the meadow. As soon as she said that the entire room sighed. It’s a wonder no one was knocked over from all the oxygen being expelled.

~She also mentioned that all the vampires are totally unique characters not based on anyone in real life. However, Jessica and Lauren are both based on real people. 

~She gave people advice on becoming a writer stating that you should "first write for the joy of writing and not worry about being published."

~She said that characters often did what they wanted and not what you thought they wanted.

~ The one item she regretted cutting the most from Twilight was the shopping with Alice sequence.

~She has found fanfiction to range from the good, to the strange, to the truly scary.

~She recommended The Writers Market as a helpful website for those looking to break into publishing.

1:20   Stephenie concludes the Q & A and begins sigining books. At this point since I am in the seating area, we are the first to get books signed, Stephenie finally sees me. I work my way over and am introduced by her to Elizabeth, her publicist. I take a picture with Stephenie and me where I am thrilled that I look half way human (Elizabeth is hiding behind the book case in this picture). We make plans to talk after she is done with everyone.  She said she would have mentioned me in her talk if she realized I was there. I told her I was happy to be incognito. As I walk away from the table, I am suddenly aware of people looking at me with a mixture of awe, jealousy, and curiosity. Hadn’t occurred to me that I would become part of the story. So much for incognito.

1:30  I track down the girls who came all the way from New Hampshire to have their books signed. They also looked like they brought books from all their friends too. I introduced myself saying, "Hi. I help run one of Stephenie’s fan sites. I heard you came all the way from New Hampshire, is it ok if I take your picture and put it up on our website?" Well the Moms who were with them were thrilled, the girls were more thrilled. And then one of the girls says, "Wait, which site?" I managed to respond, "The Twilight L-". I never finished the word "Lexicon". All of a sudden her eyes were like saucers (I have to say I’ve heard that expression before, today was the first time I ever actually witnessed that type of expression) and this girl says, "OH MY GOD! ARE YOU ALPHIE?" I smiled and said "no, I’m the other admin, Pelirroja"  I explained what my online name meant and pointed to the red hair. One of the moms then asks if I will take a picture with the girls, I was surprised but I said sure.  They all kept saying how nice Stephenie was to all her fans and wanted to know if she was always like than and I said yes.

1:40  I go back in the store and take a series of pictures so I can show just how many people are on the signing line. Remember, a good 20 minutes has passed and the line is still this long. It’s a little hard to see heads over the five foot tall and in some cases seven foot tall bookcases and narrow aisles, but you get the idea.

1:45-2:15 I stand off to the side and decide to call Alphie on my cell and share the experience with her. We discuss a variety of Lexicon business and she says to me, "You know, in November last year when you were here in Nashville if anyone had told you almost a year later you’d be at this book signing and planning a major signing event in Nashville…" All I can say folks is my definition of surreal keeps getting replaced.  Believe me, a year ago, I would have laughed in the face of anyone who suggested that this is what would have been doing today.

2:15  As I continue to talk to Alphie I watch Elizabeth and Stephenie attempt to maneuver the heart shaped balloons surrounding the display. They try to put their faces in the middle of them for a picture that some delighted fan was going to take. Well, all I can say is, the balloons won. Bella plays badminton better than Stephenie and Elizabeth juggle balloons. In fact Bella looks downright coordinated next to Stephenie and Elizabeth or are seriously being clobbered by a bunch of balloons. My only regret is that since I was still on the phone with Alphie my camera was not at the ready.

2:20  I finally get to talk to Stephenie for a few minutes and we make plans for the next day. I go shopping in the mall and Stephenie’s ride whisks her off for some much needed rest at her hotel.

~Pelirroja~