Be My Escape and AmberEyes served as our Twilight Lexicon picture takers for the Boston event that Stephenie was at last night.  We have a link to the photo bucket album with all the pictures from the event.  You can select to watch the pictures in a slide show, if you want to.   From what I understand, since Steph arrived late to the event, the Q&A was very short and not very informative.  People – if you go to an event, please think of a good question that isn’t answered here or at Stpeh’s site.  Be ready with good questions and do us proud!  If you need help, check out our thread for good questions to ask Stephenie at book signings!

Alphie

 

We have a copy of the Q&A from Ohio last night.  It’s a bit fuzzy and you can’t hear all the questions, but you can hear the answers.  This will give you a MUCH better idea at how fast I had to write and why I was very clear to say that my "transcript" was not word for word!  LOL! 

 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2512779123970938551&hl=en

 

We also have a slide show of all the pictures Cocoa and I took of the fabulous t-shirts.  I really tried to get a picture of everyone that made a shirt… and even some people who didn’t.  I’m sorry if I missed your shirt.  Many uber thanks to Cocoa for not only the use of her camera but for uploading all these pics and making this wonderful video for us.  But I wanted to single out a few of my personal favorites.

 

First of all, if you were there around 6:40 and you saw some random girl head up the steps and then come out about 10 minutes later… that was me.  I BEGGED for a few minutes alone with Stephenie to get a picture with her with Eclipse since that book in particular has had such an effect on my own life.  I wouldn’t normally pull rank like that, but I wanted this picture for my scrapbook to go with my amazing mention in the back of the book.  So here is Stephenie and I with Eclipse. 

http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/cincisigning/?action=view&current=DSCF0248.jpg

Here is the group I was with, which included from right to left: Cocoa, Me, ZRBS, Silly Bella, Hailey Capri’s boy, htbthomas (who is my friend from the Superman fandom) and Hailey Capri (who is Serephyn’s sister and earned herself a hug from Stephenie!!)

http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/cincisigning/?action=view&current=DSCF0286.jpg

Here is proof that guys read and like Twilight.  One shirt says "Edward Cullen has nothing on me" and the other guy is wearing the Alice shirt from twilight teez.  The girl in white has a shirt that says "The reason Jacob hasn’t imprinted yet is becasue he hasn’t seen me."

http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/cincisigning/?action=view&current=DSCF0241.jpg

I was "spotted" by only two people – well at least only two people asked for pictures of me.  LOL!  The first was Em Cullen who made me a bag and a scarf, which I am modeling in the picture.  The second was a girl that I did not get a picture of myself but I promised her that I would talk about her.  She was so sweet and shaking like a LEAF.  Merekat, you earned a mention!

http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/cincisigning/?action=view&current=DSCF0267.jpg

This was the only Emmett and Jasper shirt at the event, and I must say that this Emmett shirt is just beautiful!

http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/cincisigning/?action=view&current=DSCF0245.jpg

I love space heaters as well as this t-shirt!

http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/cincisigning/?action=view&current=DSCF0256.jpg

As an HP fan I love these shirts.  "The Cullens lent Hermione their camping stuff."  LOL!

http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/cincisigning/?action=view&current=DSCF0280.jpg

This girl’s friend couldn’t come to the event, so she brought a cut out of her friend instead.  Hopefully she will feel better knowing it earned her a mention here.

http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/cincisigning/?action=view&current=DSCF0270.jpg

The one and only Volturi shirt I saw!  This is the back but the front says "Don’t be afraid…" and then the back says "At least the Vlturi aren’t after you."

http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/cincisigning/?action=view&current=DSCF0261.jpg

But my favorite shirt of the night was the "Free hugs if you love Jacob Black" shirt.  The back says "Supporter of Hotness."

http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/cincisigning/?action=view&current=DSCF0287.jpg

 

Silly Bella, Cocoa, and I just got back from the book signing at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati, OH.  There were probably – and I’m guessing – over 1,000 people there.  I will tell all the fun stories in a Forks-cast once Pel has gone to her book signing, too.  I also have tons and tons of amazing t-shirt pictures to share with you that we have to upload first.  So look for those in a day or two.  But I thought you’d like to know some of what Stephenie shared with us in her Q&A.  This is not a word for word transcript, mind you.  These were notes that I hurriedly jotted down as she was talking.  So please, if she corrects anything here, take HER word for it and not mine.  But this will give you the general gist of the information.

 

Q: How has your faith influenced you?

A: I find that it doesn’t really come down to good vrs evil in day to day life.  It’s more like good vrs good, and really that’s more interesting.

 

Q: We know about most of the Cullen’s track record for how many humans they have killed, but how many have Alice and Esme killed?

A: I don’t know for sure.  Only Rosalie and Carlisle have good track records.  Everyone else has made lots of mistakes.  It’s like if you were told you could never ever have food again.  You would slip up when you smell something good.  Well, they all have slipped up many times.

 

Q: What did Aro see in Alice’s mind at the end of New Moon?

A: Aro saw everything that Alice has ever seen in all of her visions.  So he saw that Alice foresaw Bella becoming a vampire, and that is why he let them go.  But he also saw all of her other visions, too.

 

Q: Where does Placebo’s music fit in the storyline for Eclispe?

A: They usually fit Edward’s mood.  I heard their music a lot while Edward was fighting Victoria.

 

Q: How does Bella’s lullaby sound?

A: I don’t have the exact music, but if ever they make the movie, I would love to have Mathew Bellamy compose the piece.

 

Q: Do you ever get writers block?

A: No, not really.  I wrote all three of these books back to back.  New Moon and Eclipse were written out before Twilight was even published.  The thing that really slows me down though now that I am back to writing is things like this – book signings and interviews.  I love doing them, but I get distracted from writing.  So when this tour is over I will get right back to book four so I can hopefully get it out in time. 

 

Q: How do the vampires find their mate?  Do they imprint like the werewolves?

A: No, they fall in love the way we do, but once they fall in love, they don’t fall out of love. 

 

Q: There was a question about Bella’s engagement ring that we couldn’t hear, but I know what she said as an answer… to whatever the question was.

A: I did some research on weddings at the turn of the century and they didn’t have engagement rings like we have today.  So Edward’s mother wore a very different kind of ring.  It has lots of stones  all together, not at all like today’s traditional engagement rings.

 

Q: What is Jasper’s middle name?

A: I don’t know.  There are some things that I just haven’t decided on.  I like to leave myself open sometimes so that I don’t always write myself out of various possibilities. 

 

Q: What does the ribbon mean on the cover of Eclipse?

A: I’ve read lots of theories, but for me what it symbolizes is Bella trying to break away from her life and it isn’t a clean tear.  She thinks it will be an easy break, and it just isn’t.

 

Q: Was the tent scene in chapter 22 a dream?  Was Bella dreaming that conversation?

A: No, that was very real.  And that was a fun chapter to write.  It’s one of my favorite chapters. 

 

Q:  Did you plan on the lunar theme to your book titles?

A: Twilight was an accident.  Twilight had several titles that no one could agree on.  So my agent and I made a list of words we liked and Twilight was on that list.  We called it that for a while with the intention of changing it, but the name stuck.  Then New Moon and Eclipse fell right into place and made total sense.  Breaking Dawn was harder to name, but I think that is the closest I can come to the felling that I want to imply.

 

Q: What is your inspiration?

A: Lots of things inspire me, but mostly other books inspire me – reading.  I like Shakespeare, Orson Scott Card, Jane Austen. 

 

Q: How did Edward learn to play the piano?

A: Edward could play the piano when he was human.  Then when he became a vampire he could play it a whole lot better.

 

Q: Was the charm Edward gave Bella a diamond?

A: Yes.  And I’ve read some things on-line about Edward manipulating and lying to Bella about that.  Edward never said that it was a crystal.  Bella just assumed it was a crystal.  But it really was a diamond.

 

Q: Did Bella really hear Edward’s voice in New Moon or was that a hallucination?

A: That was all a hallucination.  If Edward had been anywhere near Bella, he would never have let Victoria get close to her. 

 

Q: Would you rather be a vampire or a werewolf?

A: I’d rather be a human.  But I suppose being a werewolf would be the easiest.  You wouldn’t have to give up as much.  When you are a vampire, things are pretty much over.

 

Author Shannon Hale of Princess Academy and Austenland fame has posted a brief interview with Stephenie on her blog.

Stephenie met Shannon over the summer when Shannon visited the Changing Hands Bookstore on a signing tour. The  really cute baby in the photo is Shanon’s daughter, Maggie. At the time Stephenie referred to Austenland as, "Austenland is my very favorite book of the summer."

Thank you to Librarybooks who was the first member to PM me about this. Shortly after she contacted me, so did about 10 other people. I think it’s safe to say that Shannon Hale has a lot of fans that read Twilight.

Pel~

Caseycha79 sent me a new release from Little Brown stating the official release date of Breaking Dawn and confirming the title.  So here you go folks – book four will be called Breaking Dawn and the current release date is set for August 10, 2008.  That means we have less than a year to wait! 

Alphie

Forks Washington has proclaimed September 13th (Bella’s birthday) as Stephenie Meyer Day. Stephenie will not be there that day as she is in Virginia doing a previously arranged signing. On the other hand, there are a number of  interesting activities in Forks planned that day in case you are local to that area.

Also of note is the Forks Chamber of Commerce site has posted a Twilight inspired virtual tour. It take s a bit to load, but it’s interesting when it does.

Full Name: Leah Clearwater

Status: Werewolf

Date of Birth: around 1988

Originally From: La Push

Hair Color: Black (NM6)

Eye Color:

Height:

Physical Description: “Leah was a senior like me, but a year older. She was beautiful in an exotic way–perfect copper skin, glistening black hair, eyelashes like feather dusters” (NM6) When in wolf form, Edward describes her as a “smaller gray wolf.” (EC19)

Occupation: Protector of the La Push Reservation

Family Members: Father, Harry (deceased); mother, Sue; brother, Seth; second cousin, Emily Young

Nick Names: Lee-lee (BD13 p263)

Hobbies:

Personal History: During her freshman year and before his change, Sam and Leah started dating. They fell in love, but then Sam changed into a werewolf. He disappeared for two weeks and Leah was frantic with worry. She and her family spent the entire time looking for him, fearing that he had gotten into an accident in the woods. When he finally did return, he did not explain his absence and people began to assume that he had gotten into something shady like drugs. Leah stuck by him, even though she was frustrated by the secrets she knew he was keeping from her. (EC5)

Eventually, Leah’s cousin Emily came to visit her and Leah introduced her to Sam. Sam imprinted on Emily and was forced to break up with Leah. This broke her heart not only because she loved Sam, but because Emily had always been like a sister to her. (EC5)

Leah was forced to sit back and watch the love of her life court her cousin. Jacob says that “She puts on a brave face. She’s going to be a bridesmaid.” (EC5)

But then something utterly unexpected happened and Leah and Seth both changed into werewolves. But this transformation was not for the best. Not only did Leah finally understand what had happened to Sam and why he had left her for Emily (EC5, ECEp), but the change was such a shock to her father Harry that it gave him a heart attack (Q&A).

Leah is currently the only female in the werewolf pack – this is often awkward as shifting involves nudity (BD13p259) and everyone can read her thoughts, which are often unpleasant and uncomfortable (EC5). Jacob sometimes calls her a “harpy” (EC Ep), and “touchy” (BD8 p157) and even Leah calls herself a “compassionless shrew” (BD16 p316). Leah is very self-conscious of her status as the only female shape-shifter in the tribe’s history, and considers herself “a freak – the girlie-wolf – good for nothing else. I’m a genetic dead end…” (BD16 p318). As a smaller wolf, she is not as strong as the others in the pack but she is the fastest (BD8 p158) and enjoys winning races.

After Bella returns from her honeymoon pregnant, the wolf pack decides to attack the Cullens and kill the baby threat. When Jacob disagrees with Sam’s decision, he breaks away from the Alpha’s orders and forms a separate pack. Seth joins Jacob very quickly afterwards and Leah arrives the following morning to join. Leah joins Jacob’s pack to keep an eye on her little brother and to be away from Sam, the man she loves but who only pities her (BD12 p229-232).

Leah didn’t like hanging around the Cullens as part of her new pack (BD15 p287) but ran regular border patrols and reconnaissance missions and is happier with Jake as leader. As a member of his pack, Jacob finds her less annoying. She understands Jacob’s dilemma with Bella because she can relate: “I don’t like her, but … she’s your Sam. She’s everything you want and everything you can’t have.”(BD16 p 311-315). Leah’s loyalty to Jacob and concern for his well-being leads her to phase to human form and yell at Bella for mistreating him (BD17 p338).

When Renesmee is born, Bella is transformed, and Jacob imprints on Nessie, Leah still stays nearby. Seth is injured when he tries to protect Jacob from Bella’s attack and Leah is both worried and furious (BD23 p455). She still feels uncomfortable around the vampires in her human form (BD25 p500) but remains with her pack. When vampire friends of the Cullens come to Forks to testify in the family’s favour against the Volturi accusations, Leah and her brother go with Sam’s pack temporarily while Jaccob remains near Nessie (BD32 p608). When the Volturi arrive, Leah is part of the seventeen wolves that come to the confrontation.

Leah will often seem callous, like during the pack’s discussion about how to handle Bella’s pregnancy: (BD10 p202). However, she had a caring side for her brother (BD11 p208) and for motherhood in general that is hidden by the layer of hostility she wears like armor.

Portrayed in the films by: Julia Jones

Prepared by: LadyDi

I had some time before people came into the office and actually made me do work ::shudder:: so I decided to update while I could.

Claire
Clearwater, Harry

Tonight, or later this afternoon, whenever I have time, I shall complete the update on the Clearwater family. I wanted to finish Harry’s though because it was long overdue.

Mtay. That’s it for now. More later!

Love,
Seraphyn

I had hoped to finish the Clearwater family tonight, but I only have time for one, so I shall simply add the link to this post. Here, in all her tragic glory, is Leah Clearwater.

Full Name: Harry Clearwater

Status: Elder of the Quileute tribe

Date of Birth: not mentioned

Orignally From: La Push Reservation

Hair Color: not mentioned, possibly black or greying

Eye Color: not mentioned

Height: not mentioned

Physical Description: not mentioned

Occupation:

Family Members: Wife, Sue; daughter, Leah; and son, Seth

Nick Names: none

Hobbies: Fishing

Personal History: Harry Clearwater was a Quileute tribal elder along with Billy Black and Old Quil Ateara. The families were very close with each other and with the Swans. When Bella used to visit her father during the summer as a child, Harry and Charlie would go fishing and group their children together, in the hopes that they would become friends. Although the children never bonded, Harry and Charlie continued to enjoy spending time together, watching sports (NM6 p. 143) and fishing (NM10 p. 230). When Bella became a permanent resident of Forks and her friendship with Jacob started to blossom, Jacob’s dad Billy invited the Swans and Clearwaters for a spaghetti dinner. That night, his wife Sue “teased her husband about his cholesterol and tried, unsuccessfully, to shame him into eating something green and leafy.” (NM6 p. 149)

Harry’s health becomes more of a concern when, in a conversation Bella encourages her father to have with his pal so she can learn about Jacob’s mysterious illness, they discover that Harry had visited the hospital to have tests on his heart (NM10 p. 226).

Harry is described as one of Charlie’s best friends (NM16 p. 369). By spending time with Charlie watching basketball games, Harry and Billy keep Charlie safe from the vampire threat of Victoria. (NM14 p. 336) Unfortunately, on the morning of Bella’s cliff diving expedition, Harry has a heart attack from which he does not recover. (NM16 p. 368) Although Harry Clearwater knew about the existence of Quileute shape shifters, since he had seen his own grandfather change into a wolf (EC5 p. 118), it was the combination of his poor heart and the news of the sudden change of his children into werewolves that caused Harry’s heart attack. (PC11).

Portrayed in the film by: Graham Greene

Prepared by: LadyDi

Full Name: Claire

Status: Human – imprintee

Date of Birth: Sometime in 2004

Originally From: off the reservation (a.k.a. not La Push)

Hair Color: unmentioned, presumed black

Eye Color: unknown

Height: not mentioned, presumably short

Physical Description: She is still a child at the start of Breaking Dawn

Occupation:

Family Members: Emily Young (Aunt), sister, mother

Nick Names: Claire-bear (EC Ch. 8 p. 154)

Hobbies: playing with Quil, playing princess, and collecting rocks

Personal History: Claire is Emily Young’s niece. One day, when she and her sister were visiting Emily, Quil saw her and he imprinted. This caused quite a stir because Quil is a teenager and Claire is only two years old at the time they first meet. (EC8 p 174)

Jacob explains to Bella the unusual dynamics of imprinting, saying “There isn’t a toddler on the planet that will be more carefully looked after than that little girl will be. And then, when she’s older and needs a friend, he’ll be more understanding, trustworthy, and reliable than anyone else she knows. …He’ll be her perfect match. Like he was designed for her alone.” (EC8 p. 176).

Claire and Quil spend a lot of time together. He attended her third birthday party and even wore a crown and makeup to make Claire happy.  Claire is very content to spend all her time with Quil and while at the beach, she announces to Jacob “Cwaire pway wid Qwil aaaawl day. Cwaire nebber gowin home.”  As Jacob predicted, Quil is very protective of Claire (BD8 p. 152-154). She has a joyous sense of humor and laughs easily.

Prepared by: LadyDi