Kelley Armstrong Signing in Toronto & Giveaway!

8:00 AM

On Saturday afternoon (April 7), I was able to attend Kelley Armstrong's signing in Toronto at Indigo Yorkdale while she promoted the release of The Calling, the second novel in the Darkness Rising series! I attended her book signing last year for The Gathering, so it was really great having the opportunity to see her once again!

The event didn't start until 2:00 p.m. but I arrived at the bookstore around 11:30 a.m. to see plenty of people already in line for the event, to my surprise! It was a really busy event last year, so I think some of Kelley's more dedicated fans arrived earlier to get a good spot. We found out later that some people had been waiting since the store first opened!

And you know what makes a really long wait so much faster? Getting to spend the time chatting with a fellow book blogger! For the majority of the wait, my sister and I were talking to Angel from Mermaid Vision Books, a fellow Ontario Blog Squad member, talking about our love for Lauren Oliver's Delirium novels, Marissa Meyer's Cinder, and more! And when the DJ started playing songs by One Direction, Carly Rae Jepsen and... okay... Justin Bieber, we just had to sing along as well. It was fun! We also spotted Wendy from A Cupcake and a Latte ahead of us in line too!

Steadily, the line grew longer and longer with tons of fans, and soon enough, the music died down and Kelley Armstrong appeared onstage a little earlier than expected, greeted by everyone's enthusiastic applause! Normally, she would have begun with a reading, but she didn't this time because the beginning of The Calling has spoilers for those who still haven't read The Gathering. Instead, she jumped right ahead to the Q&A and gave away some prizes (USB bracelets, books, a poster, etc.) to those who asked questions.

Before writing YA novels, Kelley Armstrong was already well-known for her adult novels, which includes her Women of the Underworld series. (The final novel, Thirteen, will be released in July, 2012.) However, she decided to write YA books as well because her daughter wanted to read her books but she was too young at the time for the subject matter in Kelley's adult novels.

We learned that Kelley's first YA novels, the Darkest Powers series, were originally going to be set in Toronto, instead of Buffalo. However, the publisher felt that it would be better to set the novels in the U.S. because there are more American readers who read her novels. (The U.S. has a much larger population than Canada, and therefore, a larger readership.) Thanks to the great success of those novels though, when the time came to choose the setting for the Darkness Rising series, Kelley was able to center the events on Vancouver Island. Plus, the area is well known for having tons of bobcats.

And if you're a fan of Chloe and Derek from the Darkest Powers series, they will be appearing in The Rising, the final novel in the Darkness Rising trilogy! I was absolutely thrilled to hear the news and I'm hoping some more characters, like Simon, will also be appearing too! Kelley Armstrong also spoke about her writing process when the subject of writer's block came up too. She told us that she usually has an outline of what she'll write, but that it doesn't necessarily mean she'll stick to it. She usually knows what's going to happen, but when she has difficulty connecting the dots, she puts it aside and does mundane things, like folding the laundry, before approaching it once again.

After the Q&A finished, the book signing began! As I got closer and closer to the front, one of the staff members took some pictures, so if you visit Indigo Yorkdale's facebook page, you'll be able to easily spot me in one of them. When it was my turn to get my books signed, I just had to quickly gush to her how I loved the ending of The Calling and how it was less of a cliff-hanger than the first book. It was nice to hear from her that knowing what note to end a book on isn't always easy!


Thanks so much to Kelley Armstrong for meeting all her fans at Indigo Yorkdale! I had a fun time at the event... and it was so sweet of Random House Canada and Chapters/Indigo to host it! 

*****

Giveaway! I'm giving away one signed copy of Kelley Armstrong's The Calling to a lucky follower!

  • please fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter
  • giveaway is INTERNATIONAL
  • giveaway will end at 12:00 a.m. on April 25, 2012
  • winner will be contacted by email afterwards
  • do not leave your email address in the comments 
Giveaway is closed.
Congratulations to Alex! 

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I'm a Canadian girl with a passion for reading! When I'm not escaping reality with a new book, I love to listen to Korean pop music or get addicted to Korean/Chinese dramas.

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49 comments

  1. ahz1April 9, 2012 at 8:05 AM

    Why do I want this book? I just can't get enough of Kelley Armstrong's books. I loved The Gathering and can't wait to read The Calling.

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  2. Natalie AguirreApril 9, 2012 at 8:25 AM

    I love Kelley Armstrong. I met her at a book signing in Ann Arbor and she is so nice to her fans. I loved The Gathering and really want to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  3. AyleeApril 9, 2012 at 8:45 AM

    Looks like you had a great time! I have a bind-up of her Darkest Powers series on my shelf, just need to find time to read it. How cool would that have been if she had set it in Toronto?!

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  4. TyngaApril 9, 2012 at 9:40 AM

    I really love Kelley Armstrong and I've read all of her YA books, now working my way through her adult books. The Gathering was really an intro to this new YA trilogy and I cant wait to discover more in The Calling. Thanks for the opportunity!
    (Cindy B on raffle)

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  5. KrystalApril 9, 2012 at 10:35 AM

    I love all of Kelley Armstrongs YA books. I haven't read her adult books yet.
    I loved The Gathering and cannot wait to see what happens with Maya and all her friends. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  6. VivienApril 9, 2012 at 10:46 AM

    I really enjoy Kelley writing style. I'm definitely on edge waiting for this book. Totally loved The Gathering!!

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  7. AnonymousApril 9, 2012 at 11:03 AM

    I love Kelley's Darkest Powers and for the most part I really liked The Gathering - I liked Maya as a narrator a lot - so I'm really excited for this book.

    :D
    Thanks for the giveaway

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  8. SilverpoolApril 9, 2012 at 11:04 AM

    Ooh great giveaway! I love the way Kelley writes, and her characters are so vivid and real.
    Thanks!!

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  9. Sai KApril 9, 2012 at 12:05 PM

    Nice! Thanks for doing this!

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  10. AliciaApril 9, 2012 at 12:39 PM

    I want to get my hands on a copy of The Calling because I want to know what the heck happens after that crazy ending in The Gathering!! LOL

    Thanks for the tidbit of Chloe and Derek going to be in The Rising. Love them!!

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  11. Texas Book LoverApril 9, 2012 at 1:19 PM

    This is an amazing series and what better tha a signed copy especially for some like me who has no chance of going to a signing.

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  12. Christina Kit.April 9, 2012 at 2:26 PM

    I like the sound of all the lore and the legends. It sounds so original!

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  13. Keisha Martin Romance WriterApril 9, 2012 at 2:46 PM

    I met Kelley Armstrong at the World's Biggest Bookstore and since that time have loved her novels, a signed copy would be amazing.

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  14. Ciara (Lost at Midnight)April 9, 2012 at 5:16 PM

    Great re-cap, Liz! Sounds like it was tons of fun :D Thanks for the giveaway!!

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  15. UnknownApril 9, 2012 at 5:23 PM

    Great post. I was there, too, but halfway down the line. You were smart to go early!

    Sara
    urbanfantasyland.wordpress.com

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  16. Jessica EtchesApril 9, 2012 at 6:15 PM

    I'm excited because Kelley Armstrong is an awesome writer!

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  17. AmburHostynApril 10, 2012 at 12:55 AM

    I'm excited because I love Kelley Armstrong's books! I absolutely loved The Gathering, so I'm also really excited to finally get to read the next book in the series! :D

    Thanks for the giveaway! :D

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  18. Kimberly LimApril 10, 2012 at 1:01 AM

    I wanna know what happens next to The Gathering....
    Im so excited about this

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  19. Natalie @ Book Lovers LifeApril 10, 2012 at 2:45 AM

    Thanks so much for the chance. I love Kelley Armstrong and cant wait to read this and see what happens :) The gathering was so good!!

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  20. books first loveApril 10, 2012 at 3:52 AM

    I want it because I am always looking forward to read new books, plus I heard that the book is great.
    thanks for the chance
    xoxo

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  21. ZemiraApril 10, 2012 at 5:09 AM

    I can't wait for The Calling. Ive been waiting for almost a year.

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  22. GlassApril 10, 2012 at 5:19 AM

    I really liked the first book! I can't wait to read this one!

    glass @ I'm a reader, what about you?

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  23. UnknownApril 10, 2012 at 7:16 AM

    i have heard positive reviews on the book/series and the author's other books too..So... i want to know what the commotion is all about?..:)

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  24. EvieApril 10, 2012 at 7:27 AM

    I read a lot of great reviews about her books and now I am really curious to start reading this series.
    Thanks a lot for the International giveaway!

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  25. suzi1811April 10, 2012 at 8:58 AM

    I'm a major Kelley Armstrong fan and I love all her books! I'm so jealous you got to meet her and get books personally signed by her!

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  26. UnknownApril 10, 2012 at 9:57 PM

    I have loved all the books I have read by Kelley Armstrong. I have not had the opportunity to get a signed book but, I have high hopes! Hopefully this will be my lucky drawing! My favorite series is the Darkest Powers.

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  27. BrandyApril 10, 2012 at 11:41 PM

    I love her books! They are simple and I just can't put them down!

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  28. donnasApril 11, 2012 at 1:51 AM

    I love her books. And have been looking forward to since I finished The Gathering.

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  29. Sarah C.April 11, 2012 at 12:28 PM

    I love her books!! I loved The Gathering and I can't wait to read the Calling:)

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  30. SoniaApril 11, 2012 at 10:50 PM

    I'm so glad you had a great time, Liz! :) I wasn't able to make it (again... I always seem to be missing her) but maybe next time! I loved the Darkest Powers series and although I haven't yet read The Gathering, I do own a copy and I'm hoping to get to it really soon. Thanks so much for the giveaway! <3

    Sonia

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  31. JenniferApril 14, 2012 at 9:42 PM

    I am a huge Kelley Armstrong fan. Absolutely dying to read The Calling. The signing sounds like so much fun. Thanks.

    jennifer k

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  32. ChristinabeanApril 14, 2012 at 9:55 PM

    LOVED this book. Would love it even more if I had a signed copy!! Thanks for the giveaway!!

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  33. ChristinabeanApril 14, 2012 at 9:58 PM

    Why am I excited? Uh...IT'S KELLEY ARMSTRONG! Plus she's Canadian and I'm loving this series even more than The Darkest Powers series.

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  34. Lucia (iLive, iLaugh, iLove Books)April 15, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    I have heard so much awesome about this book... it seems like something I would enjoy! :)

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  35. anneroooApril 16, 2012 at 1:19 AM

    Thanks for the giveaway! I loved The Gathering and I'm excited to know what will happen in The Calling. :)

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  36. DaniëlleApril 16, 2012 at 8:37 AM

    Why am I excited? Because Kelly Armstrong is an awesome writer! Love her! And this book seems awesome to me :)

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  37. AnonymousApril 17, 2012 at 5:11 AM

    Because I'm a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong and I absolutely loved the Gathering and can't wait to see what happens next.
    Thanks for the giveaway (especially a signed one)!

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  38. TasnimApril 17, 2012 at 7:19 PM

    Because I've read her adult books and loved them so I'd love to see what he YA books are like :)

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  39. polarisApril 18, 2012 at 12:09 AM

    i heard great things about the book. i've never read her works before so, i'd love to read this one!

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  40. MaidenveilApril 18, 2012 at 5:24 AM

    The Gathering is on my tbr pile and by the sounds of it, I would be clawing with need to The Calling pretty soon!

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  41. UnknownApril 18, 2012 at 7:43 AM

    Because it's written by Kelley Armstrong! Enough said.

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  42. AveryApril 19, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    That's so awesome! She is coming here to London on Saturday, but I don't think that I will be able to make it... :/ Oh well, she seems to come here once or twice a year (it probably doesn't hurt that she only lives about half an hour away... ;) ).

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  43. Sheena-kay GrahamApril 22, 2012 at 2:08 AM

    Because I love Kelley Armstrong's books!

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  44. UnknownApril 22, 2012 at 3:55 AM

    Kelley's Bitten was my introduction to the UF genre and it still remains one of my fav novels. Since then I have gobbled up everything by Kelley and I'm so glad she is such a prolific author! :-D If only she would write more Nadia Stafford books ;-))

    Thank you so much for this generous giveaway, you were so lucky to attend her signing!

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  45. UnknownApril 22, 2012 at 2:25 PM

    OMG OMG OMG OMG! You met Kelley!?!?!?! AHH! *Dies* I really cannot wait for the Smart Chicks Kick it tour in September! Montreal's on the list!!!

    I cannot wait to read the Calling! I'm a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE fan of all kelley books!!!

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  46. The More the MerrierApril 24, 2012 at 11:02 AM

    I'm excited to get my hands on The Calling because I love Kelley Armstrong's books!!

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  47. Carl ScottApril 24, 2012 at 11:03 AM

    The Calling is one of the most talked about books of the year so far. I'd be nuts if I didn't want to get a copy of my own.

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  48. AnonymousJuly 6, 2012 at 10:46 PM

    nice posting.. thanks for sharing.

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