BOOK PARTY >>>

Marissa Meyer is a YA author from Tacoma and a Pacific Lutheran University graduate. She's a fan of Firefly. She wrote Sailor Moon fan fiction for 10 years. Cinder, the first book in her Lunar Chronicles, is about an android Cinderella in futuristic China was on the New York Times Best Seller list.

In short, she is one of the lucky few whose love of sci-fi and all things nerdy has paid off.

Tuesday, Feb. 5, Scarlet, the second book in the Lunar Chronicles, will debut with a book signing at Garfield Book Company in Tacoma. Meyer's hope for the event is that it goes beyond a simple book signing and ventures into the realm of a party. Her Cinder launch was filled with red shoes. She hopes people will get into the Scarlet spirit and wear a red scarf.

"We're going to have a swag table," Meyer says. "I'll have lots of Lunar Chronicles goodies - some pens, some temporary tattoos, bookmarks, stickers and everything. I've invited other local authors to bring swag, too. A swag buffet!"

Meyer will read or speak before the signing frenzy. Also expect tasty refreshments, a raffle and prizes and giveaways.

"There's a place down in Olympia called Wolf Haven, where I did some of my research," she says. "They're a nonprofit that focuses on breeding and education about wolves. I'm hoping to have the raffle proceeds go to supporting Wolf Haven. We're going to have three gift baskets for prizes - each one will have a copy of Cinder and Scarlet. One will have a space theme, and one will have a Paris theme since Scarlet is set in France, and one will have an Asian theme since Cinder is in China."

If you can't make the Garfield Book Company event, there will be a second Scarlet launch and party Feb. 21 at King's Books.

GARFIELD BOOK COMPANY, TUESDAY, FEB. 5 7-10 P.M., 208 GARFIELD ST., TACOMA,253.535.7665