Mockingjay Spoiler Paranoia

OMG you guys! I am going to NY TONIGHT to see Suzanne Collins and get MOCKINGJAY at midnight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I'm pretty excited. But I'm also terrified! Of spoilers.

You see, these midnight release parties are tricky things. A bunch of excited people together in one place, sharing oxygen, reading the same book---dangers are easily afoot. All it takes is one foolish person, or...one five year old to completely ruin everything for you.

Don't believe me?

Here's a history of my Harry Potter Midnight Release Parties. The good. The bad. And the paranoid.

Order of the Phoenix: The Good

My first foray into the midnight release party phenomenom! This was one kick butt night. I came. I sat. I got my copy and I stayed up the entire night reading. I thought to myself...now why don't we have more parties like this all the time? I'd totally come to the bookstore at midnight for a party, even for a book I didn't like. Truth! Because books are parties. I was so happy to sit there and read and revel in the awesomeness of Harry Potter with every other person in my town. Anyway I walked away from this night completely care free, lalalalala midnight release parties rule, I love books, I love people! Yay!

A few years later...
Halfblood Prince: The Bad

My second time at a midnight release was not so good. After waiting for hours, eating Bertie Botts every favor jelly beans (they MEAN every flavor) and being sorted into Gryfindor (obviously), donning my Harry Potter lightning tattoo on my forehead (what! don't judge) I got in line and got my book. After a miniature squeee-fest at holding the new book in my hands I then proceeded to the cafe to locate the rest of my peeps so we could head home and begin an epic night of reading.

Little did I know that my trip into the cafe was about to take a horrid detour for the worse, forever turning me into a paranoid midnight release partier.

God knows why, but...some girl was hanging out one table away from me with her 5 year old sister. 5 YEAR OLD SISTER (bolded so you can fully understand my dismay at what happens next).

The girl has her copy of the book WIDE open, showing some page near the end to her sister. And then...I kid you not, the 5 year old goes, "Dumbledore goooooone!"

Yes. The ending of Halfblood Prince was ruined for me by a 5 year old.

Of course then I went home and saw this horror on the internet furthering my case of why these release parties were dangerous.



Needless to say I was traumatized. I mean why would people do this? Is there really evil in the world? And more importantly, how on earth was I going to protect myself for the release of Deathly Hallows?

Deathly Hallows: The Paranoid

For the release of Deathly Hallows, I went into battle mode. I was going to get my book and I was going to get out of the store IMMEDIATEDLY! NO one and I mean NO ONE was going to ruin the ending for me.

So after I partied and checked out all the costumes, I anxiously did the countdown to midnight.

3...2...1...

And at that moment, when the boxes of books were opened and could possibly get into the hands of potential 5-Year-Old-Spoiling-Monsters across the store, I left.

I know...I'm crazy.

Anyway I left my prepaid ticket in the hand of a friend. And I ran to my car where I proceeded to park in the darkest and most remote place in the lot, blasting music loudly in case any maniacs decided to do a drive-by spoiling.

Once my friend had the book in her hands, I sped across the parking lot, opened the door and had her jump inside the car. And then like a bandit, I sped the heck out of there and home.

You see? Paranoid. But it was so worth it!

Now what am I going to do tonight? I don't know. Me and FNC Sara are going to be out of our element in NYC. We also have the added obstacle course of waiting in line after the release for Suzanne to stamp our books--so no quick get aways.

What do you think? Should I bring my ipod to block out sound? A blindfold?

Anyway....Mockingjay in less than 24 hours! Squeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

P.S. Check me out tonight on twitter @frankiediane and also @FirstNovelsClub for up to the minute details on the party tonight (Spoiler Free--I promise).

Is anyone else going to be there? Let me know!