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Hilary and I at last year's Elixir signing at the Grove

Since launched on Tuesday, I've received many incredible Tweets from fans of the series.  I love reading the Tweets, and I'm constantly blown away by how dedicated people are to the books, and to .  She has touched so many lives in such a profound way, which is something I only realized a year ago, when I attended her book signing for Elixir here in L.A.  At the time, I wrote a guest post about it for , and I'd like to re-run it below.  So without further ado�

So Tuesday October 19th {2010} I got to do something very fun: I went to the Grove to see Hilary Duff do an Elixir book signing.

I have to tell you, the experience was amazing.

I had the pleasure of helping Hilary with Elixir, and we spent most of our time together hunkered over our laptops, working and reworking the manuscript.  I didn't really think about her as a celebrity.

Then I got to the signing.  I had a prime seat � Hilary would be at a table on a slightly raised stage, and there was a nook of incredibly comfortable chairs off to her right.  I settled in, along with a few of her other co-workers.

The room went crazy when Hilary took the stage.  Rows of photographers started screaming her name, asking her to turn this way and that, hold the book this way, now look over here…� it was like the red carpet on Oscars night, in the middle of Barnes and Noble.

Once the photographers cleared out, the signing started in earnest.  Hilary took a seat at the table, and one by one people approached with their books.  Not only their books� they approached with their stories.  It seemed like everyone had their own story about how Hilary had touched their lives.  Two best friends told the story of how they'd met years ago in line for a Hilary Duff meet-and-greet.  "You single-handedly changed my life," a guy in a striped shirt told her.   Another guy found Hilary's music so inspirational, he had two lines of her lyrics tattooed on his arm.  "Thank you for being such a wonderful role model," a mother said as she ushered her near-tears daughter towards the table.

Hilary was wonderful with each of these people � with every person who came by.  She was visibly moved by their stories, and it seemed to me she wanted to take the time and connect with each person the way they so clearly connected with her.  I was so impressed because this is a woman who really grew up in the limelight, and yet she doesn't take a single one of her fans for granted.  Quite the opposite � she was incredibly gracious and appreciative and genuine.

Over and over I saw things that moved me.  There was the group who drove down from San Francisco to make sure they got an autographed book for their friend's birthday.  There were the fans who were so overwhelmed that they trembled approaching Hilary, then walked away blinking back elated tears.  I have a six-year-old daughter, and the sight of little girls barely a year or two older than her, holding their mothers' hands and waiting patiently for hours to say hello to a person they admired� it was so beautiful it almost broke my heart.

The signing started around 7:30.  By 9:30 I was beyond exhausted, and I wasn't doing anything but watching.  I couldn't even fathom how tired Hilary had to be.  She'd been traveling since the book's release, she was probably behind on sleep, she'd been signing books and actively engaging with every person who approached for two full hours� she had to be wiped out.

If she was, she didn't show it.  Four hundred people had come out to the Grove to see her.  She knew it, she appreciated it, and she wasn't going to let any of them down.  "You are amazing," I told her as I popped up to give her a quick hug goodbye, and I meant it.  After so many months working together, I had already liked and respected Hilary for a million different reasons, but the signing gave me a whole new perspective.  I'm really glad I got to experience it.

There it is!  What I didn't realize back then was the length of time those fans had to wait before getting into the signing.  I received a Tweet yesterday from someone who said he read the book while waiting in line.  The book isn't short, so I was surprised -- how long had he been waiting?

9am to 6pm.

That kind of dedication (devotion!) is mind-blowing, and just like last year, I'm so honored to be involved with Hilary, with this book series, and with all of you.

And if anyone out there is coming to Hilary's , look for me -- I plan to be back in my same comfy chair, marveling all over again... only this time I might do some live Tweeting! 

Oh, hey -- how about a hashtag for the signing?  #DevotedLA?  What do you think?