Autographed copies of Water for Elephants–plus a visit with Tai the elephant!
Sara Gruen has kindly signed multiple copies of the Water for Elephants movie tie-in edition, which officially publishes tomorrow, March 1! We’re giving away TWO copies this week–just leave a comment here or on our Facebook page to enter.
Want to increase your chances of winning? Our good friends at the Water for Elephants: A Film fan site are giving away autographed copies on Twitter each week leading up to the film’s release on April 22. Not on Twitter? No worries–they’ll also be giving away copies on their blog and Facebook page. Stay tuned for more details on that. For how to enter, see at bottom of this blog entry, which is being cross-posted from their site.
Even cooler? Two of the people behind the Water for Elephants: A Film fan site recently visited Tai, the elephant who plays Rose in the film! See below for the description of their amazing visit–plus an incredible video–and visit them here to see dozens more photos.
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Kinker Tink and I (Kinker Jen) were extended the most extraordinary invitation to visit Tai and her sisters at the Have Trunk Will Travel (HTWT) ranch in Perris, California on February 19! It was a magical day and a rare treat – HTWT doesn’t usually allow guests at the ranch. Our visit was part of an overall goodwill mission to raise further awareness to EEHV, an elephant disease that is wiping out the Asian elephant population at an alarming rate. EEHV recently claimed the life of JP, the 3 1/2 year old son of Rosie, Tai’s sister, which I (very sadly) blogged about a couple weeks ago.
Tink and I arrived bearing gifts – a giant fruit basket and bag of peppermints for Tai, and a bouquet of spring flowers and Team Rosie pins for Kari, Tai’s human mommy. We didn’t really know what to expect, we just knew we’d get to see Tai in person. Our expectations were met and completely exceeded! Kari had invited a handful of friends and supporters of elephant conservation the same day as our visit. We were given the grand tour of the HTWT 10 acre elephant ranch, treated to a circus-worthy show, fed the gift basket contents to Tai, given an elephant ride atop Becky, and peppered Tai with questions about filming with Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon. In all, we lived it up at the HTWT ranch for about 3 hours!
People that know me would say that I am never speechless, but you’ll witness my speechlessness as I babble and giggle my way through our Q&A with Tai! Who knew I’d fan-girl over an elephant?
Read our Tai-normous filming facts and see the pics and vid after the jump!
Here are a few WFE filming tidbits that we learned during our visit:
- The studio in fact brought Rob, Reese and Christoph out to convice them to do the movie.
- Rob fell in love with Tai after doing loads of tricks with her and seeing how intelligent she is. #TaiPattz anyone?
He was all over her, thrilled to be in her presence. After the meeting when he was driving back to LA, he was calling people telling them how excited he was meeting her and doing the movie. - Reese loved Tai. They have a routine together in the movie, so she trained with Tai for countless hours over many weeks.
- Christoph brought his whole family to meet Tai.
- Everyone was a sweetheart and all were genuinely nice and very respectful of Tai.
- Tai would recognize Rob and Reese because they spent so much time together on the set.
- Tai would spend days at a time out on set to make it easy on her.
- Rosie (the real one!) is also in WFE! She has a bit part in the “modern circus” scene.
- Reese and Tai did a Vogue magazine shoot – not sure when it hits stands but probably March or April edition.
We’ve got a 15 minute video and LOTS of pictures that summarize our visit with Tai and her sister, Rosie (the real Rosie!). Enjoy and don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments section at the end of this page!
As we get closer to the premiere of Water for Elephants movie, we’ll be auctioning off Tai’s self-portrait to raise money for EEHV research. In the meantime, if you have just $1 to spare, please forsake that Starbuck’s latte today and donate to EEHV research at www.elephantconservation.org.
Water for Elephants is on the horizon and we thought it would be fun to pass the time by giving stuff away! But what prizes?? We’ve done buttons and tshirts… Well, our official partner, Algonquin Books, really came through for us, offering movie tie-in editions of Water for Elephants!! Even more exciting? Sara Gruen signed them all! *Wild Kinker Applause*
Each week until April 22 we will be giving away a trade paperback copy of Water for Elephants signed by Sara Gruen!
Here’s how it works: Each Monday, starting today, we will tweet the code you need to enter on Twitter. Our Twitter is: H2OforElephants. Giveaways will run from noon on Monday until noon on Friday (Pacific Standard Time). We’ll use Tweetaways to draw a winner every Friday until Water for Elephants opens in the USA 4/22/11. The giveaway is worldwide and you only need to enter once per week to be eligible.
Huge thanks to Algonquin Books and Sara Gruen for making this possible!
We’re looking into a separate giveaway for our readers who aren’t on Twitter. Watch the blog and our Facebook page for that announcement.
Good Luck!
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Overall Score
Reader Rating: 0 Votes
I would like to be entered for the signed book giveaway! I will also follow on Twitter! Thanks! This is a great idea!
I would like to be entered for the signed book giveaway! I will also follow on Twitter! Thanks! This is a great idea!
I loved this novel!!
I would love to win a copy of this book! It has been on my TBR list for awhile now and I want to read it before seeing the movie. I’m thinking I’m one of the only ones who has yet to read this book…not sure how I missed the original boat!
I would love to win a copy of this book! It has been on my TBR list for awhile now and I want to read it before seeing the movie. I’m thinking I’m one of the only ones who has yet to read this book…not sure how I missed the original boat!
I love this book! When I was up north a couple of summers ago I finished reading it, lent it to the woman at the cottage next door, she whipped through it and passed it on. By the end of the summer everyone, men and women in the bay, had ready MY copy! And we would all be talking about it as we swam, kayaked, and canoed. My book is pretty worn now with some lake water stains. I would love to get a signed one!
I love this book! When I was up north a couple of summers ago I finished reading it, lent it to the woman at the cottage next door, she whipped through it and passed it on. By the end of the summer everyone, men and women in the bay, had ready MY copy! And we would all be talking about it as we swam, kayaked, and canoed. My book is pretty worn now with some lake water stains. I would love to get a signed one!
Great giveaway! 🙂
Thanks. It was an awesome book and I will be reading it again. Can’t wait to see the movie.
Thanks. It was an awesome book and I will be reading it again. Can’t wait to see the movie.
I just finished reading this and am absolutely in love! Can’t wait for the movie to come out!
I just finished reading this and am absolutely in love! Can’t wait for the movie to come out!
This is one of my favorite books and I cannot wait for the movie to come out in April. I have a feeling it will be just as magical as the book was!
I bought this on Kindle but I want a paper copy too.
I bought this on Kindle but I want a paper copy too.
Loved this novel can’t wait for the movie. Would love to win signed copy.
I love Water for Elephants, and I can’t wait to see the movie! I’ve been excited to see it ever since I found out a movie was being made. It’s just such an incredible story. Love the video with Tai too. 🙂
And thanks for doing this giveaway! I would love to win a signed copy for sure.
I love Water for Elephants, and I can’t wait to see the movie! I’ve been excited to see it ever since I found out a movie was being made. It’s just such an incredible story. Love the video with Tai too. 🙂
And thanks for doing this giveaway! I would love to win a signed copy for sure.
What a generous gift from Sara Gruen to offer autographed copies of her work. I can’t wait to read this but being of humble pocket, I would love to win one! Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you.
What a generous gift from Sara Gruen to offer autographed copies of her work. I can’t wait to read this but being of humble pocket, I would love to win one! Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you.
I would love to read and review this book. Thanks for the opportunity!
I would love to win this book! Can’t wait for the movie!
I would love to win this book! Can’t wait for the movie!
The trailer looks awesome so I want to read the book before it comes out! Thanks!
I can’t wait for this movie to come out! I am currently reading the WFE Ebook and want to win an autographed edition of the book so very much!
I can’t wait for this movie to come out! I am currently reading the WFE Ebook and want to win an autographed edition of the book so very much!
Water for Elephants is in my top all time favorite books. Love Sara’s writing style and the story and, of course, Rosie. I’m a huge animal lover and would adore having a signed copy. What an honor!
Loved this book when it was our United We Read choice here in the Midwest. And now am anxiously awaiting the movie!
Loved this book when it was our United We Read choice here in the Midwest. And now am anxiously awaiting the movie!
The best thing about Water for Elephants is the time period in which it takes place. I love that 1930’s era and how detailed it was in describing the characters. While reading, it felt I knew the characters and had a bird’s eye view into all the action. When I first heard about it becoming a movie, I could already picture Robert Patterson playing the part. I live in a small town and I have told several people about the book. I would love a signed copy to add to my book collection.
The best thing about Water for Elephants is the time period in which it takes place. I love that 1930’s era and how detailed it was in describing the characters. While reading, it felt I knew the characters and had a bird’s eye view into all the action. When I first heard about it becoming a movie, I could already picture Robert Patterson playing the part. I live in a small town and I have told several people about the book. I would love a signed copy to add to my book collection.
I love Water for Elephants, it was such a great read I could hardly put it down. This would be wonderful to win, I would love to have the movie tie-in especially signed by Sara Gruen!
Great Novel. Will be sure to check out the movie.
Great Novel. Will be sure to check out the movie.
One of my favorite books. I cannot wait to see the movie. Water for Elephants is a book I’ve kept on my bookshelf to be read over and over.
This was one of the best books I’ve read. I have passed my copy on to others but wished I had kept it. It was very well written. I worked in Chicago and could picture many of the places she wrote about in the story. I would highly recommend the book to everyone.
This was one of the best books I’ve read. I have passed my copy on to others but wished I had kept it. It was very well written. I worked in Chicago and could picture many of the places she wrote about in the story. I would highly recommend the book to everyone.
Quickly catapulted to my favorite book ever – that’s saying a lot coming from someone who has her degree in literature! So glad that this is becoming a movie… I hope it generates even more readers for Sara Gruen & Algonquin! I’ve made many friends go out and buy this and I haven’t hear a single negative comment yet…
Quickly catapulted to my favorite book ever – that’s saying a lot coming from someone who has her degree in literature! So glad that this is becoming a movie… I hope it generates even more readers for Sara Gruen & Algonquin! I’ve made many friends go out and buy this and I haven’t hear a single negative comment yet…
I have seen this book all over online! Can’t wait to read it. I always perk right up when I see an Algonquin.
I have seen this book all over online! Can’t wait to read it. I always perk right up when I see an Algonquin.
Love, love, love this book! Can’t wait for the movie — which comes out on my birthday. How cool is that?
Congratulations Sara Gruen on your awesome novel and the movie trailer has me much anticipating the movie Water for Elephants. I wish Sara Gruen would read my first novel “Tempest of the Timber” not yet published and tell me what she thinks of it.
Congratulations Sara Gruen on your awesome novel and the movie trailer has me much anticipating the movie Water for Elephants. I wish Sara Gruen would read my first novel “Tempest of the Timber” not yet published and tell me what she thinks of it.
Wonderful novel and I can hardly wait for the movie.
Wonderful novel and I can hardly wait for the movie.
Soooo loved the book and am soooo hoping the movie does it justice!
Soooo loved the book and am soooo hoping the movie does it justice!
I loved this book. I started reading books about the circus when I was a kid. I had an enormous crush on Toby Tyler and always wished I could have run away with the circus with him! I’m very skeptical of movies from books I love. Sometimes they are right on the mark, sometimes not so much. I think this is cast well and the fact that Patterson developed a genuine relationship with the elephant will translate well to film.
I loved this book. I started reading books about the circus when I was a kid. I had an enormous crush on Toby Tyler and always wished I could have run away with the circus with him! I’m very skeptical of movies from books I love. Sometimes they are right on the mark, sometimes not so much. I think this is cast well and the fact that Patterson developed a genuine relationship with the elephant will translate well to film.
I am so excited!!!!!! I just won an autographed book of Water for Elephants!!!!! The story is so heart wrenching at the beginning with Jacob losing his parents in a terrible car accident. It immmediately draws your heart toward him and all the hardships he endures on his journey. The time period of the thirties and the Great Depression gives a feel of how the economics of the time added to the horrible conditions that all the circus employees had to face. And most of all, the romance and love, not only between Jacob and Marlena, but from them to Rosie is so wonderful. Thank You Algonquin Books for giving me a great book that I will enjoy over and over again.
I look forward to reading this book and will be picking it up and reading it so that I can fully enjoy the interview.
I look forward to reading this book and will be picking it up and reading it so that I can fully enjoy the interview.
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