“Twilight Territory” Forks and LaPush guide book is released by Forks Forum

“Twilight Territory - A Fan’s Guide to Forks & LaPush” by Forks Forum Editor Chris Cook is being launched in Forks with a book signing.

A book launch signing is scheduled for Forks Outfitters on Saturday, June 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The 96-page guide book published by the Forks Forum is an insider’s guide for Twilight fans that thoroughly covers what to see, what to do, where to stay, dine and shop in the "Twilight Territory" of Twilight’s hometowns - Forks and LaPush.

Unlike the popular Harry Potter book series, which has fictional locations in Great Britain, Twilight locations are real places. A big draw for fans visiting Forks and LaPush is being able to see the actual sites and scenes of author Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books.

The book enhances the experience of visiting Twilight fans, providing an accurate, first-hand, locally-generated guide to the actual settings that author Stephenie Meyer chose for her “Twilight” book series. Curious fans unable to make the journey are taken on a detailed armchair tour through the author's photos and descriptions of Twilight points of interest and more.

"Twilight Territory" readers are taken on a tour of popular Twilight locations in Forks and LaPush, learning about the local people and places that come to life for Twilight fans making the trek.

In addition, from his position as the editor of the local paper for Forks and LaPush, author and photographer Chris Cook provides the first-ever full account of how the Twilight phenomenon has rolled out – and continues to grow – on the West End of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state.

“Living in Forks, frequently driving down to LaPush for community events and beach going, and being the only on-the-scene news reporter based in the area provides me with unequaled access to local Twilight news and events, interviews with visiting fans and a personal relationship with the local community as they experience the Twilight phenom,” the author says.

“Twilight Territory” features dozens of exclusive Twilight-related photos of Forks and
LaPush scenes taken by the author. Chris Cook provided local images for the prop department of the upcoming Twilight film “New Moon.”

The author interviewed “Twilight” film director Catherine Hardwicke at First Beach in LaPush during the director’s location scouting for the film. His account published on the front page of the Forks Forum appears in Hardwicke’s book “Twilight Director’s Scrapbook.”

He has also chosen Forks and LaPush locations for a “where we would have made the movie” section in “Twilight Territory” offering an alternative look at what an authentic Twilight movie would look like.

Chris Cook is the author of the Hawaii regional best-seller “The Kauai Movie Book.”

'Twilight' summer school in Forks

Alice Cullen look-a-like spotted at Leppell’s

Styna Whatman is an Alice Cullen look-a-like now on staff at Leppel’s Gifts & Flowers in Forks. Alice Cullen is the vampire sibling of "Twilight" books and movie lead character Edward Cullen.

By Chris Cook - Forks Forum Editor

Fans of the “Twilight” movie are doing double-takes these days at Leppell’s Flowers & Gifts on Spartan Ave. in Forks.

New Leppell’s employee Styna Whatman is a dead ringer for the vampirish sister of Edward Cullen, the handsome vampire love interest in the best-selling book and film saga that’s set in Forks and LaPush.

Whatman arrived in Forks in mid-April on a vacation from her home in faraway Belleville, Ohio.

She fell for Forks.

“It’s amazing here,” she said, “people are so nice.”

When asked if the Twilight connection is her main reason for moving to Forks, Whatman said, “I’m supportive of it, but the bottom line is it’s a nice town.”

Now she’s working at Leppell’s dressed up as Alice Cullen, down to the fine details like sparkly makeup, just the right hair cut and golden brown eyes thanks to a pair of contact lenses.

Whatman said she is thankful to the Leppell family for giving her a break. Without the job doubling for Alice and helping out in the flower and gift shop, she said she wouldn’t have been able to stay in Forks.

Leppell’s is charging fans a nominal fee to pose with the Alice Cullen look-a-like, and using its wedding photo studio for fan photos with Alice.

Whatman has her own Web site/blog up at www.AliceOfForks.com.

On the site fans can take a chance in a raffle for a date with “Alice” to the upcoming Twilight-themed prom planned for late June at Forks High School’s Spartan Gym.

The winner receives a date with “Alice” to the prom; a pass to the prom set for Saturday night, June 27; tuxedo attire through Leppell’s; dinner at a local Mexican restaurant; and local transportation to dinner and the prom. The total value of the package is estimated at about $650, according to the entry form.
Those entering must be between the ages of 16 and 25, and must have parental consent if under 18. The winner will be required to provide their own transportation to Forks, and accomodations.

There is a reasonable fee for each raffle entry.

‘Twilight’ effect on Forks going global

“Twilight” travelers from across the state, nation and globe are expected to arrive in the West End this summer.

Seattle-based representatives of Japanese tour companies Azumano International and H.I.S. toured Twilight sites in Forks and LaPush in January.

The Japanese-dubbed film version of the first book in the Twilight series was just released this month and a surge in interest from Japan in the West End is expected.

The tour companies are now looking to Twilight as an alternative to the popularity of Seattle and Mariners baseball star Ichiro.

Azumano is offering Twilight tours on Sunday only, with a four-person minimum, with stops along the now well-trod Forks Twilight route, and a meal at Bella Italia in Port Angeles.

Junglecity.com, a Seattle-based Japanese language Web site, has posted a lengthy, detailed Japanese language tour guide from Seattle to Forks with stops in between. Many Twilight sites in Forks are detailed with photos and Japanese text and Google.com maps for precise location directions, even to side streets in Forks.

Junglecity.com, a Seattle-based Japanese Web site offers detailed instructions in Japanese for visiting Twilight fans. The Japanese characters used to spell out "Forks" in Japanese are written in what's known as Katakana, a writing system that Japanese use to romanized words, using Japanese phonetics for English words...so Forks comes out as Fo-kusu.

Clipper Vacations has also launched a reasonably-priced Twilight tour, at the request of British Airways, to cater to British travelers. Pricing for the "Olympic Loop 'Twilight' tour featuring Forks & LaPush" begins at $130, double occupancy, per night. Overnight stops are at the Red Lion Inn in Port Angeles and the Kalaloch or Lake Quinault Lodge for the second night. Extra nights are available.

Jeannie Barresi of Beyond Boundaries travel  in Colorado has scheduled several specialty Twilight tours with stops in Forks and LaPush. Her company is a leading packager of Harry Potter-related tours out of the U.S. to Great  Britain. She expects a reversal, with overseas Twilight fans arriving here.
Last summer Barresi toured Forks with Diane Schostak, executive director of the Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission. In pre-planning for this summer’s Twilight tours she carefully looked over the town and various sites related to the Twilight books.

Her three major Twilight trips for the summer go to Volterra and Florence in Italy; to Forks out of a base in Portland for the “Vampire Baseball Adventure” at $1699 per person double occupancy, airfare not included with stays at the Oceanside Resort in LaPush; and a Twilight-themed “Passion for Fashion & Prom Party.”