Despite heavy rain, more than 500 fans from as far as New Jersey came out on Tuesday, Nov. 12 to meet R & B recording artist Ashanti during a meet and greet at Borders Books and Music in Westbury. The 21-year-old singer/songwriter/actress autographed copies of her new book, Foolish/Unfoolish - Reflections on Love, released this month.

In April, Ashanti released her self-titled album on Murder Inc., a division of Def Jam Records. She is best known for her songs Happy, Foolish and Always on Time, a single she did with JaRule. In addition to writing many of her own songs, Ashanti has written for other singers, including Jennifer Lopez.

Ashanti hails originally from Glen Cove and is a 1998 graduate of Glen Cove High School.