This picture was taken in front of Blue Bicycle Books.
Last year I told you how I totally fangirled and geeked out because I sat right behind Kami Garcia, co-author of Beautiful Creatures.
This year I tried to play it a little more cool… I did my best before we left to convince myself that the authors that I deem as total rock stars are in fact normal people. This actually paid off!!! When I was in line for the bathroom at one point Stephanie Perkins got in line behind me.
In my mind I’m chanting: Don’t be a dork, say something, DON’T BE A DORK!
So, I told Stephanie that I was a big fan of her books. A short conversation flowed after, and amazingly I don’t think I came of as crazy at all:) Who knew standing in line at the bathroom could be a highlight during a trip?!?!
Some of the panels I went to:
YA Girl Band:
Elizabeth Eulberg (The Lonely Hearts Club), Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss), Alyson Noel (Immortals Series), Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry), Jenny Han (The Summer I Turned Pretty), Kathryn Williams (The Lost Summer)
I have never read anything by Simone Elkeles. While I was in this panel she was so hilarious I am desperate to read her work now.
Fairytales & Fearytales:
Moderator: Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth), Gitty Daneshvari (School of Fear), Adam Gidwitz (A Tale Dark and Grimm), Holly Black (Spiderwick Chronicles)
This ended up being one of my favorite panels. The authors ended up telling some of the original Grimm tales that influenced their work. I loved listening to them tell some of the original stories.
In Production:
Moderator: Robin Wasserman (Seven Deadly Sins series), Cassandra Clare (City of Bones), Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures)
This panel was so cool! I got to listen to the authors talk all about their experience in having their book made into a movie. We also got to see some exclusive footage that will not be shown anywhere else. So awesome!!!
This was the best!
I know that for a lot of us the only time we get to talk books is online. I actually got to meet one of my bloggy friends in person at YALLFEST.
I was SO EXCITED to meet Ashley from Into the Hall of Books! Richie (my husband) and I had a great time hanging out with Ashley and her husband. It was undoubtedly the biggest highlight of my trip:)
Swag!
While at YALLFEST I acquired a small amount of swag. One of the items being a Beautiful Creatures movie poster signed by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.
GIVEAWAY!!!
Beautiful Creatures movie poster signed by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. And a few other goodies thrown in.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This sounds like such a fun event. In my mind its always hard to talk to authors even though I have had the conversation in my head that they are just like us. I am always worried I will say the dumbest thing LOL
ReplyDeleteOH YAYYYY!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I'm still waiting for Mike to email me the other half of our pictures - he took some on his phone but he keeps forgetting to email them to me. YAY for being a fun part of the trip! I was thinking earlier that it was so awesome to meet you guys in person and it is such a shame that it would take an Act of Congress (not really, but you know what I mean) to meet up again. But still, it was the highlight of my trip as well.
I would never be able to talk myself down from being a dork. I failed bigtime when David Levithan walked into that doughnut shop and I couldn't swallow my mouthful of doughnut. Starstruck Asheley. And oh my gracious, Ellen Hopkins. I don't even know what to say.
I can't wait for next year, already.
I'm excited for next year too!
DeleteWow! I would have flipped out if I met Stephanie Perkins and Jenny Han. Looks like you had a blast!
ReplyDeleteI would love to meet JK Rowling! But I don't think I'll manage to get a few words out to her. Sarah Rees Brennan is another. She's really mental, and I love her for that!
ReplyDeleteHolly black
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway. Sounds like you had fun :) I'd probably pick Kim Harrison
ReplyDeleteThis looks like it was so much fun! I would love to talk with Anne Rice. Thanks for the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a great time! Wish I could have gone!
ReplyDeleteOh me too!
DeleteI'd love to have a conversation with Holly Black! She was one of my favorite authors / inspirations when I was in middle school. When I wrote her a fan letter she wrote back a sweet, handwritten response. Now that I'm older and on the way to getting my degree in creative writing, I'd love to thank her for inspiring me!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Danielle
http://thereaderscommute.blogspot.com