Decatur Book Festival 2011!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011       •       56 Comments

I am a big fan of festivals! And if I could I’d go to every single one, but FORTUNATELY for me, one of the biggest and best book festivals is right here in my own back yard.

Last year we had such a blast meeting all the authors, listening in on some great panels, getting some thrilling reads signed that I just can’t help but share some on those moments with you. Right now….

Photo flashback commences now:

Can you guess who’s who? Some of my favorite guests last year were Cassandra Clare, Jackson Pearce (as Magnus Bane), Kirsten Miller, Kathleen Duey, Robin Benway, Alyxandra HArvey, Cinda Williams Chima, and David Levithan! And that was just the young adult!

I’ve gone to the past two or so years and each year it gets bigger and better and this year’s will be phenomenal. I’ve already got wind of some awesome people coming and can’t wait to hear the whole line up!

So the Decatur Book Festival organizers are throwing a contest for the launch party of this year’s festival and I’d love to be there to get all the scoop and report back! Wouldn’t you want the scoop here first? Want to know who all the YA authors will be at this year’s festival?

So leave me a comment… tell me which YA author you’d like to see at this year’s DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL!

If I get chosen to be at this launch party I’ll pick a lucky commenter (international) and send you a surprise!

WINNER IS:

KAI A

Email me at vlcphotoproductions[at]gmail.com to claim your prize!

BEA Day #3: Photo Essay (again!)

Saturday, June 4, 2011       •       2 Comments

Last year’s BEA was two days. They were all jam packed both days with books flying everywhere and signings every hour. This year was a lot more laid back and I was able to meet a lot of people. But Thursday, the last day, was a bit strange. Once noon rolled around things just died. (Was I the only one to notice?) Considering the day didn’t end till 3:00 we were left a bit to wander around. Thursday was still a great day and below you can see all the awesome we were still able to experience even for a short day.

First up, Maureen Johnson signing. She was SO cool! And now she’s touring and will be in Atlanta on June 12th. (COME COME!)

I am SO excited for this BOOK!

Then I secretly stalked Kody Keplinger! Who is SUCH a doll, guys! And whose book trailer I’ll be doing in the upcoming months! YAY SHUT OUT!

I saw TONY HAWK! Holy moly, YES,I did!

I saw my buddy Melissa Marr. Whose hair I covet so hard! She signed GRAVEMINDER (one of my fave books, ever! No lie!) the day before and here she was signing finished copies of DARKEST MERCY (one of my fave books and series!)

As I was leaving, I decided to say hello to Hyperion. The adult imprint that I kinda worked with for Melissa de la Cruz’s trailer for WITCHES OF EAST END and to my surprise….

*dies*

During my three days at BEA I got to meet so many people and here’s a quick rundown of the cool people!

Some of my fave people at Simon & Schuster!

Yup! Flava Flav!

Laurie Halse Anderson, y’all! EEK!

I met Aimee Friedman at Scholastic party (coming soon!)! I adore her!

BEA Day #2: Photo Essay

Wednesday, June 1, 2011       •       2 Comments

Starting off Wednesday’s BEA madness was the cover reveal for Cassandra Clare’s CLOCKWORK PRINCE. Simon & Schuster gave out T-shirts and chapter samplers as you walked by and checked out the GORGEOUS cover. And perhaps got your picture taken with Will! Hello, handsome! And isn’t Jem oh so beautiful?

Later I got to check out Kristi, The Story Siren’s Q&A with my buddy Michelle Hodkin where they discussed THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER and what inspired it!

BEA is madness at times and Wednesday was one of those jam packed days filled with signings and awesome books!

I got to get CROSSED by Ally Condie signed and get to see her again. If you haven’t read this series yet, get on it! Truly amazing!

I got the much coveted and super exciting DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE and got it signed by Laini Taylor who is ADORABLE!

I got to grab a BEAUTIFUL CREATURES T-shirt at the Little Brown Booth…

Snatch a copy of Marie Lu’s LEGEND! (Looks SO good!)

And although my day ended at BEA it wasn’t over yet since I trecked over to Soho (love that area!) and got a chance to sit on a panel Q&A with Ally Carter and Melissa de la Cruz as they talked awesome books (Melissa admires JK Rowling and Ally loves Holly Black), writing (do they get confused as they write multiple books), fave book to write (Blue Bloods & whichever isn’t on deadline) and much more. Amy Wilkinson from MTV’s Hollywood Crush blog moderated and it was such a good time!

Wednesday was done for as I headed back to hotel room and crashed SO hard!

Come back tomorrow to learn what happened Thursday and what cool cats I met while at BEA & NYC!

BEA Day #1 : YA Buzz Panel

Wednesday, June 1, 2011       •       1 Comment

Walking into a crowded room full of individuals already buzzing about books is a sight to behold. I snatched a seat in the front (right behind buddy Michelle Hodkin) and sat back to hear all about what these editors were most excited about in the Fall.

First up was Alvina Ling, who couldn’t stop gushing about DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor. Now, I’ve read Laini’s work before so was not surprised that Alvina and Little Brown would be so excited, but after hearing Alvina, the editor for the book, talk so passionately about DoSaB I couldn’t help but get even more thrilled at the prospect of reading this book!

The selling point was when Ling compared the book to GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO and “If Neil Gaiman, Charles de Lint and Holly Black had a sexy European baby!” HELL YES! Pass me the book!

Ling went on to rave and gush and through it all you were left salivating wondering who is Karu and what the teeth for? Teeth? Yes, teeth. And with a cover like this and a book full of mystery and European charm and magic I am betting this book will be a big hit when it hits shelves September 27!

Erica Sussman editor of THE CARRIER OF THE MARK from Harper Collins was another intriguing book at the panel. Considering this book was already a major hit on InkPop, Harper Collins’ fiction writing community, I was super eager to hear more about it. With mystery boys, magic, Ireland and intriguing connections between characters this book sounded great. But when editor, Erica Sussman mentioned there’s “marked ones” who hold the power of one of the Earth elements and when these marked ones are really together it means danger for mankind…. I was sold! And it was no surprise that many agreed since the line to her autographing session was packed early! This book will be worth the wait!

Editor Margaret Raymo of Houghton Mifflin introduced us to AU REVOIR CRAZY EUROPEAN CHICK which was described as  ”GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO meets Ferris Bueller with a dash of John Green.”  This small book that the editor described as fun having over the top action and romance with a girl assassin too boot is sure to be a hit not just with girls looking for tough female heroines but guys who’ll devour the action!

Having read THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin I was only able to listen closely to what her editor Courtney Bongiolatti had to say about this fantastic book. To be honest I was too captivated to take notes on this section of the panel but words like “twisted,” “sexy” and “mysterious” stood out. This book will have you guessing and wondering what happened to the main character Mara, who wakes up after a coma with her friends dead. The end… well, let’s just say you won’t see ANYTHING coming. A true page turner and a truly  unique book worth picking up this September 27th from Simon & Schuster.

Editor Susan Chang sang praises for Bill Willingham’s DOWN THE MYSTERLY RIVER. This sounds like a unique book, an adventure filled with talking animals where the characters have to flee from hunters who can change their essence. Yup, you read right. Changing shapes.Adventure. A unique fantasy tale coming to shelves near you from Tor this Fall, September 13!

Overall, this was a fantastic panel that did wonders to wet my (as well as everyone in attandance) appetite. I can’t wait to read all of those but my question is, what are you most looking forward to this Fall?