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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Virginia Festival of the Book & Contest

So I've had the great fortune lately to attend a lot of events and meet a lot of authors, and each and every one has been amazing. Trouble is that, between features and events, I've gotten a little behind on posting, so my apologies for the fact that this post is extremely, obscenely late. The honest truth is that life went crazy for a bit and this post got lost in the shuffle. (I'm ashamed enough without you shaking your heads at me. Give a girl a break.)

On March 20, I drove the hour to Charlottesville for the Virginia Festival of the Book. I met James from Book Chic Club, my cohort in crime, at the Barnes & Noble there to kick off the day. Kim Harrison's signing was the first order of business.

Unlike James, who arrived early and had the chance to eat breakfast, I was late. When I did arrive I got the skinny from him. He explained that they were handing out numbered bracelets, and that there was a "paparazzi line" for photos. We waited in line and finally had the opportunity to meet Kim, who was extremely nice. She even signed a book for one of you lucky readers!

We left there and drove circles around the city for about 15-20 minutes before finding a parking spot. I paid for parking without a problem, but James and the electronic "Pay for Parking" machine had a slight disagreement. (It was operator error.)

Once James worked things out with the cranky yellow box holding his parking pass hostage, we began our search for the Omni Hotel. That took another 15 minutes because GPS lies, and we were late to meet Amy Brecount White (Forget-Her-Nots) and head to the first panel discussion we planned to attend. (Thank you yarn store ladies who pointed us in the right direction!) On arriving to the hotel, we went to every room on the first floor except the one that held that particular panel.

Upside: We knew the layout of the hotel like the back of our hand. Downside: We were even later now. We got there in time to grab a seat on the floor and hear a bit about children's publishing.

Still Amy-less and on the hunt for lunch, we snuck out of the panel just before it ended. That put us in front of the elevators just in time to cross paths with Jennifer Hubbard (The Secret Year), who ushered us out into the shopping district. We chatted with her as we walked her to a lunch get together then broke off to find sustenance for ourselves. We wound up at Five Guys because the local joint we hoped to eat at was super-busy.

Burgers, beverages and much witty book banter kept us busy during lunch. James flaunted his shiny ARC of Will Grayson, and I'll openly admit that I touched it. I'll say it loud and proud. I am a shiny object floozy.

After sufficient grease intake, we found our way back to the hotel a into a panel on worldbuilding where Suzanne Morgan William (Bull Rider), Keri Mikuski (Screwball), P.J. Hoover (Forgotten Worlds) and Barrie Summy (I So Don't Do Spooky) talked about how they go able creating a world readers can believe. Shortly after the panel got going, Amy appeared.

We talked for a bit about books and writing then James headed off to find the table where P.J. Hoover and Barrie Summy were signing while I went to the car to grab all the books I planned to get signed later in the day. I returned in time to find one unchaperoned boy blogger still gabbing with the girls. Apparently James had been talking about me because I was asked if I  was the other half of we.

I told them I was a blogger too and that blogging was how James and I knew each other. Naturally, this prompted Barrie to ask, "What's your blog?"

I had like 100 followers at the time and was more than sure my blog royally sucked. Embarrassed, I looked down and sort of ground my toe into the ground. Then half-muttered, "Wastepaper Prose."  The  reaction that followed nearly gave me a heart attack.

Barrie Summy, author of three middle grade books, reeled back in her chair and squealed! Over me! She cried, "I READ YOU!"

I almost died. All James said was, "See? I told you your blog didn't suck." Smart aleck.

Finally, it was time for Amy and Jennifer's panel on hot teen literature. Along with their fellow panelists, Paula Chase (Flipping the Script) and David McInnis Gill (Soul Enchilada), they read from their latest works, discussed their writing, and talked about young adult literature today. The panel was fantastic and afterwards all four authors signed books and we had the opportunity to talk with them for a while. All in all, it was a great day!



CONTEST
U.S. Only
Ends 5/29 at midnight EST.






I'm giving away a copy of Prom Nights from Hell, signed by Kim Harrison. This anthology also features stories by Meg Cabot, Stephenie Meyer, Lauren Myracle and others. You must be a blog follower to enter. Here's how you rack up entries...

Extra Entries
+3 Blog Follower
+1 Comment on this post
+2 Add Wastepaper Prose to your blog roll
+2 Tweet or link to this contest
(Twitter, sidebar, facebook, etc. Max 2 links.)


29 comments:

  1. Still haven't read this...

    Follower +3
    Comment! +1
    Tweet +2 http://twitter.com/TeenageBkLvr/status/14332120158

    Alex

    alexreadsbooks at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds awesome! I love author signings/panels.

    +1 comment
    +3 follower

    Travis
    spongyman1026@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. +3 Blog Follower
    +1 Great Giveaway! I didn’t hear about Virginia Festival of the Book but it sounded (and looked) like a lot of fun!
    +2 blog roll
    +2 Tweet http://twitter.com/KailiaSage/status/14332422096

    my e-mail is on my profile!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love going to author signings! You find out such great information and get to meet the person who created the story and other fans. Great stuff!

    I follow
    I am commenting
    I tweeted http://twitter.com/cari_tx/statuses/14342732117

    cariblogs(at)gmail)dot+com

    ReplyDelete
  5. That must be totally awesome and even more awesome since you know that authors read your blog :D I wonder if I should join this contest but I figure I won't because it's late and I feel like eh so I won't. Also you know James? Wow! That must be nice, I remember reading his blog but then lost the link so xD Couldn't read his reviews. Also your blog does not suck it's very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd love this. Thanks for the giveaway!


    +3 follower
    +1 comment

    4 total

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like you had a great time. I've never been to any kind of author event, so I'm very envious of you. I've always wondered if you brought your own books to these things or if you bought them there. I would love to win this book, so please enter me.

    +1 Comment
    +3 Blog follower on Google

    seriousreader at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi
    WOULD LOVE TO WIN THIS

    Im a blog follower, Twitter i posted and now im commenting. So my total is
    6 entries

    http://twilightsdance.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  9. And now, not just Barrie reads your blog :)
    It was so great meeting you in VA! Hopefully we'll see each other next week in NY???

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes! I've been wanting to read this book! What's better than a book written by a bunch of your favorite authors? Thanks for the opportunity!

    +3 Follower
    +1 Comment

    Sophia Lee
    mashimaro401[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Looks like fun! Don't enter me in the contest I have the book.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sorry but I forgot to put in my extra entry as a blog follower and my email address:
    thebooksophisticate@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. YAY!! I finally get to read your take on that day! And the pictures turned out well- I did a good job taking them (aside from the last one since I'm in it, lol)! :D

    And yes, I'm quite the smart aleck. Get used to it.

    I also can't wait for Barrie's comment when she will deny having squealed when she found out who you were, hehe.

    gabrywrites- Aww that's sweet! Now you have my link again! Hope you still enjoy reading my reviews! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for this!!

    +3 Follower
    +1 I am commenting right now

    Rica

    xoxo4rica@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I've been wanting to read this book so badly! Thanks for having the contest :)

    +3 follower
    +1 comment
    +2 tweet: http://twitter.com/twiflowers/status/14391124884

    -Brittany
    randomlybrittany(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like an interesting concept.

    Blog Follower +3
    Comment! +1

    kzupancic[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  17. +3 Blog Follower

    +1 Sounds like you had a good time, too.

    +2 Blog roll (http://ainesrealm.blogspot.com)

    +2 Tweet (http://twitter.com/AineFey/status/14396099601)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Please enter me!!
    +3 Blog Follower
    +1 Comment on this post
    chickenherder@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've never heard of this book. I would love to read it.

    +3-Follower
    +1-Commented
    +2-Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Emma015/statuses/14428976655

    ReplyDelete
  20. OOOO this sounds good!!
    +3 I am a follower
    +1 comment
    +2 I tweeted http://twitter.com/bangersis/status/14444086489
    Thanks!!
    bangersis(at)msn(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. oh count me in i'm a follower

    meandi09@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great post!

    +3 Blog Follower
    +1 Comment on this post
    +2 blog roll:
    http://throuthehaze-reads.blogspot.com

    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. +3 I'm a follower, these are some good authors! Sounds good! tWarner419@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for the giveaway!
    +3 Blog Follower
    +1 Comment on this post
    dukesangel002(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Great post BTW, made me chuckle!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'd love to win a copy! I love Kim Harrison's YA Madison Avery series, and I'd love to have a copy of the prequel.

    +3 Follower
    +1 Comment

    Sara M
    sara_UFblog [at] yahoo [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I almost picked this up the other day, but ya know...sigh. I just love Harrison's writing! Read some of her books under Dawn Cook too, back in the day.

    +3 GFC follower
    +1 comment
    +2 tweeted
    http://twitter.com/suan_tian/status/14861650666

    patronus89013 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I would love the chance to win this book. I have really been wanting to read it. :D

    +3 Follower
    +1 Comment
    +2 Sidebar: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/
    +2 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/thebookpixie/statuses/14866425072

    ~Briana
    thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I would love to win this!

    +3 blog follower
    +1 comment

    Skk25@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I wish they had a regular festival like that here in the mid-west. You would think Chicago would be a great place. Looks like you had a blast. I'm a HUGE Kim Harrison fan, but I haven't gotten to the short stories. I'd love to read this.

    +3 for follower
    +1 for comment
    +2 for tweeting - http://twitter.com/Heatwave316/status/14943155902

    heatwave96(at)hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete