Monday, August 5, 2013

Summer of YA Author Event +Giveaway!

Hi! You might want to know I have been an avid reader for quite a few years now. While reading and looking up information on a certain author, I found about the world of Author Events! (I know I'm a little late on the band wagon lol). So this year I have started going to different author events and getting my many books signed by them.

As I was saying, a couple of weeks ago was another event but this one was totally different. Instead of the usual author sitting down, we sit on other side, author talks about book then signs our books, this was a "speed dating" event! At each table sat 2 or 3 authors, and we, the book fanatics got to talk to them one on one individually about ANYTHING! Even though I enjoy getting my books signed, I am an extremely shy person. I thought I was going to have a panic attack just reading about it! So I put my big pants on, sucked it up and just went with it. Let me tell you this event was so much fun!!! I had a blast, plus I didn't faint or panic haha!
In spite of my shyness I was able to talk with a couple of authors about a few things. Luckily, my hubby was there to back me up and even he got into the spirit of things. While there, I  got to meet a few of my favorite authors: Jessica Brody, Lissa Price, Stacey Jay, and Gretchen McNeil. It was so sweet getting to know Jessica a bit more! We spoke about book to movie adaptations, if we like them or not. I told her that I kept my opinions open because the movie is not always going to depict what the book had. She agreed with me, and we also agreed that one of our favorite movie adaptations was  Breaking Dawn's 1 and 2! She then told me she was reading City of Bones for the first time to prepare for the movie later this month, and she loves it! I thanked Jessica for signing my book, then I asked if I could take a picture with her. As we took the picture she remarked how my wristband is purple like my glasses. I told her it was my favorite color and she said hers too! She is the nicest person/author I have ever met!

After Jessica, I moved onto the next table with awesome authors Lissa Price, Allen Zadoff, and Andrew Smith. I did not speak with them much, but they were pretty cool for signing my books and giving me extra swag. The next table I moved onto was Stacey Jay and Gretchen McNeil. We hit it off right away because I was the third Stacie at the event! (All with different variations of the spelling of course). She said that we, Stac(ie)'s rule and were taking over the event!!! That was so awesome to hear that from her! I know I'm fangirling here lol. Stacey then asked if I liked my name Stacie, if I could have another name instead. I told her no because Stacie is short for my real name Anastasia. Anastasia is a little too long for my liking to use on a regular basis. Stacey said she wished her mom gave her another name because to her, Stacey sounds to girlish. She wished she had a more mature name such as Eleanor or Margaret. Gretchen was listening in and said that her Mother and Grandmother's (I think) name are Eleanor and Margaret! What a coincidence haha! It's okay though, if you are reading this out there somewhere Stacey, you totally ROCK that name hehe. I got my books signed by them, thanked them, and got my picture taken with them. (It would have been a perfect day if my cough *hubby* cough didn't take a blurry picture of Stacey).
I did not get to meet the other authors as I had other arrangements, though I still had a blast going to this event. I had my doubts going into this, but this turned out to be one of my favorite book events ever! I really hope that bookstores and authors do more speed dating events. They're fun with a less formal atmosphere. Here are some pictures I took with the coolest authors. I know the picture of Stacey Jay doesn't do it justice, but she's so pretty I had to put it up!


Ok now to the good stuff. Since this is my second month blogging, I would like to show my appreciation by hosting my first ever giveaway! Below, I will be giving away a signed copy of Unremembered by Jessica Brody and a signed copy of Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay, with lots of bookmarks from the other authors that were there. Here are a couple pictures.

You must be 13 years old to enter
U.S. Giveaway only...Sorry!
Winner has 48 hours to claim prize
Goodluck!






a Rafflecopter giveaway

9 comments:

  1. I apologize to the people who commented on here already and it got erased. I changed my settings and it deleted the comments in the process. Don't worry, your point still counted. :D

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  2. I like book to movie adaptations sometimes, just because it can be exciting to see a book you love depicted in another medium, but often I end up bugged by characters not matching the picture in my head or the movie editing out aspects of the book that I thought were important to the plot. So they need to have the casting be great and have the director stick fairly close to the book.
    As for another name, I've always wished my name was the name my mother wanted for me, Catherine. Christine doesn't have the best nickname options (I'm NOT a Chrissy or Christy, and Chris is too often confused as a boy's name), so it would be awesome to be able to go by Cate or Cat or something of the sort :)

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    1. Yup I pretty much agree with you about movie adaptations. I like to keep an open mind just as long as the movie doesn't get totally botched like My Sisters Keeper. That movie was ruined! Thanks for entering my first giveaway!!!

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  3. Some book to movie adaptations are good. Just depends on how much they cut out or change.

    I'd love to change my name to one of my character's name, Eliana. I suppose that's why I chose the name, because I loved it so much and wished it was mine.

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

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    1. Love the name Eliana. My little cousin's name is Eliana too! Thanks for entering my first giveaway!!!

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  4. I love book to movie adaptations. Even if they're a let down, I love seeing the characters come to life. Hmmm... I love my name so much, I don't know if I'd want to change it! I always liked the name Juliette though.

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    1. Your name is pretty. It's not that common. I only knew one Krystianna when I was a kid, but she spelled it differently. Thanks for entering my first giveaway!

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  5. I love when books are made into movies. It makes want to read the book if I haven't already. Maybe go by my middle name instead of my first..

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  6. Thank you for entering my first giveaway!

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