Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Vegas Valley Book Festival + a Giveaway!

     (Warning: This post is fairly long so I hope I don't bore you). On Saturday, November 2nd, I went to the Vegas Valley Book Festival! I don't remember how I heard about it because it was all the way back in May I think, but I knew I had to go! (Luckily my in-laws live in Vegas so it wasn't that hard to persuade the Hubs hehe). Off we left at 5:30 in the morning to get there early. I met up with my friend, Steph (thank goodness for her) and we got there early at 10am. We walked around for a bit, but I made sure we went to the B&N tent to buy an early copy of Crash Into You by Katie McGarry, plus The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Let me tell you, the cover is so pretty and I love that it is bright red! While we were in line, I bumped into my blogger friends Charlene and Paola! (Charlene has a recap also if you want to read her POV). It was great to see them and chat for a while.
     Now it was time for us to go sit at one of the panels. There were two panels in two tents at every hour. While I really wanted to sit at Tent 2: Secrets, Serial Killers and Surprise Endings to see Kate Brian and Jennifer Lynn Barnes, I couldn't because Steph wanted to see the other Tent. This panel was called Around the World in 80 Myths with Tera Lynn Childs, Alyson Noel, Josephine Angelini, Colleen Houck, Ingrid Paulson, Brodi Ashton, and Tracy Deebs.
     I did not take notes this time so I apologize for not getting the questions and answers at the panels. They were a great bunch of ladies. They were hilarious, arguing which book boyfriend was hot in their opinion. Then they would say that the boys they wrote are pretty steamy too! Next we went the panel: Classical Remix with Stacey Jay, Eileen Cook, Claire LaZebnik, Mary Lindsey, Gena Showalter, Vivi Barnes, and Anita Howard! I was really excited for this event because Anita and Gena are some of my favorite authors!!! They were really great. I believe this was my favorite panel to go to. Although I didn't know Vivi Barnes and Eileen Cook, they were absolutely hilarious! This panel was just plain goofy but in a good way lol. One of the questions asked was:
What was the last book that made you cry?
I wanted to hug Stacey Jay because she said A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness really made her cry. She said as soon as she finished that book, she got her kids and just hugged them. Stacey even got teary eyed on stage! Poor thing. Vivi Barnes' answer was the sixth Harry Potter book lol!
     The next panel we saw was: The Language of Love panel with Amy Plum, Lauren Morrill, Kim Culbertson, Katie McGarry, Stephanie Strohm, Terra Elan McVoy, Robin Mellom, Jennifer E. Smith, and Leila Howland. The first question that was asked was:
What is one thing that you love?
 Kim Culbertson said she loves her students because that is what inspires her to write her books. Katie McGarry's answer was the sweetest! She said she loves her husband (he was there in the audience), because he puts up with her writing and loves her no matter what. Amy Plum said she loves Paris. Wherever she's at, since she was younger, she has always had a place in her heart for Paris. She fell in love with it so much that she moved there about 15 years ago. After, someone asked Jennifer Smith if she has found love in an airport. She laughed, saying no. The closest thing she's come close to love at an airport was talking with an 82 year old man about life lessons and love. Ha! Lauren Morrill then said she sat next to a really hot Chilean man on a flight and he kept flirting with her. She told him she was engaged and he told her that when she gets tired of him, come find him. Everyone in the audience said "Oooooo!" Lauren still likes to tease her now husband about it haha.
    
 
Steph and I needed a break, so we did not stay for the next panel. I did however get an awesome shot of Kasie West!!!
 
After we ate, we went to the panel: Resurrecting the Future with Alexandra Bracken, Kimberly Derting, Anna Carey, Chris Howard, Karri Thompson, and Lydia Kang. I don't remember much, (sorry guys). I just remember Anna Carey saying she loves bacon. Give her anything with bacon and she will eat it. They were an awesome panel because I was idolizing Alex, Kimberly, and Anna lol! I also can't wait to read Lydia Kang's book Control when it releases later this year.

     Finally it was time for the signing! All of Tent 1 authors got to sign first at 4:15. Steph and I made our rounds. Thank God I had my suitcase because I would have died carrying all those books haha. At first, I was worried that I would not be able to get ALL my books signed since I had so many, but the lines for each author were short! It was very pleasant and casual that we did not have to rush to get our books signed. Tent 1, I got my books signed by Tera Lynn Childs, Rachel Caine, Emily McKay, Gena Showalter, Mary Lindsey, Colleen Houck, Josephine Angelini, and Anita Howard. They were all super nice, especially Mary and Anita! Mary and I spoke about the weather of all things lol. Yup I'm not a good conversationalist haha, but hey she was great about it. Although I did not speak with Anita much, she is one of the kindest, most down to earth person you will ever meet. I'm so bummed I didn't get a picture with her though. Oh by the way, Steph made both of us these awesome t-shirts and they were a hit! Almost all the authors loved them and said our shirts rocked! Here is a picture of the shirt because silly me, I forgot to take a picture with it on...oops.
     Next at 5:15pm, all the authors from Tent 2 signed our books. I got my books signed by Rachel Harris, Jennifer Smith, Amy Plum, Kasie West, Kate Brian, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Tamara Ireland Stone, Anna Carey, Alex Bracken, Kimberly Derting and Katie McGarry. When I went up to Jennifer Smith she asked if my suitcase was filled with just books? I told her yes, and she said that was awesome! I headed over to Kasie West's line waiting because her line was a little long. She asked if she knew us because she feels she should know everyone from online hehe. I told her no, but that she knows my friend Cee! As soon as I said her name, Kasie knew who she was and told me they took photo booth pictures together! (So there you go Cee, she said hi back at ya!) After, I went to Tamara I. Stone. I told her that I was the first person to show a picture of her book online. She asked for my Twitter name and she remembered!!! I was squealing with delight that she remembered! Eventually, I made my way over to Katie and I was fangirling as usual. She is also one of the nicest people I have ever met! I told her she is one of my favorite authors and that Pushing the Limits was my favorite book this year. She thanked me and told me that while she loves Noah, Isaiah has a very special place in her heart. Now I am all the more excited to read Crash Into You!!!
 From left: Anna Carey, Josephine Angelini, Gretchen McNeil, Alex Bracken
 
Katie McGarry and I
 
My stacks of books I got signed!
 

     So there you have it! I had the time of my life with such amazing people. I can't wait to go again next year and you should too! To end my recap with a big bang, I am giving away a signed Hardcover of Crash Into You by Katie McGarry. It was the most anticipated book I wanted at the book fest, and now I am sharing it with you too! By now you should know the rules, but here they are just in case:
No CHEATING! I check for cheating guys and if I catch you, I will eliminate you automatically. This is a US giveaway only (I'm sorry I cannot mail outside the US). You must be 13 years of age or older. I am not responsible for lost or stolen items. Once it has left my hands I cannot replace it, I'm sorry. Once a winner has been chosen, he/she has 48 hours to claim their prize. If no one contacts me, I will have to pick another winner.
Thank you reading my recap, I hope you enjoyed it! Good luck and as Meredith says on her blog, May the odds be ever in your favor!
 






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20 comments:

  1. I would draw the cover - anime style! I haven't been drawing so much, okay, correction, I haven't drew anything for six years and I kind of miss doing that. :l
    Thanks for the giveaway Stacie & don't worry, I don't take notes at authors events either. I just memorize the interesting bits to write into my post. ;D

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    1. That's so cool! I wish I knew how to draw!!! I would be lucky enough to draw some straight stick figures lol. Thanks for commenting Kelly! <3

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  2. This book is AMAZING! My favorite so far! But seeing as I read an e-galley of it, I have yet to see one in real life!

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    1. I'm halfway through it and loving it too! Isaiah is one hot stud lol! Thank you for commenting!

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  3. Great recap Stacie! I am sad to read that the Myths panel was so funny as I would have liked to go to that one. It's so sad they had such great panels and I couldn't be in two places at once! :) I love that bibliophile shirt too! Great pictures and a great giveaway! Until we meet again at another book signing! :D

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  4. I'm so glad you were able to go and have a great time!! It seemed awesome and it's so cool how you got to meet all those amazing authors!! Don't feel bad about fangirling, at least you were able to talk to them! If it was me, I'd just be standing there trembling from the excitement! Love your recap! Very nice and detailed, almost like I was an invisible ghost following you through the whole thing (as creepy as that sounds!) And I am also SO glad you got a picture of yourself with Katie McGarry! She's like one of the most amazing people ever. And if you didn't get a picture with her I was gonna be so mad at you ;P (kidding!) Great pictures, so glad you got all your books signed, and just an all around awesome recap!!

    Thanks for the giveaway!! <3 *crosses fingers*

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  5. And to answer your question, I already have an ARC of Crash Into You from our lovely friend Meredith! But if I didn't I would probably save up some money, find out where you or M live since you both have copies of CIY, hitch a plane ride to your city, find out where you live, and in the dead of night like a total creepy stalker person I would slip into your house, steal the book, and run away flailing. Probably not the nicest or most noncreepy thing I could've done but CIY is so worth the potential restraining order and arrest ;)

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    1. Lol oh my gosh Kayla you are too funny!!! I was laughing hysterically when I first read this and my hubs was looking at me like I was a psycho hahaha. Thanks for writing such a sweet comment, I really appreciate it! I had so much fun. I just wish I got a couple more pictures with some authors =(

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  6. I would open the pages and take a big whiff. haha

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  7. Thanks for the giveaway!!!

    Probably, I kissed my mailman LOL

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  8. Nice recap! I'm glad that you had a great time =) What would I do to have CIY right now? Anything, you name it and consider it done. Deal? ;)

    Thanks for the giveaway.

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    1. Lol good one! Thank you for commenting and entering! =)

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  9. Unfortunately, you're the only person that I know for a fact has a copy of Crash Into You, so you would be my primary target. I would have already used every ounce of cunning I have on the internet to locate where exactly you live. And, as I'm at school without my car and have very low funds, I would have to pack a simple bag of necessities and start my trek to your place of residence. At the point where I reach your home city, I would be dressed in all black--leather jacket, skinny jeans, boots--in order to fit the part of intense sneak thief, as well as to give myself a boost of confidence (who wouldn't feel hardcore in that outfit?). I would spend a couple of days watching your habits, creating a timetable of when you are in and out of your home, and also to get a layout of your home and where you keep your prized possessions--your books. I would also note the lengths of time when you are absent, which allows me to find the perfect time frame in which to break into your house unawares. I would slip inside undetected and remove said book from your home, leaving a simple slip of paper which reads, "I had to do this, please forgive me," after which I would leave and return home the same way in which I came--silently. Once you made it back to your home, you would find the note and realize the book I took and you would ultimately compare my immense stealthy skill to that of Celaena Sardothien from Throne of Glass. Though I would be long gone by that time, I would let a sly and knowing smile slip across my face and in that moment, I would take pride in my hard won success.

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  10. Also, can I just say that shirt is seriously PERFECTION. And I am INSANELY JEALOUS at all the AMAZING authors you've met! But I am SUPER grateful for your recap, so that I can implant myself at the event within the realms of my own imagination:) Keep being AWESOME!

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    1. Aww thank you so much for the sweet comment Danica! Can I just say you would make an awesome writer?! Seriously! I was reading your comment and I literally couldn't keep my eyes off the screen. You really know how to capture someone's attention. Thank you for commenting again! =)

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    2. OH my goodness, THANK YOU SO INCREDIBLY MUCH! That is probably the BIGGEST compliment I've EVER received, you are the BEST! And I was thrilled to comment, you made it so much fun with the prompt!

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  11. That's awesome you got to go and get all of those books signed! You're so lucky! And this is an awesome Giveaway! Unfortunately, I have no creativity! But I really would love that copy of Crash Into You!

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    1. Lol that's ok I'm not creative myself hahaha. Thank you for commenting at least! =)

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  12. I would find where Katie McGarry is, hop an a plane, and then beg her to give me a copy. Or an easier way, I could sneak into my friend's house, steal her ARC, and then run away. ;)
    I'm jealous you got to go to the Vegas Valley Book Festival though! That is so awesome. I would explode with all of my fangirl feels if I went to something like that. All the amazing authors!

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  13. I am so not creative when it comes to this kind of stuff. So I guess the only answer I could give you would have to be wish on star (old school) and see what happens.

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