The second day of Anderson’s YA Lit Conference was called Fandom Frenzy. It was a lot more high energy – with quick and fun games and author speed dating. While the first day was geared toward teachers and librarians (you can read my recaps here and here), the second day was geared toward the YA readers themselves.
As a fun bonus, on this second day I got to hang out with some other bloggers, including Brittany from The Book Addict’s Guide and Raychelle from Steele Reviews (and her OTSP Secret Sister, whose blog I can’t name because Raychelle still doesn’t know what it is – I’m impressed that Elizabeth could meet her sis in person and still remain a secret!). Plus, I got to see Jessica from A Great Read and Kelly from This Wacky Momma Reads – sorry we didn’t get to hang out more!
Day 2: Fandom Frenzy
The best thing about the Fandom Frenzy day (for me) was the fact that I got to sit at Josephine Angelini’s table. My son would have preferred Dashner’s table, of course, but it was already filled, (along with Leigh Bardugo’s), even though we got there pretty early. That was okay with me, though. I absolutely adored Trial By Fire and was waiting to buy Firewalker at this conference. I’d say Angelini was the author I was most looking forward to meeting, so I was excited to see that there were spots at her table. And I’m happy to say that meeting her lived up to my expectations – she was fun and gracious and eager to chat with us about her books and her writing.
Here are a few things I learned about Josephine:
- She’s moving in a few weeks and their biggest challenge is disassembling and moving her wall-to-wall bookcase.
- She wanted to name the Worldwalker books Crucible, Cauldron and Pyre, but the publishing people weren’t fans. The third book is now going to be called Witch’s Pyre (it was previously going to be called Traitor’s Pyre), but the title change isn’t due to any story changes.
- When she submitted the trilogy to the publisher, she had a first book, a solid outline for the second book and a sentence about third basically saying that good stuff would happen. 🙂
A few other interesting details about the day:
- Morgan Rhodes said that the reason they redesigned the cover for A Book of Spirits and Thieves (changed from the ARC) is because Barnes and Noble wanted it to match the covers for the Falling Kingdoms series more. She thinks the new cover is pretty and all, but the main character (Crys) doesn’t ride a horse in the book!
- Carrie Ryan’s fondest wish would be to get a group of YA authors together and get them cameos in the Forest of Hands and Teeth movie as zombies! (Come on, movie producers – you know you want to let her do it!)
- As I already mentioned yesterday, James Dashner is awesome with his young fans (check out yesterday’s post for a pic) – he made my son feel special, and now Jaden is super excited to read Dashner’s other books. He’s already finished reading The Eye of Minds and almost done with The Rule of Thoughts, and he’s been loving them. He’s been talking about them constantly and told me he’s going to write me a fifty page review for all of Dashner’s books. 🙂
- Leila Sales pronounces her name “Lila” – never would have guessed that!
The Books
Most of these I bought at the conference, but a few are copies I already had that I just got signed there. I also got all the Dashner books signed for my son – you can see a pic of those in yesterday’s post. Yay for signed books!!
Follow the Rafflecopter instructions below to win a signed hardcover of Firewalker by Josephine Angelini!!
I’ve gone to many signings. My favorite was Michael Grant because it was really small and we basically just hung out and chatted!
A really small signing would be a great way to meet an author!
About 5 years ago I went to the Romance Writers Conference that was held in Dallas that year, and we live in New Orleans, so it was close enough to drive. My daughter and I went for the whole week and we had a major good time. I would love to go again.
Was it RT? I went to RT this year and I loved it!
Yes, it was the RT convention held in Dallas and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Everyone was so nice and we left there with so many free books and swag.
I’ve never been to a book event but I love reading & seeing pictures when y’all go to them.
I love seeing people’s recaps of events too. If I could go to them all, I would!!
What an awesome event!! I really wanted to go to YALLFest next month, but I ended up having to move at that time instead. I am very excited about moving, but was really hoping to meet some amazing authors. Congrats on your awesome book haul!
It’s so disappointing when you’re all ready to go to an awesome event and then something gets in the way. Who needs to move, anyway? 🙂
Sadly, no. I have not been to any book events, I have been to a Manga and Comic Book convention though 😀
This post truly makes me feel all giddy inside, I love when book bloggers get to meet authors and return home with books to their hearts content! You’ll have to let me know what your son’s thoughts are on Dashner’s other books; I’m curious 😛
I love reading people’s accounts of events like this too! Someday I definitely need to go to a Comic Con. Jaden is loving the new books – they have a video game theme to them, so he’s enthralled. I’ll have to read them too!
This truly looks like it was so much fun! I love that you got to hang with other bloggers as well and look at all those wonderful books! Congrats!!!
Yes, one of the best thing about these types of events is meeting up with other bloggers!
Aw this is fabulous! I am so happy you were able to go, it looks just amazing! I love that you got to sit with the authors too, that must have been incredible! I am kind of bummed for Morgan Rhodes, that seems like an awful reason to have to change a cover. Sounds like you had an amazing time, I am so happy for you 🙂
I’ve heard other authors say this before too. I had no idea that Barnes and Noble had so much power, but apparently they do!
I sorry to say I have never been to a book event. I would love to go to one.
Hope you get to attend one someday!!
I love the sound of this bookish event! It seems like you had so much and got to meet and hear lots of super cool authors speak! I love the haul there and it seems like some precious goodie reads are heading your way soon. I haven’t gone to any bookish events yet but I would like to in the future ^^
My recent post: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2015/10/fall-time-cozy-book-tag.html
I hope you manage to get to an event – it’s such a great experience, hearing the authors talk about their process and their books!!
Sadly, no! Thanks for the giveaway.
Hope you get to go to one sometime!
Long time no speak! Looks like you are having a lot of fun and getting some really cool books and some great one-on-one interaction! I have never been to one of these types of events, but I have always thought about going to one. In the next year, I plan to look for some of these events locally. It would be a great experience.
Hey, you’re back!! You mystappeared for a while – hope everything was okay and it was just busyness that kept you away from blogging!! Hope you find some local events to attend!
It looks like you had an awesome time! Awesome recap. I so wish I could have met Josephine Angelini Marie Lu, and David Levithan, they all seem really cool. Nice haul too!
I know – I was amazed at the number of really amazing authors this conference had!
It sounds like you had a blast. Thanks for the fun author notes. That’s great James Dashner is so good with his younger fans – not everyone would be!
Yeah, it was obvious that Dashner is a true kid at heart. 🙂
Oh my gosh…that sounds like sooo much fun!!!!!!!
It really was – LOVED it!!
Oh gosh this looks like soooo much fun!! Thanks for sharing your pictures.
You’re welcome!! It was a great event!!
Wow! Looks like Day 2 was a blast too! Cool that you got to sit on Josephine Angelini’s table. One day I will get a chance to go to a book signing or conference! It looks so fun!
I was so excited to sit with Angelini – I SO adored Trial by Fire!
For the last couple of years, I’ve been going to Coastal Magic (Daytona Beach in February), which is a fantastic convention–last year I got to meet a ton of authors, had lunch with Larissa Ione and Carrie Ann Ryan, hung at the hotel bar with Christopher Rice and Damon Suede and met a whole bunch of amazing people.
I have never been to one. Every now and then one will show up in Columbus but I haven’t been able to go. Looks like a lot of fun from the pictures and posts I see.
The only book event I attended was a small get together of local area authors two town’s from where I live. It is what made me start to pay more attention to books by indie authors. Before, after reading only a couple of amazon freebies, I avoided most indie published lesser known books.
The only book event I have attended was a get together/meet and greet event two town’s away from where I live for local indie authors. It was fun and is really what introduced me to the world of indie publishing.
I have never been to any bookish events. That is just part of living in Montana where the only thing close to me that even remotely resembles a bookish event is Cowboy Poetry (and I can tell you it wasn’t that great).
Thanks for sharing your experience so I can live vicariously through you. 🙂
Amanda
Hmmm … cowboy poetry. Yeah, I think I’ll pass. 🙂
Sadly no I haven’t made it to a bookish event. :/ But I now have a friend who loves books too so maybe we will go to one in the future that is nearby! Thanks for the giveaway!
Yay! Can’t wait to see it. I love reading her books.