This weekend, I headed to the Texas Book Festival in Austin with the hope of meeting some of my favorite YA Authors.
The Nerd and my sister-in-law agreed to drive down to Austin and back with me on Saturday. That’s a three-hour drive one-way, folks.
We got to the festival around lunchtime on Saturday, and our first stop was the Penguin booth.
There I met the lovely Andrea Cremer, whose debut novel Nightshade will be released on Tuesday!
Andrea signed two books for me — one for myself and another to give away on the blog later this week (**cough**cough**Wednesday**cough**cough**) — and agreed to take a photo with me.
Of course, my head looks like a massive balloon that completely takes over the photo. But Andrea is pretty! I love her beautiful red hair!
Kirsten Miller, author of The Eternal Ones, was also at the Penguin booth. She thought the photo of me and The Nerd was hilarious.
I guess we need to take more photos dressed in nerdy outfits!
Kirsten also signed two copies of her book for me. Again, one for myself and one to give away on the blog at a not-yet-determined date.
Next up, we headed to the signing tent to meet up with Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, authors of Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness.
These ladies are so awesome!
Not only did they sign *my* copies of Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness (and a copy of each book for another giveaway!), they gave me signed bookmarks and swag (a keychain, necklace and bracelets!) to give away on the blog.
I’m telling you guys — there’s going to be an epic contest coming soon!
Soon it was time for the “Pardon Me, I Didn’t Mean to Bite You” panel with Andrea Cremer, Kirsten Miller and Heather Brewer.
These ladies were so much fun! They gabbed about their books and their love of all things paranormal.
My favorite part was when Heather told the audience: “Vampires are like hot chocolate. They’re comforting. You go out into this big scary world, and can always come back to bloodsucking.”
It was a great panel!
Then, we headed over to the children’s book tent to meet Meg Cabot!
I got her to sign my copy of Zombies vs. Unicorns.
Isn’t she so cute?
And finally, we headed to the Zombies vs. Unicorns debate.
The debate was full of such awesomeness, I’m going to write *another* post with all of the details later this week. 🙂
At the end of the night, I got to meet Holly Black.
She was so adorable with her unicorn horn!
She signed my copy of Zombies vs. Unicorns and a copy of White Cat for me to give away on the blog!
I had such a great time meeting all of these amazing authors!
Now I just have to decide what to do with all of the extra books I had signed…
Check back tomorrow for my review of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer as part of the Fall into Fantasy event!
And Wednesday I’ll be interviewing Andrea and giving away a *signed* copy of Nightshade. Don’t miss it!
Happy Reading!
I met several of my favorite authors during the Texas Book Festival!
WOW! I so wanted to go but was unable to make it. Great pics!!
I went to many of the same places you did this week, I think! The problem is that Scott Westerfeld's signing line caused me to miss the session with Andrea, Kirsten, and Heather! GRR!
Thanks! I had a blast! Maybe next year we can meet up and go to the events together 🙂
P.s. Your pictures are awesome!
That looks like so much fun. I would love to go to something like that. Glad you had a great time.
LOL I love the picture w/ Holly. The festival was so awesome this weekend!!! Next time we'll have to meet up for sure!!
Great pictures! Bummed I couldn't make it!
Oh, what fun Arena! I love all the pictures. I wish it had been in Dallas instead of Austin.
I'm so jealous!!! Great pictures, seems like so much fun 😀
Wow…sounds like you had a great time! I am so jealous!!
I went to the festival as well!
But I forgot my camera. 🙁
Thanks for your recap, though. I'm reliving the fun through your pictures! 😀 lol
Awww, all the pictures are wonderful! It sounds like you had so much fun! I've never been to an author event and I'm totally dying to do so. I hope it happens soon. Brilliant post, Arena! Thanks for sharing with us. =)