Christi's Adventures: BEA 2011 recap (where I get fangirly, swoony, and stalker-ish--all in one day!)

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I apologize in advance for the length of this post. 

It was an exciting day and I want to share it all!

So Tuesday my colleague (and friend) Courtney and I headed into NYC for our first-ever BEA. Before we even boarded the 6:30am bus we were kicking ourselves for deciding to only do one day. I have to tell you, we got a lot done and we saw a lot of awesomeness, but I can't help reading other blogs and tweets and listing what we missed. So yes, BEA was completely incredible, but it would have been mind-blowing if we'd done TWO days (like we plan to next year). I actually thought about doing a highlight of all the stuff we MISSED,  but that seems kind of pessimistic, so here are some highlights of what we actually accomplished!

Best. Thing. Ever. I was going to do a countdown to my actual favorite part of the day, but I just can't wait to tell you. I was determined to meet Christine Mandelski, author of The Sweetest Thing, because I've been dying to read her book and my library doesn't own it yet. So I was actually first in line for her table signing. A woman walked past me and said excuse me, or apologized, or something. I happened to look at her, and then I looked at her name tag...and said "Bettina?" It was Bettina Restrepo, author of Illegal! But wait, it gets better! She looks at me, looks at my name tag, and screams (I'm not kidding) "Christi the Teen Librarian!" And then gave me a huge hug. You guys, she totes recognized me. She. Knew. Who. I. Was. And even more mind-blowing--she was excited to see me! She introduced me to Christine Mandelski and Kiki Hamilton (fellow 2k11 classmates), she tweeted that she met me, she gave Courtney and I some swag, we took photos, and then I totally let her sneak in the line with me. Sorry, peeps behind me. And then I got to "meet" Christine again, and she signed her book for me. And Bettina offered to Skype with my teens at the library! I tell you, I could have gone home after that meeting, and been the happiest librarian there.

Bettina Restrepo, me, and Christine Mandelski

(OMG!)

More highlights:


Seeing Julianne Moore and Ice-T in person (separately!). We didn't get to BEA nearly early enough to get tickets for any authors, but just seeing some famous people was a treat enough for me!

I could not have asked for a better facial expression!

Randomly discovering that Florence Henderson was doing a photo op and handing out ARCs of her upcoming biography, Life is Not a Stage. I only met her for a second but she was so sweet and petite! I felt like Ginormica next to her.

Mrs. Brady & me!!

While waiting in line for Florence Henderson, I spotted...David. Levithan. I was actually so distracted that Mrs. Henderson's people had to remind me it was my turn. I was actually walking right behind David Levithan for several moments. I actually got a little stalker creepy:

Great literature comes out of that head.

For a brief moment I considered stalking following him for the rest of the day, but Courtney talked me out of it. I was way too shy to actually approach him, which was stupid on my part, because he seems like a completely approachable person. I saw him later at the Scholastic booth, and had totally convinced myself I was going to say hi and tell him I love his stuff, but he was otherwise engaged talking to another couple.

Meeting Mike Holmes (from HGTV's Holmes on Homes, and he also wrote a book, duh.). I waited in line for AN HOUR to meet him. Fortunately there were some really nice people in front of and behind me, so that helped make the wait bearable. Mike was really nice, and I think I was actually one of the younger people in line to meet him. Which made me feel good because I usually feel old. Anyway.

'

When I told Mike my name he said, "Christi makes great cookies." To which I said, "Umm, actually, I do!" He then went on to tell me about a cookie company in Canada that uses "Christi makes great cookies" as their tagline. To which I said, "Umm, I make great cookies." Little star struck, I was. (Later research leads me to discover that Nabisco is known as Christie in Canada, and there's an old commercial where a little girl says "Mr. Christie, you make good cookies!" So, there you go.)

I met lots of great authors and got lots of great books. What I'm going to do with them, I have no idea (theoretically I got a lot for summer reading giveaways, if I can part with them!).

These are all the adult books (and a few cookbooks) I got:

These are the young adult books and ARCs I got (and yes, one of these is going to be in the Splash Into Summer Giveaway package--did you enter yet?)

And in reality, I can't even remember all the great authors we met and had books signed by (and I'm feeling too lazy right now to look them up.) I definitely remember meeting and getting books signed by:


David Lubar (he signed Attack of the Vampire Weenies for my daughter), 
Jonathan Maberry (who had ARCs of his adult zombie novel, Dead of Night, due out in November), 
Nancy Holder (who graciously gave me 2 copies of Crusade--one for me and one for my teens!), 
Rita Williams-Garcia (One Crazy Summer),
AC Crispin (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom),
Daniel Stefansky (the 14-year-old author of How to Talk to an Autistic Kid)
And I know there are more but I'm blanking right now.


Completely random, but still fun:

I snapped this picture for my daughter. It's an inflatable marketing Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6. Pretty cool, I thought!

I gotta say, the worst part of the day was the crush I got caught in at the Penguin booth. It was horrible--there were people pushing and shoving, a shelf fell, and the poor rep was trying to fix it and no one would let her! I was so scared that the whole day would be like that. Thankfully, that was the only negative thing we experienced. 


And we even made it back home--via public transportation!--with minimal discomfort and injury. :)


All in all, it was a GREAT day!! I know I have no right to be upset about what I've missed, especially because it was the first BEA for both Courtney and myself, and we agreed going in that we'd treat this as a learning experience. So yes, we learned, and yes, we'll be that much more prepared for next year!


Enjoy your reading!
Christi

The Implosion of Aggie Winchester by Lara Zielin

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The Implosion of Aggie Winchester by Lara Zielin

Putnam Juvenile, August 4, 2011

Read for A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Aggie Winchester couldn't care less about who's elected prom queen–even if it's her pregnant Goth-girl best friend, Sylvia Ness. Aggie's got bigger things to worry about, like whether or not her ex-boyfriend wants to get back together and whether her mom will survive cancer.

But like it or not, Aggie soon finds herself in the middle of an unfolding prom scandal, largely because her mom, who is the school's principal, is rumored to have burned prom ballots so Sylvia won’t be elected queen. Aggie's own investigation makes her wonder if the election could be dirty on both sides.

I wasn't really expecting to really like this novel, but I thought the story was interesting enough that it deserved an impartial read. I'm glad I decided to read it, because Lara Zielin has crafted a wonderfully realistic story about the trials and tribulations of life as a high school junior who doesn't know where she fits in. 


Aggie is a lovable character, once you get beneath her Goth makeup and outfits. She believes in doing the right thing and is mature enough to know that the right thing isn't always the easiest thing. Through a series of unfortunate events, Aggie and Sylvia have become best friends and mockers of all things non-Goth. Deep down, though, Aggie suspects that there's more to life than black outfits and dark makeup.


She's so smart in other ways, too. She knows that Sylvia's relationship with Ryan isn't all it's cracked up to be, and she can even realize that her ex, Neil, might have an ulterior motive or two up his sleeve, as well.  And she's smart enough toe realize that her mother and principal doesn't know how to deal with Aggie as a daughter, only as a teenage statistic. What Aggie doesn't know is how to deal with these problems, although she's certainly willing to try.


I really loved this story--the mystery of a prom scandal, the intrigue of a teenage pregnancy, the realization that maybe there's not just ONE guilty party, and watching Aggie learn to believe in herself made this a very quick and enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it!

ARC received part of a blog tour from Good Golly Miss Holly.


Enjoy your reading!
Christi

In My Mailbox (36)

Have you entered my Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop yet? 

Today's the last day to enter!

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In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed. 

This week I got:

Won from a contest over at YA BookShelf (thanks, Melissa!):

• Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

From Jennifer Brown: a party favor for attending the virtual launch party of Bitter End (thank you!):

BEA goodies:

Adult books:

 YA books:

I can't even list them all here, but here are some of the YA highlights:

ARCs:

• Forever & Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
• Between by Jessica Warman
• Flyaway by Lucy Christopher
• After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel
• Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
• Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
• 39 Clues, Series 2: Vespers Rising (for my daughter)

Finished and signed books:

• Crusade by Nancy Holder (2 signed copies--one for me and one for my teens!)
• The Sweetest Thing by Christine Mandelski
• One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
• Attack of the Vampire Weenies by David Lubar (for my daughter)

What did you get?

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

44 Blog Tour: Interview with author Jools Sinclair

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I'm delighted to be participating in the 44 Blog Tour. You can read my review of 44 here. Please enjoy this interview with author Jools Sinclair!

Hi, Christi! First off, thank you so much for inviting me to stop by The Teen Librarian!  It’s a pleasure to be here and I think your blog is fantastic!

There are so many intriguing parts of 44—Abby’s drowning and being dead for such a long period of time, her inability to see colors, and of course the murder mystery aspect! Can you tell us a little bit about how 44 came to be?

Well, I had a few things I wanted to write about when I sat down to work on 44. First, I wanted to write about a teenager who experienced a traumatic event and who had to, basically, rebuild her life. The book is really about that journey. I loved the idea of writing about a main character that was on solid ground (star soccer player, colleges picked out, popular) and suddenly everything is blown apart and she has to start over.

I also really wanted to write about Bend, Oregon because it’s where I live and I’ve always thought that it was perfect for a setting. And finally, I wanted to have a little fun, hence the murder mystery storyline and the other events that happen along the way!

What kind of research did you have to do for this novel?

I researched a lot about near death experiences and some of the psychological aspects that survivors go through after coming back from death.  I’ve always been really fascinated with all that. I’ve read those kinds of stories since I was a kid, and even had a grandfather who “visited” the other side during emergency surgery. I find it all really interesting.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Writer, veterinarian, LA Dodger manager, actress (I was born in Hollywood so that dream is kind of a given), professional baseball card collector, and well paid world explorer. Writer probably made the most sense.

Can you describe a typical writing day? Do you have any must-do’s while writing—coffee, chocolate, silence, TV?

A typical writing day involves three musts: first, I must unplug the internet. Hard to do and I fight this all the way! But it’s so easy to get lost in emails, fun blogs, and all sorts of interesting tidbits I find online if I don’t make a point of disconnecting. It’s amazing how many hours can vanish, so unless I’m happy with writing five words a day, I must unplug.   Another “must” is a fresh pot of Komodo Dragon Coffee brewing. And gentle music in the background. I love that you mentioned chocolate, and I’m thinking that I’m going to have to incorporate that into the “Must-Do” routine!

Can you tell us a little about the world of self-publishing? I’m sure there must be many challenges, but what are the rewards like?

I would love to! Because of self-publishing, there’s never been a better time to be a writer.  Writers now have the power to write, publish, and sell their work directly to readers without a huge corporation deciding whether the material is worthy or not. This is huge! It’s the most important thing to have happened to the written word in a long time.

And you are right, there are some challenges involved. There is a lot of the business side of publishing that writers have to be willing to learn in regards to covers, formatting text, and marketing books. These are all things that publishers do and Indie authors have to figure all that out if they are going to be successful.

Oh, but the rewards are amazing!  For the first time ever, writers can actually get their work out into the world, sell their books, find their own fans, and develop their writing careers. They have a shot of hitting the best seller lists, all on their own. And there are plenty of examples of this happening. Amanda Hocking, who started self-publishing just over a year ago, has made over $1.5 million.  All this after years of rejection from New York Publishers that thought she didn’t have the right stuff.   Writers have amazing opportunities right now.

What do you like to do when you’re not reading or writing?

I love the outdoors and I that’s one of the reasons I love living in Bend so much. So if I’m not reading or writing, you’ll probably find me out hiking, kayaking, or snowshoeing depending on the season.  I also love to cook and travel and really try to do both of those things as much as possible.

Does anyone get to read your work in between draft and final product (or even earlier than that)? If so, who?

My husband!  He reads every draft and I always appreciate his honesty and suggestions. He’s a writer too (he writes children’s scary stories).

What are some of your favorite books?

Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black. Others favorites include books by Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Hemingway.

What are you reading now, or what have you just finished?

These are all my recent reads: Allison Karras’ Drowning in the Dark, Zoe Winters’s Save My Soul and Megg Jensen’s Anathema. All fabulous! Oh, and Bieber’s biography {laughing}.

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects you’re working on?

Well, 44 will be a trilogy and the second book is coming out in early summer, so I’ve been working hard on that. Then, Book 3 is scheduled for release in winter.  I have a few other projects planned beyond that, but that’s where my focus is now. 

Christi, thanks so much again for having me stop by The Teen Librarian! I love your blog and will check back often for ideas about what to read! Happy almost summer, too!

Thanks so much for stopping by, Jools! Looking forward to reading the second and third books in the 44 trilogy!

Jools Sinclair lives in Bend, Oregon. She is an avid reader, movie watcher, orange cat lover, Frye boot wearer and Komodo Dragon coffee drinker. She admits to having an intense passion for opera and loves faraway lands where espresso bars and pastry shops line the streets. Finally, she is absolutely crazy about her family, who in turn thinks she is absolutely crazy.

Interested in reading 44 for yourself (c'mon, that cover is fantastically intriguing, right?)? You can purchase the eBook over at Barnes & Noble or at the Kindle Store over at Amazon.

Be sure to check out the next stop on the 44 Blog Tour, which is over at A Chick Who Reads: http://achickwhoreads.blogspot.com. And there'll be a giveaway at the end of the blog tour, too!

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

44 Blog Tour: Review of 44 by Jools Sinclair

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44 by Jools Sinclair

You Come Too Publishing, March 10, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

Last year after falling through the ice, seventeen-year-old Abby Craig woke up from death.

But she woke into a world she barely recognizes. She can't see colors, memories have been erased, and her friends all hate her. And then there's Jesse, who she loves, but who refuses to forgive her the one mistake she made long ago.

Just when she thinks it can't get any worse, the visions begin. In them, she sees a faceless serial killer roaming the streets. While the police believe that there have been a lot of accidents in town lately, Abby knows differently. And she soon realizes that it's up to her to find him.

But to stop him, she'll have to confront more than just the killer. She'll have to face something else that was lost in those dark waters. The truth.

In the tradition of Amanda Hocking, 44 is a thrilling paranormal romance mystery novel that keeps readers at the edge of their seats and glued to the very end. The ending will haunt you forever.

I enjoyed this story and thought it was a great mystery thriller. It was a quick read, both in length and in its pacing, and Jools Sinclair does a great job of teasing readers with the mystery. It's always just right there, but not really, you know? 

Character development was great throughout this story. I was intrigued by Abby and couldn't wait to find out what really happened to her on that fateful night she died. The ending was surprising but completely satisfying. I think 44 will appeal not only to fans of mystery thrillers, but to reluctant readers as well, because of the storyline and the length of the novel. Oh, and I love the cover!

Tomorrow Jools Sinclair is stopping by for an interview!

Received eBook as part of 44 Blog Tour.

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

Playing Hurt Blog Tour: Interview with Author Holly Schindler

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I am so excited to participate in the Playing Hurt blog tour, and honored that author Holly Schindler stopped by for an interview. Here it is--I hope you enjoy!
 

PLAYING HURT has vastly different themes and issues than A BLUE SO DARK.  Can you tell us a little about any challenges that arose during the writing of PLAYING HURT?  Was writing your second novel any different from writing the first? 

In some respects, writing number one and number two wasn’t all that different…I actually sold PLAYING HURT to Flux before BLUE was released!  So I had no idea what the reception to BLUE would be when I sold PLAYING HURT…I hadn’t yet gotten a single review.  I wasn’t trying to repeat any critical success, I was just writing what was in my heart…

What would your career have been had you not become a writer?

I’m sure I would have been a literature professor…I initially planned on getting a PhD in lit, but decided, after obtaining my master’s, I really had to give the full-time writing gig a real shot.  (It was my lifelong dream…)

What have you read and loved recently (YA or not)? 

I really do like Elin Hilderbrand (adult romance), for her ability to make her setting a vibrant character in her books.

I also just picked up FANTASY BASEBALL from Alan Gratz—a middle grade book that combines classic storybook characters with baseball…

Can you describe a typical writing day?

Usually, I’m up early—by seven at the latest.  I do about an hour of social networking first thing—status updates and returning emails.  And then I work on my current project—which might be revisions for a book under development, or writing brand-new work—for eight hours.  Just like any other job.  In the evenings, I type up blog posts—guest posts, interviews, or posts for my author blog, my YA group blog (YA Outside the Lines), or my middle grade blog (Smack Dab in the Middle).

Would you tell us a little about your road to publication?

After I got my master’s, my mom encouraged me to stay home and devote full-time attention to getting a writing career off the ground.  It certainly wasn’t easy—it took seven and a half years to get to the first acceptance!  

My experience is more common, I think, than the Stephenie Meyer experience of seeing the first book you ever write becoming an instant blockbuster.  When you start seeking that first deal, know that it’s most likely going to take quite a bit of time—I actually think the industry average is something like ten years between typing that first page and inking the first deal.  But the important thing to remember is that the only writers that don’t get to that first deal are those who give up.  We all find our way eventually.

What kind of research did you do to become knowledgeable about the topics addressed in your books—schizophrenia, sports, and sports injuries, etc.?

I always gobble up everything I can read on the subject…and then I have to put everything aside when I start writing.  If you keep factual material close by as you write fiction, I think you run the risk of being bogged down in the details.  Of writing material that sounds more like non-fiction than fiction…The characters need to drive the book, not factual details.  You’ve really got to digest your research, then focus on creating a NOVEL. 

What do you like to do when you’re not reading or writing? 

I do spend the vast majority of my time working.  Even reading books feels a bit like working, actually—because I even read with a writer’s brain, taking in how another author has managed to accomplish their finished product.

My biggest indulgence is music—it’s truly my “refresh” button—the way I clear out the cobwebs and get my head back in the game…

I enjoy baking whenever I have the time.  Do you have a sweet tooth?  What’s your favorite indulgence?

Do I!  I have an enormous sweet tooth, actually.  I’m actually a huge donut fanatic.  (I break for donuts mid morning, every morning.  Honestly.)

Mmmm....donuts....

Thanks for stopping by, Holly!

Where to find Holly:

• Her blog: hollyschindler.blogspot.com,
• Her website: hollyschindler.com
• Twitter: @holly_schindler
• Blogging with other YA authors at YA Outside the Lines: http://yaoutsidethelines.blogspot.com/
• Blogging with middle grade authors at Smack Dab in the Middle: http://smack-dab-in-the-middle.blogspot.com/)

About Playing Hurt (Read my review here!)

Star basketball player Chelsea “Nitro” Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college—and everyone’s admiration in her hometown.  But everything changed senior year, when she took a horrible fall during a game. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.

  

As a graduation present, Chelsea’s dad springs for a three-week summer “boot camp” program at a northern Minnesota lake resort.  There, she’s immediately drawn to her trainer, Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player who’s haunted by his own traumatic past.  As they grow close, Chelsea is torn between her feelings for Clint and her loyalty to her devoted boyfriend back home.  Will an unexpected romance just end up causing Chelsea and Clint more pain—or finally heal their heartbreak?

About A Blue So Dark (read my review here!):  

  

Fifteen-year-old Aura Ambrose has been hiding a secret. Her mother, a talented artist and art teacher, is slowly being consumed by schizophrenia, and Aura has been her sole caretaker ever since Aura’s dad left them. Convinced that “creative” equals crazy, Aura shuns her own artistic talent. But as her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet draws Aura toward the depths of her imagination. Just as desperation threatens to swallow her whole, Aura discovers that art, love, and family are profoundly linked—and together may offer an escape from her fears.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Waiting on Wednesday (28)

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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme event created by Breaking the Spine to help showcase upcoming releases. 


This week I'm waiting for Vicious Little Darlings by Katherine Easer.

Here's the summary from Goodreads:

Sarah Weaver wasn't looking forward to starting at an all-girls school. But that was before she met Maddy. Maddy and her best friend, Agnes, are fun and rich and interesting—and for some reason, they seem to really like Sarah. Before long, Maddy and Agnes have moved Sarah into a big house off campus, where they cook together, buy each other presents, and share each other's secrets. So why does Sarah feel like something's bizarrely wrong? As more and more cracks start to show in Maddy's and Agnes's perfect veneers, Sarah notices some strange and disturbing things: Maddy's compulsive lying, Agnes's obsession with Maddy, and the deterioration of their friendship. And just when Sarah begins to question her own sanity, things turns deadly. Fans of Pretty Little Liars will devour this juicy debut novel.

I think this sounds like a great novel--dark but maybe not too dark, you know? And another title to add to my 2011 Debut Author Challenge list! Vicious Little Darlings is scheduled to be released by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books on June 21, 2011.

What are you waiting for?
Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop!

Time for another giveaway hop! 
Thanks to I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Page Turners Blog for co-hosting this hop!

One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of Bumped by Megan McCafferty. I was lucky enough to attend the Bumped launch party (read all about it here) and snagged an extra copy just for one lucky follower. In addition, I will throw in a surprise book from BEA--as I'm creating this post before BEA even happens, I don't know book that will be, yet, but I promise it will be something good!

Feel free to read my review here!

Here are the details:

One entry per person (duplicate entries will be deleted).

You must be a follower, a US resident, and age 13 or older.
The contest will close at 11:59pm on Tuesday, May 31.

Click here for the form!

Enjoy your reading, and good luck!

Christi

Be sure to hop over to the other blogs participating!