Elizabeth Eulberg's Event + Win Prom and Prejudice

So on December 27th, I was lucky enough to go to Elizabeth Eulberg's event up in Portage with my friend Ashley! It was quite fun! I had been dying to go to one of Elizabeth Eulberg's events for awhile, but it seemed every time she had one in the area, something came up. So to my surprise I finally was free when her event was!

Ashley and I got there early, bought our books, and ran to get something to eat. By the time we got back to the event, mostly everything was filled up so we sat really close to the front on the side, which was pretty cool! Elizabeth read a little snippet of Prom and Prejudice, complete with different character voices - which were absolutely awesome! Elizabeth then answered some questions like about how she went about modernizing the book and in that question came up Collin (based over Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice) and his little weather rant. I found this to be just hilarious!

There were a ton of people in the signing line, so Ashley and I kind of hung to the back and sat down, waiting for the line to die down a bit. Little did I know, but Heidi from YA Bibliophile had been sitting next to me! Once I figured this out we chatted until the line was shorter. I had read her blog, but I guess I just hadn't realized she lived in Wisconsin, which was pretty rad!

I picked up an extra lovely shiny signed copy of Prom and Prejudice and one of YOU lucky people are going to get it. This will be open to US/Canada only (I promise to have an international contest semi soon!) and will be open until January 22nd :)

Sheboygan Children's Book Festival + Giveaway

So on Saturday, I had the opportunity to go to the Sheboygan Children's Book Festival. Not only was this super cool, but I was excited to see this in Wisconsin. Not much seems to go on YA related, so it was super awesome that it was.

Saturday started off a bit rushed for me. Due to getting off work super late, I didn't get to sleep Friday night until much later than I had planned. So naturally I overslept. After much rushing about, I left in enough time to only be 15 minutes late. Construction decided to love me, and by the time I actually got there I was nearly 40 minutes late.

I tried to sneak into the back of Gerald Morris's signing. I succeeded. He was in the middle of reciting part of his story with much theatrics, which was pretty cool. I hadn't heard of his books before the Sheboygan Children's Book Festival, but I was happy I went. He writes books about Authurian legends, which sound awesome. I bought the first two in the series.

Later that afternoon was JAMES DASHNER's event. I got there super early and claimed the seat right in front. I did feel a bit odd, as I knew absolutely no one there. But regardless, the event was awesome.

He started off talking about him and how he writes. We learned that he used to be an accountant. He hated it. He now writes fulltime, which while he's much busier, he loves it.He talked about how he's a huge movie person. And how if he gets writers block he goes and sees a movie. The movies he can watch over and over are The Lord of the Rings movies, and then he talked about how The Hobbit movie is finally happening. I had not heard this and was about FREAKING out, as I am one of the biggest fan ever of those movies and books. I was in the play The Hobbit, and have read and watched the movie took many times to count.

After his talk he signed our books. The festival was a 3 day thing, kicking off with some events Friday night. I had hoped to go Friday night, but I had to work so that was not a possibility. I was super bummed as I wanted to meet Ilsa J Bick. Little did I know, she was IN the signing line for James Dashner! The owner of Next Chapter Bookshop introduced me to her, and I was talking with her for awhile. So that was super cool.

I have a SIGNED ARC of The Scorch Trials by James Dashner and a SIGNED paperback of The Squire's Tale by Gerald Morris for 2 lucky winners. This will be open until November 3, and open to US and Canada only. If you are looking for more snazzy ways to win James Dashner's super fabulous books, Gail is giving away a SIGNED hardcover of The Scorch Trials and a SIGNED paperback of The Maze Runner here

An adventure in Chicago AKA Stephanie Kuehnert's signing!

So Saturday I ventured down to the land of Chicago for Stephanie Kuehnert's signing, and it was a total blast!

I ended up driving to Kristen's house, and she drove to Chicago from there. We had lunch at her house, and I drooled our her ARC of FALLEN! I tried to steal it... but no luck.


Anyways, then we headed down to the Borders in Oak Park. I finally bought my copy of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone. We then headed to the lower level where the signing was, and STEPHANIE KUEHNERT was already sitting there talking to someone in the like 2nd row. We sat down behind her, and when she headed to the front - Kristen and I moved to the front row.

She did a reading from Ballads of Suburbia. And had me hanging on every sentence she read - Stephanie reading Ballads made it so much stronger than when I had read it, which obviously makes sense as she wrote it. After she read from Ballads of Suburbia, there was a Q&A. I asked her what her favorite character to write from Ballads of Suburbia was: Stacey and Adrian. (Would now be the time to confess I love Adrian as well, he was my favorite character of Ballads!) Kristen and I then talked to Stephanie for a few minutes and she signed our books. Stephanie was so cool! :) :)

After her signing, we headed to an Indie Bookshop to look around there. And then we had our cookie/dog treat experience which you all know about if you've seen my IMM vlog from this week.

It was a superfun day, filled with books, books, and more books :)

Author Julia Hoban's Signing!

So Saturday, I headed to Valparaiso, Indiana to the signing for Julie Hoban, author of Willow. It was amazing! Chelsea had originally told me about the signing, but she ended up not being able to go due to a work conflict. I ended up meeting Andrea, Kristi, Kristen

The drive to Valparaiso was supposed to only be about 2 hours and 45 minutes, but you all know that never works out. My dad wanted to avoid Chicago traffic, so we left extremely early - 5:30 AM! So I got up around 4:30 AM, and then we hit the road! I figured we'd get to Vaparaiso around 9 AM with a stop - we ended up getting lost on the way. We had stopped at a farmer's market and then there was a detour. Our GPS took us to a town called Boones Grove. Finally we roll into Valparaiso around 11 - and Kristi texted me saying she was at Target across from B&N. I headed into B&N and after a few minutes I say 2 people walk in, I sat there thinking to myself I THINK that's Kristen and Andrea. I was too shy to walk over, so I stayed in the YA Section. Soon Kristi came walking in, and the 2 people I saw come in joined Kristi, so I went and joined the group.

Andrea and Kristen hadn't had lunch yet, and asked Kristi to go out for lunch - little did we know Kristi already had lunch plan's with THE ONE AND ONLY JULIA HOBAN! She called her, and asked if it would be alright if the other 3 of us joined her and Julia for lunch. The B&N was in a great spot - Panera was within walking distance. Julia had told us she would be wearing gloves and a hat, so we're all sitting at the table we claimed all looking around for her. I literally was like shaking I was so nervous! I'm pretty sure Kristi was nervous about meeting Julia as well :) The four of ended up getting to talk for over an hour with Julia - we covered everything from college to like in New York. I probably made a giant fool out of myself - I was so nervous I kept like stuttering and loosing my train of thought.


We headed over to the signing, and after Julia started talking and introducing herself and Willow - SHE INTRODUCED US BLOGGERS! I think we were all shocked! I couldn't believe it. She mentioned our sites and talked about what bloggers did for Willow (I think her being an amazing author is the reason, not bloggers but whatever). We all probably looked pretty funny - I'm sure my mouth was hanging open. Julia then went on and did two short readings, and then opened up the floor to questions. It was great hearing Julia answer all the questions - I definately gained a lot more understanding of Willow! Then of course, I got my new hardcover signed.

After the signing, the awesome community relations manager at B&N, Darlene, asked for our blog urls so that she could make a poster for her YA readers! I was once again shocked!

Even though she had already had lunch with us, Julia joined us in the cafe for cheesecake! We chatted more until she had to head to the airport to catch her plane. She said we'd have to meet up again if we're all ever in NYC! (BEA!?!) Julia was the sweetest person ever! The whole day was unbelievable! I could not believe I got to have LUNCH with JULIA HOBAN! After Julia had to leave to catch her plane, us bloggers headed to Chilis for dinner. Then we all headed our separate ways - it was so great getting to meet Kristi, Andrea, and Kristen!

Richelle Mead's Signing + Giveaway!

So on Tuesday night, I went to Richelle Mead's signing down in Naperville, IL! It took a lot of convincing my parents on my part, as Wednesday was my first day of school.

So I left my house at 4:20, figuring I'd be there by like 6:15 at the latest (it's less than a 2 hour drive)! WRONG! I ended up rolling in at 6:40 - it was jam packed, so I ended up in an aisle.

Then Richelle read to us from Blood Promise, which I haven't started yet, but am DYING! to :) I also found it funny that Richelle said she was happy to be back in the land where people call Soda "Pop" - I'd like to say I'm a soda fan :P Wisconsin's about 50/50 "pop" vs "soda" I unfortunately didn't get any pictures during the signing, I had flowers and a stand in my way BUT here's a picture of me with Richelle :)

I was happy I had ordered my book ahead and had number 48! There were a few hundred people there so I would've been there all night to get my book signed :) But it was such a fun night!

Anyways, so I picked up an extra copy of Vampire Academy (Book 1) and had Richelle sign it along with some VA tattoos and a VA Postcard

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Ends September 25th and for US only!

Ally Carter!

So I just got back from Ally Carter's Book Signing a little while ago, it was great.
I got Don't Judge a Girl By Her Cover (Which I'm going to read probably straight through as soon as I post this.. maybe)! Now I'm waiting for her new book, Heist Society, which comes out in February.




I also decided I should stop going in Half Price Books. On the way home from Ally Carter's signing I stopped at a Half Price Books, I was planning on maybe getting a book or two. I left with 12 (and they only cost my 7.50 plus tax!)


I got:
Dark Secrets: Legacy of Lies by Elizabeth Chandler
Real Teens: Diary of a Junior Year Volume 4
Real Teens: Diary of a Junior Year Volume 2
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot
Princess in Love by Meg Cabot
Sk8er Boy by Mari Mancusi
Boys That Bite by Mari Mancusi
Violet Eyes by Nicole Luiken
Silver Eyes by Nicole Luiken
Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner
Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

I'm really excited to read all of these!