After months and months of planning and a few short bouts of anxiety, TLA was finally here! Last year, I was asked to be on the Local Author's Committee and one of three people assigned to man the Author's Area. I was excited to help and be a part of one of the best organized and attended book conventions. We had our 70+ volunteers and were more than ready for the exhibit hall to be open on Wednesday. I picked up Stephanie and headed on down to the convention center early to take pictures of move in day.
Our lovely tool kit for conference week
Harper
Main aisle on move in day
Wednesday was the first day the exhibit hall was open! Many TX bloggers met up and waiting in long lines together! We had so many books to bring back to the hotel that we asked the bell hop to walk down the street and get them. We tipped! Later Wednesday, we were invited to attend a reception hosted by Candlewick Press in honor of Lonestar Cynthia Leitich-Smith. The reception was attended by lovely authors, librarians, and folks from Candlewick. They had the best crab dip!
Cari, me, and Stephanie @ Candlewick party
Later that night we headed over to meet Sophie Jordan and Tera Lynn Childs for dinner. We talked books and shared many laughs! No pictures of that...darn!
Wednesday was the first day the exhibit hall was open! Many TX bloggers met up and waiting in lone lines together!
SO FUN! I bet you are wondering about all of the lovely books I brought home. So...here they are!
Unsigned
Signed
Signed books from Gerald McDermott
Collection of signed books
As you can see, I am up to my ears in new books! To celebrate...I will be giving away some awesome swag that I collected at TLA. Some of it is signed, some not. Also, there are signed bookplates from Simone Elkeles, Jonathan Maberry, and Lauren Myracle.
All you need to do is comment below with your email. You are able to get ONE extra entry if you can guess the first book I received at TLA. Same ole rules apply....**YA Bibliophile won the extra entry - Sweetly was the first book I picked up at TLA! Amazing how many people said the same book over and over again....huh.
*giveaway closed*
