I now blog over at The Eyre Guide! This blog is an archive of my past posts.


Monday, May 13, 2013

Teen Book Fest + a Giveaway of "Legend", "Shadow and Bone" and more!

Posted by Charlene // Tags: ,
On Saturday, I went to the Teen Book Fest in Ontario, California where awesomeness assembled in the form of fab authors; some of whom I was not familiar with, and some I was very eager to see.  There were panels with themes that certain authors talked on, and while the themes were interesting, the event was rather low-key and intimate, and the panels really felt like eavesdropping on a conversation between authors.  Which was fantastic!  And since I had not read all the books by the authors at the event, it was great to hear them talk about the creation of their characters and plot, and I became excited about getting the chance to explore their books later.

There were many topics that were touched on, and I found the different processes of the authors so interesting.  When it comes to writing characters the authors ranged from needing to have something in common with them to not wanting to feel too much kinship with them.  There was also a great discussion of writing 1st person vs. 3rd person, which as a reader I don't really even think about when I read a book.  I just accept that that's the way the story is told, but the author really has to think about which approach works best for their story.  Towards the end of one panel, someone asked about marketing and Gretchen McNeil talked about how she self-promoted her book ("Ten") with the Ten Army and how effective it was to involve the readers.  Her new book "3:59" (which comes out later this year but I want it now!) has a similar promotional effort behind it that I think is a great idea!  It involves sending free T-shirts to people who are willing to wear it at book events and then gives incentives to people who see people wearing the shirt and tweeting about it or sharing it through social media.  Most of the authors have a presence on social media, and I find it rather exhilarating to be able to connect to authors this way, after being awed or touched by their work.
Marie Lu, Leigh Bardugo, Morgan Matson, Jennifer Bosworth
 Leigh Bardugo talked about how writing to James Howe (author of the Bunnicula series) and receiving a personal reply back gave her the sense that she knew him and they were friends,  and that translates in my mind pretty closely to the way readers feel when they tweet their favorite author.  And although I can't bring myself to think I am friends with these authors, I do an inner dance of joy when I get a tweet from them.  Somehow it makes me feel a little more personally invested in their books when I can exchange a few words with them about what I liked about it and a little more personally connected with this thing I love called reading.

And I have to share what was a really funny moment at one panel - when Marie Lu talked about her teenager years, and the first story she wrote was a fanfiction about Sonic the Hedgehog in which he gets into an accident and becomes paralyzed.  So wrong, yet so funny.  I want to read it!

I was able to get a few books signed, and I wanted to give them away to blog readers and hopefully you have or will enjoy these reads!  I've decided to have two prize packs:
 (NOTE: "Legend" and "Shadow and Bone" are paperbacks, "Harbinger" and "Possess" are hardcovers.)

What you need to know:
  1. OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY.  Sorry international visitors. :(
  2. There are two prizes - 
    1. Prize A: is (1) autographed copy of "Legend" by Marie Lu and (1) autographed copy of "Harbinger" by Sara Wilson Etienne. 
    2. Prize B: is (1) autographed copy of "Possess" by Gretchen McNeil and (1) autographed copy of "Shadow and Bone" by Leigh Bardugo.  
  3. I will pick TWO winners - the first name will get first choice - whether they would like Prize A or B, and the second winner will be notified of which books they are getting.  If my notification email is not responded to within 72 hours, a new winner will be chosen.  If the first name winner is the one who does not reply, the second name will get first choice.
  4. This giveaway is open for a week - from today to next Monday, May 20th Midnight.  
  5. All prizes will be sent ASAP with tracking numbers through USPS, but I am not responsible for lost or misplaced parcels.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am disappointed I was not able to attend all the panels at this event and I missed out on hearing from more amazing authors, but I would like to list here the names of all the author attendees and a link to their book(s) on Goodreads.

Stephen Chbosky "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
Carrie Arcos "Out of Reach"
Leigh Bardugo "Shadow and Bone"
Jennifer Bosworth "Struck"
Jessica Brody "Unremembered"
Sara Wilson Etienne "Harbinger"
Suzanne Lazear "Innocent Darkness"
Marie Lu "Legend" & "Prodigy"
Morgan Matson "Amy and Roger's Epic Detour"
Gretchen McNeil "Possess" & "Ten"
Gregg Olsen "Envy"
Andrew Smith "Winger"
Ann Stampler "Where It Began"
Lex Thomas "Quarantine: The Loners"

Share this post: Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This Share on Google Plus Share on Tumblr
Scroll Up

20 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great contest! Fingers crossed! Currently reading Shades of Earth by Beth Revis!

    ReplyDelete
  3. currently I am reading Two Thursdays by Craig Martin Stepp. An excellent book so far.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Just finished Silver Linings Playbook=)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm following your blog, it's a super awesome site. Lots to see.
    If you'd like, swing by my website/blog http://www.chroniclesofkingbigbear.com/
    King Big Bear would love to meet you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for such a wonderful giveaway!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am currently reading Eleanor and Park :) thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  8. AH AWESOME! Lucky! I am reading Etiquette and Espionage!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Don't enter me in your drawing. I just wanted to thank you for the great write-up of TFB! I'm glad you enjoyed the panels. I had an absolute blast moderating them!

    Your Friendly Neighborhood YA Librarian,
    Juliene

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh so cool that you stopped by my blog! Thank you for the comment, and I really enjoyed TFB! It's my first time going, but I hope to go every year now! It's a wonderful event!

      Delete
  10. I am reading the 5th Wave. It's pretty good so far.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am currently reading the last Harry Potter book.. finishing up a re-read of the series. I love this contest. I actually got to see Bardugo at the San Diego comic con last year. She was just signing books and it wasn't an actual panel. But she signed my Shadow and Bone so I would love Prize A.. though I am not picky!!

    Angie

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just finished Unraveling! It was pretty good I must say though the end did kill me and I am soo nervous and not sure I should read the next book?...it was good though.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am currently reading The Darkest Minds. Thanks for this amazing giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I just started THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING by Ashley Elston.

    ReplyDelete
  15. currently reading Dark Triumph! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm currently reading City of Bones. I'm a little late getting into this series, but I'm loving this book!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Archive by Victoria Schwab. So far, it's amazing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I had so much fun with the book covers. I feel so nerdy for knowing so many except for 2 of them. XDDD I'm such a cover geek. I'm currently not reading anything but I have two waiting to be read (I am resting after reading disappointing Cinder). Which should i read first, A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty or The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I just finished "Lover Avenged" by J.R. Ward. Everyone should read the Black Dagger Brotherhood sometimes. They just should. :)

    ReplyDelete