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6.27.2011

ALA 2011 Wrap-Up & Other Shenanigans



Hola. Bonjor! Everyone doing good on this fine and very hot Monday? There has been a few things going on in the real world that has turned my ordinary mundane life into a life of hectic happenings and a very dirty home-front. First things, first, on the design front, I have been working my tail off for a few very special author ladies - which I'm so excited to showcase. But, because of the high demands of trailer and book cover making my free time has gone seriously down hill. So, pardon my quick posting and lack of commenting...

Secondly, I also had the pleasure to attend ALA 2011 (The American Library Association's Summer Conference) which happened to be in my backyard, New Orleans. As of last year I had planned on attending BEA 2011 in NYC, but after I learned ALA would be in New Orleans - I ditched that idea and stayed close to home, even though I desperately want to make it out to BEA at some point!

If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of these conferences I highly recommend it. Not only do you have a chance to meet TONS of authors - you also get to chit chat with publishing reps, scoop up galleys, signed copies of finished books and lots and lots of swag. It was an event that had so much stimulation that I felt a little loopy as I processed everything. 

But, what I have to say was the best part of the whole event was meeting all my online buddies and fellow bloggers. Everyone was so nice. I really wish I would have taken more pictures, but of course all I have is this big camera and I didn't want to haul it with me, so I just used my iPhone...bah - I know what I'm asking the hubs for via Christmas! 
Patti from BookAddictPatti.com
& Myself waiting for the doors
to open. We were hanging out
with Laura (Life After Jane)
and Autumn (From the TBR Pile)
Laura from Life After Jane
& me, again!
We are waiting in line
for an author signing.


I know a bunch of other pictures were taken and I can't wait to see all them, but I got to meet a ton of bloggers and everyone was so nice. A special shout out to the awesomeness that is Bailey at IB Book Blogging & Sasha from Sasha and Em who nabbed me some books that I was unable to find. Then on top of my book angels, I also got to meet, Maria, Caris Book Blog,  Christie @ The Fiction Enthusiast,  Jess @ Gone with the Words & her friend Leti, Madigan Reads, Jen @ I Read Banned Books, Nerissa - Inthenameofbooks , Jamie & Josh (bookmarked)
Sab @ YA Bliss, Michelle @ Windowpane Memoirs and I could go on, because I got to meet so many bloggers. And then we got to go out and party...Bourbon Street here we come! Sasha & Nerissa had her mouth open the hole time in shock and Christie was so much fun!

Here we are on the balcony
Me, Christie (Fiction Enthusiast) & Sasha (Sasha & Em)

Leanna Renne Hieber and myself holding Darker Still
her new Young Adult novel.
Me being all stalker-like
with Julie Kagawa.
Then of course there were the authors...here is me with Leanna Renee Hieber.

Leanna and Julie Kagawa actually recognized my blog which nearly made me do a dance and act insane. That was the biggest affirmation of what I do. And speaking of the genius that created the Iron Fey series. She probably thought I was stalking her after that because it seemed that Patti and I kept on showing up where she was hanging out. And then I would smile like a lunatic and try to say something witty but it just came out that I would repeat her name - which I probably pronounced wrong. I hang my head in shame.



I also took a lot of stalker-esque pictures of authors, but I won't add all of those because this would go on forever...and speaking of Forever, I'm sure you guys are ready now to see the books that I picked up. The reason my shoulders hurt and my back hurts and my feet hurt...

There is nothing like lugging nearly 40 books (first days haul) about a quarter of a mile, to find a Starbucks and then have them close the moment you get there.


The booklist in order of appearance:
Pathfinder  Orson Scott Card {signed}
Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul  by Leanna Renee Hieber {signed}
The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa {signed}
Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton
Personal Demons Lisa Desrochers {signed}
Wonderstruck Brian Selznick
Cut Patricia McCormick
The Future of Us by Jay Asher, Carolyn Mackler 
Between Jessica Warman
Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead
Blood Wounds Susan Beth Pfeffer
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool {signed}
Pure Julianna Baggott

19 comments:

Jessi E. said...

It was great getting to have lunch with you and Patti! :)

Grace Fonseca said...

Looks like you had a great time at ALA. Leanna is so nice and Julie Kagawa was nice at well. I'm so glad you enjoyed ALA.

ParaJunkee said...

@Jessi - It was. I want to kick myself that I didn't take pictures with everyone!!

@Grace - Everyone was so nice and all the authors went above and beyond

CHRISTIE said...

It was so great to meet you! Thanks to you and your hubby for acting as tour guide & dropping me off at my hotel after our Bourbon Street exploration. It was so much fun to see New Orleans with locals. Hopefully Sasha has recovered from the craziness she was exposed to.

The entire weekend was exhausting and crazy, but I’d do it again in a minute.

I hope we get to hang out again next time I’m in NOLA.

Little Miss Becky said...

It looks like you had such an amazing experience!!! Wow, that book stack definitely rivals some of the stacks I saw bloggers bringing back from BEA. I am so excited that ALA 2012 is going to be in California next year!! I WILL be there! :D

Thanks for sharing all your photos!

Bailey said...

I loved meeting you, Rachel! =) Glad you had such a great time. I am sure you are just as exhausted as I am now, after walking the convention floor for many hours at a time with tons of books.

We must meet up at another bookish event again! =)

Grace Fonseca said...

Parajunkee if you are ever in NY or NJ, just let me know. Maybe next year you might be in NY. We should hang out.

Midnyte Reader said...

I'm so glad you had a good time. Bookish conventions and events are so great because you not only get books, but all the people behind them and yeah other bloggers too who have the same passion as you!

Tyhitia Green said...

Wow. I plan to make it there someday. Hopefully within the next couple years. :-D

I'm so jealous of all your books. ;-)

Riv Re said...

So jealous! Julie is one of those authors on my must-meet list. You got some other awesome books. Forever, Forest in the Night, The Goddess Test, Vanish, Scorpio Races, and Nocturne.
Glad you enjoyed!

ParaJunkee said...

@Christie - Next time you are in town, definitely let me know. You were a blast to hang with.

@Little - It was a ton. I think they were basically giving away the same ARCs as they were at BEA - what I didn't get though was Bloodlines, which was at BEA :(

@Bailey - I'm hurting!! Feeling all of my 30 years, LOL. Definitely - BEA next year???

@Grace - I'm giving it a lot of though for 2012

@Midnyte - it was like a big book blogger happiness event

@Tyhitia - Going to a conference is definitely worth it.

Word of this comment: definitely

ParaJunkee said...

@Riv Re - Julie was so awesome! Kinda shy, but really nice. I really think she thought I was stalking her though...I'm looking forward to those the most and the dystopians, Ashfall, Pure...Legend, Dark Parties. Ahhh the list goes on. I had to change my review policy to NOT ACCEPTING because of book overload.

Danny said...

This sounds like you had so much fun!!! Although I would have been glad to meet you at BEA I'm happy you could attend ALA.
You have an incredible stack of books there...

And.. I was also so happy when I met Julie at BEA and... I think I was also starring at her like a dork not able to talk to her like I wanted! But she's so so sweet and I was glad I met her°

Hopefully we meet next year at BEA Rachel!

Patti (@TheLoveJunkee) said...

I had such a great time, and it wouldn't have been as much fun without you! Will start working on hubs about BEA but not holding my breath...

TheBookAddictedGirl said...

Wow! That looks soo much fun! I missed the British version, but I'll definately think about going soon!
And, whoa, you got the most *amazing* books! Happy reading!!

Jen B. said...

Wow! Any chances that some of those books might need new homes? I'm just asking :) Hopefully, I will get to attend a conference someday.

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

Wow, girl! It looks like you has an amazing time! I'm so excited for you! And, look at that haul! :) I'm so glad you had a wonderful time at ALA.

Julie @ Read Handed said...

Tried to meet up with you guys at Acme Oyster House, but the hostess said you all left when you found out that they couldn't seat incomplete parties. :( My husband and I still ate there anyway and it was wonderful. Would have been better with more company though!

newshadeofgreen said...

Wow! So jealous! What a gorgeous stack of books :). Thanks for sharing your pictures and experience. ~ Jen @ A Book and a Latte

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