Friends, I have been so lucky to attend a plethora of awesome events held by the Hudson Valley YA Society the past few months at Oblong Books in Rhinebeck, NY. Although, every time I attend an event, I fully intend to write a long and lengthy detailed recap with highlights and pictures and the whole shebang, but usually just end up too tired when I get home and then put it off until I forgot everything I was going to write about. In this case, that’s happened for me at the last three events I attended. I didn’t take notes, and I end up procrastinating. Enter today’s post! I have quite a few pictures on my iPhone (ILY ILY) from the events that were always intended to be posted here on Good Books And Good Wine, so I hope you’re cool with this photo heavy post, if not that’s cool but note, I am totally bribing you with some books at the end.
November 4, 2012 – Kimberly Sabatini’s Launch Party:
In which debut author Kimberly Sabatini talks about the writing process for Touching The Surface and it’s influences. Oh, also Kimberly is like the nicest author I have EVER, ever met. She’s always so warm and welcoming and genuine at the events — she’s also a pretty regular attendee of HVYAS.
One cool thing about the signings at Oblong Books is that the authors usually read an excerpt from their books which generally makes me WAY more excited to read the book.
December 9, 2012 – Gwenda Bond and Libba Bray
At this signing, there wasn’t really a theme so Gwenda Bond and Libba both brought in stories they wrote when they were kids and it was all kinds of hilarious and awesome, as you can see by Libba’s laughter attack.
So, I probably seem like an author stalker but I am pretty sure this is the fourth time I’ve met Libba. She’s been lovely and kind every time I’ve met her. This was my first time meeting Gwenda, who is also lovely and has the most awesome southern accent. Also? You don’t have to tell me or ask me twice to wear a flapper headband, I will do it every single time.
Of course, Allison let me drag her to this signing — well not quite drag, she was a very willing participant. Anyways, here she is with Gwenda and Libba.
February 3, 2013 – Gayle Forman, Elizabeth LaBan, and Amy McNamara
I went to this event two weeks ago with my little sister — who I’m meeting up with for some Hibachi in like 40 minutes hahaha better get going with this post. Anyways, talk about an event for contemporary lovers featuring newcomers Amy McNamara and Elizabeth LaBan and the legendary Gayle Forman. I loved this event, it was so intelligent and insightful and I feel like I learned quite a bit about the three authors. Also? Cool thing, Gayle Forman opened by talking about the role of privilege in the three books thus cementing her as one of my favorite authors of all time.
You totally can’t see it, but I am flapping my arms and flailing and fangirl squeeing on the inside. You guys! GAYLE FRICKEN THE BOSS FORMAN GAVE ME A HUG. OMG and she knew what Good Books And Good Wine was. Or maybe she was just being nice. BUT STILL. OH MY GOD. I almost had a meltdown of happiness and fangirling and being overwhelmed by awesome. This was by far one of the highlights of all the signings I have attended.
But wait… there’s more…
Whatever could this fly stack be? OH WAIT. I think I know. These are the extra copies I purchased, fully intending to give them away with my recap posts, but omg I was too lazy to do recaps. Does that mean these books go to waste? Hell no, I paid list price for them. Therefore if you are a genius like I am, I bet you can guess what’s coming. I’m giving them all to one lucky winner from the US or you know, has a US address.
All these books are signed? WHATTTTT. Yo, that means these books are EXTRA special and you should totally use the rafflecopter to enter. Oh and please be 13 years or older, ain’t nobody got time for COPA.
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Goodness! You are so lucky that you are able to attend so many signings. I really wish that there were more signings closer to me (I usually have to travel at least four hours to attend one).
Thank you so much for the excellent giveaway. =)
I understand how that goes. My drive to Oblong is about 2.5 hours, or, 4.5 if I am doubling back to pick up Allison, who lives an hour in the opposite direction. Luckily my car gets awesome gas mileage (what up 2009 Hyundai Elantra) so it’s not like a huge amount of money coming out of my account for gas.
Too bad there aren’t closer signings!
You really are a champ with all that driving to get to these signings (especially when Allison joins you)! See you later today I assume! I’m coming with my team of t(w)eens again.
Not entering ’cause I have a number of these, but just wanted to say this is a really good idea! I always *mean* to talk about the signings I go to, and somehow *never* do… I don’t know that I have enough pics to make a “scrapbook” and be done with it, but I’ll have to remember in the future to at least do that.
Plus I think I’d rather see pics than a long post detailing everything – unless the author happens to be hilarious… =D
How fun! I cannot wait to move and live around “my people”. You know, people who love to read books and meet the authors of those books.
I had the pleasure of meeting Libba Bray a couple of years back. That woman is amazing, period. I want to be her best friend.
Thank you for the giveaway opportunity – good luck to all!
I love seeing pictures of authors in real life and hearing what they are like. I’ve only seen a few of these authors before so this was still very exciting to me, even if you think you were being lazy:)
Oh, I really would have enjoyed Gayle Forman talking about privilege in all three of those books. Looks like some fun author events! It’s probably better that they don’t come around as often in the Midwest…I’d spend way more money on books!
I am supremely jealous of you right now. You got to meet so many great authors! I live in a city where not many authors come so it’s always exciting to see who others get to meet. And I really like the photo heavy post (I’m a visual person). Thanks for the giveaway!
I love all the author signings you go to. I envy you for that. I wish more of them came near me. And I should probably get off my ass more and drive to them, but I never have anyone to go with and I am so awkward alone. But…I will be at BEA and I am going to Book Bash in Orlando, so there is that. Hopefully I get some fun posts out of it.
This is an epic giveaway. I will have to remember to try and do something like this when I go to Book Bash.
Thanks, April!
This happens to me all the time! I want to write about the event I just went to, but I forget all the details once I get home, lol. Awesome recap though! I love looking at pictures! And OMG! Gayle hug!! 😀
I totally almost died in that moment it was AWESOME.
HAHAHA this is awesome. I need to write my Pitch Dark Days recap but I keep forgetting. Also, I love that Gwenda Bond has a Southern accent. You know I’m all about the Southern girls. I think she’s been to the western part of my state before, but the place where all of the authors go there is about six hours away so I don’t go to very many author events there (read: I once went to an author event in that area.) Still, yay for Southern accents and great author events. And for living in place that has them frequently. That’s awesome, April and YAY for seeing Allison up in that picture too!
Pretty sure if Gayle Forman hugged me I would faint. Straight up. How pumped were you?!?!?!?
That awkward moment where I realize I still haven’t written up a post on the Dark Days signing I went to over a week ago. Gah, I am made of blogger fail. *headdesks*
I’ve been to a few author events and the drive is always super long, well 3 hours, so by the time I get home I’m always too exhausted to write up a post. Then the procrastination sets in and I end up forgetting to post at all.
I should probably do a post like this with a recap of several events.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Oh wow! I wish I could have been there. You are so sweet to give away all these books. Thanks!
Ooh, what fun! The signings you attended look amazing, and I’m particularly jealous of the Gayle Forman one, even though I’ve seen her at an author event previously. That was back when I hadn’t read a book she’d written – things have changed now that I’ve read Just One Day!