Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @
For more information, and
to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.
This Week's Question
What authors have you met,
and where?
(Submitted by Elizabeth @
My Answer
I have definitely been lucky enough to meet some authors in the last few years! All of them have been YA authors, too.
In August of 2007, I met Stephenie Meyer, the author of my beloved Twilight Saga. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of her, but I do have the copy of Eclipse that she signed for me. (See the picture below.) This book had just been published, too. Stephenie did a presentation and signing at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center. (Coral Gables is a small city surrounded by the much larger city of Miami. It was originally a planned community created by George Merrick during the 1920s land boom. -- Source: Wikipedia) There were SO many people there! Most of them were teen girls, and some were accompanied by their mothers. But there were some adult fans present, as well.
In 2011, three YA authors came to a Coral Gables Indie bookstore -- Books and Books! This is a beautiful bookstore, located in the heart of downtown Coral Gables. The three authors were Maggie Stiefvater, Meg Cabot, and Libba Bray. I met Stiefvater and Cabot, and bought the books they were presenting, as well. Maggie's book was Forever, and Meg's was Abandon. If you'd like to read the entire post of that event, click HERE.
In August of 2007, I met Stephenie Meyer, the author of my beloved Twilight Saga. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of her, but I do have the copy of Eclipse that she signed for me. (See the picture below.) This book had just been published, too. Stephenie did a presentation and signing at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center. (Coral Gables is a small city surrounded by the much larger city of Miami. It was originally a planned community created by George Merrick during the 1920s land boom. -- Source: Wikipedia) There were SO many people there! Most of them were teen girls, and some were accompanied by their mothers. But there were some adult fans present, as well.
In 2011, three YA authors came to a Coral Gables Indie bookstore -- Books and Books! This is a beautiful bookstore, located in the heart of downtown Coral Gables. The three authors were Maggie Stiefvater, Meg Cabot, and Libba Bray. I met Stiefvater and Cabot, and bought the books they were presenting, as well. Maggie's book was Forever, and Meg's was Abandon. If you'd like to read the entire post of that event, click HERE.
Here I am with Maggie Stiefvater.
Meg Cabot and I.
In November of 2013, I attended the annual Miami Book Fair, which takes place in downtown Miami, on the grounds of Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus. Of course, I had a BLAST!! Plus I bought several books! I also met three more YA authors -- Kami Garcia, Alex Flinn, and Holly Black. I bought Beautiful Redemption, by Kami, and Towering, by Alex. If you're interested, you can access the entire post of that event HERE.
Kami Garcia and I smiling for the camera!
Alex Flinn meets Maria the Book Addict!
And Holly writes them, too!
In November of 2015, I again attended the Miami Book Fair, and this time, I met Melissa de la Cruz! She was presenting her new book, Isle of the Lost, which she signed for me!! YAAAAY!!! Interested in reading more? Click HERE!
Of course, a TRUE bookworm (btw, I've heard that we should now call ourselves "book dragons", instead of "bookworms") is NEVER satisfied with meeting just a few authors. We will ALWAYS want to meet more!!! So I'm looking forward to my next opportunity to meet more authors -- whether of YA or adult fiction -- at the next exciting book event in my area!!
What are your thoughts on
this topic?
If you're participating in this hop,
I'll go comment on your
own BBH post.
If not, I will then comment on one
of your blog posts!
Thanks for visiting!!!
It is really neat to meet authors. I used to attend at least one science fiction convention every year where I would often meet some whose writing that I liked. It has been awhile for me however. I want to get to a book festival soon. They are a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend Maria!
Hi, Brian!
DeleteIt SURE is!! I had a lot of fun at the events I've described here! I do wish I could have talked to these authors at length, but there were a lot of other people present, waiting to get their own books signed. On the other hand, I'm glad I didn't get to do to the authors for very long, because I'm sure I would have become tongue-tied. Lol.
Oh, how NICE that you got to attend at least one SF convention every year! I used to attend small Star Trek conventions down here in Miami. That was quite a while ago.... I miss that, too! I remember watching Star Trek bloopers at several of them, and laughing SO hard, along with everyone there. And I remember the tables and tables of photos and fanzines, home-built phasers.... Ah, the good ol' days!! Lol.
As for book festivals, yes, they're a LOT of fun, too! When I attended the ones I mentioned above, I actually felt as if I had been back in college, because these authors presented and described their books, and also read from them. So I felt as if I were at a college lecture. What a GREAT feeling!!
I haven't been able to attend any book events since I went to the midnight release party for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child". In fact, I have to avoid them now, because I KNOW I will be tempted to buy books, and I'm seriously running out of room for them..... Ye gads!! Well, on the other hand, I do have to read those that have been sitting on my shelves for years! Lol.
Thanks for commenting!! Hope you have a great weekend, too!! <3 :)
It's fun to meet authors! I like the idea that you had your picture taken with many of them. I will add that to my "to do" list, next time I attend an event. I've met many authors over the years, and I wrote about two of them in my post.
ReplyDeleteHi, Cathy!
DeleteYes, it is!! I wish I had gotten my picture taken with Stepheni Meyer, since she's one of my favorite authors..... Oh, well....But I did do it with all of the other authors!
How WONDERFUL that you've met so many authors! I'll go see which ones they were. And yes, you really should get your taken with any other authors you meet in the future! These are very nice memories to have!
Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)
Wow...nice photos and authors. Now I know what you look, Maria. :) You look terrific.
ReplyDeleteStephenie Meyer had to be cool to meet. I don't know any of the other authors.
Fun post...thanks for sharing.
Hi, Elizabeth!
DeleteThis is a GREAT question!! I really enjoyed answering it!!
Thanks for the compliment!! I do need to lose a little weight, though. Lol.
Yeah, she was! However, there were SO many people around, I only got to talk to her for a few seconds! :(
All of the other writers are YA authors. I read Meg Cabot's "Abandon", which is a paranormal novel, and LOVED it!! As for the other authors, I've read most of "Beautiful Creatures", which Kami Garcia c0-wrote with Margaret Stohl, another YA author. I didn't like this book at all, though.
Yeah, this was DEFINITELY a fun post to put together! Glad you enjoyed reading it, and you're very welcome for the sharing!
Thanks for the fun question!! Thanks as well for commenting!! HUGS!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)
You look GREAT!!
DeleteTHANK YOU!!! And thanks for commenting again!! HUGS!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)
DeleteHow cool! I love the Twilight books :D you've met some awesome authors!
ReplyDeleteBrittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles
Hi, Brittany!
DeleteOh, yeah, me, too!!! I had a GREAT time at that 2007 presentation, in spite of the crowds!
Yeah, I sure have! I need to read all their books, too! Lol.
Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)
I'm so jealous you met Stephenie Meyer! That's freaking awesome! :D I met Lauren Kate in 2013, she was the first ever author I met so I was all like eeeeeeep :D Then in 2014 I met Cassandra Clare and Holly Black when they were on tour together, which was the best day of my life because I'm a huge Cassandra Clare fun. And Holly Black was super funny! On the same day I also met my favorite Flemish author of my childhood and teen years. He was so nice to me. *cries*
ReplyDeleteHi, Steph!
DeleteYeah, I did!! But it was VERY brief! :( There were a LOT of people there to get their books signed. I was with a friend, and we stood in line for about two hours! So I couldn't talk to her for more than a few seconds. There were more people in line behind me!
But oh, WOW, you've met some AWESOME authors yourself!! I've read Lauren Kate's "Fallen" series, although I didn't like the last book. And Cassandra Clare! Now I'm jealous of YOU!! Lol. I met Holly Black myself, as you saw in this post.
Who is this Flemish author from your childhood? You've got to give me his name! And how WONDERFUL that he was so nice to you!! GREAT!!
Thanks for the TERRIFIC comment!! HUGS!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)
Cassandra asked me who my favorite character of her books were and I told her Magnus Bane. It's a wonder I could even speak! xD
DeleteHis name is Guy Didelez. He writes for kids and teens and if anything, I was more nervous to meet him than Cassandra and Holly. :3
Hi, again!
DeleteI felt the same way when meeting each of the authors above! It's like, WOW, THESE are the TALENTED people who have written all of these AMAZING stories!! How can I even say ANYTHING in their presence? Lol. So I can relate!
I've never heard of this author, but I will DEFINITELY look him up! And of course you were even more nervous to meet him, since he was one of your childhood heroes! Such writers are really larger than life! It's SO GREAT that you got to meet him!! I'm SO happy for you!!
Thanks for all of these BEAUTIFUL comments!! HUGS!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)
Wow! You sure met a lot of awesome authors! Glad you got to meet them!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Book Blogger Hop!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Hi, Ronyell!
DeleteYeah, I did!! But I wish I had met more!!
Thanks for commenting!! <3 <3 :) :)
You met a lot of awesome authors! I love going to author events. I went to BookCon again last year, but I didn't go to any signings. BUT I am going to the Obisdio stop next month, so I am very excited.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sam!
DeleteYeah, I sure did!! I can't quite believe it!
Oh, I've never heard of either BookCon or the Obisdio stop. I'll have to check those out! Hope you really enjoy the second one!!
Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)
I have attended Fantasycon in the UK for several years and seen and talked to a number of amazing authors - but the high point was meeting and chatting to Terry Pratchett at a couple of book signings. Such a lovely man...
ReplyDeleteHi, Sarah!
DeleteOh, you're SO lucky to have gone to something like Fantasycon.....it sounds WONDERFUL!! The closest I can come to that is that I attended several small Star Trek conventions here in Miami several years ago.
OMG, you actually MET Terry Pratchett?! I ENVY YOU!!! I think I would have been TOTALLY starstruck!! Lol.
Thanks for the great comment!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)
That's great that you've been able to attend so many bookish events, they're aren't many here unless you live in London. Maggie Stiefvater is one of my faves, it must have been wonderful to meet her.
ReplyDeleteHi, Tizzy!
DeleteI haven't gone to any bookish events recently..... :( The last one I went to was the midnight release party for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child", on July 30th, 2016. The book was released at midnight, on July 31st!!
As for the Miami Book Fair, that takes place every year, in November, in downtown Miami. I didn't get to go either last year or in 2016, though.... :(
Oh, yeah, it was WONDERFUL to meet Maggie! We only chatted briefly, however, as there were SO many other people there eager to meet her!
It's too bad there aren't that many book events where you live. In her comment above, S.J. Higbee mentioned something called "Fantasycon". I wonder whether that's held in London. I would LOVE to attend that!!
Thanks for the nice comment!! <3 :)
Very cool!!! I haven't been to any book events or cons. I need to go to some!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Hi, Chrissy!
DeleteTHANKS!! Yeah, it's SUPER COOL to be able to meet authors!! I'm lucky to have this GREAT Indie bookstore, Booka & Books, right here in Miami, as they have author presentations all year long! I haven't gone to any recent book events there, though, because I'm trying to hold back on book buying. Besides, sometimes these events are held on weeknights, and that's when I'm working. :( But it's nice to know that this bookstore is here!
We also have the Miami Book Fair every November. I haven't attended the last two years because of the issue of not spending so much on books. Maybe THIS year, though, I will go!!
Thanks for the comment!! Hope you have a great week, too!! <3 :)
Nice to know you are a fellow Trek fan. I used to write Trek fan fiction many years ago! Those were the days when fan fiction was published in printed fanzines; I would buy them at Trek marathons and go home to curl up with my new zine... or I would get my contributor copies in the mail.
ReplyDeleteThis. Moment may seem irrelevant, but you see, quite a lot of the fan writers who used to be published in those fanzines went on to be published professionally(including me!)so I “met” those who were already my friends. Plus I attend a Melbourne convention, Continuum, every year and children’s and YA lit conferences. We’re a small community here so chances are that if you love SF or children’s books, you’ll meet some of your favourite writers sooner or later!
I did a long list of people I hVe met on my blog, but there are quite a few I have missed. There are just too many!
Hi, Sue!
DeleteAnother Trekkie? YAAAAAY!!! But I prefer the TOS Star Trek. I tried watching a couple of NextGen episodes, but never warm up to that version of ST. Ditto with the other versions. For me, Star Trek is Mr. Spock, Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Chekhov, Sulu, and Chapel. They're my gang!!! Lol.
So you've written ST fan fiction? AWESOME!! Are you on fanfiction.net? I remember those fanzines, too! I bought a couple of them, back in the day, when I used to attend small ST conventions here in Miami. I have since lost them.... :(
Please do let me know if you're on fanfiction.net. I would LOVE to read your stories! Have you published any ST books? I'll go look on your website.
How nice that you attend a convention in Melbourne every year! I wish I could attend some cons.... There are cosplay cons, but I don't think they take place in Miami, but up in Fort Lauderdale, which is to the north of Miami. I don't drive, so I would have to get transportation somehow....
Thanks for the TERRIFIC comment!! Live long and prosper!! <3 :)
Hi Maria! I’m not on fanfiction.net; I stopped writing fan fiction long before the Internet was a thing! There is a wonderful web site called 1001 Trek Tales which publishes vintage Trek fiction with the permission of the authors. Two of my stories are on it, though not the best. They just happened to be in the collection the editor had. I wrote about 150 fan stories in my time.
DeleteI must agree with you that the original series is the best, but I wanted my Star Trek enough to be willing to give the others a go. And there are some wonderful episodes of each of the spinoffs, including specials in which original cast members appeared. One ep of Deep Space Nine had Commander Sisko and some of his crew turn up on Space Station K7 during the tribbles crisis. It cleverly wove them into original footage and the author, David Gerrold, finally got his cameo appearance as a crew member stroking a tribble. A very funny episode which paid tribute to the original.
PS That is a gorgeous home page banner - I never have worked out how to slot in my own choice on my own a Blogger blog.
ReplyDeleteHi, again, Sue!
DeleteI wish I could take credit for that banner, but I can't. It was created for me by a HIGHLY talented web designer, Jennifer Johnson. You can find her website button in my sidebar. All I did was select the font I wanted. She did the rest!
As for how to put in a banner on your blog, once you have one ready, I can show you how to do that. Just shoot me an email at spocktrekoneATcsDOTcom. It's not that difficult.
THANK YOU for the compliment on my banner!! <3 <3 :) :)
Thanks, I will get back to you! Compliments to the artist!
Delete