This past weekend, I was so excited to be able to attend the Miami Book Fair International. Unfortunately my stay was cut short by the arrival of an unbearable headache (rain clouds were moving in… we are not friends), but while I was there, I had a wonderful time!
I made it to the Teen Dreams panel with authors Colleen Houck, Nancy Holder, Debbie Viguie, and one of my writing idols, Sarah Dessen!
It was very interesting to hear the author’s takes on a variety of topics, from how Debbie Viguie and Nancy Holder work as a writing team, to how they all found their way to publication, to their stance on publishing short stories first and e-publishing, and to (my favorite topic) fanfiction. Colleen Houck confessed to giggling over it with her fans, while Debbie Viguie and Nancy Holder said that they’re flattered, but don’t look at it, and Sarah Dessen said that she ignores it because she thinks of her characters as “Mine! Mine!” and doesn’t want to see someone else put words in their mouths. I also met fellow book blogger JJ of JJ iReads after they spoke.
Then… there was a signing and I got my copy of Dessen’s What Happened to Goodbye signed!
And I met Sarah Dessen! I was too starstruck to do anything other than blurt out the fact that I’m a huge fan.
Afterwards, I wandered around, exploring the various tents and enjoying the random characters walking around.
All in all, a wonderful day. I only wish I could have stayed longer and been able to make it back for the second Teen Dreams panel on Sunday!
There are 8 Comments for this entry.
I love Sarah Dessen, The Miami Book Fair sounds like it was amazing. It’s so cute that they had characters.
It was a really good time! I’m looking forward to next year’s!
I wish I could have gone! It would have been so cool to finally hang out with you! We definitely have to make plans to meet up at the next YA author signing at Books& Books.
Glad you had fun at the book fair!
Thanks Ashley! And yes, we’ll definitely have to meet up!
Looks like an awesome event. I haven’t read Sarah Dessen, so that’s a new find for me, thanks :)
No problem! If you’re just starting, try This Lullaby or The Truth About Forever. Those are my FAVORITES!
Awesome!! Glad you had fun :)
Hi Jen,
Looks as though you had a fantastic time, shame about the headache, hope you are fully recovered now.
This looks like the fun way to host an event, never seen anything quite like it before.
I have not really read a lot of YA or Fantasy before, however I am ‘dipping my toe in the water’ with a new author at the moment …. ‘The Moon Coin’ by Richard Due….. I haven’t started on the book yet, but it looks great and there is some fantastic artwork to boot.
I am genuinely loooking forward to this one, so who knows, I may be stopping by again soon to get some more recommendations from you.
Hope that you had a great Thanksgiving.
Yvonne