Buzz Girl Stephanie Hale and I struck up a deal from back-when that we would buy a copy of each other’s book at the Literary Signing so that a) we wouldn’t look like dorks who no one wanted to visit; and b) so we could have signed copies; and c) just cuz it sounded like fun.
And we did just that. The difference was, she’d long ago read mine, but her book, REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN, was pretty much hot-off-the-press. With the whirlwind activities, it took a few days until I got to crack the spine. (Ouch, sorry, Steph, that sounded painful.) I only got to read a few pages, but the fast pacing and playful tone were enough to draw me right in.
Here’s a picture of Steph and me (I’m the one showing all that skin, but minus the flabby arm this time), with me telling her that I’m SO going to read her book on the flight home.
And read it, I did. Including some laugh-out-loud moments to my travelmate/roommate, and all-around good buddy, author Janie Emaus (shown with me here following the Daphne Awards earlier in the week).
Back home, I was supposed to be writing and cleaning house and cooking and, well, sleeping, but Steph’s heroine, Aspen Brooks, was having NONE of that. She would not let me rest until all her problems were solved and threads neatly resolved.
Take my word for it: REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN is a joyride! Fun and funny, touching, snarky…a book that leaves you wanting more. Which Steph and her publisher will be sharing with us sometime next year...
Anyway, I’m wondering if any of you--writers and readers--have come upon favorite books from conferences, contests, giveaways or in some unusual ways, too? If so, please, do share!
Tina
Tina Ferraro
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11 comments:
Tina, I am so honored that you felt this way about my book! It really makes me feel great!
My 40 pound box of books from conference just arrived so I'm looking forward to finding some treasures!
xo,
Steph
Good post, Tina! Yes, I love getting all the books from conferences! It's one of the coolest things cuz you get to discover new authors.
A few years ago, I stumbled upon author Lori Handeland's book Blue Moon in a conference freebie tote. It was my one of my first paranormals -- and def the first werewolf book I'd ever read. I was like, I'm so going to write about a werewolf -- they're HOT!
I got a book signed by Lori Handeland in Dallas this year -- and, get this, she congratulated me on my first sale and said she would look for Never Cry Werewolf when it came out. I thanked her for turning me on to werewolves, because without Blue Moon, I'd probably be writing... something else. :)
Oh, BTW, I also DEVOURED Steph Hale's Revenge of the Homecoming Queen. What a fun book, Steph! I loved it -- and totally gorged myself reading it Monday when I was supposed to be doing laundry and catching up on emails...
You did a wonderful job of making Aspen sympathetic!!! I loved all the characters, and because I love a zany plot, you had me from the beginning. Read this fabulous book, guys!
I can't believe how talented the Buzz Girls are! So proud of all of you.
Love,
Heath
yay, for Steph!! Looking forward to a big book haul to Borders and snatching up Revenge. Love the pics, Tina!!
Tina,
I can't wait to read Steph's book. Actually, I was reading over your shoulder on the plane. Now I need my own copy, so I can finish it.
As for all those books, I lugged them home and passed them out among my critique group.
Janie
Yay! I can't wait to finish reading mine... I was going to finish last night, but had a little borders book party to go to...
And congrats everyone! I didn't know your books were ALL prominately displayed on the front YA display table! At least they were in I left. How wonderful!
;-)
Teri
Steph, have fun with all those books!
Heather, so cool about Lori Handeland turning you on to werewolves!
Kelly and Janie, yep, you're going to love REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN.
And TJ, thanks SO MUCH for making sure our books are on the display table. :)
Ooh - I'm still waiting for Steph's book to arrive, but hopefully it should be here sometime next week.
I got Undead and Unwed in my conference bag last year at the RNA conference in England. I'd been wanting to read that book forever and it had just been released by a UK publisher so I was pretty happy to snag a copy!!!!
Well, as all my books are currently packed away for the duration--except for The Stand... I swear, it's still on my night table--I can't put my hands on any freebies that became keepers (and after four conferences, they're all starting to run together).
Heather, that's such a great story about Lori Handeland!
Hugs,
TLC
Amanda, I read Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson and it was LOL funny!
And TLC, yeah, give The Stand a try...but honestly, if it doesn't grab you, I will let you off the hook (even though I finished P & P...)
Thanks for weighing in!
I can't wait to read Steph's book! As I was so crazy-busy, I didn't get to buy (or grab for free) as many books as usual, but two books I did get were CHINA DOLLS by Michelle Yu and Blossom Kan (dolls indeed!) and my marvelous CP's FASHIONABLY LATE (Nadine Dajani, natch). Sure, I've read FL many many many times already but I can't wait to read it for the first time in book form! YAY!
Yeah, Wendy, run, don't walk, to get Steph's book. And I know what you mean about the thrill of seeing your cp's ms. in book form! I think I smiled straight through my read of GRAFFITI GIRL when Kelly Parra's book hit the stands, no matter how many times I'd read it on the screen.
Thanks for jumping in, and may I ask how I missed seeing you at National?!?
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