What a surprise! Beyond exciting! Here's the link: http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20310286_20521465,00.html#21043406 There Selene is, sandwiched between the Coen brothers' Blue Ray collection and actor Paul Giamatti! Amazing.
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| Jackson Pearce, me, Laurel Snyder and Drag-Queen Cleo (DQC) strike a pose. |
There I saw Jackson Pearce (SWEETLY) Rachel Hawkins (HEX HALL series), Stephanie Perkins (LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR), Libba Bray (BEAUTY QUEENS), Victoria Schwab (NEAR WITCH), Terra Elan McVoy (SUMMER OF FIRSTS AND LASTS), Jennifer Jabaley (CRUSH CONTROL) and many other outstanding authors. I especially enjoyed meeting NYT's best-selling author, Simone Elkeles (PERFECT CHEMISTRY series). She was warm, gracious and funny--on stage and in person. I ended up spending most of the authors' party on Saturday night with her.
Speaking of funny, I was really blown away by how entertaining all of the teen author's were--comediennes, every single one of 'em! Libba Bray, especially, had everyone in the packed house rolling. So did Jackson Pearce, Rachel Hawkins and Simone. I'm going to have to step up my game!
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| COAS and DQC! |
The festival is also a great time to connect with writer friends, like Laurel Snyder, Cathy C. Hall, Kara Levy Bietz, Elizabeth Dulemba, Janice Hardy, Donna Bowman, Barbara Schneider, Connie Fleming, Ashley Parsons and others. On Saturday, Cathy-on-a-stick had a face-off with Drag-Queen Cleo. They each had servants fanning them so they kept their cool. Good thing as shrieking cat fight was barely averted. (DQC was overheard to mumble that there "woulda been no contest" and that she "woulda torn that commoner to bits.")
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| DQC took one look and said, "Mine!" |
Elizabeth Dulemba showed off a rubber ducky Janice had given her, which then DQC claimed for herself. We had to pry her off Pharaoh-duck with promises of regular visits. Another ugly scene averted.
Moving from the teen stage to the adult one, I was so happy to finally meet historian Holly Tucker (BLOOD WORK) who is brilliant, kind and gracious. Holly is the genius behind one of my favorite blogs, Wonders and Marvels.
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| Yeah, I have no idea either... |
The Decatur Book Festival really is an amazing event. Every year I think there's no way they can top it, and every year they do. Next year, plan on joining us!
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9 comments:
Hi Vicky!
Couldn't agree more - the Festival was amazing. I met you at the Simone Elkeles' signing - I agree she was fabulous. But so were you! Your love of the history about which you write was so evident in your presentation.
I'm about 1/3 of the way through Cleopatra's Moon already and love it! The setting is so vivid and brilliantly described - I wish I could think of a less cliche way to say it comes alive, but well. I can't. So I'll just say you brought ancient Egypt to life, so it becomes a place I can picture, can feel, can inhabit and I can't wait to read more.
I will definitely try and make the festival next year. :) It looked like it was so much fun.
Such exciting news about the EW mention.
Sounds like it was a fab festival. You're right. Writers for teens are so clever and witty. I always feel kind of lame in comparison with my dressing up, brandishing spongia, etc.
Congrats on all the amazing publicity, too! C xxx
That wasn't a lame pose. You look a little like a weather girl showing us clouds down in Florida. Nothing wrong with that.
I'm glad to hear that Cathy-on-a-stick is still in one piece. I think Drag-Queen-Cleo, with her man arms, could have done serious damage to Cathy-on-a-stick. Cathy has no hands to punch with for one thing. And she's paper thin.
Wow, congrats on the "must read" deal. That is a wonderful thing.
Oh, Vicky, someday Cathy on a Stick will...okay, she'll never have arms. But she may get a bigger stick, THEN Drag Queen Cleo better watch out!
The DBF is wonderful! I so wanted to make Sunday but had other plans. Sorry I missed you and the Sunday crowd!
P.S. I thought the Emory track was for those smartypants, I mean brilliantly educated, scholarly types, who'd written brilliant books. Like CLEOPATRA'S MOON. ;-)
Great POST -AWESOME PICTURES!
@Gilly--I'm glad you're enjoying the read. It was good to meet you.
@Karen--yeah, why WEREN'T you there, Karen? You woulda loved it!
@Caroline--I know exactly what you mean--which is why I can't even bring myself to dress up anymore!
@Sally--thanks but poor Cathy-on-a-Stick is doomed I think. Nobody messes with Drag-Queen-Cleo! ;-)
@Cathy--yeah, I went there! And thanks for the support.
@Marty--thanks for commenting!
Sorry I missed you all over the weekend - sounded fabulous! Thanks for sharing the recap and pix. (And, hey, I'm not taking on DQC, and I have full-sized arms!!)
Glad it was such a success. And congrats on MORE great publicity!
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