Wow! What a week it’s been here in Austin, Texas!
The festivities kicked off Tuesday night at a swanky cocktail party in celebration of the release of Blessed, hosted by Candlewick Press, at Truluck’s Seafood, Steak & Crab House. Appetizers included Blue Crab and Gulf Shrimp Rangoons as well as Creamy Blue Crab Dip.
Thank you to Candlewick and everyone who joined in on the festivities!
Thanks also to CP and librarian guests at lovely dinner Thursday night at Eddie V’s!
Additional thanks go to the TLA Young Adult Round Table for–well, too much to list–but especially for coordinating the teens/YA reader-author program and the super fun dinner Wednesday night at Hickory Street Bar & Grill.
On Wednesday morning, I signed books at the Texas Library Association annual conference. Thank you to everyone who attended my signing in the Author Signing Area!
Here’s a shot of my Tantalize series books on display at the Candlewick booth along with Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences by Brian Yansky (Candlewick, 2010).
Nikki Loftin and Austin SCBWI RA Debbie Gonzales at the Texas SCBWI Booth.
HarperCollins editor Rosemary Brosnan at the Harper booth.
Author-librarian Debbie Leland.
Austin SCBWI ARA Carmen Oliver and children’s author Kelly Bennett.
Author Chris Barton signs at the Charlesbridge booth.
Illustrator Don Tate and author Audrey Vernick show off their picture book, She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story (HarperCollins, 2010).
Austinites gather before the Joint Publisher Party in the lobby lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin.
Authors Jessica Lee Anderson and P.J. Hoover set up for their signing.
Agent Erin Murphy. Clients of Erin Murphy Literary Agency gathered the following weekend in Austin for a writing retreat and hosted a wine social at BookPeople.
On Friday afternoon, the YA writing scene shifted to the YA A to Z conference, sponsored by the Writers’ League of Texas. Here’s a peek out the window at the Hyatt Regency.
My personal highlights included interviewing Gail Giles and speaking on a graphic novel panel with Hope Larson.
Author Mari Mancusi, Delacorte editor Françoise Bui, and author April Lurie.
Authors Jeanette Larson, Jessica, and Sarah Bird.
WestSide editor Evelyn Fazio and author Beth Felbaum.
Authors Tim Wynne-Jones and Uma Krishnaswami.
Thank you to the Writers’ League staff, faculty, and attendees for a terrific weekend!
Loved meeting you at the conference party on Saturday. You are so inspiring and I hope to see you at the Austin SCBWI meetings! Congrats on Blessed, can't wait to read it!
What a fabulous week! I am so bummed that yet again I didn't get to meet you, but I did get to see you! I was working at a signing next to yours. I can't wait to finally meet you!
Thanks for these great pictures. I was so happy to meet Greg, and truly sorry not to run into you at some point. It's been such a great weekend in Austin!
Great to see you, too, Melissa! Thanks for all of your enthusiasm!
MM, it's destiny that we'll meet at the perfect moment. I look forward to it!
My pleasure, Michael! I'm highlighting a couple more on Friday! Hope to meet you sometime soon.