Just got back from ALA. Actually I got back two hours ago, but after trying unsuccessfully to fall asleep I had to get up for a little while. I think now that I’m back on the east coast, my body is on west coast time.
Jack D. Ferraiolo, Nancy Viau, me, and Lauren Myracle after our lunch with librarians.
I had a great time! I met so many people, let’s see if I can remember everyone: my critique partner Marlene Perez; Heidi R. Kling and the adorable BB; my online friend and librarian Laura; fellow Abrams/Amulet authors: Lauren Myracle, Nancy Viau, Jack D. Ferraiolo, Jan Greenberg, Maiya Williams, Laura Numeroff, Meghan Nuttall Sayres, David A. Beronä; my lovely and tall editor Tamar Brazis along with the rest of the Abrams crew: my marketing director Jason Wells, editor Susan Van Metre, and the hardworking Julia and Camille who helped keep the stack of books on the table high and expertly applied the “Signed Copy” stickers. Plus lots of booksellers and librarians and teen readers! A group of teen girls from YALSA made me feel like a rock star when they descended upon the booth during one of my signings and told me that my cover was awesome and each left with a signed copy.
My marketing director Jason said I HAVE to write about my celebrity encounter, so here it is: On Saturday–I think it was Saturday, right? The days kind of blend together–I was sitting at the little table at the Abrams booth and had been signing copies. A nice looking gentleman stopped at my table and said he had to come over to check out my book because the big poster of the cover drew him in. He decided to get a copy and asked to have it signed. I said, “Who should I sign it to?”
“Well, I’m Orson Scott Card, so just sign it ‘To Orson’,” he said.
Oh my gosh. It really was Orson Scott Card, author of Ender’s Game! I kind of did a double take when he said his name and Jason said he saw the name badge and it really was him. Orson Scott Card now owns a signed copy of Something to Blog About.
Another celebrity I saw:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Didn’t get in line to buy his book, but I did take a picture.
Anyway, ALA was awesome. I had a great time and I loved everyone I met. I didn’t get to see a lot of California, but what I did see reminded me a lot of South Florida–lots of tall buildings, lots of peach and pink, palm trees, and busy highways. If it weren’t for the mountains off in the distance, I’d have felt right at home!
Outside the Anaheim Convention Center
Okay, hopefully I can go to sleep now since it’s 1:00am eastern time. Get back on eastern time, self! Oh, funny thing I just remembered: On my flight from Dallas to Raleigh, we had the Kansas City Wizards soccer team on board because they’re playing a game in nearby Cary. This little, tiny boy, who couldn’t have been more than five or six years old, sitting in the row in front of me, as the guys were boarding and moving down the aisle, says loud enough for them to hear, “Go, RailHawks!” (The team the Wizards were playing against.) One of the guys looks at him and goes, “Nice, thanks!”
Oh, wow! Orson Scott Card! That’s pretty cool… 🙂
I met Orson a couple years back, and have a signed copy of Ender’s Game- that’s so cool that he has a signed copy of your book now!! 🙂 Go you!
Oh, I wish I could have been there!
It was great meeting you, Shana! =D
Orson Scott Card?! wow!!!
sounds like a blast! 🙂
humorously, we sold one of your books today! that is our last copy with bookplates (if you wanted to send more, that would be awesome! but not completely necessary if you don’t want to)
i feel super cool because i have also met orson scott card (though i find it odd that he said sign it to orson because i thought he went by scott….). he went to a book convention in boston that i went to for a couple of years, and he was pretty cool. we were standing at an internet kiosk… and looking at his website, seeing his picture and then he came up and used the compute next to us.
TOO COOL
yay for being home though! and im glad that you had a good time!
I’d be happy to send some more bookplates! I’m not sure if I have your new address, can you send it to me? And let me know how many bookplates you want! 🙂
can i get 5?
and its 32 pleasant street, plymouth nh, 03264
i was such a dork, i showed her my name in the acknowledgements haha!
That is AMAZING! Orson Scott Card!!!
Blah…I wish I could have gone since you were so close. =( I’m so happy for you, though. Sooo cool!!
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