
After a nice evening out, it was time to regroup and devise a plan of attack. This was our first full day at ALA, with loads of awesome signings and certain MUST HAVE books being released. Advice: If you attend any sort of conference whatsoever, make sure to work in teams. If I didn't have Jen, Cynthia and Christin, I don't know what I'd do. We had each other's backs! Word.
Doors opened...and? PANDEMONIUM!
We grabbed as many books as possible, unloaded at bag check, then headed off to our first signing with Laini Taylor, author of Lips Touch Three Times and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Laini had awesome pink hair and is just such a sweetheart. And guess who we ran into? JAY ASHER!!! I couldn't believe it. Jay Asher waits in lines, too! He also said he saw my tweet about almost peeing myself when we ran into him the first day. How embarrassing!
Then, we headed off to our next signing:

JULIE KAGAWA!!! Cynthia and I were lucky enough to be first in line, so we had a nice little chat with Julie and the publishers, discussing amazing new releases, what we're looking forward to the most, as well as a sneak peak at the cover of The Iron Knight WITH the synopsis! Sadly, due to prior commitments and sheer torture, we were not allowed to read the summary. *tear*
Next up, more books and unloading. We were all pretty exhausted and very much looking forward to another signing, so we decided to ask the awesome (VERY AWESOME) Penguin reps if there was a line for the signing yet. There wasn't, so yet again, first in line for...

BRENNA YOVANOFF! If you ever have a chance to go to one of her signings, please do. She is an angel!
Moving on, we got our copies of The Replacement and The Space Between signed and asked if there was a line for Lola and the Boy Next Door yet. The Penguin rep looked stunned yet pleased, especially since it was just for a book, not a signing, AND another hour and half till they released the ARCs. It didn't take long till this line was so long, you couldn't see the end. Don't believe me?

While we waited, every now and then, one of us would get up, scout the book scene and grab copies of various books. Sadly, while we were waiting, we missed the Cassandra Clare and Ellen Hopkins signings. Ahh, the price of Lola!
I had to use the little girl's room at one time and ran into David Leviathan and Maggie Stiefvater. Again, would've peed myself had I not just used the restroom. I hugged them both, was told of Maggie's sore throat (poor dear) and went back to my partners in crime to recap the story.
More time passes and...

SUCCESS!!! :D
We grabbed a quick lunch, rested a little more and then stormed the conference. We walked by the Simon and Schuster booth to see if they put out anymore goodies and look who we ran into:

ELLEN HOPKINS!!! I love her! She even offered and was kind enough to sign our books. During the whole fangirling blackout, I noticed a line was forming behind me. I felt so bad because she just finished her signing, just to do another signing, lol. But she said she didn't mind. Ellen, you're awesome and a trooper!
After that, we were walking around and ran into Maggie Stiefvater and Brenna Yovanoff! I wanted to hug Maggie again (I have some serious problems), but she was busy talking to one of the publishers, so I ended up chatting a bit with Brenna. We talked about books we're looking forward to and New Orleans in general. Then, Maggie joined us, we hugged it out, and she asked me if I grabbed a copy of The Scorpio Races yet. But of course, new best friend! That was the first thing we asked for, lol. Apparently it's her AND Brenna's favorite book that she's written so far. Umm...totally excited about The Scorpio Races now! :D
After this, we walked over to the Egmont booth, where our new Egmont BFF was preparing for Mette Ivie Harrison's signing. Tris and Izzie looks like an amazing book and Mette is a doll. She even gave us these awesome necklaces. Giggidy!
More walking, more scouting, more books, and finally, the day was over. Tis was an awesome, exhausting but fantabulous day. We ended the night with amazing drinks and food at Deanie's Seafood. YUMMY!!!
Check out my day 2 stash:

And now, it's GIVEAWAY TIME! For those who could not attend ALA, this giveaway is for you. One winner will win this little prize pack right here:

*an ARC of The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
*an ARC of Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (Jay Asher waits in lines, too!)
*Beads I caught on Bourbon Street (easy there, I didn't show anything or do anything to get them!)
Rules:
*Comment below about anything I've mentioned. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you (i.e. email address)!
*Since I'm very poor right now, this giveaway is only open to US participants. If you are outside the US, but have a US mailing address I can send the prize to, feel free to enter.
*Giveaway ends July 12th.
Good luck, everyone! Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go pass out now!
*dies*
Ahaha, I liked that Jay Asher read your tweet, about you peeing your pants because of seeing him! Great way to make a first impression xD
ReplyDeletegoogirl94@gmail.com
Lovely stash of books. I'm jealous. :) I haven't read anything by any of the authors mentioned, though I really want to read Tris and Izzie...anyway, thanks for the giveaway, and I'm glad you're having a good time!
ReplyDeletesusanna DOT pyatt AT student DOT rcsnc DOT org
Ohh you met Julie Kagawa, lucky! And I'm totally jealous of your awesome stash of books :)
ReplyDeletetiffanyinwonderland(at)hotmail(dot)com
Wow, sounds so awesome and exiting running into authors! :D
ReplyDeleteOmg...those long lines! I know what that feels like. x_x I've never been to a book convention, but I've been to a couple anime conventions. All the standing and the waiting is sometimes torture. I will endure all that again, though, if I ever get the chance to go to a book con! XD
Thanks for the giveaway!
naruto_and_hinata(at)hotmail(dot)com
I went to ALA in DC last year, and it was such a blast. Glad you had such a great time! I would have stood in line to get Lola too, I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeletevicariouslyaware(at)gmail(dot)com
ah that is soo cool that authors wait in lines too. So cool that you got to meet Maggie and Julie. Sounds like a blast.I would have done anything for lola too.
ReplyDeleteaprilmom00 at gmail dot com
Sounds like you had an awesome time! I'm so jealous of you snatching LOLA, definitely my most anticipated of this year. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!
ReplyDeletechasingwordsreviews{at}gmail{dot}com
The Replacement? JEALOUS!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I'm happy you had such a great time--thanks for posting, and for the chance to win!
GothamGal(at)Gmail(dot)Com
So jealous you got to meet Julie kagawa. I love her. And Brenna Yavonoff. Wonderful!! Thanks again for the awesome giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteVivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
I am completely jealous of you right now :) That is one heck of an awesome stack of books, not to mention you get to meet the authors!
ReplyDeletejaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net
I can't wait to see the actual Iron Knight cover. I think it's the best so far.
ReplyDeleteFindjessyhere at gmail dot com
Lol at the tweet about Jay Asher! That's so funny. I'm glad you had such a great time and thank you so much for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletemcrs_venin(at)hotmail(dot)com
How nice of Ellen Hopkins to sign for you! Sounds like you had so much fun. I wish I could have gone. Some day...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest!
kprwrite at hotmail dot com
lol. i love your comment about the beads! NO is a crazy place!! thanks for the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteamericangirlie1991 at yahoo dot com
omy god my mouth started watering when i saw those pix of your stash! lucky! dont forget to recommend the best ones!
ReplyDeleteestyisme@gmail.com
*Le Sigh*
ReplyDeleteVery cool. I totally wish I could have come to the convention. Thanks for the cool giveaway though. Look at all those cool book, and you got to meed all those cool authors!!!
peachandblue2@aol.com
So jealous of the books you came back with! And EEK you ran into David Levithan and Maggie Stiefvater???!!!
ReplyDeletelovereadingx[at]gmail[dot]com
Ahh that's so cool! Your stash is CRAZY. *wants* :p
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest!
rachelmglenn@gmail.com
Wow, thanks so much for the giveaway. I would've DIED if I got to speak with Ellen Hopkins. I once rode in the same elevator with her at a conference, but I was too afraid to say anything! :( Great to hear she's so nice, though.
ReplyDeletepamharris1981@yahoo.com
Hah, Jay Asher saw your tweet about you almost peeing your pants LMAO! *pets*
ReplyDeleteVery cool to know that Jay has to stand in lines also. You seemed to have had a REALLY GREAT TIME!
Loved all the pics!
Lisa
lisa7723(at)gmail(dot)com
I love how all the authors you met seem to be so sweet and down to earth. So jealous of all those books!!! I've heard such great things about The Near Witch and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Thank you so much for your generosity! :)
ReplyDeleteJessicaliegel@yahoo.com
Sounds like such an awesome time. And you got sooo many cool books! I totally would've peed if I ran into Maggie Stiefvater like that too. Lol.
ReplyDeletelyssad87(at)gmail(dot)com
I cannot believe you met Julie Kagawa!My friend Vivien and I were just wishing we could get our Iron Fey books signed! Thanks!
ReplyDeletethegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com
How awesome!! Glad you had fun.
ReplyDeleteI really want to meet Julie, she is awesome! Looks like you had a lot of fun. I can not wait to see The Iron Knight in person! So lucky!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
horselovercutie@yahoo.com
I loved your post! I totally would pee myself too if I meet David Leviathan and Maggie Stiefvater right outside the bathroom. Great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThank you! You are so awesome!
aspirewriter_trish@hotmail.com
Wow! Sounds like you had an awesome time. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletethrouthehaze at gmail dot com
I loved your stash of books. So jealous!! :) Thanks so much for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteflicka770@aol.com
Sounds you had a blast and got to meet alot of awesome authors and people.
ReplyDeletebookserieslover at gmail dot com
Gosh, that's quite a stash! I wish I could go to ALA. Some of my friends reported back such good things, and I'm full of envy!
ReplyDeleteSo psyched to enter the giveaway!
cjwid87 at hotmail dot com
That's great you got to meet so many authors and that you got a copy of Lola. Also, that's a pretty impressive stack of books there! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteerinberry12 at charter dot net
Oh wow, looks like you had a great time. I'm so jealous of your book piles, and meeting Maggie and Brenna! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletebrookea_2006@yahoo.com
Wow! With all fab authors in the events, it's really a make or break decision where to go first! And the lines you have to take. But it really sounded fun!
ReplyDeletemaidenveil(at)gmail(dot)com
Looks like you had a great time. I have some serious book envy. Lola!!! Ellen Hopkins is an awesome author. Thanks for the giveaway and sharing the wealth! The NW and Smoke and Bone are high on my TBR list. :)
ReplyDeletedbookstrings(at)gmail(dot)com
I totally would have hugged Maggie Stiefvater too! :) So cool to hear that authors wait in lines for books and are so nice to their fans. Lola would definitely be worth waiting in line for! Can't wait to read it and The Scorpio Races!
ReplyDeleteYou got some awesome books - thanks for the great giveaway! heisereads [at] gmail[dot]com
Wow, it looks and sounds like you had a fantastic time and in just two days! So much books too o.o
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous that you hugged Maggie. I love her writing soooo much!
ReplyDeletearallison at gmail dot com
Lena Beana!! You are my kind of book whore....no one would be able to stop us at BEA!!!! You have to come....PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI've read LOLA and it was worth the wait - trust me! :)
ReplyDeleteSara @ The Hiding Spot
thehidingspotATliveDOTcom
I SO wish I could have gone to ALA with yall!! But it was either ALA or a family vaca, and well, you understand.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a BLAST and I'm hoping to be able to go to the next one.
Hope to see you at Tera Lynn Childs next week!!!!
Thanks for the giveaway- I covet that copy of Daughter and Smoke and Bone!!! I am going to see Maggie Stiefvater in late July, and will remember to use the bathroom right before meeting her. I fully expect the experience to make me want to pee my pants as well. LOL
ReplyDeletepcottonbearcat at gmail dot com
I am sooo jealous! cannot believe you got ot meet Julie Kagawa.... I would faint! Looks like ALA was a SUCESS :) Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway for your fellow readers. Please count me in!
ReplyDeleteDiana
lovelygetaway@gmail.com
How did you manage to lug all those books around?! Do they give you shopping carts? =P
ReplyDeletesilly(dot)little(dot)goth(at)gmail(dot)com
Well my husband just said "you're retarded" to me as I whined I WANT LOLAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! I WANT IT I WANT IT!!!! After seeing u holding your copy.
ReplyDelete:)
Ivis
Oh wow! You remembered soo much from ALA! Honestly, most of it is a blur for me, except for the line to get in in the morning. OMG once the doors opened, it was total craziness!! Looks like you had a great second day in books and author sightings! =) And my parents and I did the same thing while we were in line (at least my mom and I did ;)) and we got some great books because of our book scouting! I can't wait for your day three recap! =) Sadly, my ALA recap is only one post long since I hardly remember anything and didn't remember to take many pics. =P It will be up tomorrow. =)
ReplyDeleteOh, and don't enter me in the giveaway since I went to ALA. =)
That was really awesome that even though you missed Ellen Hopkins signing that she still signed your books. I love authors that go out the way for there readers, Very nice.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!! :)
Lorettadavis@suddenlink.net
I follow: Loretta
I tweet with you: @Loretta_Lynn86
you are so lucky!! so many books! and thx for the great giveaway
ReplyDeletespicedice45@gmail.com
I would have waited with you in that Lola line, totally worth it! So glad to see you got it after waiting for so long. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower here and on twitter! (@lesleykj)
lesleykjones at hotmail dot com
Who could resist waiting in line for Lola, no matter how long?! From everything that I've heard about it, it was totally worth it, so WTG!! All my library school friends also went to ALA this year and I was so jealous of all the cool people they got to meet. Authors are like rockstars. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway! I've heard great things about both books. :-)
readinginthecorner11 (at) gmail (dot) com
awwww! lucky you!!! im jealous with your stash!!
ReplyDeletetoo bad i can't join the giveaway! :/
Haha, I love how Jay Asher read your tweet! That's so funny. And I really love that everyone seems to want Lola and the Boy Next Door! Yay, realistic fiction!
ReplyDeletejadedlittlegirlx[at]gmail[dot]com
This librarian wished she could have gone to ALA. Maybe one day!
ReplyDeletebooks4susie@aol.com
-Lucky you! And haha about the running into Maggie Stiefvater and almost peeing yourself again. Good thing for using the bathroom! That would of been bad and embarrassing. I'm happy you had a fun time!
ReplyDeletex
Sierra
ittssierraily{at]yahoo{dot]com
Lucky You! You got to hug Maggie Stiefvater?! No fair!! and thanks for the great giveaway! :D
ReplyDeleteiliveforreading[at]hotmail[dot]com
Nothing's better than NoLa and Books! Authors are real rockstars. Don't you just love Laini Taylor's hair?
ReplyDeleteGood luck everyone!
Evie
cavernemATgmailDOTcom
It is super cool you ran into Maggie Steifvater. her books are so awesome.
ReplyDeletepixiepuff2006@yahoo.com
Oh. My. God. YOU GOT TO HUG MAGGIE STIEFVATER?!
ReplyDelete*tries to catch breath*
I need to make my way to one of these conventions next year - ALA or BEA. You got in as a book blogger, right?
busylearninghomeATgmailDOTcom
Man, I wish I could have been there! I would give anything to meet Maggie Stiefvater, let alone hug her!!! You are SO lucky!!
ReplyDeleteWell, if I couldn't meet her, at least I can enter your giveaway! That's pretty awesome, too :)
jwitt33 at live dot com
I love your almost-peed-on moments and OMG! awesome stash! :O I would also like to go to one of those book conventions XD
ReplyDeletekimyunalesca@yahoo.com
I soooooo wanted to go this year! I mean, New Orleans! And last year was SO FUN!
ReplyDeleteOn another note, you DO realize you're going to be known to all of the authors as the girl who kept threatening to pee herself... O_O haha!
~Misty
mbradenwf AT gmail.com
I'm so glad you had such a great time. It's crazy and exhausting, but lots of fun. I missed ALA this year, but hit it last year. Good times. Also... not sure I believe you about those beads. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've met Julie, Brenna, and Maggie before. All fantastic, funny ladies. Also, your haul beat mine from last year, I think.
aine dot onetwistedpixie at gmail dot com
AH! You met Julie Kagawa! How awesome! I need to meet her one day! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had one heckuva trip! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
booksoverboys(at)hotmail(dot)com
Jay Asher read that tweet about him? That sounds both funny and horrible! I'm glad you had an awesome time, and I love your stash! Although you have to know I eyed it with more than a little jealousy. :D Thanks for the chance to win a few of the books.
ReplyDeletegingerrodent AT aol DOT com
ALA looked so great this year! Super jealous of Lola too- I can't wait for that book!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! :)
Briana
breesbooks(at)gmail(dot)com
Not entering, but I wanted to say my goodness, you are cute! I so rarely see pictures of my internet peeps. :-)
ReplyDeleteHoly giant stash! I really want to attend next year.
ReplyDeleteBekka
PrettyDeadlyReviews(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway!
You are so lucky that you got a hold of The Space Between! I want that so bad!!!
ReplyDeletecrazypplrok at gmail dot com
Awesome giveaway! I would have wanted to hug Maggie again too. I can't wait until she comes to my town to sign Forever.
ReplyDeletealisoncanread at gmail dot com
I'm so jealous! I want to meet Maggie Stiefvater so badly, but she simply isn't coming anywhere near me. I'm also (of course) jealous of your large pile of books.
ReplyDeleteNice blog, by the way :]
jasmineroster@gmail.com
Holy stack of AWESOME books! I am completely jealous! A lot of amazing titles there that I can't wait to read. I am also totally jealous that you met Julie Kagawa! I love her and her Iron Fey series.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win some great books!
mrsboswellsbooks@gmail.com
Woah!! I am so jealous. I mean look at all those books! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletePokadots1121@yahoo.com
ahh I wish I was in ALA too! So jealous to all the people who got Lola!!!
ReplyDeletefallendream03 AT gmail DOT com
Sounds like a dream trip to me. I'm jealous too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
creativedeeds@verizon.net
Wow, that is a LOT of books! I hope I'll be able to make it to ALA midwinter in Dallas!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win :)
brainytex@gmail.com