ALA in Pictures

This week I had the incredible opportunity to attend my very first ALA and I'm still trying to process the amazingess of it all.  New Orleans was friendly, lively, hot, sticky, and filled with the best bunch of people I can think of: librarians, book bloggers, publishing folks, authors--all with one thing in common.  A love for books.  That was the best thing about being there.  You could feel the excitement and camaraderie everywhere you went. 

I could go on and tell you all about it, but today I'd rather show you.  So here you go:

ALA, in Pictures

Oh-so-official badge!

Swanky hotel room.

Bookanista Meet Up after the Newbery & Caldecott banquet, which was beautiful and so inspiring.

Pictured here from left to right: Jessica Martinez, Michelle Hodkin, Elana Johnson, Shannon Messenger, Carolina Valdez Miller, Kirsten Hubbard, and yours truly.

Next day was a visit to the Simon & Schuster booth on the convention floor...

where I got to hang and pose with the awesome Elana Johnson and her book POSSESSION. From there, we headed out to Octavia Books for our signing, where we were greeted by the friendliest staff ever.

Our display at Octavia!



After Octavia, we headed back to the hotel for a debut YA panel, hosted by the one and only Jenny Han.  She was a brilliant host and asked us hard-hitting questions like: "Who is your literary crush?" and "If you were stranded on an island and could take only one movie to watch, what would it be?" (My answers: Dexter and Wes from This Lullaby and The Truth About Forever, and Say Anything.)

After the panel, we got to speak to small groups of amazing librarians speed-dating style.  So. Much. Fun.

Pictured Above:  Jenny Han, John Corey Whaley, Frances O'Roark Dowell, Michelle Hodkin. Bottom Row: Jessica Martinez, me, Elana Johnson, and David E. Hilton.

Best Debut Crew Ever!

After that, it was off to the Printz Reception, which was amazing, to say the least.  You'd think after all that we'd all be tuckered out, but it was the last night in New Orleans, so it was time for a little adventuring which included...

Midnight beignets...

and 2am Fuddruckers with Michelle Hodkin and Corey Whaley, the best two late-night adventurers around.

Then all of a sudden it was the next day and time to go home. Almost.  The next morning, we had to make one more beignet run, and it was totally worth it, powdered sugar mess and all!

I can't thank Simon & Schuster enough for sending me or say just how much it meant, but ALA New Orleans was a truly unforgettable experience, and one that will always make me smile when I remember.  Always.