I realized this morning that I never posted anything about the Texas Book Festival weeks ago. I went there to meet with authors and mingle with other book-minded people. There were plenty about, an entire schedule of big names including Rick Riordan, the big kids author of the moment who is writing the Percy Jackson series.

There was secret service everywhere, because Jenna Bush and Lynn Cheney were coming. I almost ran into all these guys with suits, little diamond collar pins and curly headphone wires. They were serious. I went to the end where Jenna was going to come in, without knowing where I was, and they were all looking at me, a whole group of them and police. I realized she would be coming from that street because it was filled with black SUV’s. I spun about and started right off in the opposite direction.

I went there hoping to see Rick Riordan, Kimberly Willis Holt (I won an autographed book from her 2 weeks ago), Jenna Bush and meet with April Lurie, who I have met over email. I ended up seeing none of those, but I did get to see Rick Yancey, Sherman Alexie, Neal Shusterman and this oddball:

One of those things you only get to see in places where authors congregate.

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Posted in Authors
Tags: april lurie, Authors, Books, jenna bush, kimberly willis holt, rick riordan, sherman alexie, texas book festival

Congratulations to Sherman Alexie for winning the YA section of the National Book Awards! While missing Rick Riordan at the Texas Book Festival a few weeks ago, I unknowingly stopped by Sherman’s panel. It was held in a packed Methodist church — and for a Young Adult book, I couldn’t spot a single Young Adult in the crowd! I didn’t even know who he was. Now I’m so glad I stopped by.

He was hilarious, and even though I planned to leave early, he kept me standing in the back all the way to the end with his stories of growing up on a reservation and all the unusual and funny happenings in his life. So congratulations to Sherman.

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Posted in Authors
Tags: national book awards, rick riordan, sherman alexie, texas book festival, ya, young adult