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Raiding Target
October 8, 2007
The tables were rearranged after this and each author in attendance (including quite a few Chicago writers who lived in the area but didn't attend the rest of the conference) sat down. Then, like a glorious receiving line, everyone took a poster (as donated by the mucho generoso Esme Raji Codell) and worked their way down the authorial path. I got signatures from everyone in attendance, free books, gumballs, a flyer on the Class of 2K8 (veeeeery interesting stuff), bookmarks, magnets, you name it. RE: Class of 2K8... I don't know if they're still taking submissions, but if you're a first-time middle grade or YA author with a book coming out in 2008, I suggest you jump on that bandwagon pronto.
And speaking of Esme Raji Codell, I must apologize to her publicly for not attending her brunch the following day. I had every intention of going but my wine-soaked, sleep deprived, gumball-addled body had other far less pleasant plans in mind. Sorry, Esme!
Cocktails came next with my cozying up to various people I'd always wanted to talk to. I even pulled out my little microphone in the hopes of capturing some goodies for my next podcast, but I've a distinct feeling that this plan failed magnificently. Ah well. That's why you leave podcasting to the professionals. Dinner was tasty and at some point some of the blokes at my table (I was in Snarky Central, which is where you want to be at the end of an evening) popped over to the nearby Target to buy more wine. Prizes were given out. These consisted of huge stacks of books and t-shirts. I had won a lovely little picture book earlier in the day, so I wasn't too disappointed not to partake of the YA novels being handed out. Then eventually I started to crash and headed on home via a cab at the EXACT moment that the Cubs game (where they were slaughtered) got out and onto the freeway. Suffice it to say, I have had shorter car rides in my day.
In all, it is rare to encouter this many people and then find that they are, in fact, the kinds of folks you enjoy hanging out with. There is none of the stereotypical social awkwardness one associates with people who work on the Internet. Even odder still is the fact that no one, to the best of my knowledge, was a jerk. It's a relief and a bit weird, but I for one am not objecting.
If I did not mention your name on my postings, you'll have to forgive me. There was an abundance of attendees.
Misc:
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For pictures of the event you can look at this group shot by Just One More Book's Mark Blevis. Woo-hoo! I warranted a white box! My own pictures will go up tomorrow.
Posted by Elizabeth Bird on October 8, 2007 | Comments (10)
