ALA Post #1

I'm sorry to rub it in to people who aren't here, but I just have to say it one time, and then I'll try not to say it again,

I AM HAVING SO MUCH FUN!!!!!

I have some pictures, and will put all on Facebook, and a few here every time I post.

Here is one from Friday night, with a thanks to Kate Messner who said I could snag it from her. We had dinner at Pizzeria Uno where we had real Chicago style pizza. So good and filling! And of course the company was just as fabulous as you might think it would be. Really and truly.

(left to right - Kate Messner, Marybeth Kelsey, Robin Prehn, me, Cindy Pon and Julia Karr)

I slept in this morning (Saturday) accidentally, but luckily, I didn't have anywhere I *had* to be, I just wanted to get there for the sought after ARCs. It worked out because I got the one I really wanted, mostly for my son - CATCHING FIRE!!! Here's the line I stood in, although it wraps around so it really doesn't look like much.

I got some other great ARCs that I'll tell you about later, and will probably have some giveaways. Stay tuned for that! I went up to Houghton Mifflin's booth and asked for 's book and she had just given a stack away but got one out of a box for me. Yay!

I went to some signings:

That's David Macinnis Gill, author of SOUL ENCHILADA and Cindy Pon, author of SILVER PHOENIX.

Two of my favorite book bloggers finally got my attention after apparently yelling my name as we stood in line. They were so sweet and look! I got a picture!!



(L to R: Me, Chelsea (aka thepageflipper), Kristi (aka thestorysiren), and Emily(?) Ack, not sure. Horrible with names. She's Chelsea's best friend. Chelsea had me sign an autograph book and then I walked away and realized I stole her pen. I was so glad I found them again to return it to her. I didn't want her to remember me as - that stupid author who stole my pen!

I traveled to the Magic Tree Bookstore and saw five fabulous authors with these wonderful ladies:



(from L to R: Cassandra Whetstone, me, Kristy Dempsey, Tanya Seale)

and look who happened to be one of the fabulous authors!! Kristy did an amazing job and her picture book, ME WITH YOU, is SOOO wonderful. I teared up as she read it.



Yay Kristy, you are such a rock star!

More to come, it's late and I have to be up early to go to the coffee klatch in the morning. I can't wear my ear plugs to make sure I hear the alarm, so let's hope I get some sleep tonight. There is lots of honking in downtown Chicago!

I can't believe tomorrow there are so many more books I hope to get and lots more people I hope to see! Should be... oh, wait, I promised I wouldn't say that word again. :)