Authors Are My Rock Stars!

How much fun is it to meet REAL LIVE authors?!  This is one of the reasons I enjoy going to the Texas Library Association conference every year.  Here I am with Isla J. Bick, author of the fabulous Ashes series, Drowning Instinct, and her newest book, The Sin Eater's Confession, among others.  I have twittered with her, but I was so excited to be able to talk to her in person!  I also scored an ARC of Monsters, which is the 3rd and final installment of the Ashes series.  I can't wait to start it!

Another author I have corresponded with is Ruta Sepetys, who wrote Between Shades of Gray and Out of the Easy, which is her latest book.  I recently reviewed this book and wrote her to let her know.  I also follow her on twitter.  Both of these ladies were personable and as nice as they could be!  It was a thrill to meet both of them.  

A YA Author is Living Among Us!!!!!

Yes, there is a new young adult author living right here in Flower Mound, Texas!!!  How awesome is that!?  Stephanie Amox, the author of Painfully Ordinary (kNight Romance Publishing, 2010), lives about five minutes from Flower Mound High School!  Who would have known?  She came by today to donate a signed copy of her book and chat for awhile!  Turns out that parts of her book take place in Flower Mound, and the main characters attend school at Marcus High School, just down the street!  I actually downloaded a sample of the book and began reading it when she contacted me a couple of days ago.  Hold onto your hats!  This is a great read, and sequels are already in the works!  Pictured above with Stephanie, who is holding a copy of her debut novel, are me (on the left) and Melinda Buchanan, FMHS English teacher and my partner in YA lit adventures, on the right.  Look for a review when I finish the book!