Reading for Meeting Authors
Posted By Vonna on October 12, 2009
One of the fun things about reading new books is getting a chance to meet the book’s author or an editor who worked on that book or maybe the agent who represented it. These opportunities usually come through author appearances at bookstores. Also, since I love reading and writing middle grade and young adult books, I attend SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) workshops and conferences whenever I can.
Saturday I went to an SCBWI workshop in Austin given by Chris Eboch. She had spoken at the national SCBWI conference in August which I could not attend so I was delighted to hear that she would be in Austin for a whole day workshop. In preparation, I read the first of her new middle grade series, Haunted: The Ghost on the Stairs. I’ve added her first novel, Well of Sacrifice, which is a middle grade adventure set in ninth-century Guatemala, to my To Read list.
Next up are books for three author appearances at local bookstores. First is Nathaniel Flood, Beastologist, by R.L. Lafevers who will be at the Woodlands Barnes and Noble on October 18th. After that is Dreaming Anastasia, by Joy Prebel who will be at Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, on October 20th . Then there is The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly, also at Blue Willow, on November 4th .
In January I get to go to the Austin SCBWI conference which has a big lineup of authors, editors and agents, so I have a lot of reading to do for that. Then in February Houston’s SCBWI has our own conference with another great list of authors, editors and agents.
So I have a busy few months of reading ahead of me. I don’t know if I will get to all of them, so first I’ll focus on my favorite genre, fantasy, then get to the others as I can.
Here’s a tease of a few books I’ve got lined up:
Happy reading! What’s on your list?
I’m so excited to see THE EMERALD TABLET on your list! Thank you!
I read and loved NATHANIEL FLUDD, and Robin LaFevers is awesome. And FARWALKERS is on my list, too. Must read it very soon!
I’m so glad the workshop was fun.
Thanks for stopping in P.J.; I look forward to meeting you t the conference in January.
Hi, Vonna! It was great to meet you at the workshop. Looks like you have a great line-up of author appearances this fall. I’m way behind on my reading for the Austin Awesome Conference in January — but that’s what Xmas vacation is for!
Have fun reading,
Nikki
Hi Nikki, I am glad to have met you, too. From reading your blog it sounds like you have had a lot of excitement lately! I hope you have a great time at the Backspace Agents and Authors Conference next month.