Recap: Book Event (Apollycon 2016) - Part 2

RECAP: Apollycon 2016 - Part 2

NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE

I started writing this a few days after Apollycon, but I never got around to finish it and let's face it, it's been over 3 months and my memory isn't that perfect so I'm going to make really a big summary of everything. I love talking about each author I met but right now I'll just make a few sentences for each of them. I apologize in advance that I won't go into detail like usually. :( (for better or worse, its up to you lol)

I still had to do it in two parts, so for PART ONE, you just need to go there.

Okay, we first in line the next morning for the signing. We were entertaining ourselves with our reading of the moment. I remember I finished Hard as It Gets by Laura Kaye while waiting to get inside. We could see the authors getting their tables ready for the day.

When we were finally let in, we went straight to Jen, Drew and Pepe knowing the line would get long really quickly. And one thing you have to know about Jen, she won't let you leave without taking a picture.

The picture at the top is the one taken when I first saw them. I saw her again later and I took selfies with the two boys. The selfie with Jen was actually taken at the Party that night.

Just a little story about the Jen's line. If I had waited in line the whole time for getting the rest of my books signed, I wouldn't have seen any of the other authors I wanted to see due to Jen's really big popularity. I was lucky to meet Agathe and her husband who were nice enough to keep my place in line while I ran to see all the authors. Without them, I wouldn't have gotten that chance and I'm so thankful for them!

So while Agathe kept my place in line, I went around to meet the authors that I wanted to see. We went to see Jay Crownover, Abbi Glines, Cora Carmack, Wendy Higgins, Sophie Jordan, Rachel Harris, K.A. Tucker, Jen McLaughlin with whom I had already taken pictures so to make things quick, I didn't take more pictures with them, but meeting them was as always awesome. The swags they were giving us could fill a suitcase seriously.

And Sophie Jordan and Rachel Harris made my day when they gave me an ARC of their books. If I had listened to myself, I would have jumped and hugged them.

Nancy also went to see a few more authors than me, so she grabbed my tote bag and got them to sign it. She actually got a few of my books signed for me because I was in line for Jen too.

So who did I meet for the first time on Saturday and got pictures with? Well, let's start with Alexandra Bracken. I first met her at Yallfest 2014. I was sick and waited in line for a long time and she was really sweet and even hugged me when I told her how long we drove so I could meet her. She was sweet then and she was still sweet. So this time, I got my picture taken with her. She was even happy to see one of her books that I got signed for my best friend translated in French.

After that, I saw Marissa Clarke and when I got there, I was just in time because I bought the last one of her books that I wanted. I count myself really lucky. She is such a nice lady and I'm looking forward to read more from her.

For the first time, I met Erin Bowman. I only read Taken from her series, but I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to read the next books. She was really sweet and we talked a little before I had to run to another author.

Laura Kaye was really one of the nicest people I met that day. I had spoken to her on facebook which is why I had bought one of her series. I even finished her book while we waited that morning. Note to authors, if you are really nice, I'll end up buying your books hahaha I even bought more books of hers at the event and she signed all of them without complaint lol

Rachel Vincent made my day too when I went to see her. I told her how much I loved The Stars Never Rise and I saw that she had an ARC of the sequel The Flame Never Dies. I joked asking if she would give it to me. She told me it was her only copy and then after a moment, she just said: "Come back at the end of the signing". It took me a moment to believe what I had just heard and I was seriously happy and devoured this book the following week.

I saw Suzanne Young too. I only got to read The Program, but the story is really interesting and I'm looking forward to read the rest. I also bought her other book Hotel Ruby and I'm curious about it. She was really nice too. I will admit that I have yet to meet an author that wasn't nice actually at these events lol

At the last Apollycon, I got in my tote bag Trisha Wolfe's book Fireblood. I have yet to read it, but I really wanted to meet her and see what other books she wrote. I promised her that this year, I was going to read her book and I intend to keep that promise.

Next I went to meet Tessa Bailey. I only own the book she co-wrote with Sophie Jordan, but I do intend of finding more of her books. She seems to have enough of them for me to get some that I will love. She was so sweet and I really think that she might have found a new reader in me.

I had to wait a little before Brigid Kemmerer came back to her table. She had a little emmergy call to make, but I didn't mind really. When she arrived, she was just sweet and funny and worth the way. I told her how much I loved her Elemental series and hoped that the rumor of a 6th book was going to come true.

I was near Jen at that moment when I saw Nichole Chase about to leave and Nancy had gotten my book signed by her but I really wanted to meet her and have a picture, so I quickly left the line for a minute to snap that picture and tell her I was looking forward to read her book.

The Party

So after the long and busy day, Nancy went back to our room, check our books, try to put them into our suitcases and still have the correct weight for the airplane as to not pay an extra. Then, we went to grab our food, got back to our room to eat and prepare ourselves for the Party.

When, we got there, I saw Agathe, her husband, Ashley and her mother (whom I met in line for Jen also). We talked a little, but when we finally got in, Nancy and I went for the furthest table in the room and they didn't follow. At the entrance, we got a new tote bag and in it, I had gotten Laura Kaye's new novella which made really happy. I also went to her and asked her if she would sign it.

After that, I took pictures of the cake, cupcakes and the standees in the room. The one covered was actually the new cover of the third book in the Titan series which was shown later that night. And you see The Return poster? I had actually won this, but since I couldn't bring it back home with me in the plane, I gave it to Agathe for thanking for what she did for me that day.

While we waited for more Jen, Drew and Pepe to arrive, I went to see authors that I wanted to meet and hoped to read their books this year. First, I went to see Jamie Shaw who was just happy to make me happy with a picture. We even have Ron trying to photobomb us.

Jamie was with Jennifer Jenkins who wrote the book Nameless and that my friend Nancy devoured it and recommended. So hopefully, I will get to read it soon. If you meet her, you'll see just love her bubbly personality.

With them, I found Julie Reece who I should adore just because she has an awesome name hahaha But I'm looking forward to read her series.

And while she was on the dance floor, I went for Amalie Howard. I have yet to read her books, but it should be done this year. Man, I think all these new authors are going to make me go bankrupt lol

And did I want more pictures with Jen, Drew and Pepe? Of course I did, so I took a group one and decided to do individual ones as well.

Here are Agathe and her husband and below, you have me and Ashley. I'm really happy that I met them and can't wait to see them again at the next Apollycon :)

Want to see what I got signed over there? Here's a pictures of all the books I succeeded to get signed. I'm surprised that I did, but the proof is there hahaha.

I also got the Apollycon tote bag with all the signatures and the signed posters framed:

So this wraps my recap and I would like to end this with a HUGE THANK YOU to Damaris and everyone involved in organizing this amazing event. You were all so helpful throughout the whole weekend.

And of course, a HUGE THANK YOU to Jennifer L. Armentrout, Drew Leighty, Pepe Toth and all the authors who made this an incredible experience.

Recap: Book Event (Apollycon 2016) - Part 1

RECAP: Apollycon 2016 - Part 1

NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE

I started writing this a few days after Apollycon, but I never got around to finish it and let's face it, it's been over 3 months and my memory isn't that perfect so I'm going to make really a big summary of everything. I love talking about each author I met but right now I'll just make a few sentences for each of them. I apologize in advance that I won't go into detail like usually. :( (for better or worse, its up to you lol)

I still had to do it in two parts, so for PART TWO, you just need to go there.

Leaving Canada for the States

So Friday morning, my friend Nancy, my partner of book events really, and I left my sister's house to catch our plane at Ottawa's airport. It was really cold and for about two minutes, I regretted leaving my winter coat in my car since we wouldn't need it in Savannah.

So I'm going to spare you the recap of my second experience of flying except to show you the difference between leaving Ottawa and arriving at the Dulles Airport in Washington.

I really preferred the weather where we were heading. :)

Arriving at the Hotel in Savannah

So after that, we got at the hotel and the first thing we did was go to Registration so we got all of our VIR stuff and get our tickets for the ticketed authors. Met with Damaris who was helping organizing the event and talked a little bit with her before heading towards the bookstore to buy our books.

I was supposed only two buy a few books; not more than 3, but I ended up buying novellas by Laura Kaye and a book by Nichole Chase. Nichole's book had been on my mind and my friend was buying her books and I asked her if they were really good and when she told me yes, I decided to buy only the first one. On instagram, I say she convinced me, but I really didn't need conving and my bank account was probably agreeing with my friend telling me: YOU DON'T HAVE MORE MONEY TO SPEND ON BOOKS! hahaha

After we got our room, we went up to relax a bit, checked out our luggages to make sure our books were okay (yes, I did do that).

Friday Night's Greet & Meet

On Friday night, there was the meet and greet. I will admit that as much as I was excited for it, I was really close to just want to lay down in the hotel's bed and sleep, but missing this was out of the question.

When we got in, I was at lost at how all of it worked. Some authors were seated and others were standing talking among each other, so Nancy and I decided to head to Jennifer L. Armentrout who was with Drew Leighty (cover model for Seth in the Titan series) and Pepe Toth (cover model for Daemon in the Lux series). I talked mostly with Jen and Drew when they both noticed the cover of my cellphone which is Liam Payne from One Direction and Jen admitted that she was mostly a Zayn girl and Drew told us how his son loves them and always make him sing Little Things. Unfortunately, I didn't think of asking him to sing it to record it, but I'll try to remember the next time I see him :) Pepe was really nice, but he mostly talked with my friend Nancy about sports.

When it came for the pictures, I asked for two. One next to Pepe and one next to Drew and Jen was like: "She knows what she wants. She wants both." 

Can you actually blame me? ;)

After that, we went around trying to talk to as many authors as we could and taking pictures with. I was really happy that I finally got my picture with Sophie Jordan and got to talk to her more than just online. Last time, I didn't get my picture taken with her so I had to change that this time.

 And seeing Rachel Harris again was awesome because she has such a bubbly personality and she's one of the sweetest person ever.

You also need to meet once in your lifetime Jay Crownover. She will win you over with her incredible personality. Melissa Shank was also with Jay and I hate myself for not even taking a picture with her. I need to change that at the next Apollycon.

Meeting Addam Bramich (actor to play Cage York in the upcoming movie based on Abbi Glines' book While It Lasts), Abbi Glines and Kami Garcia again was awesome. I had met the first two at Bookcon in May 2015 and I met Kami a few times at Yallfest and once in Montreal. They were all so nice and were really chatty which we were quite happy about.

Meeting Katie McGarry again. I had seen her at the last Apollycon, but I also saw her at Yallfest so I was quite happy to see her again. She is a really nice woman even if we didn't get to talk much that night.

Cora Carmack. God I love stalking that woman. She is such a sweet person and I just adore her. Plus, she has a cat so you can't go wrong with her. I mean, she loves CATS!! hahaha

We also went to see K.A. Tucker. I have some of her books, but I have yet to read them. This is on my to-do list of 2016. She is really a nice woman and Nancy and her had a lot of fun talking.

Do I look like a giant next to Wendy Higgins? I really feel like I am with the way I'm standing next to her. She has the cutest voice ever which seems to fit her completely.

Seeing Sarah J. Maas was hard since she had her own fanclub around her, but we finally got to her and I finally got to talk with her a little bit to tell her I love her books. Each time I was at a same event as her, one of my friends usually got my books signed so I never really met her to tell her this before.

We went to see Jen McLaughlin at the end of the night. Right now, I can tell you for sure that I am jealous of that woman for all the cuties she met and posted on Instagram, but she is also so sweet that I will forgive her hahaha

This is still long, but really I try to cut most of it to make it more general. Hopefully, you are ready for the next part because this concludes PART 1. 

The PART 2 will be about the Saturday's signing and party.

Monday: Latest Book Haul (belated)

Bought on amazon.ca

Sophie Jordan

Reign of Shadows

An Heiress for All Seasons

Laura Kaye

Hard as It Gets

Hard as You Can

Hard to Come By

Hard to Let Go

Sophie Jordan & Tessa Bailey

Off Base

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Cursed

So I need to buy more books for the event so I went for amazon.ca to be sure I would get these books on time.

Bought or Received at Apollycon

Suzanne Young

Hotel Ruby

Laura Kaye

Hard to Hold On To

Hard to be Good

Hard Ever After

Hard as Steel

Hearts in Darkness

Love in the Light

Nichole Chase

Suddenly Royal

Gena Showalter

The Closer You Come

Rachel Harris

Taste the Heat

Seven Day Fiancé

Accidentally Married on Purpose

You're Still the One

Marissa Clarke

Neighbors with Benefits

Chance of a Lifetime

Cora Carmack

Inspire

Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Power

Wendy Higgins

The Great Hunt

Amy Talkington

Liv, Forever

Linda Goodnight

The Memory House

So some books that i had to buy there but being a VIR, we get to received some books too and that made me very happy :)

Sent by a friend who got the books signed

Victoria Aveyard

Cruel Crown

Glass Sword

Toni Aleo

Taking Shots

Trying to Score

Empty Net

Kelly is the amazing person who got me these books signed at two different events she attended. I'm really grateful that she did and hope I can re-pay her in the same way soon :)

ARC received at Apollycon

Sophie Jordan

All Chained Up (signed)

Rachel Harris

The Natural History of Us (signed)

Laura Kaye

Ride Hard (signed)

Suzanne Young

The Epidemic (signed)

The Epidemic (for a giveaway soon:))

Rachel Vincent

The Flame Never Dies (signed)

Deb Caletti

Essential Maps for the Lost

Brianna Baker & F. Bowman Hastie III

Little White Lies

Some of these ARCs were given if you bought a book from the authors, some were in my VIR goodie bag and some were given to me by the authors themselves making me a very happy girl.

Ordered on Author's site

Jamie McGuire

Beautiful Burn (signed)

So I decided to buy the last book of the series on the author's site so I could get it signed since I don't know the chances that I will see her again.

So this is a huge book haul and yes, we are Tuesday, but I was so tired last night so I wasn't up to it. Now, you can see there were a lot of books bought and I don't think I'll have a book haul for a while. But these make up for all the book hauls I won't be having lol