For the past 2 years Labor Day weekend h
as been dedicated to the Decatur Book Festival. This year was no exception! We got into town on Friday afternoon. It just so happened that Beau and I were very lucky this year. See, Labor Day weekend is when the collage football season starts. Which means, hubby goes with me…begrudgingly then sits in the hotel room and watches football all weekend. This has always worked out fairly well, but this year was perfect because UT played their first game at the GA Dome on Friday night! So as soon as we got to Decatur we checked in, ate lunch and headed for downtown Atlanta and the Georgia Dome. I won’t get into it any further except to say that 90 degree temps, sports bars, and Lori do not mix. But TN won so all was apparently right with the world and it made the weekend much better. Yay for a non-pouty husband!
I’m not going to get into the panels much, as they were all great. I’m just going to post pictures and hit the highlights. I’m also going to use some of Vania’s photos since she’s a professional and mine turned out dark.
After the author/blogger breakfast Saturday the first panel up was the Outcasts panel with Kristin Paige Madonia (Fingerprints of You), Carly Moore (The Stalker Chronicles), and Madeleine George (The Difference Between You and Me).
Next up was David Levithan…of course I was fangirly and he was wonderful as always.
Photo by Vania
Then Margie & Kami
They talked a lot about the upcoming Beautiful Creatures movie!
Photo by Vania
Kendare Blake. She’s so funny! I’m even more excited to read Anna now.
Photo by Vania
I left the Teen Stage for the next event, can you believe it? But OMG you guys, it was Erin Morgenstern! She’s that little tiny speck in the picture below. The place was packed! She talked a lot about how many revisions of TNC she did. Celia wasn’t even in the first draft!
That was the end of day one! Have I mentioned that everything was outside and it was like 90 degrees? Because it was. I was pretty happy to head back to the room and enjoy the AC at this point.
Breakfast on Sunday was a lot of fun! Diana Peterfrerund came over from Dragon*Con and Lauren Morrill, Sarah Maas, Susan Dennard, and C.J. Redwine were also there. Along with us bloggers.
Photo by Vania
Here are some of the fun panels from Sunday:
Barry Lyga was first! Everyone talked me into buying I Hunt Killers on Saturday and I did that first thing Sunday morning. I’m so happy I did because it was sold out after the panel and after listening to Barry I can’t wait to read it! Also there was a super creepy guy with a bucket that asked Barry very detailed questions about serial killers…it was…just..wow.
Photo by Vania
Next up was Maureen Johnson! She was hilarious as always.
Jenny Hubbard:
Photo by Vania
Melissa Walker:
Then the Warrior Girls panel with Jessica Khorey, Sarah J. Maas, Dan Krokos, C.J. Redwine, and Heather Brewer.
Photo by Vania
And that’s it! It was so much fun, of course! I got to see all my favorite bloggers and meet some new ones like Autumn from The Autumn Review , Smash from Smash Attack Ash, and Penny from Penny Writes. I also got to chat with Lauren Morrill (Meant to Be) quite a bit and she’s just adorable!I also got lots of books signed!
This one is definitely my new favorite signed book:
I’m already excited for next year!
If you want to see some more detailed recaps go here:
One Page at a Time
Smash Attack Ash
Looks like you had an awesome time! I know I did! I’m still a little bummed that I didn’t get to meet y’all, but now I know who to look for next year!
McKenna recently posted..In My Mailbox (22)
I know! I wish I would have got to meet you too!
This sounds like such an awesome festival, I love that there were plenty of YA authors there, at the events here there’s usually only a few.
Yay for getting your books signed and for meeting new bloggers
VeganYANerds recently posted..The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
Looks like tons of fun. Such a great line up of authors.
OoOO This sounds like you had sooo much fun!!! That’s what I miss living here in Germany…having a chance to meet all these authors!
DannyBookworm recently posted..In My Mailbox – Pushy’s In The House
What a fun book festival! Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. I’d love to meet David Levithan sometime but I think I’d be really nervous. I love what Sarah Maas wrote in your book
I Hunt Killers does look great, doesn’t it? The guy with the bucket at the Barry Lyga panel sounds very creepy! Glad you got the chance to hang out with other bloggers and see some great authors.
Lucy @ The Reading Date recently posted..Butter by Erin Jade Lange Book Review
I’m a pretty big fangirl when meeting him! This was the second time and I still didn’t talk to him while he signed my books lol.
So glad I came up for this. It was great. I’m so glad I got to meet you too!
Autumn @TheAutumnReview recently posted..FLIGHT (The Cresent Chronicles 1) by Alyssa Rose Ivy Review & Giveaway
This event sounds like it was so fun!! I will eventually get to a really awesome book event. You got to meet some really awesome people!!
Amy @ Book Loving Mom recently posted..Review: Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout
HAHA! That signature is awesome!!! <3 Great recap! Glad you had such a good time!
Reading Angel recently posted..New Blog Design!!
So sad I missed this!!! But glad you had a great time and, even though it pains me to say it, glad UT won so you did not have a pouty husband all weekend. I will definitely have to make it next year, or maybe plan on going to one of the other festivals around the South!
Candice recently posted..Highway to the… Danger Zone! Gonna take you right into the Danger Zononnnee
I think you can be a little generous with your football feelings since Alabama wins….everything.
I hope you come next year! It would be so great to meet you.
I’m so jealous! One day I’m going to go! I’m now regretting I didn’t ask you to get Throne of Glass. Oh well, I couldn’t afford it anyway. It has me all excited for Wordstock, our own book festival. And it won’t be 90 degrees. I think that would be hard for me. Thanks for sharing with us!
candace recently posted..Review & Giveaway: Speechless by Hannah Harrington
Ohmygoodness Sarah Maas signs her books in the best possible way!! In mine she said she was glad we could talk about how awesome Hans Zimmer was, or something along those lines. It was amazing.
Sounds like you had a TON of fun!
Sierra @ Yearning to Read recently posted..Review: The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan
Oh my gosh David Levithan. I can’t even. When he gets to YALLFest, I FEAR MY ACTIONS. I will pee, pass out, or cry. Or all of it. I’m so stupid about him, Lori. Oh my gosh.
Asheley (@BookwormAsheley) recently posted..Ten(ish) Bookish People I Want To Meet!
Seriously, my heart is beating faster right now because the reality of ME seeing him live is made more real by your picture. Oh my gosh.
Asheley (@BookwormAsheley) recently posted..Ten(ish) Bookish People I Want To Meet!