Recap: 2014 LA Times Festival of Books

On Saturday and Sunday Caitlyn and I went to the 2014 LA Times Festival of Books and had an awesome time there :D Luckily it wasn't too hot like it was last year. On Saturday we first went to the John Green conversation hoping to get some tickets but they were sold out so we just decided to hang out in the signing line before it got too long. But we were able to get tickets to the Tahereh Mafi panel and spotted Laini Taylor and Margaret Stohl :P The John Green signing long it was especially after everyone that went to the convo came out. We also finally got to meet Stephanie Diaz, who we saved a spot for on the line and might I add super chill. So glad to be able to meet her :) Caitlyn also helped and casually gave John Green an Extraction (Stephanie's upcoming release) bookmark.

 

Since we had time until the It's the End as the World as We Know It that featured Tahereh Mafi, Lydia Millet, and T Cooper, Caitlyn and I roamed around while I tried to find a copy for Unite Me by Tahereh Mafi. We talked about Ransom Riggs and Tahereh Mafi and just how much we shipped them and right when our conversation ended who did I see? RANSERAH. In the crowd. Together. I did this squeal/omg noise and kinda hit Caitlyn trying to alert her and basically died. Oh how much they make me so happy XD
**Please ignore me and my general creepiness

Once the It's the End of the World... convo began, Cecil Castellucci began her interview with the authorsas they talked about how they began the idea of their books and the romance of each of their novels. And may I add, T Cooper=hilarious.

 

The response Tahereh Mafi got for a lot of her responses or anything she implied especially if you've read the books made it all the more enjoyable :D And this thing she said made me laugh so hard. So apparently the original title of the book was named Touching Juliette which was turned down for many reasons as one might assume and her editor was like what would you name the second book...Washing Warner? Also for those who were wondering, Tahereh did say that she knew who Juliette was going to end up with by the end of the first book. Then we went out to the signing area and got our books signed. SHE REMEMBERED ME GUYS. Well not me really but technically my name since it's almost exactly the same as hers :P

 

(*left to right* 1st pic: My back and hair, Tahereh Mafi, and Ransom Riggs) 

SUNDAY:

We went early to the Book Festival to go to the early Marissa Meyer signing hoping there wouldn't be as many people as the one for the panel signings. Luckily there wasn't as many as the panel signings but there was an unexpected signing for Sarah J. Maas and Robin Benway too :D We were able to get a Lunar Chronicles bookmark and pins. Alsoooo while in line, we surprisingly spotted Shannon Messenger who we heard also had a signing which sucked at the same time since Caitlyn didn't bring her copy of Let the Storm Break and Exile but since I hadn't yet purchased a copy of the book yet it was the perfect opportunity.

 (*left to right* Robin Benway and Sarah J. Maas)

 (*left pic to right* Me and S.J Maas & Caitlyn and S.J Maas)

We then headed to the tent that Shannon Messenger was signing at....

Since we had nothing much to do, we chilled at the YA stage (WHERE I FINALLY GOT TO MEET STACEE) and watched one of the panels then went back to the Lauren Miller, Amy Tintera, and Emery Lord signing once it was 1:00. Lauren Miller was super nice and had all this swag and gave me a manuscript/printed copy of her upcoming new YA release, Free to Fall. 

Then the best thing happened when Emery Lord started talking about Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls. SEE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND MY LoVe :D 

We quickly headed to the YA stage for the YA Fiction Sci-fi: Fantastical Tales panel featuring 

Marissa Meyer, Cecil Castellucci, Sarah Maas, and Leigh Bardugo. Basically the BEST panel ever. 

They talked about what they would do if they weren't writers, the idea of entrapment, and pretty random questions too. And guys, Leigh Bardugo's answers to everything was perfect and hilarious and I honestly wish I remembered word for word her answers to have for you. But she basically said how they write books for entertainment and never really for some hidden message or universal truths that movies and others make it out to be. Because we're awesome, once the panel ended Caitlyn and I went up to Sarah J. Maas to figure out how to pronounce Chaol's name since we both said it differently and for those who want to know it's like saying "kale" but with a mix of an "o" after the "a" if that made any sense whatsoever. 

(Left to Right: Marissa Meyer, Cecil Castellucci, Sarah J. Maas, and Leigh Bardugo)

Here are some of the swag we got and autographs of some authors plus a tote bag I got while buying Let the Storms Break which made my day ^_^

 Did you go to the LA Times Festival of Books?
Have fun? See any other authors?
Hope all those who couldn't make it this year will be able to go next year :)