NYC Recap

So I went back to NY on Friday--this time to hit up a Brooklyn book signing at Word with Lauren Oliver, Leila Sales and Anna Jarzab, followed by what's become a traditional appearance at KidLit Drinks Night!

Word Bookstore in Brooklyn

Anna Jarzab, Leila Sales, Lauren Oliver

Check out The First Novels Club because Donna took a ton of notes recapping the event. But as far as signings go, this one was AWESOME! Lauren, Anna and Leila were so cool, down to earth and insightful about the writing/publishing process. What was really neat too was they all work on both sides of publishing, so they had a very unique perspective. Afterwards we got to meet Lauren, Anna and Leila and they were soooo amazing to talk to in real life. I spent a lot of time picking Lauren's brain about writing. Also SQUEEE-worthy moment--she recognized me. We were both at a Jay Asher book signing (before she was published) which was pretty epic because I got to read part of 13 Reasons Why to the audience!

Lauren Oliver! The awesomeness! It blinds me!

And here I am with Donna hanging with Anna Jarzab (who was awesome) and Leila Sales!!!!! (Who I adore)

Anna, Donna, Leila, Frankie

And GUESS who we met? ALL the way from Germany, Lenore of Presenting Lenore was in town for SCBWI!!!

Donna, Lenore, and Me! :-)

We also got to meet Rachael from The Book Muncher who then decided we were sane enough to follow from Brooklyn to Manhatten for Kid Lit Night :-) 

So after a bit of complicate subway navigating and a short cab ride (because of someone's unfortunate shoe choice...ahem....) we made it to the pub! WOOHOO!

And we found....

...THE Weronika Janczuk who was quite possibly the sweetest most adorable person EVER! AND....fellow writer/bloggger Christina Lee!!!!! I was looking forward to meeting her for weeks and she was a total sweetheart like I knew she'd be :-)

Also caught up with Philly writer K. M. Walton who is totally spoiling me with her presence because I got to hang out with her last weekend at Philly Lit Night.

Christina, K.M. and me!

Other highlights included talking to Andrea Brown Agents, Jennifer Laughran and Mary Kole.

AND...finding the only member of the First Novels Club actually attending SCBWI--SARA!!! With all of her being a responsible adult lately--buying a house, etc, we've hardly seen her.

Her smile is so big because she LOVES us...not because she just hung out with Mo Willems;)

Ok, so I am probably missing some people....oh Hi Jessica Spotswood! But all in all, we had a blast, talked to a ton of cool people and got home really, really late! And that my friends, is your weekend recap! Happy Monday.

:-)