My LA Times Festival of Books Brush With Greatness

See… I TOLD you I’d do it. But I’m going to make it quick because I leave on the next journey in 10 hours.

The LA Times Book Festival was off the hook. It is by far the largest and most prestigious book festival in the country. I suspect that attendance came close to 150,000 people. Most of them were pushing strollers. I also saw four dogs. And 300 booths, all book or story related.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic Multiply this picture by a factor of one thousand and you’ll get a sense of the day.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic Our panel: moderator Jonathan Hunt, me, Nate Powell, Jacqueline Woodson, and Suzanne Phillips managed to fill Moore Hall, which seats 400.

Those 400 people all went out and grabbed their best friends after the panel and stood in long lines to have their books signed.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic Jackie and me appreciated everyone who came out. Thank you!!!!

And as I was walking back to the car, I had a Brush With Greatness, courtesy of my author nannies and Derry Wilkens, a publicist who knows all the right people.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic I got to meet Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul, and Mary!!! His picture book, PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON, is out now. He was so sweet, I thought he was Santa Claus in disguise.

Just got the word that WINTERGIRLS will be on the NY Times Bestseller List for Week #6! Thank you, everyone! If you haven’t heard about the book yet, check out blogger Vania’s review.

I’m off to NYC in the morning for an interview that I can’t quite tell you about yet. After that comes a few days of family goodness, then it’s off to Minneapolis, MN for the International Reading Association Conference. I will be blogging from MN, I promise!!

OOOHHH… But mark this on your calendars right now! FRIDAY MAY 1ST IS BUY A BOOK AT AN INDIE BOOKSELLER DAY!!! Go to your local indie or order from one online! Support local businesses and books and make the world a better place.

(Truth in advertising: I went to my indie, River’s End Books in Oswego, NY, today to buy my books. But I think it still counts.)

10 Replies to “My LA Times Festival of Books Brush With Greatness”

  1. Seriously jealous of your meeting Peter Yarrow. My parents raised me on folk music–there still isn’t anyone doing harmony to beat PP&M!

  2. 🙂

    So jealous of you meeting Peter Yarrow! But I indeed had my own Brush With Greatness- meeting you! Just wanted to say thanks (again) for the panel discussion, and you recognizing me from Facebook. 🙂

    – Shoshana

  3. I walked by Peter Yarrow singing “The Marvelous Toy” on my way to the panel you were on, and oh god you have no idea how hard it was to keep walking so that I wouldn’t be late.

  4. Have a great time in NYC!
    Peter Yarrow how cool is that.
    Nice shout out to Vania!!

  5. OMG

    OMG, Peter!

    Also did you get to meet John Green, he said he was an an event with Peter too?

    Vania’s blog is of course ultra-fabulous!

  6. LA Times

    Thanks for the shout-out! (she says, while blushing.) The bookfest was so much fun.
    Peter was very glad to meet you; I told him about every one of your books and Speak’s 10th anniversary.

    Have a very happy May Day!

    Derry

  7. International Reading Association Conference

    Brittany and I were wondering if you are going to be in a specific place at the International Reading Association conference on Monday. We made book t-shirts for “Wintergirls” for ourseleves, as well as for you, and we would obviously like for you to receive yours. I can’t wait to see you there!
    -Bridgette
    Sister of the Bookshirt

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