The book just came out a few weeks ago... there were lots of other great books to keep me occupied since April, but Texas Gothic stayed pretty much in the forefront of my mind! When I finally did crack it open, I didn't put it down until I turned the very last page (at about 4 am). That's a true RNSL 5-star rating!
So while they do get into some scrapes of both the realistic and otherworldly varieties, they've both got the brains and guts to get themselves out of trouble. I really enjoyed them. There are some great side characters, too, like the ghost of their late Uncle Burt, Ben's grampa Mac McCulloch, and the students volunteering at a dig site on the ranch. Think Scooby-Gang lite.
.jpeg?picon=3655)
By: Read Now Sleep Later,
on 1/9/2011
Blog: Read Now Sleep Later (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: authors i have met, ala, Midwinter Meeting, bloggers, American Library Association, San Diego, arcs, 2011, Add a tag
Well, it's day 2 for most people--day 1 for me. I don't even want to tell you what ARCs I got my hands on... OK, I do, but really I don't want to sound like I'm bragging.
I'm flabbergasted. And Aly's back seat is 1/2 full of my stuff.
Then again, I was too busy to take photos, so you'll have to use your imagination.
Ok. Bragging commences.
MY FIRST ALA
While Penwallace hied off to the Fulcrum booth to sign her books, Alybee and I ran around the YA/Kids booths about 4 times... I really had to pace myself; there was so much good stuff, and I wanted to make sure I was only picking up books that I am going to want to read and review--not random items I'm not even interested in.
Also, was mildly interested in not breaking my back.
BLOGSPOTTING
We ran off to lunch at Masala (yum) and found MrSchuReads and 100ScopeNotes next door. They rock. Check out their blogs, especially
AUTHORS SIGHTED
We found Alexandra Bracken working the Random House YA area, and Kathryn Otoshi and her fabulous picture books at PGW.
Mary Pearson also spotted Aly and swooped in for a hug. :) Me, I hugged RobinEllen in front of the Flux booth (where we also met Sarah Jamila Stevenson--author of The Latte Rebellion, who signed my copy :)
At Harper Perennial, we met Mitali Perkins and Melissa Wiley were signing a couple of the Betsy-Tacy books (for which they had written forewords)... LOVE Maud Hart Lovelace!
A little while later we saw Lisa McMann over by the Simon & Schuster booth. We knew we were going to see her in a month or so--but we stopped to say hi anyway. She's just too adorable to pass by without a big hug!
Aly and I took another turn about the floor with Sarah and Suzanne from Writing on the Sidewalk.
I got some to-die for ARCs including (but not limited to)
2 Comments on ALA Midwinter Meeting 2011 - San Diego - Day 1, last added: 1/12/2011
I'm glad you shared the goodies with us. I'm living vicariously through you right now. Great stash!!
OMG Darkest Mercy! I have been jumping through hoops trying to get a copy of that book! Lucky!