But just before, let me try to describe the Literacy Autographing event... I think the best words would be: awesome, chaotic and wow LOL. I think you have to see it to know how it feels. This year, the Literacy Autographing event comprised more than 500 authors and took place in the Marriott Marquis ballroom. Wendy and Rosie found the room a bit too small, but I thought it was okay. Obviously, it'd be better if it was bigger... but a room big enough for 500 authors and their fans? Hard to come by.
There were rows of tables and authors sat in alphabetical order. I do admit that they seemed to be a little bit squeezed ^_^; Also, the rows were facing each other, so a fan walking down an aisle would have authors on her right and left. More popular authors such as Nalini Singh, Eloisa James, SEP, JAK, etc. would be situated at the ends of the rows so there was more space for their fans to line up and even bigger authors - Sherrilyn Kenyon, Diana Galbadon, etc. - had their own table at the front (or perhaps it was the back) of the room.
What makes it so chaotic is the sheer number of persons in the room. You have authors, you have fans, you have volunteers and you can't imagine the noise level! Still, it's organized chaos. I mean, the signing last two hours and when I first looked at the schedule, I thought two hours was not enough! I had 43 authors on my list... How was I going to see everyone?!? However, two hours is actually plenty. There is a lot of people, granted, but what happens is everyone goes in and disperses and as a result, the waiting lines are not that long. I think the longest I had to wait for an author was two persons ahead of me. Considering the number of people, that's not bad at all. Even Nalini Singh who I thought would have a huge line-up didn't have any queues half-way in the event. So it really flows and people do move on.
My advice for readers attending a signing this big are the following: 1) Do not lose your authors list and 2) bring a bag big enough for you to carry your books in. Also, if you can have someone willing to follow you to take pictures, that's even better :) But even then, it's not necessary.
All right, I'll get on with the books LOL. So here are my new precious:
Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath - Waking Up with the Duke was THE book I absolutely wanted during this conference. I read the first two books of this trilogy, Passions of a Wicked Earl and Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman, and absolutely adored them. I've been looking forward to Ainsley book and was really happy it came out in time for the conference :) LOL, I even had a fangirl moment... Prior to the signing, I was riding up or down the elevator with Kristie and my sister and Ms Heath happened to be there with us. After she walked out, I turned to Kristie and my sister and was like: That's Lorraine Heath!!!
Summer at Seaside Cove by Jacquie D'Alessandro - This was pretty high up in my "must get" list of books :) I've read Ms D'Alessandro before, but never her contemporary books and her historicals have been hit and miss for me. However, for some reasons, there was something about the blurb of Summer at Seaside Cove and perhaps the cover that just made me go "must have" LOL. And later, the feeling was only reinforced after reading Hils' post.
Darkness at Dawn by Elizabeth Jennings - This was another book on my list :) I really enjoy Ms Jennings' writing and her last romantic suspense felt very different from most other romantic suspense books on the market and so I was really looking forward to her newest release :)
Somewhere Along the Way by Jodi Thomas - Another book that I've already read and own. What can I say except that I really love Ms Thomas' contemporary romance? :P It was also great to meet her and she's really nice.
Blood Ties by Sharon Sala - Meeting Ms Sala was definitively on my agenda for RWA :) Although I totally got tongue-tied when I met her and my fangirliness didn't show ^_^; Perhaps it was better that way? LOL.
Follow my Lead by Kate Noble - There is something about Ms Noble's writing that sets apart her historical romance from the rest for me. I don't know what, but I really like her writing. I just recently read The Summer of You and was looking forward to Follow my Lead as it is the sequel :)
Money Shot by Susan Sey - Another book that was on my list. This is the second book by Ms Sey, the first being Money Honey. I didn't loooove Money Honey, but it definitively had potential :) Also, Ms Sey has something different going on :)
A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man by Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan - When I first got wind of this book, my reaction was: "Ms Donovan is going to write historical?!? No!!!" LOL. Turns out A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man is half historical - Ms Bradley, and half contemporary - Ms Donovan :) And Ms Donovan's half sounds good! :)
Blood of the Wicked by Karina Cooper - Remember my fascination with witches? Well that should explain why I got this book, right? :)
While I got my copy, I asked Ms Gracie when her next book was coming out as I have not seen any sign of her next release. She told me her next book - Bride by Mistake - was Luke's story and was coming out in January 2012... but best of all, Marcus will be getting his own book!! Woohoo!! Yay!! I definitively can't wait. In the meantime, peeps, you should read The Accidental Wedding :)
In the good news department, there will be more books in the Lucy Valentine series! Yay!! Also, Ms Webber has a new series debuting in January 2012 under the pen name of Heather Blake. Guess what it is about? A witch that has the ability to grant wishes! Seriously, it's just meant to be :)
Nightfall by Ellen Connor aka Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty - I've heard a lot of good about Nightfall on blogland. Also, I've been meaning to try Ms Lofty's writing. While this is not exactly what I planned, I do think it's a good place to start :)
Haunting Desire by Erin Quinn - I've actually never read Ms Quinn. Oh I've seen her covers around blogland, but never really paid much attention to it. However, when I was doing my list of authors to meet with Ames, she mentioned that Ms Quinn was Canadian... and thus the name stuck in my head. So when I saw Ms Quinn at the signing, I went to her and got the book :) Canadians have to support each other!
No Souvenirs by K.A. Mitchell - Ames loves Ms Mitchell's books and had me give it a try :) I read Collision Course last month and the sequel is No Souvenirs. I'm really looking forward to it as one of the heroes is Asian :)
The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton - I was debating whether to get this or not when it released and then, decided against mainly because it was in trade-size format and also because the heroine is a single mom. I love kids in romance, but am wary of single mom - go figure LOL. Then, raving reviews started popping up for The Perfect Play and I didn't fold which is a miracle for me... But then, Ames and Monroe read it and really enjoyed it and well, here it is now :)
Also, I'm adding these three books to my haul :) Yes, yes, I cheated and brought my own copies LOL.
Deep Waters by Jayne Ann Krentz - I've just re-discovered Ms Krentz last year and I really like her older books. However, I knew they were not going to have it, so I brought my own copy of Deep Waters :)
You Belong to Me by Karen Rose - You all know how much I love Karen Rose right? You Belong to Me was released earlier in the UK and so I bought myself a copy and it's hardcover... It didn't make sense to me to buy another one, so I sneaked it in :)
Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh - I already bought two copies of Kiss of Snow, so it really, really didn't make sense to buy a third one right? Actually, I didn't think I'd have a chance to see Ms Singh at the signing so I didn't even bother bringing my copy of KOS. Then, when I came across her table, I realized there was nobody! No line-up! So I sent my sister back to our room so she would get the book :)
And there you have it, my haul at the Literacy Autographing event. Next, the publishers signings :)
