Dark Days of Supernatural - Part One

I was extremely lucky to be able to go to Dark Days of Supernatural in Oregon this week. It was awesome! 

Click on the pictures to see them bigger.

I got there pretty early, around 5:00p.m., and the front row was already taken. I was still able to get seating in the second row! Score! That's way better than my last signing, where I was stuck way behind the massive crowd (you can read about that signing here). It was at the Barnes and Noble in Clackamas:

They were up on the second story, right in front of the windows in the middle

The ladies that were at my stop of the tour were so sweet, fun, and totally entertaining! I got to see Tara Hudson, Ellen Schreiber, Aprilynne Pike, Amy Plum, and Veronica Roth!! I have lots of pictures to share with you!

 They were announced and then they told us about their books. After that, the audience asked questions. I had a heck of a time trying to take pictures with that super bright window behind them! I could give you all the technical mumbo jumbo, but I know you just want to see the pictures. :)

All five of the wonderful authors

There were lots of great questions, but I don't really remember them all. Honestly, almost everything that was asked can be found on the author's blogs and websites, so I didn't take notes or anything.

 Amy Plum and Tara Hudson

Amy Plum

Tara Hudson and Aprilynne Pike

Veronica Roth and Ellen Schreiber

Tara Hudson

Aprilynne Pike watching Veronica Roth talk about Divergent

Amy Plum answering a question

They Talked and answered questions for about 45 minutes or so, and then they started signing! 
They each had cute things they gave to us, too! Amy gave out yummy chocolate from France, Tara gave out bracelets, Aprilynne and Veronica gave out tattoos, and Ellen gave out little 3 musketeers and bookmark. I'll show you some of the stuff in part two of Dark Days - all except the chocolate. I ate that. :)

Getting ready and Amy talking to a fan

Ellen Schreiber

Amy signing. You can see the plate of chocolate! Yum.

Ellen Schreiber and Veronica Roth signing nooks

I think the authors all had a good time too!

Plus, I was able to meet Kristina, from My World of Books! It was awesome to finally meet her. We've been talking about this for months. She drove down from Washington:

I totally forgot to say hi to Vy and to Candace! I don't know how I let that slip my mind. Boo. :(

Overall, it was so fun. It was worth it to be super early and get a good seat. Plus, we got our books signed by row, so we didn't have to wait long at all.

I have more to show you! I'll try and have the pictures of the signatures and fun goodies I got in Part Two!

All pictures belong to me. Do not steal them. If you are an author or publisher, all you have to do is ask, and I will give you images without watermarks. :)

Review: Die For Me

Title: Die For Me (Revenants #1)
Author: Amy Plum
Publisher: Harper Teen
Goodreads | Amazon

Description (from Goodreads):

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

I deleted part of the description to avoid spoilers

My Review:

This book was so charming!

I loved all of the little details about Paris that Amy Plum weaved into the story. The descriptions were enough that I felt like I was sitting with Kate at a cafe, without Paris being the overwhelming, cliche focus. It felt real and quaint. Now I really want to be there!

One of the things that I really appreciated about this book was the lack of typical teenage high school junk. I don't typically like to read about the day to day school stuff. I'm really glad that Amy left that out. Yes, Kate is a teenager in high school, but that does not define her (which I think is true for most teenagers, no?). 

This was one of those stories where I really feel like I could grow to love the characters. Not that I didn't love them now, that's not what I mean. You know when you read a series, how sometimes you just really get attached to the people in them? Then the more you read, the more real to you they become, and you have a genuine attachment to them? That's the direction I see this series going for me. The people in this book are starting to feel familiar and warm. 

Die For Me could easily be a great stand alone book, but I am so grateful that it's not. I am really looking forward to getting to know Kate more, along with Kate's family and the revenants.

The next book in the series:

 Until I Die (Revenants #2)- to be published sometime in 2012

Amy - I can totally be your test reader for Until I Die, Just throwing that out there. Let me know. ;)

In My Mailbox (11)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren. It's a fun way to share what books we got for the week. They can be from publishers, the library, bought, or whatever. They don't have to be from the mailbox.

I'm thinking I might just start calling this something other than In My Mailbox, since the majority of book I get don't come in the mail. Hhhmmm... Anyways! On with what I got this week:

You guys, I spent entirely too much money this week. I bought a membership at Borders, and then bought books on top of that. I can't say I regret it though. :)

Here's my vlog, for those of you who like videos (you can skip and just look at the pictures if you want instead):

So, it was getting dark as I recorded the video. Sorry about that!

Bought:

Die For Me | Amy Plum

Goodreads | Amazon

I got this one for only $8! Borders had a 50% off coupon, and I joined their Rewards Plus program and got an extra 10% off that. One more book down for The Dark Days of Supernatural tour! 

Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld #3) | Gena Showalter

Goodreads | Amazon

I am in LOVE with this series! I had to buy the next two. 

 The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld #4) | Gena Showalter

Goodreads | Amazon

Yay! :)

Knight of Desire (All the King's Men #1) | Margaret Mallory

Goodreads | Amazon

This was totally an impulse buy. I got a bookmark with this series on it last week, and saw them this week at the store. They were even signed!! I read the first page, and decided I wanted it. I bought the first two. 

Knight of Pleasure (All the King's Men #2) | Margaret Mallory

Goodreads | Amazon

I am in love with the dress and the way she's facing him on this cover. I had to buy this one too. It's also signed!

A pretty awesome group of books, if i do say so myself!

What did you get?

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking The Spine. It showcases new books that are coming out soon that we can't wait to read!

Title: Die for Me
Author: Amy Plum
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Goodreads | Amazon

So pretty!

I'm starting to get really excited for The Dark Days of Supernatural! They're stopping in Oregon in June. I can't wait! I'll probably bring it up a million times between now and then. Here's who's coming:

Ellen Schreiber, author of Vampire Kisses #8: Cryptic Cravings
Aprilynne Pike, author of Illusions
Veronica Roth, author of Divergent
Amy Plum, author of Die For Me
Tara Hudson, author of Hereafter

Epic, right??