Thursday, July 9

Heading for ALA!

For travel week, I thought it would be fitting to talk about what I'm looking forward to most as I travel to Chicago for the ALA national conference. I'll be there Saturday and Sunday, haunting the exhibits area. My ARCs won't be on display until the ALA Mid-Winter Conference in Boston in January, so I get to attend this one solely as a booklover (and host of The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest). Much fun to be had. Here's what I'm excited about:


1. Meeting my fabulous editor. Really, I'm excited to meet the entire Egmont team. They're all completely fabulous. Gooooooo Team Egmont!


2. Getting to hang out with some of the Great Scavenger Hunt Contest librarians. What a terrific bunch of people! If you'll be there, we're meeting near the Egmont booth at 3:30pm on Saturday. Stop by and say hi!


3. Hearing Laurie Halse Anderson speak at the Margaret Edwards luncheon. I'm delighted that I'll be joining my editor and fellow Egmont author Julia Keller for the event.


4. Meeting two of my favorite YA book bloggers. (Waving to Chelsea aka The Page Flipper and Kristi aka The Story Siren.) Chelsea is the very first reviewer to have read The Cinderella Society, so that makes it double the fun.


5. Attending the Egmont launch party Saturday night at the Art Institute of Chicago. I've heard nothing but raves about their BEA launch party, so I know this is going to be a blast. Especially since I get to hang out there with my lovely (and funny) librarian friend Cathy.


6. Did I mention books??? So many great books to discover. I'm hoping to pick up a few ARCs of upcoming Great Scavenger Hunt Contest books so I can do some special giveaways for participating Hunt librarians. We'll see how I fare while I'm there.


Who else is heading to ALA? If you've been there before, what suggestions do you have for a first-timer?

11 comments:

Kristen said...

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/ca6665989.html

This is a preview of the coupons you'll get when you register. There's tons of awesome giveaways - IPods, digital cameras, and more.

My advice - make a semi-plan - what you really want to try to win.

Stephanie Kuehnert said...

I'll be there too, Kay! I hope we cross paths! I'm signing at the Simon and Schuster booth at 1 pm on Sunday!

Alyson Noel said...

Aw, I went to ALA the last two years and had an absolute blast!! I'll miss it this year, so be sure to have extra fun for me!

Lauren Baratz-Logsted said...

I haven't been, Kay, but I hope you have a fabulous time!

Kay Cassidy said...

Kristen - Thanks for the link! Coupons? I had no idea. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday at 3:30 if you can swing by! :-)

Kay Cassidy said...

Steph - I'm so glad you told me that!!! I am definitely swinging by to see you. Can't wait!

Kay Cassidy said...

Alyson - Aww... so sad you'll have to miss this time. :-( And you got it, I'll have an extra dose of fun on your behalf!

Kay Cassidy said...

Lauren - Thanks! I can't wait to wave at ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH at the S&S booth! :-)

Wendy Toliver said...

Have a wonderful time, Kay.

Sara Hantz said...

Have a wonderful time..... I'm so jealous :)

Kay Cassidy said...

Thanks, Wendy and Sara! I just got back. Sooo tired, but I really had a fabulous time. Librarians are the best!!!