OUaT is Heading to @YALLWEST!

So exciting news... Shannon from the OUaT team will be attending YallWest this year and seriously cannot contain her excitement! I mean seriously, Cassandra Clare is going to be there, it's a dream come true. Not only will Cassandra Clare be there, a ton of extremely amazing authors will be in attendance. Like Renée Adhieh (OUaT favorite), Victoria Aveyard, creator of my favorite villain; Leigh Bardugo, Melissa de la Cruz, Nicola Yoon, Kasie West, and so many more!

Check out the line-up here!

Also check out the schedule here!

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We are also very fortunate to be interviewing this amazing authors at the festival as well! If anyone has questions for Melissa, Marie and Sandhya please leave them in the comments below or tweet us at @twilightsdance! 

Melissa de la Cruz 

Marie Marquardt 

And last but not least...

Sandhya Menon 

Which I'll be honest, I'm the most excited about because When Dimple Met Rishi has been my favorite book of the year so far! Watch out for my review coming up. 

 If you happen to see me walking around please don't hesitate to come up and say hi!

 

Just In: #YALLFest 2014 Author Line-Up

2014 YALLFEST Author Line-Up!

• James Dashner (“The Maze Runner”) – keynote speaker
• Sara Zarr (“Story of a Girl”) – keynote speaker
• Sarah Dessen (“The Moon and More”) – closing keynote speaker
• Ally Condie (“Matched” trilogy) – closing keynote speaker
• Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia (“Beautiful Creatures”)
• Melissa de la Cruz (“Frozen”, “The Ring and the Crown”)
• Brendan Reichs (“Virals”)
• Pseudonymous Bosch (“Secret” series)
• Ann Brashares (“The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” novels)
• Libba Bray (“The Diviners”)
• Kiera Cass (“The Selection” trilogy)
• Becca Fitzpatrick (“Hush, Hush” trilogy)
• Gayle Forman (“If I Stay”)
• Marie Lu (“Legend” trilogy)
• Lauren Oliver (“Delirium” trilogy)
• Kathy Reichs (“Virals” and Bones television adaptation)
• Rainbow Rowell (“Eleanor & Park”)
• Laini Taylor (“Daughter of Smoke and Bone” trilogy)
• Scott Westerfeld (“Uglies”)
• Maya Van Wagenen (“Popular”)
• Rita Williams-Garcia (“One Crazy Summer”, “Like Sisters on the Homefront”)
• Kwame Alexander (“He Said, She Said”)
• Jennifer Armentrout (“Frigid”, “Trust in Me”)
• Leigh Bardugo (“The Grisha” trilogy)
• Alexandra Bracken (“The Darkest Minds”, “Never Fade”)
• Matt de la Pena (“Mexican WhiteBoy”, “We Were Here”)
• Jim di Bartolo (“In the Shadows”)
• Christina Lauren (“Beautiful Bastard” series)
• Coe Booth (“Kendra”)
• Susan Ee (“Angelfall”, “World After”)
• Susan Fine (“Initiation”)
• Ryan Graudin (“All That Glows”)
• Adele Griffin (“Loud Awake and Lost”)
• Nikki Grimes (“Words with Wings”)
• Lev Grossman (“The Magicians and the Magician King”)
• Michelle Hodkin (“Mara Dyer” series)
• Ellen Hopkins (“Tilt”, “Smoke”)
• Varian Johnson (“The Great Greene Heist”)
• Michael Johnston (“Frozen”)
• David Levithan (“Every Day”)
• Alexander London (“Prisoners of War”)
• E. Lockhart (“We Were Liars”)
• DJ MacHale (“Sylo”)
• Sarah J Maas (“Throne of Glass” series)
• Barnabas Miller (“Watching Alice” series)
• Sarah Mylnowski (“Gimmie a Call “)
• Lauren Myracle (“Internet Girls” series)
• Danielle Paige (“Dorothy Must Die”)
• Stephanie Perkins (“Anna and the French Kiss”)
• Morgan Rhodes (“Falling Kingdoms” series)
• Carrie Ryan & John Parker Davis (“The Map to Everywhere”)
• Kieran Scott (“He’s So/She’s So” series)
• Jennifer E. Smith (“This is What Happy Looks Like”)
• Natalie Standiford (“The Boy on the Bridge”)
• J.E. Thompson (“The Girl from Felony Bay”)

YALLfest takes place every year in Charleston, SC. This year the event will start on Friday, November 7th to Saturday, November 8th. The  cost is free to attend. 

Once Upon a Signing: My 2013 Memorable Book Signing Events

Today is the last day of the year. It's amazing how fast time flies and you don't even realize it! Well taking a look back at this year, I decided to share some pictures of my book events. I am so glad I have my friends that shares the same passion to share this memories

So I am a Twi-hard. I broke my ankle earlier this year, but that was not going to stop me from seeing Stephenie Meyer for the 5th times. I can never get tired of this lady. She literally changed my life. So here are some picture I have of her when she visited Books & Books, an indie book store in Miami. If you live in South Florida, I highly recommend this store!

The Host Tour - Stephenie Meyer

As I mentioned, I broke my ankle so I was in a wheel chair... So my cousin was sweet enough to wheel me. Well, these two decided to make a surprise appearance and while they were signing the poster, they pretty much signed my cousin's poster with my name. It was a funny moment, as you can see in their face expressions. 

So she's Darling and you're Leydy. So my darling lady.

Isn't he adorable???

#Yallfest: Interview with Jocelyn Davies

Today we are excited to share with you an interview with one of this year's YALLFEST authors. 

YALLFest will be happening this November in Charleston, SC. It’s one of the biggest gatherings of Young Adult and Middle Grade Author’s in the South. This years Keynote Speakers are Rae Carson and Veronica Roth. Event will take place Saturday, November 9th 2013.

Jocelyn Davies

Every week – they are releasing interviews with authors, and today’s interview is with Jocelyn Davies. Here’s what the author had to say…

Q: What one thing do you need to have when you write?

A: COFFEE! And a cocoon of silence.

Q: Describe your book in 5 words

A: Girl has angel blood, torn.

Q: What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

A: It differs from book to book--really, it's anyone's guess! Sometimes, the first line is hardest, because I'm just getting started and I'm not warmed up yet, and by the time I get to the end, I've got the momentum of an entire book to propel me into that last line. Then again, sometimes a first line just pops into my head, and the whole idea unfolds from there. Theres usually no way to know what is going to happen until it's happening, which is often the approach I take to writing.

Q: Best writing tip you ever received?

A: “Create interesting characters, give them an excuse to meet, and the story will write itself.”

Q: Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

• I'm a dog person--cats kind of freak me out.

• I was a theater kid in high school. I used to dream of being an Oscar-winning actress.

• I love everything about autumn.

• I live a few blocks away from my best friend from high school.

• In my day job, I'm also a children's book editor.

Q: What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

A: I love magical realism—a novel that's set in the real world, but ever-so-slightly different.

Q: At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?

A: I usually have a pretty strong sense right from the moment the idea comes to me. I start writing knowing I’m embarking on a novel.

Check out Jocelyn Davies' books: 

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For more information on YALLFest, visit their website – yallfest.org

#YallFest: Interview with Lisa McMann

Today we are excited to share with you an interview with one of this year's YALLFEST authors. 

YALLFest will be happening this November in Charleston, SC. It’s one of the biggest gatherings of Young Adult and Middle Grade Author’s in the South. This years Keynote Speakers are Rae Carson and Veronica Roth. Event will take place Saturday, November 9th 2013.

Lisa McMann

   

Every week – they are releasing interviews with authors, and today’s interview is with Kami Garcia. Here’s what the author had to say…


Q: What one thing do you need to have when you write?

A: Silence.

Q: Best writing tip you ever received?

A: “Think of the one thing your main character would never, ever do. Now make her do it.”

Q: What are you working on now?

A: We’ll be ramping up the releases of books 5, 6, and 7 in the Unwanteds series, so I’m working on Unwanteds book 5 right now.

Q: What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

A: I really enjoy writing in a variety of genres, from realistic to paranormal to dystopian fantasy. At the moment, fantasy is winning, but that could change at any moment. My favorite genre to read is memoir.

Q: At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?

A: As soon as I have a one line concept that gives me a little shiver.

Check out some Lisa McMann's books:

 

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For more information on YALLFest, visit their website – yallfest.org

#Yallfest: Interview with Michelle Hodkin

Today we are excited to share with you an interview with one of this year's YALLFEST authors. 

YALLFest will be happening this November in Charleston, SC. It’s one of the biggest gatherings of Young Adult and Middle Grade Author’s in the South. This years Keynote Speakers are Rae Carson and Veronica Roth. Event will take place Saturday, November 9th 2013.

Michelle Hodkin

    

Every week – they are releasing interviews with authors, and today’s interview is with Kami Garcia. Here’s what the author had to say…

Q: Describe your book in 5 words:

A: Romeo and Juliet meets Hitchcock 

Q: What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

A: I spend a lot of time thinking about my first lines. A lot of time. Too much time. Luckily the last lines usually come to me as I write. 

Q: What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read? 

A: What I love about YA is that I don't have to choose a genre. I can blend elements and mess with conventions from all of them—horror, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, whatever. I'm not sure I could choose a favorite, if I were ever told that I had to. And my reading is all over the place, but right now I'm reading a lot of old school sci-fi and fantasy, with some literary fiction thrown in. 

Q: What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why? 

A: The Magicians by Lev Grossman. It's not YA, but it is about a teenager who reminds me of my teen self. And maybe also my adult self. Anyway. I basically push the book into the hands of everyone I meet. It's just that good. 

Q: What are you working on now? 

A: A secret project that is secret. But I'm wildly excited about it, and I think my readers will be too.

Check out Michelle Hodkin's books:

  

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For more information on YALLFest, visit their website – yallfest.org

#YALLFEST: Interview with Lisi Harrison

Today we are excited to share with you an interview with one of this year's YALLFEST authors. 

YALLFest will be happening this November in Charleston, SC. It’s one of the biggest gatherings of Young Adult and Middle Grade Author’s in the South. This years Keynote Speakers are Rae Carson and Veronica Roth. Event will take place Saturday, November 9th 2013.

LISI HARRISON

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Every week – they are releasing interviews with authors, and today’s interview is with Kami Garcia. Here’s what the author had to say…

Q: What one thing do you need to have when you write?

A: A scented candle. Each book has it’s own scent.

Q: Describe your book in 5 words

A: Popular freshmen’s secret journals revealed.

Q: What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

A: First. 100%

Q: Best writing tip you ever received?

A: Stop writing in the middle of a chapter instead of the end. It will be easier to start up again the next day.

Q: What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?

A: Stargirl.

Q: Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

• I can’t run.
• I have a tattoo with a type-o. It’s supposed to say, “creativity” but it says, “dry.”
• In college I thought it would be cool to get a tattoo written in Chinese characters.
• I was supposed to be on one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center. I changed my reservation at the last minute. Now every time I look at a clock it says 9:11.
• I can’t stand being asked about my “favorites.” I don’t have favorites. If I did I’d forget what they are the minute you asked and would remember them the minute you leave. It’s maddening.
• I prefer to give 6 random facts.

Q: Where's your favorite place to write?

A: My office.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: Pretenders #2: License To Spill.

Q: What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

A: What did I just tell you about “favorites?”

Q: At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?

A: When I can describe it in one sentence. And do it without cringing.

Check out some of Lisi Harrison's books:

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For more information on YALLFest, visit their website – yallfest.org