Day One: The first thing I did when I got to BookCon was head to the Penguin Random House booth and check it out. I snagged some ARCs and got in line to meet Nicola Yoon, author of Everything, Everything. After that I met Charlaine Harris and got a FREE copy of Day Shift, even though I already brought books for her to sign. I received Day Shift on NetGalley to review, but the book had a MAP in it. I LOVE MAPS! Charlaine was so freaking cute and she had the sweetest accent! I would never picture her writing the sex scenes in The Sookie Stackhouse novels ;). After that, I got in line to meet Colleen Hoover and K.A. Tucker. I brought my own books to that signing as well, and they were SO freaking nice! I literally thought every author I met during the days at BookCon was super nice, though! After that, I met Sabaa Tahir and Renee Ahdieh. Gues what, they were both amazingly nice as well! Then I just roamed the floor and walked by some ARC drops and was able to get into a few signing lines, so here are all of the books I obtained from Day One of BookCon. These are just the books I was given, not the books I brought for the authors to sign. I'm currently reading Lois Lane: Fallout and it is bringing out the ultimate fangirl inside of me!
Day Two: I wasn't able to go the Sarah J. Maas signing, that line was insane! I'm ok with it mostly because she lives in the same state as me and usually does a lot of signings around me. Today was my day of panels! I went to the diversity panel in which I was really excited to listen to Libba Bray, David Levithan, and I.W. Gregorio. Immediately after that was a Fierce Female Characters panel. It had awesome panelists: Charlaine Harris, Rae Carson, and Sarah J. Maas. Sorry about the shitty picture taking skills, guys. Also the first thing I did on Day Two was go to the First In Line author breakfast. I met James Dashner and got the new Collector's Edition Maze Runner + Scorch Trials. I was also able to ask him to sign my Eye of Minds book. He said he was so grateful that I was reading the series! I bet most people just read his Maze Runner series and forget about his other books - but you guys should seriously read The Eye of Minds! It is amazing! At the end of the day I was able to meet Michael Buckley, author of Undertow. When I was just walking around, I saw one of the booths were doing some kind of trivia to give away paperbacks of City of Heavenly Fire. The questions were so EASY, too! I got it by answering "What is Clary's best friends name". That was basically it for today! I don't have a picture of the Day Two books because I dropped them off at my house house and drove to my apartment like two hours away at around 9:00 at night. I'm getting some of the books tomorrow, through from my family who is visiting. But I remember some of the books I did get: I got Newt's Emerald, Undertow, Auggie & Me, The Maze Runner + Scorch Trials collectible edition, City of Heavenly Fire, Another Day, Lair of Dreams, We Were Liars, and the Accident Season.
Thirdly, I saw those people gather 100's of books from BEA, then complain about this ARC thing. The chances of that person reading ALL of those books before their publication date and reviewing them are super slim, which is the point of ARCs. Half of them will probably be collecting dust on their self until they get to them. Are those ARCs in "good hands"? Don't you think they would be in better hands by someone who bought them on ebay, because chances are that they want to read them right away! End rant. I was not trying to piss anyone off by this post, I just wanted to show everyone that there are two sides to every story. Yes, you getting money from an ARC you sell on ebay is unfair, but so is leaving that ARC on your shelf and then forgetting about.
- Jocelyn
Sounds like you had fun at BookCon!
ReplyDeleteI understand where you're coming from with the selling ARC thing. I feel like it's an issue that I can see both sides on.
I did! And yes I just feel like the world of book blogging is so positive and accepting of people I think it's sad to bring all of that negativity to it!
DeleteYour BookCon haul is beautiful! So glad you had a great time and it's always nice to hear that these authors are nice! I wouldn't expect Harris to be like that after watching and reading a bit of the Sookie Stackhouse series ;P I had NO clue about the ARC situation going on! Really well written response you have hear! Glad to hear about it - thanks for sharing! If you ever make it to Chicago next year for book con - maybe we could catch some signings&talks!
ReplyDeletehaha I KNOW! I loved the Sookie series but i didn't expect her to remind me of my grandmother! She's adorable. And I'm not so sure about next years BookCon but if it's there any other year, I'll definitely be able to make it and we can meet up! :)
DeleteWow BookCon looked great I'm glad you had a good time! Fabulous book haul :) and I completely see your side with regards to selling ARCs so thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteMost recent post on Enchanted by YA: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.com/2015/06/review-magic-study-study-2-by-maria-v.html
Thanks I'm really happy that I went. They really should increase the ticket price for the amount of books you get! I feel like I didn't pay anything because I received so many free books! And yes I just want people to see another side of it because the book blogging community is usually so open and accepting that it's sad to see them be so rude about things involving ARCs!
DeleteGreat post! BookCon looks like SO much fun! We don't get many things like that in the UK so I am SO jealous! I think you make an interesting point about the ARCs and people trading too. I never thought about that but I think you're right that it's similar.
ReplyDeleteAw, I know that must be tough - I haven't heard of many UK book events. Hopefully one day you can come to something in the US! :) And yes I just wanted people to see a different side of things!
DeleteGirl the only book i'm dying to get from BEA and Bookcon is Illuminae. THAT BOOK I NEEDS! I'm thinking about doing a discussion post about ARCS because when it comes to them, people get really fucking weird. Arguing constantly, jealous because so and so got an ARC, worried about whatever it is that people do with their ARCS, it's just all so damn annoying. While I don't think ppl should sell their ARCS, that's none of my business. You sell a ARC that's on you. You buy that ARC, again that's on you. If I'm not doing it, what does it have to do with me ya know? I know ppl feel as if speaking up, or calling out others who are doing it will stop it, but it won't so I just keep it moving girl lol. I also trade arcs, which some people ALSO have a problem with! The book community can get a little crazy lol.
ReplyDeleteHaha it does look good! I really can't wait to read Dumplin', though. I know people get so crazy about them. I feel like people should just let it go! You're not blogging to get ARCs so just worry about yourself and stop worrying about what other people do with theirs!
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