Top Ten Tuesday

This week's theme is authors you automatically purchase. Since I work in a library, most of my books come from the library. I have dozens of YA authors that I automatically purchase for the library.  Many of them happen to be authors that I gravitate towards, but that's not always the case.

 - meme from The Broke and the Bookish

On Both Lists:

1. Meg Cabot
2. Sarah Dessen
3. Jen Calonita
4. Jennifer Echols
5. Susane Colasanti
6. Ally Carter
7. Jennifer Lynn Barnes
8. Tera Lynn Childs
9. Elizabeth Eulberg
10. Rachel Caine

For My Patrons:

These are authors that write books that just aren't my thing or some authors, I've read a few of their books, but I don't rush to put their latest book on hold. Either way, but the teens and adult patrons gobble them up! 

1. P.C. and Kristin Cast
2. L.J. Smith (which also now includes other writers writing the same series)
3. Darren Shan
4. Kate Brian (mostly her series books)
5. Mike Lupica
6. Walter Dean Myers
7. Bluford High series
8. Simpsons Comics
9. Christopher Paolini 
10. James Patterson

Top Ten Tuesday

This week we're talking about Bookish Memories (waiting in line for a new release, meeting an author, or some sort of great experience with a particular book that was unlike others) - meme from The Broke and the Bookish

Oh Gosh, I can tell this is going to be a tough one. I've been so fortunate to meet so many wonderful authors.

1. Having a moment with Judy Blume. I went to a strange author panel. I went because of Judy Blume. The man who introduced the authors had no idea about her books. He gave a list of her works, which included Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Only he didn't know it was just one book, He thought it was three. I must have rolled my eyes or made a face because she called him out on it later and made eye contact with me while saying that some people knew her books. It was pretty cool!

2. Meeting Meg Cabot. I only wish I had a picture of us. I've gotten better at gushing over authors since then -but I was star struck with her.

3. Making a complete fool out of myself while meeting Scott Westerfeld TWICE. This is the second meeting, where I told him about the first meeting. He laughed...several times.

4. Talking about a book in the aisle of BEA (my first year) and being told the author was right down there, did I want to go talk with her? YES. That's how I met Lisa Ann Sandell, who was talking to Aimee Friedman - who knew me from Facebook. That's when I first realized how awesome it was meeting authors!  Love them both. Here's a photo of Aimee and I a few years later, again at BEA.

5. Meeting SO MANY wonderful authors at BEA - too many to name (I don't want to forget anyone)

6. Harry Potter Midnight Release Parties - love that there was so much LOVE for this series that bookstores/libraries hosted parties celebrating the releases. I went to two and hosted two.

7. Meeting SO MANY wonderful authors at RJ Julia - an independent bookstore. Here I am with Ally Carter.

8. Meeting Tera Lynn Childs, who I knew for years on social networking sites, love her books. She was in NYC for a conference and came to my library to help kick off our summer reading program. 

9. Any conference I've gone to where I meet so many awesome bookish (Librarians/Bloggers) and of course, talk about books.

10. Comments from authors who saw a book review I've written of their work.

Top Ten Tuesday

Thankful: this week we're tackling the topic of Top Ten Books/Authors I'm Thankful For.  A great topic from The Broke and the Bookish

I have So many things I'm thankful for, but instead of naming names (because I don't want to forget someone), I'm going to be vague. I feel like a very lucky librarian/book blogger this year. So here's my list.

1. As a librarian, I'm thankful for all the authors who write fabulous books. I love having a list of books I want to read that's so long, I'm never going to be able to read them all. 

2. As a librarian, I'm thankful that authors are writing amazing books that I can keep handing to teens. I love it when they come back for more

3. I'm thankful for the opportunity to talk with my favorite authors over social networking sites, so I can gush about their latest book to them - I feel like we're friends.

4. I'm thankful for the publishers who take the time to talk with me and send me material they think I might like to review or might like to purchase for the library.

5. I'm thankful for the authors who send me their books they know I want to read so I can gobble them up and rave about them to teens, other librarians, and anyone who will listen.

6. I'm thankful for all the books that wow me and make me super duper happy after reading them!

Have a safe and happy Holiday week! 

Blog Tour: Dear Teen Me

I'm so happy to be a part of the blog tour for this book.

I loved reading it. It was both hilarious and heartbreaking.  I loved getting inside information about some of my favorite YA authors. It felt like going through an old yearbook. The pictures were fun to look through - the many decades of fashion and hairstyles. I tore through this book, not wanting it to end. I hope that teens are as impressed and enlightened as I was; it's a perfect book to share about that awkward stage in life. High school doesn't last forever!

I liked the different formats - most of the entries were letters, but some of them were cartoons/graphic novel formats or lists. I wished there was more of the Q&A sections, I loved those! I had such fun reading about authors and their teen years that I was inspired to write my own letter.

Dear Teen Me,
I'm going to let you in on a little secret you won't discover for a few years. It's OK to be both girly AND a feminist. It's not bad. It's not wrong. Plus you'll have way more fun. Also lighten up a little, you're way too serious. You don't have to speak your mind about everything. Everyone isn't always interesting in what you have to say. It's fine if you have your own moral compass, but you don't have to share it with the world or even your three best friends at the moment. Also you might consider sharing your secrets with them. If you don't change your ways, you're going to be friendless senior year and it's going to be miserable.  Date some of those boys who ask you out, it might be fun. Even if you don't fall for them, it would be nice to say yes once in a while. Also, all the fights you have your parents - most of the time they're right.  It will take you YEARS to realize this. I'm not going to tell you anymore secrets from the future because your mistakes/regrets will shape who you are and you're pretty happy now. I don't want to mess with that. But I will say, keep your head in the books. Books will define your life in ways you never thought possible.
Love,
Your Future Self

PS. This is still one of your favorite pictures of your teen years - the one of you and your sister in front of the tree the day you turned sixteen. God, you loved that black dress. It made you feel older.

For more authors and letters, check out DEAR TEEN ME and be sure to check out the other blog tour stops.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Bookish People You Want To Meet (Authors, Bloggers, etc.) from Broke and Bookish

This is a hard post to create because I LOVE meeting bookish people and talking with them. There's so many authors I've met and so many I'd love to meet.

J.K. Rowling 

George R. R. Martin

These are the two biggest and ones I probably will never meet, but I would be so happy to tell them how much I love and admire their work.

Stephanie Perkins

Jessica Burkhart

Jen Calonita

Lisa and Laura Roecker 

Rachel Caine

Richelle Mead

Anthony Horowitz

YS Lee

I really could go on and on, but I'll stop there. There's only one adult author on the list, but I feel I could make a whole other list with just adult cozy mystery authors.  I'm really lucky at being able to meet a lot of authors and I've had such a great time meeting them! 

Review: Dear Bully

70 Teen authors share their stories about being bullied, not stopping bullies, and sometimes acting in a bully like manner.

My Thoughts: There were poems, essays, and stories throughout the book written by favorite authors. Some of them used writing to escape their emotions. Some of them used their bullies as characters in their novels. Some of them turned to humor. Some of them ran. Some of them fought back. Some of them did nothing and endured the torment.

I can't say that I LIKED this book, because it's so emotional, so heart-wrenching, and so hard to read at times. I will say that I read it in two sittings. It was hard to put down. And that it's a book that EVERY teen should read.

Cover Thoughts: I like it

Source: My library

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets

I devoured this book last night. It reminded me a little of the Post Secret books - but more interesting because of the word limits.

Some of my favorites included:
Met Online, love before first sight - Chris S.
Hung Myself. Sister found me. Alive. - Anna-Lise M
Ripped open, sewn back up, healing. - Traci V
Defined by numbers: age, weight, SATs. - Jocelyn P.
A boy wizard saved my life. - Rebecca G
Waiting indefinitely for life to begin. - Jocelyn P.
My mom had my boyfriend deported. - Candra T
I don't rock, guitat hero lies. - Lacy F


I have no idea what I would write...maybe something like these
booknerd dreaming of authorship - rarely writes.
Crafty ideas - afraid to ruin by doing.
feel alone in a full room

Louder Than Words

New book series: check out the books and participate in the chats. Each author has a chat every night this week. Plus the series editor answers the behind the scenes questions

Here are the books:

Some say truth is more interesting than fiction, and that's what the Louder Than Words series proves. This exciting, new series will be the resource for girls looking to read compelling, intriguing, and personal real-life stories written by current teens with powerful voices.

Truth is More Fascinating than Fiction.
Enter a new reality.
Louder Than Words.
Compelling personal stories written by current teens with powerful voices.

Here's the chat line-up

Monday, August 10, 8-9 p.m. ET
Guest: Deborah Reber, Series Editor
Topic: Introducing the Louder Than Words Series
Description: Join us Monday night as Deborah Reber, editor of the new series of teen-authored memoirs, "Louder Than Words," gives us the story behind the series. How were the teen authors chosen? How were the books put together? Who is the series written for? What kind of feedback are you getting? Are there more books coming? How can I be a "Louder Than Words" author?

Tuesday, August 11, 8-9 p.m. ET
Guest: Marni Bates, author of "Marni"
Topic: Compulsive Behavior and How the Internet Can Help

Description: Join us Tuesday night as teen author Marni Bates answers questions about her book, "Marni." Marni has trichotillomania -- a irresistible desire to pull out her own hair. What do you have? Marni discusses how the Internet helped her understand the problem, and also how she feels about having her secrets revealed in a book.

Wednesday, August 12, 8-9 p.m. ET
Guest: Emily Smucker, author of "Emily"
Topic: Sickness and Faith, Pickles and Cake

Description: Join us Wednesday when Emily Smucker will answer questions about what it's like getting through senior year with a chronic illness. Emily is a Mennonite but, don't worry, it's not contagious. She'll also talk about blogging and writing books.

Thursday, August 13, 8-9 p.m. ET
Guest: Chelsey Shannon, author of "Chelsey"
Topic: Assembling a New Life with Pieces from the Past

Description: Join us Thursday night as Chelsey Shannon, author of "Chelsey," talks about fashioning a new life for herself after her father was murdered a week before her 14th birthday and she had to move away from home and school. She'll talk about overcoming grief, and how she discovered a group of women writers who helped her get over.

Friday, August 14, 8-9 p.m. ET
Guest: Deborah Reber, Series Editor
Topic: How to Break Into Publishing for Teen Writers
Description: On Friday, series editor Deborah Reber will answer questions about how teen writers can break into publishing. All the "Louder Than Words" authors were teen writers when they were first published. Some made money as writers. All of them wrote on the Internet, and made friends with writers online. One of the author's moms is a writer.