Vloglessness

So I was all ready to post my first vlog today, and I totally panicked. 

I don't know about you guys, but I'm really video-shy. I'm worried I'll be more "out there" than I already am, and it's so uncomfortable! I figured I would just get by, considering that my vlog would
1) not show my face and
2) was about making swag, hence focusing on an action rather than me.

But in the end, it was a vlog that just showed my headless body doing stuff.

FAIL. 

So yeah, maybe I'll try again later. Especially if people want to see how I hand made my swag necklaces.

In the meantime, I remain vloglessly yours,

Lydia

p.s. Have you vlogged? Are you vlog shy?

Reporting back on RT!

So I'm so happy that I went to RT Booklovers Convention! For those of you who aren't familiar with RT, it's sponsored by the Romance Times Book Reviews and the YA track is pretty substantial. After shying away from writer/book conventions for years, I finally did the deed. Though it was occasionally weird (I'm shy around strangers), it was still so fun.

I couldn't go to the whole thing, but I was able to drive down for Saturday's Teen Day. It was basically YA heaven. There were some great panels with Veronica Roth, Melissa Marr, Kiera Cass. Kelley Armstrong, Leigh Bardugo, Corinne Jackson, Richelle Meade, Heather Brewer, Gayle Foreman, Margaret Stohl, among others.

By far, the best part of the convention was meeting so many people I know, but had never met in person. Here we go!

Brekkie with some of the Lucky 13s!  Eve Silver (author of RUSH), who kindly took me under her wing for portions of the day; Claire Caterer (author of THE KEY AND THE FLAME), and Justina Ireland (author of VENGEANCE BOUND)


Bethany Hagen, fellow Dial author (LANDRY PARK). I had spec envy. Who wouldn't? ;)

I met lots of author-friends in the YA Alley section of the book fair...

Deb Driza, fellow Lucky 13 and Class of 2K13er, author of MILA 2.0
(Yes, her deltoids are that defined in real life).

Gretchen McNeil, author POSSESS and TEN (who wore the most gorgeous teal pumps. I was drooling over her shoes) and Dawn Rae Miller, author of LARKSTORM and CRUSHED

Justina Ireland and VENGEANCE BOUND. She is not a hugger. But I hugged her, like, three times and she was such a good sport! We actually hung out a lot that day and cross promoted our books. Way easier than talking up your own book. :)
She also gave me a Kit Kat bar. I am indebted to Justina for life, I think. 

Shelli Johannes, author of UNTRACEABLE

Lenore Appelhans (author of THE MEMORY OF AFTER) and Genn Albin (author of CREWEL)

My League of Extraordinary Writer pals! Bethany Hagen, me, Beth Revis (author of the ACROSS THE UNIVERSE trilogy), Deb Driza, Genn Albin, and Lenore Appelhans!

Tessa Elwood, my fantastic web designer (and she's a YA author too!)
who fed me Ethiopian food and yummy desserts. :) I look like a giant next to her but I swear it's perspective. She's so tall and graceful!

At the end of the day, the YA authors all had dinner and drinks together. Beth Revis took this cool panoramic picture. I am the dark blob in the corner, somewhere near Lea Nolan, Brodi Ashton, Justina Ireland, and Rachel Carter. It was so fun chatting.
(No, you can't really see me. Yes, I was really there.)

All in all, a wonderful, fun experience. 

(Note to self: no need to be in all the pictures next time. Blechh.)

I'm already planning on going to RT in New Orleans next year. I hope to see some of you there! Maybe? Please? I guarantee, it'll be fun!

How Much SCI in your FI?

Hey guys! I had a great time at RT and promise to post lots of pictures soon! In the meantime, I'm blogging over at the League of Extraordinary Writers on How much SCI in your FI?

Check it out!

One Smart Thing I Did to Sell CONTROL

Hey guys! I'm blogging over at the Class of 2K13 on "One Smart Thing I Did to Sell CONTROL"

Have a great weekend! 

I'll be at the RT Booklovers Convention in Kansas City on Saturday, 

so hope to bump into some of you! 

Interview on Girls on YA Books & Giveaway!

Hey guys!

Jaiden over at Girls on YA  Books had me over for an interview. 

I'm giving away two silver necklace swag packs too, so hop on over!

Anyone going to RT?

Hey guys!

So, I'm going to my first book convention! I've always wanted to go to a convention and threatened many, many times to head to SCBWI in NY, but this time I have no excuse.

RT is right around the corner, literally (I can drive there!) and though I've got no actual book in my paws to sign, I'm still going. (I don't think my ARC counts, though I may wave it around, all excited-like)

I'm pretty excited to meet up with several other debut authors from the Lucky 13s, as well as support members from the League of Extraordinary Writers.

I'll be there on Saturday, May 4th for Teen Day AND at the FAN-tastic Day Party as an author (officially from 6:30-7PM, though I'll likely hang out for longer). Ask me nicely, and I'd be happy to hand out some CONTROL swag!

I'll be wearing a Lucky13s button and will be the short, Asian gal with the deer-in-the-headlights expression. Yep. 

Anyone of my blog friends going to RT? I'd love to see you!

Three Notes on Poetry and YA

Hey guys, I wrote about my history with writing poetry, poetry in CONTROL and other YA/MG books, and #twtpoem, a new Twitter poem prompt I started with some fellow writers.

Check it out here! :)