Technology good, technology frustrate

Good news! A new Nook touch screen is going on sale in 3 weeks! How fortunate then that I JUST BOUGHT a Nook for my mom. It's already obsolete. Yargh!

It took me 2+ hours to get the wi-fi to work on it, which according to all the poking around on the internet I did (and a tech support call to my husband) to figure out how to fix it, was a common problem. Maybe that will be fixed in the new model. But she has the Nook and already finished a book on it since Saturday, so not all is lost.

I suppose there is the option to return the one she got and wait until June 10 to purchase the new one. It's actually slightly cheaper, too!

So, if you're in the market for an E-reader, be mindful of what's in store in the next month.

Recap of Anderson's Books Lucky/Unlucky Event

Here is a little recap of the YA author event last week. I didn't want to be all Ms. Photog and in people's faces, so my picture taking was more discreet. Here is the best shot of the full cast:

From left to right:
Christine Johnson - book: Claire De Lune
Julia Karr: XVI
Sarah Rees Brennan (face partially hidden): The Demon's Covenant
Saundra Mitchell: The Vespertine
Lisa & Laura Rocker: The Liar Society
Leah Clifford: A Touch Mortal
Courtney Allison Moulton: Angelfire
Sara Bennett Wealer: Rival

Each author gave a short synopsis of her book. It was fun to see each writer's personality come through as they described characters and storylines. Sarah Rees Brennan is originally from Ireland, although her accent is a sly one. Her wry and witty descriptions made me want to read her book, regardless of what the story was about! That's why I love events like these. I hadn't heard of her book and possibly would have passed by it if not for seeing her.

Leah Clifford struck me as a the type of person I am typically friends with. I was touched to hear her explain the call that her book sold to a publisher (she immediately called her mom and they freaked out together). Courtney Moulton was given a My Little Pony by a fan, tricked out to match the colors and theme of her book (it sounds impossible but she showed us the pony!)

I had my copy of "The Vespertine" and "XVI" signed, and of course ended up with a book or two more on the way out. I don't usually care that much about having a signed book, but I enjoy meeting the authors, and that's the way to do it. There were some devoted fans in attendance, one girl had won a prom dress from a promotional contest on Saundra Mitchell's blog. How sweet! If only the YA market thrived when I was in high school...

It's always fun to see devoted fans of books, and encouraging to see a turnout at a book event when so many bookstores are closing.

Billy Corgan: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Memoir

So, Billy Corgan is writing a book. Billy Corgan does a lot of things, some I'm not particularly fond of (like singing), other things I wish he'd focus more on (writing songs, not singing, not continually reuinting & retiring his band).

I found this amusing from the Rolling Stone article:

He says that with around 300 pages completed, he's finished writing one-third of the book.

Oh, the wonder of the first draft! I can see it now. My autobiography will be a 1,000 page epic, released in 4 parts, the debut release on the anniversary of penning the first song from Gish, written on a napkin in a Seattle diner... blah blah blah.  I just hope to .god he finds some honest beta-readers and an insightful editor.

The new writer in me understands. Three-hundred pages is just scratching the surface! I have so much to say! Something tells me no matter what, the book will get published. And more power to him for taking on a project like this. But I'm thinking Billy might benefit from the network of blogs I've been scouring for the past months, like Nathan Bransford or Janice Hardy's excellent The Other Side of the Story. As a new writer, I've been learning every day how to improve my writing. He could learn so much!

YA Event at Anderson's

I am clearly spoiled living so close to Naperville's Anderson's Books. Look at this lineup of YA authors coming to the store this Friday:

 

 

Don’t let Friday the 13th scare you. Young Adult readers are welcome to visit with six authors who share their exciting teen titles. Meet:

• Lisa and Laura Roecker (The Liar Society) - I read their blog
• Leah Clifford (A Touch Mortal)
• Sara Bennett Wealer (Rival)
• Julia Karr (XVI) - I have this book at home but haven't read it yet
• Saundra Mitchell (The Vespertine) - On my Must Buy Next list; I'm in awe of the extensive research she did for this book.
• Courtney Allison Moulton (Angelfire) - I saw her in March at another Anderson's Event
• Sarah Rees Brennan (Demon’s Convenant)

 Next week they're bringing in Sarah Dessen. I'm at the tail end of The Truth About Forever, which is the type of book I would have eaten up had it been around when I was in high school. She's like the Jodi Picoult of YA!

 

I'm definitely going out to see the Friday event. I love meeting and hearing directly from authors on their stories and experience with publication.

Link to Share: Brenda Novak Auction

I wanted to share a link for Brenda Novak's Annual Auction for the Cure of Diabetes which has a ton of books and miscellaneous items up for bid. There are trips, jewelry, gift baskets and things like that, as well as opportunities for an agent or author critique of your writing. All the items were donated, and the auction money goes to diabetes research. This auction is plugged on Publisher's Weekly Beyond her Book blog and I've been hearing about it for weeks on various industry blogs.

Master List for Auction
YA books for auction

It's tempting to bid on an agent critique, but I'm not there yet with my beast of a work-in-progress. So I will most likely bid on a book or two.

Just wanted to share the info!