Kathryn Purdie

Kathryn Purdie was at the Provo Library last Tuesday! It was the launch party for her debut book, Burning Glass.

She had SO much energy, and I don't know if it was from excitement or nerves or both. She kept getting distracted from saying hi to random people she knew in the audience. She had a pretty big crowd at the library! I was really shocked for a debut book. She has lots of friends and family members.

Here are a few things Kathryn talked about:

-    Kathryn wanted to be an actress. She has been in a ton of plays, and she thought she would be doing that the rest of her life.

-    She donated a kidney to her brother Matt. It took 3 years before the doctors would let her donate even though she was a perfect match. There was a lot of medical and technical stuff to deal with.

-    Kathryn is an avid and dedicated journal writer. She has filled a lot of journals!

-    The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan is the book that inspired her to write.

-    After several rejected books, Kathryn decided to write about and empath. While she was recovering from donating her kidney, she became very in tune with other's feelings. She talked to her uncle about how she was feeling and he told her to write a book about an empath.

-    Burning Glass flowed from her. This story felt different, and there was no resistance in writing it. 

 I got a fuzzy picture of Kathryn signing a book.

Here is me and my group of friends with the author!

Lindsey Leavitt

On Wednesday, I went to see Lindsey Leavitt with my friends!

Here is Jayne, Tori, and Suey

Me and Jenny

Lindsey was at the Provo Library promoting her new book The Pages Between Us. She did a good job promoting it cause I wasn't going to buy a book that night, but I ended up buy it anyway. I also bought a copy of Sean Griswald's Head! I'm such a sucker!

Erica introduced the author.

Lindsey was really funny and energetic. She knows how to win over a crowd.

Since Lindsey co-wrote the book with Robin Mellom, Lindsey called up Robin and they did most of the presentation together. Lindsey held the mic to her phone so we could hear Robin. She was on a train to LA.

Some things Lindsey and Robin talked about:

-    The book is written notebook style. The two main characters write notes to each other in a notebook.

-    Lindsey and Robin emailed the story back and forth. They each wrote for one of the MCs, and they wrote back and forth like they were writing in the notebook.

-    The whole book took about 4 months to write.

-    The project was supposed to be a secret, but Robin let it slip to her agent.

-    The book got a lot of interest, so it went to auction. They chose to have it published by Harper because Harper was the one that would produce the book the way Lindsey and Robin wanted it.

-    The book is very visual with notes and lists and stuff. Lindsey and Robin are very pleased with how it turned out.

This is Lindsey signing her books with her daughter on her lap. Her daughter broke her arm, and she wasn't feeling good.

Here is our group picture with the author. The person who took our picture didn't zoom in. Grr!

Jayne and Jenny ditched us, but the rest of us kept tradition by going to JCWs for yummy food!

It was a fun night!

Pitch Dark Days Tour

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of attending the Pitch Dark Days event at the Provo Library

My favorite part was meeting up with all my blogger buddies! I'm going to be lazy and not list everyone. Sorry!

Here are the authors that came! I don't know what Brodi and Debra are doing. Looks like they are playing rock, paper, scissors.

Brodi Ashton signing a book! I also met her mom and got her to sign my book.

Brodi said we could pet her, and I just couldn't pass that up! 

Kiersten White signing some books! 

Lauren Oliver signing my books!

I only met 3 of the 6 authors. I'll have to read the other's books and catch them some other time.

After we fought the crowds to get our books signed, Suey, Suey's daughter, Jenny, Jenni Elyse, and I went to JCWs to enjoy good food and fun chatter. I had a ton of fun!

I can't til the next author event!!!

J. Scott Savage Event

 On Thursday I had the pleasure of attending an author event at the Provo Library.

 J. Scott Savage was the main attraction.

The 3rd book in his Farworld series was just released, and he talked a bit about his books and how they came to be.

 He took some time to talk about the cover art (which I love). They were originally going to connect into this cool symbol, but they went with something else.

 This young lad single handedly saved the Farworld series! He convinced his father to continue to publish the series.

Are you ready for this!?!?!?

CHECK OUT WHAT I WON!!

A canvas print of Brandon Dorman's art for Air Keep!! AAAHH!! I'm so stoked! Scott signed it for me, and Brandon is going to sign it! I'm so happy!

My luck wins out again!! I'm so glad I was born in the year of the rabbit!
It was like getting a real life epic drop!!! SO HAPPY!!

p.s. for you Courtney Lowe fans! Gene said her book is sold to Feiwel and Friends!!!! 
She better have her launch party in Provo!

My Library

Since it is Utah Book Month, I decided to do a little dedicated post about the greatest library in Utah (at least that is my opinion).  

The Provo City Library

Not only is it the best library ever, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in Utah County.  I live in Orem, but I use Provo's library (Orem's library is really sad in comparison, I can't stand going there).  Why is Provo's library so great you ask?  I'll tell you.

1.    They have a wonderful variety of books, movies, audiobooks, etc. to check out!  I can find almost everything here, and if I can't find it, I can request it, and they usually get it.  Awesome!

2.    I love being able to manage my library account online.  I can put books on hold, renew books, search the catalog, see when my books are due, see how many things I have checked out, and see all the upcoming events all from my couch.  Awesome!

3.    I LOVE their checkout system.  I stack a few books over the pad thingy, and ding ding ding, they are checked out to me!  Awesome!

4.    Provo library has SO many author events it is crazy!!  I've met so many authors and have had my books signed!  It is fantastic!  Here is a little list of some of the authors I've met/seen thanks to my library:  Markus Zusak (oh ya!), Christopher Paolini, Rick Riordan, Jennifer A. Nielson, Carol Lynch Williams, Lindsey Leavitt, Kiersten White, Marissa Meyer, Emmy Laybourne, Anna Banks, and lots more!  Awesome!

5.    They also have a bunch of other great events!  I've attended some of their Learn It classes, and I always come out feeling so much smarter and motivated!  I've collected a lot of books from Talk N Swaps.  The summer reading program is the bomb!  So Awesome!

6.    It is easy to navigate.  I love that I can walk right in and find everything.  They have a great layout.  Awesome!

7.    The people who work there are super nice!  And awesome!

8.    A lot of my blogging buddies use this same library, and it fun to see them at events!  Be-Awesome!

If I haven't convinced you yet, then you'll have to just go get a library card for yourself and experience it!  

I love my library!  Thanks to everyone who makes it awesome (staff, community, etc.)!  It's just another thing that makes Utah great!  

Keep up with the Provo City Library's happenings!

http://www.provolibrary.com/

@ProvoLibrary