I used to participate in Top Ten Tuesday when I first started blogging and it was a wonderful way to meet fellow bloggers! I thought with coming back from a hiatus, and a bit of a lack of inspiration on my part, participating again would be a great idea. So, every Tuesday (if the topic interests me) I’ll be sharing a Top Ten Tuesday post. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl! Make sure to check out her page explaining everything you need to know, including future topics.
When I originally brainstormed for this topic, I read “bookish” as “authors“. I realize now that I could have gone any number of ways with this post, but because I already brainstormed some authors that I have already met, I’m just going to stick to that. I’m much too lazy to re-brainstorm. I would try to come up with authors I’d love to meet, but frankly, I’ve met a lot of my favorites already. So, today you’re getting a list of authors I’ve had the honor to meet, some more than once, and will always be grateful for that. Yep, I’m name dropping y’all.
Mostly because of Yallwest and other area book events, I had the honor to meet MARISSA MEYER, JAY KRISTOFF, VERONICA ROTH, ERIN BOWMAN, and MARIE LU. I had the bonus opportunity to interview Erin Bowman. She was my first author interview I ever did. Today, I still connect with her regularly on Instagram. I love her books and she’s a lovely person to follow over there. I’ve also had the honor to meet Jay Kristoff more than once and he’s always been such a joy. He’s incredibly friendly, funny, and kind to every reader he met (at least while I was there).
In the photo, Marie Lu is signing one of two posters I brought with me that I had asked authors to sign with a piece of writing advice – they still hang in my office today.
I’ve also had the opportunity to meet JENNIFER NIVEN, TAHEREH MAFI & RANSOM RIGGS, EVELYN SKYE, and the queen herself, LEIGH BARDUGO. I also got to interview Jennifer Niven and she was so kind. I met her in the author area, and she offered to get me a cheeseburger beforehand then introduced me to her team and best friend. Little introvert me didn’t know what to do, but my goodness, what a core memory for me. I’ve had the chance to meet her a couple more times and she’s always the kindest person.
Tahereh and Ransom are cute because they literally do everything together. Any event I’ve been to in which they are attending, they’re always right next to each other. It’s adorable.
I’ve also been able to meet Leigh Bardugo a few times, but the best time was when she was at a signing in San Diego with Jay Kristoff. Her advice to aspiring authors always sticks with me, even though it’s the simplest of words. Basically, she said none of the books in the bookstore at that moment are first drafts, so if you think your story isn’t good enough, just keep going, it’ll take more than one draft. I remind myself of that when I feel like my story and writing is horrendous.
Have you been able to meet any of your favorites?
Who would you love to meet?
18 Comments
This post is so fun! I’ve only met a handful of authors myself.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-bookish-people-id-like-to-meet/
I actually love when people name drop authors they’ve met. It’s fun to see who they are. I haven’t met any of these, but I have been to a couple of larger signings with romance authors and have met a bunch of them plus a couple of ex-political people who have written books that my friend drug me to.
hahah that’s wonderful! I felt super cheesy writing this post lol
You’ve met quite a few YA authors! I’ve liked the stuff I’ve read by Bowman, and that Jennifer Niven story is neat too. 🙂
Most of these are from Yallwest, hence all the YA authors haha Erin Bowman is great! I love her.
Omg this post was os much fun. Here is my post-https://paigesofnovels.com/2023/03/07/top-ten-tuesday-bookish-people-i-want-to-meet/.
So fun! Love that you’ve had the chance to meet so many authors and that you share some memories from your experiences meeting them, too. 🙂
I’m very grateful for the opportunity! I’ll always cherish those memories 🙂
I got to meet Leigh Bardugo earlier in the year and she was so lovely! Some of the people at the event asked for writing advice as well and she gave some really good advice-I definitely found her advice about getting over the fear of a blank page very helpful!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/03/07/top-ten-tuesday-410/
She’s so lovely! I love her style too. I always enjoy listening to her talk about writing 🙂
🙂
I did authors I would love to meet bc I didn’t have a ton that I have met. I’ve met Sabaa Tahir, Colleen Hoover, and a few others . I was really on a roll until COVID hit. One of our local bookstores had them but they haven’t done much since. I hope they start hosting meet-and-greets soon! I would love to meet Marie Lu or Marissa Meyer!!
My Top Ten!
Ah yeah, Covid totally ruined things. All of the authors I met here was from Yallwest and other events PRE Covid. Yallwest is supposed to come back but I don’t really know any of the authors anymore since I don’t read a ton of YA now lol
There was a huge con in NY (closest to me) that they cancelled with Covid and then they decided to never bring it back. So disappointing! Virtual events are just not the same. Yeah, I’ve been struggling with YA a lot lately and haven’t been reading as much. It was like all I read when I started blogging years ago!
How fun that you’ve gotten to meet so many of your favorites! I’ve done very few author-y events, but I did meet Marissa Meyer at one. I wore a Lunar Chronicles sweatshirt her publisher had sent me and she was like, “Where did you get that? I don’t even have one of those!” LOL. She graciously signed it 🙂
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Fun name dropping post! Glad you’ve had the opportunity to meet so many authors.
That’s so cool you’ve met all these authors!
Aw this is AWESOME! I have met quite a few as well- some of them in this post heh. But like a lot of others said, I haven’t seen a soul since pre-COVID hah. Well, an authorly sort, anyway! I did get to see The 100 cast over the summer! It is wonderful that you have not only had the chance to meet these authors, but that you were able to have legit conversations and stuff with some of them!