I Love YA Authors

Some days I wish I had the ability to write fantastic stories because I have to think that being a YA author would just be awesome. I mean it is my favorite stuff to read and I really don't think I'll ever grow up and out of the YA age group, although maybe when I'm retired and such, but even still I think about all the grandma's reading Harry Potter and Twilight and I can totally see that being me.

I follow Neil Gaiman (The Graveyard Book, Coraline, the list goes on, and on, and on) and John Green (Abundance of Katherine's, Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns) on Twitter and think it's a riot to see what the tweet about. They both post awesome links and pretty much guarantee me a smile/laugh every day. I also watched a video that Libba Bray (Going Bovine, the Gemma Dole Series) where she was promoting her most recent book and walked around in a cow suit. Clearly that's the good life. I also got to listen to Laurie Halse Anderson (Speak, Wintergirls, Chains, Fever 1793, Prom, Catalyst) and Elizabeth C. Bunce (A Curse Dark as Gold) speak at ALA. They love what they do (and I do love what I do too) and they seem to have one the greatest jobs out there. In addition to those two, I also got to sit and talk in a speed dating style to 9 other YA authors, it was fantastic. They talked about their books and what they love about writing for YA. The whole time it kept me thinking about the fact that while I have a wild and vivid imagination when I read (and tend to get lost in books until it's 2 am and I've made it to the end without eating dinner) I have never found myself able to use that imagination when it comes to creative writing. Perhaps this is something that once I am done with school I will work on improving. At least it's something to keep in mind.

On another, although related note, we are going to be showing Twilight at work in October, and I'm super excited. 1. It's going to mean I can dress up like Alice to go to work (I just need contacts, a shrug and some rings to finish my look) 2. I get to look at Twilight stuff while I'm at work (totally a bonus to my job) 3. It has inspired me to have a Twilight/New Moon party of my own. I'm also listening to Twilight in the car right now and I keep coming up with excellent ideas as I drive. While I don't think the Twilight Saga is by any means the best books ever, I enjoy the addicting read and do love the characters very, very much. I realize it's not for everyone and I do wish people that did like it would expand their reading horizons and try something other than vampires and romance afterward. Even if they don't like it, at least they can say they tried. I realized today as I went through my books on LibraryThing that I do read a lot of similar titles, but I am working my way through things I don't like, or wouldn't normally read as well.

Well summer is almost over and school will be starting school soon (ugh, back to days of 3 hour lectures, I am not excited). I just have to keep telling myself that I have 8 more months and then (hopefully) no more school ever again. I love working so much at the library that I think going back to classes after a 4 1/2 month break is going to be very, very difficult, but I'll get through it, I'm sure. But with school starting comes...FOOTBALL!! And that will make things livable.

Football season starts in 11 days. I am beyond excited. My little brother made the Big Tens, and he is probably just finishing up his first day of pre-season. I'm so glad he's going to be marching and that I'll be able to take pictures of someone in the band now that Chris is done and all my other friends have graduated.

Currently Listening: Twilight
Currently Reading: Ash (it's an advanced reader, and oh, so good) as well as Band Geek Love