FINALLY!
I swear for the better part of my life, nothing was going on in the Midwest. Apparently because we’re not NY or LA, we are just ignored, but that’s not cool! There are TONS of book lovers here (and what is Chicago? Chopped liver? Come on!) So, I’m absolutely stoked that authors are visiting us more frequently, particularly in my lovely Mitten state, the most recent being…
SUSAN DENNARD!
Alright. To be fair, I haven’t actually read anything by Susan Dennard yet, but I have heard some AMAZING things about her Witchlands series and I had a copy of Truthwitch that could be signed. Before Truthwitch, though she wrote her Something Strange and Deadly series, which is steampunk. How cool! You should check it out! But the best part about this event was getting to meet Susan Dennard!
This lovely woman is so real! Even though she sat behind a table on a stage, there was no separation between her and the audience. She was super open and honest about all of her answers and her experiences. She even joked around, which really highlighted her personality.
Though, my favorite part about getting to meet her was how much she and I have in common. Before becoming an author, she was a marine biologist and was going to graduate school. (I’m a scientist who’s going to graduate school, too.) Better yet, she’s lived in other countries and she speaks multiple languages! Being the audacious person I am, I asked one of my questions in German and she answered in German. I absolutely love when I get to speak German with people! 😄
This might sound silly, but as a writer it’s nice knowing that not all authors came from an English background. It’s encouraging to know you don’t need a an English degree to write well or become published. Gives me hope! ☺️
Okay! Back on topic (hahaha!), Susan Dennard is an amazing woman and I am very much looking forward to reading Truthwitch (which is on my August TBR!) Look for my review on August 27th and, if you ever get a chance to meet Susan Dennard, DO IT! She’s so awesome! 😎
Melanie Noell Bernard 
Sounds awesome! I’ve never read her books but I’ve heard some really good things!
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Hee hee! Well, my review for her book should be coming out late this month. So, I’ll have a first-hand answer for whether her books are good. 😉
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It was great to see you again!! I’m glad you got a chance to chat with Susan some more! Great pic!!
Hopefully there will be more events where we’ll be able to see each other again!
Oh, there is one on September 12, Eric Smith with his anthology book: Welcome Home
I am planning on going to that!
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It was good seeing you again as well, Theresa. 🙂 And thank you! I’m glad I waited until the end to take pictures as I got to chat with her a little more. It was really awesome.
In addition to Eric, Sarah J Maas and Leigh Bardugo will be in GR, but their events are ticketed. So, I won’t be going to those. I might go see Eric. I’ll have to see what school looks like around that time. Thanks for the heads-up! 😀
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I know about Maas & Bardugo. I have my tickets. If they were on the other side of the state I wouldn’t go. But since they are so close…. Plus I want to support Schuler Books so we can hopefully get more authors here!
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Yeah. They kind of are on the other side of the state for me. :p And I think it’s great to support Schulers, but Maas is also on a Thursday and I’ll be in school by then. So. Oh well. Another time. (perhaps when I’ve actually read more of their books. Hahahaha!)
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I also have Tructhwitch waiting for me but just never found the time to read it Melanie! I did not know you were not “native” even if your name sounds more French than English 😉 So you were lucky to meet this author! And when you’ll publish a book and need beta readers, just let me know if I have the time I would do it with great pleasure 😉
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Heeey! You wanna buddy read it with me, Sophie? I should be getting around to it here in the next couple weeks as soon as I finish reading ZODIAC. nudge nudge 😀
Not native? o.o Native to where? I’m so confused. BAHAHAHAHA! (And I have been told my name sounds very French, and yet I SUCK at French. Oh, the irony. :p)
You… betaread?! 0.0 Where were you on Twitter last week? I sent out a tweet looking for betareaders! Bahahahaha!
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I haven’t read anything by Susan Dennard either, but so cool that you got to meet her! I’m in Oklahoma and I swear nothing comes around here either! Bah!
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Hahaha! The US is soooo big. It really is impossible to visit everywhere, but I do feel like there are certain sections of the country they seem to avoid. Darn publishers. :p
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I missed it…but I have to assume you’re coming to Bardugo or Maas, right??
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Nope. They’re ticketing the events.
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I’m really loving meeting authors (just started going to signings a couple months ago). It sounds like you had a great time. 🙂
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It’s such a fun experience! 😀 You get to learn more about them and get a feel for who they really are. It makes them so much more relateable. Who have you seen?
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So far I’ve met Angie Thomas, Becky Albertalli, Julie Murphy, Evelyn Skye, Joelle Charbonneau, and Kimberly McCreight. And I just got my ticket for Leigh Bardugo.
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Wow! Very nice! Joelle is very funny, isn’t she? 😁
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She is. I’ve really liked everyone so far. I’m looking forward to more soon.
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So cool that you got to meet her!
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Hee hee! It was very cool. I’m very grateful for the opportunity! 😀
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Where was that signing at? I normally try to search out signings in Michigan. Must have missed it 😐
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Grand Rapids Schulers. You… are in Michigan?! o.o
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Nope. Ontario – right near Algonac and Port Huron. I usually try to find signings at the Schulers in Flint. It’s a few hour drive for me but worth it!
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Ohhh! Right. I think you said that! Duh! My bad.
And there’s no Schulers in Flint… o.O
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Lansing! Dang! I had Flint on my mind lol
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Bahahaha! I was gonna say. :p But if there is one in Lansing, I’ll try and remember to hit you up! (I literally live here. 😉 ) We could hang out! 😀
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For sure!! I just saw that Sarah J Maas AND Leigh Bardugo will be in Grand Rapids in September! I almost cried! Over 4 hours to drive is just too far for me 😢 but the next time there’s an event in Lansing we will have to do a meet up!!
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That’s okay. You have to buy tickets ahead of time and they’re $22. I honestly can’t justify that cost plus gas money. So I won’t be going either.
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😢
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