UtopYA Con: Book Hauls

I kept putting this off and off and off, but I know that I have to share what books I got from my UtopYA Con.

I got a scrapbook for all the bookmarks, postcards, swags items . . . Mom got ahead of me and I was not ready to start the scrapbook so she went ahead and started. After telling her to stop one final time she did stop although I think she want to do more the next day.

I'm a creative person don't get me wrong but I wasn't in the mood for it and I was dealing with a minor headache that seems to not go away (it's gone now!)

Anyways my book haul, I took with me total of 17 books and books that was books I gotten at UtopYA CON . . . 43 books. So I came home with exactly 60 books in three different bags. It could have been worst . . . like really worst but I stayed with my budget that I saved and still return home with money left over (shocking)

Here's the books that I brought with me

 

Yes you saw that! There is 8 Jennifer L Armentrout books, while JLA had flight problems these pretties were not signed. Next on the very bottom is Jessica Sorensen who I thought was going to be there I had heard something or maybe I heard it wrong. Anyways I still end up getting a good deal out of buying the first two books of The Secret seriesfeaturing Ella and Micha.

Next we have Crewel which I found awhile back and Gennifer was one of the keynote speakers at UtopYA, I haven't read her books or really heard of her (blogger/reader problem) but I still picked it up anyways. Next is Bridger by Megan Curd who I've know for years through facebook and twitter (she's is awesome!) well in the mist of packing I found that Bridger was unsigned although I've have had it for a couple years but she was gladly to sign it anyways for me :-)

Rachel Harris! I actually met Rachel Harris who is all fun and flirty girly, I got the two My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century for a great price as well. 

Next Syliva Day the (better) romance novelist, the one that actually gain my interest to read her books when Fifty Shades of Gray was popular. But I wasn't ready to buy her books yet until some made their way to the discounts sections so mom and I snagged them. 

It was clear to me that Target was only place that I was going to get a Tiffany King book, so that is what I did and plus I'm a target member so bonus!

Next it's the books that I preordered, I found that preordering books were a guarantee that you'll get the books you want and if there were authors that didn't set up a preorder that I wanted I crossed my fingers and I did get some that were on my list but not preordered.

So what were the books?

Fly House by Misty Provencher

21 days by Bethany Lopez

8 weeks by Bethany Lopez

Cold Blood by Heather Hildenbrand

Blood Bond by Heather Hildenbrand

Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis

Blood Rites by Quinn Loftis 

Meant for Her by Raine Thomas

For Everly by Raine Thomas

Reap by Casey Bond

Winter Shadows by Casey Bond

Devil Creek by Casey Bond

The Space Between by Kristie Cook

The Space Beyond by Kristie Cook

I, Zombies by Jo Michaels

The books that I blame my mom for buying and drawing me into it, this one is going to be a long list of names and books.

 My not so Super Sweet Life by Rachel Harris

Cross-Country Christmas by Tiffany King

Reborn by C.C. Hunter

Take me to your Reader Anthology by various author

Wings of Arian by Devri Walls

Wings of Tavea by Devri Walls

Wings of Nestor by Devri Walls

Keegan's Chronicles by Julia Crane

Lucky Number Four by Amanda Jason

Two Little Lies by T.A. Kunz

Time Bound by Rysa Walker

Enchanted Heart by Mindy Ruiz

Evanescent by Carlyle Labuschagne

From the Wreakage by Michele G. Miller

Crossroads by Mary Ting

Bewteen by Mary Ting

Beyond by Mary Ting

Eternity by Mary Ting

From Gods by Mary Ting

Immortal Heart by Inger Iversen

Awakened by Inger Iversen

Awaken by Kristen Day

Forsaken by Kristen Day

Certain by various authors

Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser

Books that were in our bags . . . for a Blogger bag and UtopYA bags

A Secret Life by Rachael Brownell

(2) Angel Burn by L.A Weatherley

And last but not less, is two Journals from the fabulous Mae I Design photographer Regina Wamba, she has more journals that just went live on amazon. You can't say no to journals, I mean where do you think it all started?

So yes I gain 43 NEW books onto my shelf, although not ONE book have been place on my shelf, they still remains in the bags in the living room. So I guess I'm still hungover from UtopYA Con and I've been really busy helping my friend plan her wedding. 

UtopYA Con: The Awards

This was my first year attending UtopYA but I was rather curious about the Awards, it's like a mini MTV Awards that you see on TV but a lot smaller and more focused on books, the authors, the editors, photographers, categories/genre of the books, and the cover models!

Inside the Awards

The Models & Katie Cook

Yes there were some dancing involve but I do not dance

Recap on UtopYA Awards Winners!

Best Dystopian Book of the Year ~  
Red Hill by Jamie McGuire

 

Best Sci-Fi Book of the Year ~  
Under Different Stars by Amy A. Bartol

Best Fantasy Book of the Year ~ 
Rapture by Quinn Loftis

 

Best Paranormal Book of the Year ~ 
White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Best Contemporary Book of the Year ~  
Crash Into You by Katie McGarry 

Best Contemporary Book Cover ~  
Into the Deep by Samantha Young

 

Best Supernatural Book Cover ~  
Under Different Stars by Amy A. Bartol

Book Cover Model of the Year ~  
Jesse Daniels

Best Book Trailer ~  
Few Are Angels by Inger Iverson (produced by Timid Monster)

Best Edited Book of the Year ~ 
Under Different Stars by Amy A. Bartol (edited by Gloria Lutz)

Most Innovative Marketing ~   
Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Best Contemporary Lead ~  
Cameron Hamilton – Trust in Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Best Supernatural Hero/Shero ~  
Tristan Knight – Soul Savers series by Kristie Cook

Best Supernatural Villain ~  
Cameron – Cinder by Jessica Sorensen

 

Best Couple ~ 
Daemon & Kat – Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Best Kiss ~ 
Skyla & Gage – Celestra Forever by Addison Moore

Best Bestie/Buddy ~   
Elora – Rapture by Quinn Loftis

Best Book Hangover ~ 
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

 

Best Debut Novel ~   
Lucky Number Four by Amanda Jason

 

Best Book to Screen ~    
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

 

Best Blog of the Year ~   
My Book Addiction

Blogger of the Year ~ 
Toni Lesatz – My Book Addiction

Best Companion Novella ~  
Consequence (A Significance Novella) by Shelly Crane

Best Serial Series ~ 
 
Starwalkers by Julia Crane & Lizzy Ford

Best Contemporary Series ~ 
Sea Breeze by Abbi Glines

 

Book of the Year ~ 
Under Different Stars by Amy A. Bartol

Fan of the Year ~  
Tammie Ross Zimmerman

Utopian of the year ~   
Raine Thomas

Raine Thomas and Me

Author of the Year ~  Jennifer L. Armentrout

Adam Kunz was kind enough to accept the awards for Jennifer L Armentrout's behalf since she wasn't able to be there herself. He rocked the stage with multiple awards acceptance and wore the Owl hat.

This was copied off JLA's FB page, I do not own this picture

UtopYA Con: Day two

We got more panels today and tonight is the UtopYA Awards! I slept in a little just because I didn't need to get up early to buy books.

Since the two keynotes speakers switch places, Friday was Syliva Day and today was Gennifer Albin. It always nice when authors share their struggles, their ups and downs. Gennifer probably shared one of her hardest moment in life for her and her husband.

Gennifer and I

After that I went to check out more of the exhibitors, since some were still setting up when I walked around yesterday but I was early as well but with how the panels started I didn't have much time to linger around.

The Blog Your Face off was interesting, Toni of My Book Addiction was one of the speakers and I found that it was really important that bloggers are able to pass on advices to other bloggers.

The Stellar Swag that had Carol Kunz, Heather Hildenbrand, Amy Miles, and Sarah M Ross. They shared about their thoughts and their honest on creating swags. While some had someone else do the design and swag works even Heather spent hours writing on rocks for swags and people seems to love them even though she thought that would never draw interest.

If I had to create swags, I love bookplates, bookmarks, some other sizes of books swags. I've collected many of those things so I know what I like and don't particularity care for. There are great sites to make your own swags as for me with my business cards I did that all on my own.

The best panel I like the most was the Future of YA & NA Trends, this is where I got to meet Kelly of Ink Slinger PR. I think a lot of new authors/writers worry about trends, you know vampires and werewolves were a thing and they still are but not in that big attention like Twilight was.

Kelly and I

I've told myself even when I had doubts, don't worry about trends you will drive yourself out of your mind. My characters are what they are and who they are even if something is consider DEAD. As long you love what your writing it doesn't matter, you have to have the passion to push yourself.

Well Check back for the UtopYA Awards because that needs a post all on its own,

UtopYA: Day One

It the offical Day One of UtopYA, full of panels, check out the exhibitors, and the Fan Invasion signing!

I had no idea what to do or where to start, except avoid the ICE room at all cost (if I can) BRRRR there was one or maybe it was two conference room that were ICE cold.

But My favorite conference room was on the 10th floor there was an whole view of the city! You could get so inspired by the view (now I'm not planning to send my characters off to Nashville but you never know in the future)

The view from the 10th floor

But then attending a panel about clumping (not in the way it sounds) clumping as find your book buddies, what Megan Curd pointed out is that we already past the ice breaker by having something in common . . . We all love books. So I reminded myself that we were or I was here because of the books and the authors that I've connected over the past four years or so. 

Then as the day went along I was ready to meet new authors that I've never heard of and meet authors that I I have heard of. Taking pictures was a challenge for me but I got them or at least I got what I could get. 

Then I needed to practice handing out my business cards, and they were a hit! Everyone love the name and the design which made it easier for author to remember who I am because of my name Kat and my card has a picture of a cat (not Buddy the cat who I miss like crazy!)

Fan Invasion Signing!
I meet so many authors, my feet didn't hurt from standing . . . the lines weren't long and I snagged a few books just before the Fan Invasion all thanks to Mom who pointed it out in interest for her as well.

I carry my brag book and got just as many and more authors to sign it! I put a lot of hard work into it and I had two authors signed on the two black pages because I ran out of time to design each pages of the book so a Silver Sharpie really turns out well when I was doubtful.



Crazy packed! And photo bombs with heavy, heavy books and swags to carry. I didn't know that swags could get that heavy!

Some authors that set up a preorder went above and beyond for those that preorder, which was awesome we got a few more goodies!

The one sad thing on Day one panels and the Fan Invasion signing, Jennifer Armentrout
As you know/heard she couldn't make it due to flights being delayed, overbooked, just beyond impatient trying to wait for an available plane and such. But she also said that with her eye condition/disease that flying isn't that good for her so she also have to place her eyes first before her fans.

I had all of the Lux books (not the volumes), Wait for Me and Trust in Me, Half Blood, & Frigid. Why did I bring that many? Well because I'm crazy about authors signing my books and she a big time author and my town or even the next state over deem to have very little interest of having BIG TIME Authors come do signing events and such.

Hopefully one day I will meet JLA, take a picture with her and possibly hug her for just being there at whatever event I'm at/she's at.

Plus I want some swag from her as well, which I'll be getting bookplates eventually from her as a gift for all of us readers/fan that had hoped she be at UtopYA.

UTopYA Con: Day 0.5

Meow! I know it been forever since I've done a post! I'm not hiding I swear, I just got a lot of life things going one that I'm going in a million different direction. 

First off I like to say that I visited my really good friend in North Carolina after 5 years meeting her so long ago. 

Tuesday/Wednesday, she and her finace took my mom and I out to dinner then the very next day her doctor said that it was time to go to the hospital (she was expecting) so instead of spending time with her I visited her at the hospital during her early stages of labor.

You can say I cross off a bucket list or something, visiting a friend at labor & Delivery, She had a boy (she knew she was having a boy) he was born June 18th 11:36pm, weight 6lbs 13oz and 19inches. Completely healthy and they were send home Friday.

Anyway to start off I'm at UTopYA Con, 


it's been awesome so far although Thursday night and early Friday I went to my shyish self, I haven't been this shy in a long time but as I warn people earlier that I am shy when meeting new people (a lot) of new people. 

Thursday night was kind of a bust, the Reader Abduction party wasn't as great as I thought it would be. There had to have been 100 people in one small conference room, you could barely walk around. Now I'm not always claustrophobic, but small rooms and way more people that the room can tolerate makes me feel that way. 

The entertainment of games were fun from what I'd played,  the little prizes that I won were cool. I wish that they had held it in a bigger room and be more set up in a sense. I guess I was expecting more out of it rather than getting that feeling of being confined in a small room. 

If they do plan to do another Reader Abduction party, hopefully they might consider a bigger room and more games or activities instead of people just standing around (especially for some that are shy and don't know anyone)

I did meet Megan of Paperbook Princess, no I didn't get a pic of me and her we had our own plans that it just didn't fold over. But it was great meeting her! 

My next post will be all about Day one then so on with the next couple posts.

The Cat's Meow: Countdown to UToPYA

24 Days 

WOW where did the time go? We're under a month to go before it's UtopYa Con Time! 

I'm so excited to be coming and attending, I can't wait to meet everyone face to face now I know some are arriving Thursday don't worry I'll be there too! I really look forward to a lot of things Thursday night but I'll be sad at the same time . . . If many of you don't know I'm taking two trips. 

Before I come to Nashville I will be in North Carolina to visit my dear & very pregnant friend, it so exciting but nerve-wreaking because she will be close to her due date when I see her so pretty much she could have her baby when I'm there to visit her!

So what have I done so far in prep for UtopYa Con? 

well I've done many things, routing/mapping the direction to Nashville as well to NC. My mom and I will soon be booking our hotels that we're staying at in NC and Springfield, IL (did I mention I'm traveling by car & my mom and I are going to see Abe Lincoln museum first before our big driving trip)

I have pre-ordered some books through the group page and the Pre-order doc that I created to make everyone's life easier and to track down all authors that are offering pre-orders. I'm still working on some more pre-order but I'm fighting the budget as well...

I've order books through Barnes & Noble that I will be bringing along with me, plus I will be bringing books that I currently owned as well. Let's say I'm bring books with me but I'll be bringing a lot more books home with me :-) 

I'm sure you heard of the Reader Abduction Party Thursday night, the tickets went out fast but don't worry I snagged one for me and my mom, but if she doesn't want to go with me then I will ask someone who didn't get it and I know two contender already. 


Are you ordering Brag Book? It's For YOU to get so that way every single authors attending will sign your brag book even though you might or might not buy their books. At least you would get every single Author's signatures :-) Here's the link http://www.lotusopus.com/#!product/prd1/2169086445/%23bragbook

Let's talk PACKING! 

I'm not even close to packing, let's say I'm even 100% sure what clothes to pack! Plus I want to be sure that every outfit that I may/may not wear between now and before we leave will be washed. So clothes will be taken care of the week of our departure. 

There's some stuff that I want to buy before hands because one I really need some more pairs.

My mom and I are from Wisconsin, so we will be bringing our own cheese (no we didn't make them it will be store brought from a local cheese place) We're bringing our own beers and some food for the road . . . We are preparing for everything.

So how about you? What have you done so far and are you ready for the best time of your bookish life?

The Cat's Meow: Prepare for UToPYA Con

There's is only 50 days until UtopYA Con!!!!

This will be my first ever biggest book/authors/bloggers event where tons of bloggers and authors are under the same roof. So much is going to happen that I'll be surprise if I can sleep!

What is UtopYA Con?  for writers of supernatural YA and NA fiction and their fans! and if you want to check out more on it here's their website click here 

Prep for UtopYA Con:

• Know who going to be there
• Know which books the author have published  
• Join the community group (invites only) or unless someone else has an open community page on FB
• Bring children's Books for the Fan Invasion Signing Night otherwise it's $5 admission

 Budget 

• Save every little money you can
• prepare to use Cash 
• Ask the authors how much they are charging for their books, some have deals
• Ask yourself "How much are you willing to spend?" 
• Make a list of books you want to buy and price them 

Book Buying 

Questions to ask yourself

• How many can I buy? based on your transportation methods (I know some of you have a plan in set)
• How many books do I want from each author?
• Which books will the Authors bring with them? (Be sure to ask around, they might have to order some specific ones)
• Which one do I have to bring/ purchase early? 

Stay tuned for more posts leading up to UTOPYA Con