I kicked things off Friday with a panel at Dragon Con called "Everything I Need to Know About Writing." Then I raced from there to catch an Uber to Decatur, for a "Cocktail and Dessert Party" for all attending Children's Book Authors of the Decatur Book Festival, being hosted by the amazing children's bookshop, Little Shop of Stories. I met (co)owner Dave upon entered, was served a local brew by his son, chatted with several bookstore employees, bumped in Christopher Rowe and Gwenda Bond, and ate several wonderful spicy sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies! Thank you very much to everyone at the Little Shop of Stories for a great party.
Afterwards, I was dragged out to Mac McGee Irish Pub for whisky by Matthew MacNish, Stephen Duncan and Andrew Smith (of Grasshopper Jungle fame). But since I'm not much of a whiskey drinker, I shortly dragged them across the square to Brick Store Pub, where I introduced the group to Dark Truth Stout.
Then it was back to DragonCon to meet up with Clay and Susan Griffith, David Alastair Hayden, Pepper Thorn and others for an end of the evening drink at High Velocity in the Marriott Marquis, as is tradition. A great time was had by all. Though Clay Griffith is not actually twice my size as he appears in the photo.
Afterwards, I was dragged out to Mac McGee Irish Pub for whisky by Matthew MacNish, Stephen Duncan and Andrew Smith (of Grasshopper Jungle fame). But since I'm not much of a whiskey drinker, I shortly dragged them across the square to Brick Store Pub, where I introduced the group to Dark Truth Stout.
Then it was back to DragonCon to meet up with Clay and Susan Griffith, David Alastair Hayden, Pepper Thorn and others for an end of the evening drink at High Velocity in the Marriott Marquis, as is tradition. A great time was had by all. Though Clay Griffith is not actually twice my size as he appears in the photo. 
Saturday was two panels at Dragon Con ("Middle Grade Readers" and "Systems of Magic in YA Worlds") then back to the Decatur Book Festival for a panel called "Building New Worlds" with fellow authors Carrie Beasley (Circus Mirandus), S.E. Grove (The Golden Specific), and Tui Sutherland (Wings of Fire series). Carrie had an actual miniature circus tent courtesy of her publisher, which, obviously, I had to work into one of my responses.
Afterwards, Little Shop of Stories facilitated a book signing and I am happy to say that Frostborn sold out and only two copies of Nightborn remained by the end. Following this S.E. Grove and I hung out together at the author's reception. Then it was back to Dragon Con where Jay Requard and I shared a bottle of Dragon's Milk (yes that's actually what it's called) and other two bottles of Wøøt Stout (yes that's actually what it's called). 
Sunday was a coffee with Titan's Steve Saffel, a lunch with the great Todd Lockwood--look for his novel The Summer Dragon in 2016!--a full day of four Dragon Con panels as well as a Nightborn signing courtesy of The Missing Volume. Then drinks first with Stephen Duncan and Lindsay Cummings, then over to they Westin for a drink with Shanna Germain (Monte Cook Games) and the aforementioned Jay Requard. 
Finally, after an exhilarating / exhausting weekend, I woke early Monday, raced home, threw my clothes in the laundry, repacked, and hit the airport by mid-afternoon for a flight to McAllen, Texas and the start of a nine school Nightborn tour! About which more next post...
Meanwhile, a huge thank you to all the organizers and tireless workers of both events. It was a top notch weekend all around!
Wøøt!
Meanwhile, a huge thank you to all the organizers and tireless workers of both events. It was a top notch weekend all around!
Wøøt!
