New York City!

by | Jul 12, 2011 | Uncategorized | 41 comments

I’m back! And I need a vacation from this trip, because So Much Happened!

But before I get to all the awesomeness, I have a winner from last week’s giveaway to announce. Thanks to random.org, the winner is:


Yay! So.Cal.Gal, please email me at jennifer (at) jenniferhillier (dot) ca and I will mail out your signed copy of CREEP.

But for the rest of you who commented with the right answer (CREEP!), don’t worry if you haven’t won anything yet. There will be plenty more chances this summer. In fact, if you comment on this post, you’ll be automatically entered to win. 

My trip to NY started with a visit to Simon & Schuster…

… where I got to meet my editor, Kathy Sagan, for the very first time. It’s crazy to think how much impact one person can have on your career and yet you might never have met. Till now.

There aren’t enough words to describe Kathy’s passion and enthusiasm for my book. And look! Doesn’t her office look just how you’d imagine an editor’s office to be? Books everywhere! I left with no less than 12 free books from fellow S&S authors such as Mary Higgins Clark and Lisa Genova.

My assigned publicist, Stephanie, was on holidays last week, but I was well taken care of by Ayelet, another publicist with Gallery. She’s beyond adorable. Seriously.

Ayelet and Kathy took me down to Studio 4 to make my author video.

And here I am getting miked up…

I was so nervous! I’ve never spoken on camera before, and to answer questions about my book in front of two cameras and five people was a little scary! So you have to promise that if you ever see this video, you will not make fun of me (at least not to my face).

And guess who I met after the taping? Fellow blogger buddy Ghenet, from All about them words! She popped in to say hello. She’s adorable, too. I’m thinking that’s a requirement for working at S&S. 😉

Next thing I knew, it was lunchtime. Kathy, Jennifer Bergstrom (editor-in-chief of the Gallery books imprint) and the Gallery sales team took me out to a gorgeous seafood restaurant called Oceana.

Can I just say that for one day, I felt like a rock star? The folks in this picture are some of the friendliest, funniest, kindest people I’ve ever met. I laughed the whole time. I got to hear lots of interesting stories about fellow Gallery authors (many of whom are actual celebrities, so I won’t name them). But clearly, publishing is never boring.

After lunch, it was back to the hotel to officially register for ThrillerFest.

Then later that night, I got to meet my agent for the first time! She’s sold two books for me in the past year and a half. It’s about time I got to hug her.

Victoria Skurnick is the reason all of this happened. I get all warm and fuzzy when I talk about her, but she’s used to it by now. We went to dinner at a Greek restaurant called Ammos, along with two of her other clients, Dan Friedman and Bobby Rotenberg, and the head of Levine Greenberg, Jim Levine.

Bobby brought along a very special dinner date…

The Very Special Guest’s face is kind of hidden, but you can see who she is in the next shot…

Yes. Margaret Atwood. I studied her in school. High school AND university! It doesn’t get better than that! She and Bobby know each other because she was his camp counselor when he was 8 years old. How awesome is that?

After dinner, Dan (@danfriedman81 for those of you on Twitter) and I headed off to meet another fabulous writer for drinks. Here we are waiting for her at the bar, which is kind of a secret bar inside of another bar:

Yes, we’re hot and sweaty. Because New York City in July is hot and sweaty! I am so not used to the crazy humidity!

Wonder who we’re meeting? Here’s her book, sitting beside the world’s most ridiculously strong drink (well, for me, anyway, since I hardly drink):

It’s Lisa Brackmann, author of Rock Paper Tiger!

All in all, a fabulous day in New York! In my next post, I’ll give details about ThrillerFest, where I met so many more amazing people.

Remember, comment on this post for a chance to win a signed hardcover of CREEP!

AND! You can go HERE to my finance blogger buddy GYC’s blog to win one of SIX copies of CREEP if you correctly answer his contest questions!

* * *

41 Comments

  1. Angie Paxton
    Angie Paxton on July 12, 2011 at 10:33 pm

    Wow, what an amazing trip! I'm actually reading The Year of The Flood by Margaret Atwood right now and I'm in awe that you met her and the you were able to form coherent sentences while sitting at the same table. Are you going to link to your author video on your blog. I'd love to see it.

  2. Ricky
    Ricky on July 12, 2011 at 10:47 pm

    Looks like you had a great time and remember that while all these people have helped, you're own talent has played no small part in this. Well done!

  3. Charlie
    Charlie on July 12, 2011 at 10:55 pm

    I can't believe you were in New York! It's my fault for not seeing your events page until now.

    Cool to have met Ms. Atwood. Great to see you succeeding!

  4. Amanda Bonilla
    Amanda Bonilla on July 12, 2011 at 11:05 pm

    Wow! What an awesome experience! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  5. L.G.Smith
    L.G.Smith on July 12, 2011 at 11:46 pm

    I can't believe you had lunch with Margaret Atwood. Talk about a brave writer. She's one of my favs. So glad you had a great time in NY.

  6. getyourselfconnected
    getyourselfconnected on July 12, 2011 at 11:56 pm

    Wow! That was a whirlwind tour of NYC! Congratulations again.

  7. Bryce Daniels
    Bryce Daniels on July 13, 2011 at 12:06 am

    Margaret Atwood! Wowzers!

    Gosh, to be a fly on the wall during THAT meal.

    Looks like you had a GREAT time. Thanks for letting us follow you through it!

  8. Liz P
    Liz P on July 13, 2011 at 12:22 am

    What an amazing day! It's so great that you got to meet your editor, agent, etc… and a famous author to boot! 🙂

    Thanks for sharing with us. Looking forward to hearing about ThrillerFest!

  9. Kari Marie
    Kari Marie on July 13, 2011 at 12:22 am

    Sounds you had an amazing trip. Margaret Atwood? Pretty cool. Congratulations on your book release. I just downloaded my Kindle copy!

  10. Samantha Sotto-Yambao
    Samantha Sotto-Yambao on July 13, 2011 at 12:26 am

    How FAB is this post???! What an amazing trip!!!! YOU ROCK 😀

  11. Lydia K
    Lydia K on July 13, 2011 at 12:42 am

    Okay, that was some trip! Margaret Atwood? I would have swooned!

  12. Katherine
    Katherine on July 13, 2011 at 2:13 am

    What a trip! And OMG Margaret Atwood. Look at you being all famous and successful!

  13. David Batista
    David Batista on July 13, 2011 at 2:20 am

    Aww, it sucks that I couldn't meet up with you while you were here, Jen! But it does indeed look like you had a fabulous time without me. 🙂 And I for one would *love* to see your author's video. I promise I won't laugh (much) at your expense.

    Oh, and I would have fainted had Margaret Atwood randomly showed up at a dinner table I was seated at. How lucky are you?

    Congrats on the amazing trip. I'm currently engrossed in Creep . . . and, no, I don't want to be included in the contest since I already own the novel. Better someone else get a free copy.

  14. Ghenet Myrthil
    Ghenet Myrthil on July 13, 2011 at 2:28 am

    Yay! I'm so glad I got to meet you while you were in the office. 🙂 It sounds like you had an amazing time. I can't believe you had dinner with Margaret Atwood! You are such a rock star!

    (Your kind publicist gave me a copy of your book and it's next on my list to read so don't include me in your giveaway!)

  15. Other Lisa
    Other Lisa on July 13, 2011 at 2:45 am

    Hey, I didn't know I was in the post! I had a fabulous time meeting you and Dan too! (I only wish I got to meet Margaret Atwood)

    See you at Bouchercon?

    Lisa (Brackmann)

  16. Jenny
    Jenny on July 13, 2011 at 2:54 am

    SQUEE! Jennifer! I'm so excited for you! I'm glad you had a marvelous time in NYC! I want to go there someday. 🙂

  17. Slamdunk
    Slamdunk on July 13, 2011 at 3:30 am

    Welcome back Jennifer.

    Wow, congrats on the productive trip. I am not great at speaking with cameras on me and it sounds like you did wonderfully.

  18. Sarah
    Sarah on July 13, 2011 at 5:38 am

    I think if I ever had the opportunity to speak to Margaret Atwood, I'd lose whatever cool I have left. So jealous! And, yet, happy for you!

  19. Amy Van Balkom
    Amy Van Balkom on July 13, 2011 at 5:57 am

    That sounds like the best day ever! I am so glad you are living the dream after all your hard work!!

  20. D. U. Okonkwo
    D. U. Okonkwo on July 13, 2011 at 7:45 am

    Wow, how cool is that! Looks like you made the most of it – good for you!

  21. Elle
    Elle on July 13, 2011 at 7:57 am

    Wow, looks like you had an amazing trip (am insanely jealous right now!) 😀 Congrats!

  22. Sophia Richardson
    Sophia Richardson on July 13, 2011 at 8:29 am

    Yep, you are definitely living the dream meeting awesome bloggers and authors and living legends in NYC. Jealous, moi? Mais non. So glad you had fun, knew you would!

  23. Luke Walker
    Luke Walker on July 13, 2011 at 9:11 am

    Really happy for you. Looks like an amazing day. 🙂

  24. Milo James Fowler
    Milo James Fowler on July 13, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    Margaret Atwood. Holy freaking crap, that is awesome! About time you start getting the star treatment you deserve.

  25. Budd
    Budd on July 13, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    awesome, you got to meet Margerate Atwood. did you ask her a million questions about the Hand Maid's Tale.

  26. Ben
    Ben on July 13, 2011 at 3:51 pm

    I'm sorry, I'm going to go choke on my jealousy again. Damn that's cool. I'm very happy for you Jenn.

  27. Rachna Chhabria
    Rachna Chhabria on July 13, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    Looks like you had a great time, Jennifer. Wishing you lots of luck.

  28. Cherie Reich
    Cherie Reich on July 13, 2011 at 5:18 pm

    Oh, wow! It sounds like you had a great time in NY. I can't wait to hear how Thrillerfest went. And I read your book. It's beyond awesome!

  29. Jennie Bailey
    Jennie Bailey on July 13, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    Too COOL! I love all your pictures! And you ARE a celebrity now. 🙂

  30. Marsha Sigman
    Marsha Sigman on July 13, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    How freakin' awesome was that trip? You looked great and just a little shiny.lol Which is pretty much the look year round here.

    I would have fainted when I saw Margaret Atwood. No, really. I may have dreamed that once.

  31. JB Lynn
    JB Lynn on July 13, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    Looks like you had a fab time! Congrats!

  32. So. Cal. Gal
    So. Cal. Gal on July 14, 2011 at 12:43 am

    Woo Hoo! That is TOO awesome for words!!! : ) Especially since yesterday was my birthday! lol!

    Looks like you had a fantastic time in N.Y. You deserve it, hon!

  33. Monica B.W.
    Monica B.W. on July 14, 2011 at 1:28 am

    OMG Jenny! It sounds like you had so much FUN! I'm so happy for you! <3
    Oh and I'll definitely want to see that video! 😀

  34. Irene
    Irene on July 14, 2011 at 1:42 am

    You lead an exciting life Jenny. Congratulations!!

  35. alexia
    alexia on July 14, 2011 at 3:48 am

    Squee!!! What super fun!! Sounds like such an amazing time!

  36. Abby Minard
    Abby Minard on July 14, 2011 at 3:59 am

    OMG, you ARE a rockstar!! So cool! So happy for you- congratulations Jennifer, you really deserve it.

  37. Abby Minard
    Abby Minard on July 14, 2011 at 3:59 am

    OMG, you ARE a rockstar!! So cool! So happy for you- congratulations Jennifer, you really deserve it.

  38. RaShelle
    RaShelle on July 14, 2011 at 4:26 am

    Looks like you had a ton-o-fun! Lucky!!!

  39. Jennifer Hillier
    Jennifer Hillier on July 15, 2011 at 12:48 am

    Thanks everyone! It was a fabulous, amazing day. 🙂

  40. Lorena
    Lorena on July 16, 2011 at 3:58 am

    What an awesome experience to meet an author you read in high school and college!

  41. Karen Peterson
    Karen Peterson on July 16, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    That sounds like the best day EVER!

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