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!
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.
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!
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!
Wow! What an awesome experience! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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.
Wow! That was a whirlwind tour of NYC! Congratulations again.
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!
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!
Sounds you had an amazing trip. Margaret Atwood? Pretty cool. Congratulations on your book release. I just downloaded my Kindle copy!
How FAB is this post???! What an amazing trip!!!! YOU ROCK 😀
Okay, that was some trip! Margaret Atwood? I would have swooned!
What a trip! And OMG Margaret Atwood. Look at you being all famous and successful!
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.
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!)
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)
SQUEE! Jennifer! I'm so excited for you! I'm glad you had a marvelous time in NYC! I want to go there someday. 🙂
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.
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!
That sounds like the best day ever! I am so glad you are living the dream after all your hard work!!
Wow, how cool is that! Looks like you made the most of it – good for you!
Wow, looks like you had an amazing trip (am insanely jealous right now!) 😀 Congrats!
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!
Really happy for you. Looks like an amazing day. 🙂
Margaret Atwood. Holy freaking crap, that is awesome! About time you start getting the star treatment you deserve.
awesome, you got to meet Margerate Atwood. did you ask her a million questions about the Hand Maid's Tale.
I'm sorry, I'm going to go choke on my jealousy again. Damn that's cool. I'm very happy for you Jenn.
Looks like you had a great time, Jennifer. Wishing you lots of luck.
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!
Too COOL! I love all your pictures! And you ARE a celebrity now. 🙂
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.
Looks like you had a fab time! Congrats!
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!
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! 😀
You lead an exciting life Jenny. Congratulations!!
Squee!!! What super fun!! Sounds like such an amazing time!
OMG, you ARE a rockstar!! So cool! So happy for you- congratulations Jennifer, you really deserve it.
OMG, you ARE a rockstar!! So cool! So happy for you- congratulations Jennifer, you really deserve it.
Looks like you had a ton-o-fun! Lucky!!!
Thanks everyone! It was a fabulous, amazing day. 🙂
What an awesome experience to meet an author you read in high school and college!
That sounds like the best day EVER!