I’m back from another fabulous, whirlwind trip to New York City!
I always get excited when I’m coming down East 42nd Street (which, in a taxi, is always kind of a near-death experience) and I see the ThrillerFest banners as we approach the Grand Hyatt:
| Welcome to ThrillerFest! |
And the hotel’s a beast! So big.
| The Grand Hyatt, NYC |
My trip started off with a bang on Thursday. After I checked into my room, I decided I needed to eat something. I only had a half hour before I had to meet a guy to do a podcast interview, so I grabbed something quick, thinking I’d leave myself a few minutes to freshen up and change my clothes before the interview.
Except . . . my key card didn’t work when I got back to my room! Out of time, I ended up going to my first ever face-to-face interview for FREAK in Lulu pants, flip flops, and a hoodie.
Once the interview was over, I cruised by the ThrillerFest bookstore (Barnes & Noble sets up a room with all the attending authors’ books for sale) just to see what was there. And lo and behold, what did I see as soon as I walked in?
| FREAK hardcovers! |
I shrieked so loud, I may have scared a guy who was browsing nearby (but he was cool about it, and we’re Facebook friends now). Up till that moment, I hadn’t seen the hardcover! The official release date isn’t until August 7th, and I wasn’t expecting to see copies at the conference, but there they were.
Guys, the cover is so beautiful. All the water droplets are shiny, and the title and my name are embossed. I couldn’t stop stroking it (so pervy, I know, but it’s my book and I can stroke it if I want to).
And over in the paperback section . . .
| CREEP in mass market paperback |
The mass market paperback of CREEP! Again, I had never seen it, because it’s not officially out until July 31st. The guy in charge of the ThrillerFest bookstore told me that he and my publisher hustled to get copies early just for the conference, and I couldn’t have been happier. There were also hardcovers of CREEP there, too.
You know how you try to play it cool, but just can’t? Yeah, that. I took several pics of myself with my books, and this was the least dorky one (but still fairly dorky):
| Dorky girl at the bookstore |
Speaking of trying to play it cool, guess who I ran into outside the elevators?
There I was, all in my head and all euphoric about my books being in the conference bookstore, and the elevator doors open, and out steps Lee Child.
LEE. CHILD.
I shrieked, “Lee Child!” at Lee Child, as if Lee Child doesn’t know his own name. Thankfully, Lee Child is a gracious man, and he stopped and said hello and spoke in a perfectly normal and pleasant voice even though I was flustered and blubbering like an idiot. I managed to introduce myself and gush about what a huge fan I was of his work, and yet still somehow managed to forget to ask him to take a picture. Even though I had both my phone and my camera with me.
Argh. Jenny Jenny Jenny.
The next morning, I went to see Lee speak to a packed audience in the Grand Hyatt ballroom. He gave us his honest opinions about Tom Cruise playing Jack Reacher in the movie (which is out in December, and yes, he thinks Tom’s a great choice), and told us about the experience of having a book made into a film. Lee’s going to have a cameo in the movie, too! He also answered questions about his writing process.
| Lee Child being interviewed by Kathleen Antrim |
After Lee’s talk, I went to lunch with two very important people in my writing life, my agent, Victoria Skurnick, and my editor, Kathy Sagan. I think between the two of them they must have fifty years of publishing experience. They know EVERYBODY. Lunch was a blast, full of interesting publishing stories, a little gossip, and a lot of laughs. And we also had a great conversation about my work! I now have a solid idea of where to go with my next book.
| Left to right: Victoria Skurnick (Levine Greenberg Literary Agency), Kathy Sagan (Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books), me |
After lunch, I had to head back to the hotel for my panel, “Does Sex Really Sell?” Despite me being super nervous (because it was my first panel ever, and hello, it was about SEX), the panel was a lot of fun. The panel moderator, Shane Gericke, kept everything lighthearted, and my fellow panelists (Lori Andrews, Karna Bodman, Laura Elvebak, W.D. Gagliani, and Chris Knopf) were all so interesting and articulate! I may have been a little intimated by all their credentials (I was definitely the newbie author of the group).
Crap . . . just realized I don’t have a picture of my panel.
But! At the book signing later, I did snap a pic with the amazing Alma Katsu, author of THE TAKEN and THE RECKONING, who’s also a fellow Gallery Books girl. I love Alma. She’s the funniest, sweetest person (and so tiny!).
| Me with the fabulous Alma Katsu |
And! Guess who stopped by to see me at the signing? David Batista, my long-time blog buddy, who lives in the Bronx. We’ve been reading each others’ blogs for a couple of years now, and we’re Facebook friends, but we hadn’t met in person until last Friday.
| Me with long-time blog buddy, David Batista |
| And another one! |
David’s taller than I realized! I’m 5’5″ and was wearing sandals with 4-inch heels here, and he’s still so much taller than me. See, things you can’t always tell from social media. It’s always so great to meet people from the online writing community in person.
Saturday morning was the Debut Author’s breakfast and panel. Alma and I were on this panel last year, and I was looking forward to actually eating the breakfast this year, because I was so nervous I couldn’t get anything down last year.
Not surprisingly, the food was delicious. And the one-minute speeches by all the 2012 debut authors were fantastic. It was great to finally meet Facebook/Twitter pal Donna Galanti, and see my friend Dan Friedman again (he and I are both repped by Victoria).
| Left to right: Donna Galanti, Robin Gainey, Daniel Friedman |
We were all very inspired by the speech given by this year’s honored guest, Richard North Patterson.
| Richard North Patterson |
After the breakfast, I had a nice chat with Janice Gable Bashman, managing editor of International Thriller Writers’ Big Thrill magazine. And then I went to see my friend, Hilary Davidson, on her panel (but of course forgot to take a pic).
And then later at the book signing, Dan signed my copy of his critically acclaimed debut novel, DON’T EVER GET OLD. The book has received starred reviews from all four trade reviews. And he sold the movie rights. I mean, dude!
| Daniel Friedman, author of DON’T EVER GET OLD |
I met so many more authors this year than I did in my last two trips to ThrillerFest, and I also signed way more books this time than I did last time, which was so exciting. I actually had random people stop me in the hallway and tell me how much they enjoyed CREEP, and that’s an amazing feeling.
In between panels, I was also hard at work writing articles for a Canadian national newspaper. The National Post invited me to be a guest editor all this week, and of course I couldn’t say no. Here are they are:
Murder weapons and kindred spirits
Whew! I think that about covers it!
What’s new with you?
Busy girl! I kinda feel like a stalker since I knew most of this already. But it's fun to live it vicariously thru you since I couldn't go myself. Looks like you had a total blast!
So cool, Jennifer. Looks like you had a lot of fun. and Mr. David Batista is a hottie… erm, tall guy, isn't he?!
Wow, you had one heck of a great weekend! Thrill to see your books in the store, isn't it?
Wow! What a blast! And it is ok to gush and be a freak for your favorite author. Lord knows I've done it. 😀 Glad you had a good time and those covers look amazing! 😀
OMG that's so cool! That must be so awesome to see your own book in the bookstore! How exciting 🙂
Eek! I am so jealous! It sounds like you had a fantastic time, and how exciting to see both FREAK and CREEP when you weren't expecting it. That's so cool! 🙂
What a kickass conference! I can't even imagine how cool it must be to see your books in a store – I would have shrieked too!
sounds like an awesome time was had. Pre ordered my kindle copy of Freak this week.
I'm so jealous, I really wanted to be there! But I'm glad you had a good time, thanks for sharing with us.
You never know – maybe Lee Child needed to be reminded what his name was! Can I tell you how much I LOVE that your first panel was about (lowers voice to a whisper) S-E-X?!?! That's so beyond awesome! 🙂 And congrats on the National Post guest editor! Off to read those now!
It looks like it was awesome. Must have been cool to see your books there when you didn't expect them! 🙂
I can't believe you rocked NYC and I couldn't get there! (sigh)
There were a lot of classes I wanted to go to, including yours. Next time, I promise.
So cool! I was in New York the week before and saw the banners everywhere. Wondered if you would be going. Sounds amazing and I'm so glad you had a great time. 🙂
I had a blast meeting you and your husband, Jen. Can't believe it took us this many years to finally meet in person! Next time you're in the city, we definitely have to hang out more and do lunch or drinks or something. I'm serious!
You know that feeling when you're anxious to meet an online friend for the first time and then . . . and then they turn out totally as awesome as you knew they would be? Yeah, that! 🙂
And, btw, your book freaking ROCKS! I'm on chapter 4 and already I'm hooked. I told you at the signing–I really love the character of Jerry! Also, to prove just how awesome your cover is, this is the first time I've carried around a hardcover in public with the dust jacket intact. It's too cool a cover to leave at home. I want everyone on the subway to see the awesome new book my friend wrote that I'm reading! 🙂
I love living through you. Everything's so exciting! 😀
I would have been a zombie the whole time! Thanks for sharing your experience with us! 🙂
Hey, with two cool books on display, you're entitled to be as dorky as you want! Sounds like you had a blast, and I want to meet David B face to face one day too – we've been blogger and critique buddies for a few years now and he is one super cool dude.
Thanks darlin! It was busy but so worthwhile.
Mr. David Batista is definitely tall, dark, and handsome! And very sweet. 🙂 Let's see if we can make him blush…
Very thrilling, pun intended. It will never get old. 🙂
Oh, there was much gushing and fawning and blubbering. Still kicking myself I didn't think to ask for a pic – it all went by so fast!
And thanks, I love love love the cover!
Thanks, it was very exciting! I made all kinds of embarrassing squealy noises.
I had a wonderful time, and the books being there were a bonus! Thanks, Bethany.
Thanks, Kyra! NYC is my favorite trip every year.
Aw, thanks Budd! You're awesome. 🙂
Next year, maybe? If not, there is Bouchercon for sure. 🙂
Crimson!
Oh man, you should have seen me. I stammered my way through my own damn bio (sounded like a dork) but was rolling once we got to talking about sex.
My mother would be so proud. :/
I feel like I've been talking about you ever since the pics were posted on FB. You made quite the impression on my girlfriends! 🙂
It was so awesome! And the books were a wonderful surprise. 🙂
No worries, Charlie, next year if you can! I think you'd really enjoy the workshops. I know I learned so much. (And I still owe you that drink, by the way.)
Aw, we missed each other! I had a great time!
There are no words for how great it was to meet you, David. I actually feel like I've known you forever! And I'm glad we can now do away with the "blog buddy" and just say "friend" because that's what we are.
For sure I'll be back in NYC next year, but I hope you make it to Toronto at some point! It would be so much fun. 🙂 I promise to keep my girlfriends away from you, haha.
Aw, thanks, Carrie! I know we'll hang out at a conference one of these days. 🙂 I'm so excited for your book!
I was a zombie by the end, DL! Still feel like I'm catching up on sleep, but it was a lot of fun. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Then you already know what an awesome dude he is! Meeting him was definitely one of the best parts of the trip. 🙂
Hey Jennifer! I've been meaning to stop by forever and just say hi:) It sounds like you're doing fabulous and Freak looks sooooo good! I cannot wait to get my fingers on it!
Sounds like it was awesome! That's really exciting that you got to see the FREAK hardcover and CREEP mass market for the first time. I'm really excited to read FREAK!
Thanks, Deana! And congratulations on signing with a wonderful agent! So happy for you.
OK, I laughed my ass off at the first part of this post.lol So funny. I can picture you shrieking when you saw Freak in hardcover and I promise right here and now that when I am published, I am going to do all my interviews in flipflops and a hoodie.ha
Glad you had a good time!!!
Aww! It sounds like you had a great time, and that's so awesome they were carrying the paperback of CREEP and hardback of FREAK.
Brilliant stuff.
That is so cool to see piles of your books at Thrillerfest! Awesome!
I'm so excited for you! What an exciting time it is for you! All that, coupled with meeting David in person —-wow! 🙂 I want to meet both you guys, we need a trip!
I'm so vicariously living through you right now! LOL. What an awesome trip! So exciting. I would totally stroke my book too if I saw it there . . . and yours too. 😉
Thanks, Lisa! Yes, there was much stroking, haha.
We definitely need to figure something out one of these days! It was great meeting David and I can't wait to meet you too one day soon. 🙂
Thanks, Lydia! 🙂
I had an amazing time, and I do love New York, it has such great energy. Thanks, Cherie! 🙂
Thanks, Ricky! 🙂
WOW — SOOO much cool stuff. You've got to feel like you survived the most awesome tornado of your life. Way to go, sister-friend!
I always love hearing your New York stories! What fun. When I went to World Fantasy Con last year, I totally forgot to take pics, too. You got way more than me, so don't feel bad!
LOVED this!! From those books piled there–so excited for you–to all the pictures that made me live vicariously!! Thanks for sharing, my friend!! <333
What an exciting time! I'm so happy for you! And I can't wait to read FREAK. Only two more weeks!