Monday, February 20, 2012

YAK Fest - Afterword

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Over the past few months I have mentioned here or there in comments that I would be going to my first author signing soon. Ellen Hopkins would be coming within three hours of me. On Saturday, January 16th, I went to meet her at the Young Adult Keller (YAK) Book Festival.

BUSINESS CARDS

My business card.

During the signing period of the festival, my mother bought my sister a T-shirt. While she was doing this, she told the shirt vendor about my flash fiction pieces in Campaigner Challenges 2011 (you may have noticed she does this a lot). The saleswoman was a teacher and wanted to know if I would like to speak to her class about writing. She asked if I had a business card. I didn't, but you can bet my mom made sure I got some as soon as possible.

We used Staples. You go online and choose one of their templates. You type in your information. If you don't like the font color, size, style, or simply the placement of the words, change it. When you're happy, you place your order and the cards are delivered to the nearest Staples location.

SCHOOL SPEAKING

As mentioned above, while at the festival a teacher asked if I would speak to her class. I don't really know how I feel about this. On one hand, it would be great exposure and marketing. On the other, what am I even marketing? I don't have a book published. I'm just a girl with a blog. What would I even talk about? How would I even speak?

If given the opportunity, should I speak to this teacher's class?

COLIN GILBERT (again)

Lizzie's copy of The Mattress Parlor plus note.
As mentioned in Part 3, by the time Alisha went to buy her copy of Colin Gilbert's The Mattress Parlor he had sold out. She ordered one as did Lizzie (though she never paid). Recently, those books came in, along with a free CD of his poetry (which I will eventually steal from Lizzie, shh).

Does anyone else find it hilarious that he thinks Lizzie is the writer?

I hope you've had a fun time reading about my experience at the Young Adult Keller Book Festival. How was your first author signing? What do you think of the authors I have mentioned throughout the series?
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13 comments:

  1. TrishaFebruary 20, 2012 at 11:09 PM

    Great business card! Love your little 'bio' on it :)

    How was my first author signing? I think i'm still waiting for my first ;)

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    Replies
    1. Brooke R. BusseFebruary 20, 2012 at 11:26 PM

      Really, it's a quote. But I can see how it would be portrayed as a bio. ^^

      You haven't gone to one, Trisha! Oh, you must fix that as soon as possible.

      Delete
  2. BrennaFebruary 21, 2012 at 12:32 AM

    I too really like your business card. Great fonts and everything. And, like Trisha, I too am waiting for my first real author signing. I, unfortunately, live in a way out of the way place. No one comes to Montana.

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    Replies
    1. FlipFlyFallFebruary 21, 2012 at 12:47 AM

      Montanans unite! You should see Christopher Paolini - he lives in Montana. :)

      Delete
    2. Brooke R. BusseFebruary 21, 2012 at 7:14 PM

      No one comes to Oklahoma either. That's why I went to Texas. :D

      Delete
  3. Carrie-AnneFebruary 21, 2012 at 12:56 AM

    That's a cute business card. I'd go for it and speak to the class, since you can still talk to them about things like the writing process, even if you're not a published writer.

    I tagged you at my blog.

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    Replies
    1. Brooke R. BusseFebruary 21, 2012 at 8:22 PM

      That's what I was thinking, but there's also the side note of why they would listen to me talk about it. Though I guess it beats learning about predicate adjectives. XD

      I will go check it out.

      Delete
  4. Michael Offutt, Phantom ReaderFebruary 21, 2012 at 11:47 AM

    Yes, you should go and speak to the class. Just don't get all high and mighty about it because you are becoming a celebrity. If you get all stuck up and insist on being a diva like J.K. Rowling, I'll stop reading your stuff. I dislike stuck up people.

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    Replies
    1. Brooke R. BusseFebruary 21, 2012 at 8:24 PM

      Do you really think I'm going to become a diva, Michael? -rolls eyes- I swear you generalize way too often.

      Delete
    2. Michael Offutt, Phantom ReaderFebruary 22, 2012 at 2:20 PM

      See...you said that as if you were Beyonce at the grammy's.

      Brooke walks on stage with grammy in hand and with Beyonce wig on and snaps fingers, rolling head so that her Afro bounces, "I swear you generalize way too often. Mmmmhmmm." (hand now on hip)

      Delete
    3. Brooke R. BusseFebruary 22, 2012 at 8:46 PM

      No, that is what you call a sarcastic teenager. If I had wanted to add the Mmmmmhmmm with the hand on the hip, I would have. But I didn't want to nor did I feel any compulsion to.

      Also, no one wants to see me in an Afro wig.

      Delete
  5. Angela BrownFebruary 21, 2012 at 1:34 PM

    I love the business card you've got.

    Yes, it would be wonderful if you wne to speak to that teacher's class. You may not have a book to market, but you have a writing talent you can share, maybe even share one of your short stories, what inspired you to write what you wrote - beyond the prompt. And share your experience thus far as an autho-in-the-making.

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    Replies
    1. Brooke R. BusseFebruary 21, 2012 at 8:27 PM

      Thank you, Angela. That makes me feel slightly less silly for carrying them around. XD

      All wonderful topics. Now, how to turn them into 40 minutes speeches?

      Delete

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