Tag: 2014

Saturday is California Bookstore Day!

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Hello everyone, how’s it going? Are you preparing yourself for California Bookstore Day, which’ll be happening this Saturday, May 3, 2014, at participating California Independent Bookstores? For those of you that don’t know, California Bookstore Day is a special day where more than 90 independent bookstores throughout the Golden State offer parties, author events, readings, and will have exclusive, limited items that are only available that day. My goodness. . .why you do this to me, universe?!

Concerning the items, I have never seen such an awesome array of exclusives. There’s a stencil, and some prints, and posters! Look at this cool poster of a Lemony Snicket quote, which’ll be both signed and dated:

Snicket CaBD

I mean, seriously! All you have to lose is boredom! This would be perfect for any classroom. (Or just any room, for that matter,)

Check out these recipe cards from Michael Pollan, all put in a nice little commemorative box that commands you to “Cook!”:

recipe box

Finally, I can eat what the guy who wrote The Omnivore’s Dilema is eating! (I don’t know if anyone else has ever said that before.) If you haven’t checked out Michael Pollan and heard his views on the food industry and how to eat healthy, then you most definitely should. [One tip that has always stuck with me is that when trying to eat healthy, only shop the perimeter of a grocery store. I never noticed it before, but everything you need is on the outer walls of the store: the butcher shop, dairy section, produce, the bakery, the cheap wine (I mean, what?). The middle of the store is home to all that processed food, that Cheez-It-Orange color and those soft, gummy things (what are gummies, anyway?).]

gaiman copy
ZOMG!!

While these both look awesome, the coolest object has to be a limited, illustrated printing of the Neil Gaiman short story The Sleeper and The Spindle. I haven’t read all of Gaiman’s work, but everything I have read from him is simply outstanding. And sure, I’ll nab Ocean at the End of the Lane one of these days, but if The Sleeper and the Spindle is available only on that day, then I’ll be sure to be there first thing in the morning like it’s Black-Totally-Embarrassed-By-Fellow-Americans-Friday.

If you live in California, totally check out the website to find participating stores. If you don’t, see if there are similar events like this in your state, because it’s a pretty cool idea and destined to be a bunch of fun.

For those of you not in California or the U.S.A., let me make this post useful for you and, since I’ve already told you about how much I love Gaiman, watch one of my favorite speeches ever, delivered by him at the University of the Arts in 2012. (I might do a whole post about this speech in the future. It’s just so great.)

So, what about you? Will you be participating? Which of the exclusive items would you want to get the most?

Sincerely,

Casey, Hunter of CBD Exclusives

Follow me on Twitter for more goodies!

MORE GOOD READS FROM THIS SITE:

Party Time at WonderCon 2014
4/21/14
Party Time at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
4/14/14
Loch Ness: The Webseries and Me
04/07/14
I Got Rejected Today
03/31/14
The next Star Wars movie might have come early (links to Examiner.com)
03/31/14

Party Time at WonderCon 2014

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Hey everyone, how are you doing?!

I am completely knackered while writing this, but thought I would drop in. Last week, I told you all about how I worked at the Los Angeles Times Fesitval of Books (which was awesome) and, going on the next loop of the independent-bookseller-event roller coaster, I worked WonderCon this last weekend. For those of you unfamiliar with WonderCon, it’s a three-day convention for comics, science fiction, fantasy, video games, movies, television shows, and everything geeky! Think San Diego’s massive Comic Con, just a little smaller.

On the first day, I totally got to geek out at Amy Talkington (yes, geek out at her) about her debut book, Liv, Forever, which I was in the middle of (right in the depth of all the mysteries and intrigue and wondering WHAT IS HAPPENING AT WICKHAM HALL?!) If you guys haven’t read it, you should seriously totally go to your independent book shop and GET THE FUCK ON IT (blurb by Casey Poma). I have since finished it, and will now write her a lengthy e-mail of what I thought about the ending (as she requested!).

Liv, Forever cover
Seriously, ppl! It has mystery AND ghosts!

When I wasn’t freaking out at authors, I was stationed at our bookselling booth and was deemed the line-management dude (official title, for sure). This meant that I could stand right by the table with the authors and moderate the line, which also meant that I could totally chat with the authors and and pick their brains about the business, creativity, or just anything in general. I learned tips and tricks from all types of writers, from the those who write urban fantasy, to middle-grade stuff, to funny books with lots of sex in them. Some of them were also bloggers, others animators, and musicians, and everyone had something cool to say, and was supportive when I told them of my own writing goals (which is pretty damn great).

When I wasn’t curating knowledge (and bznz cards!), I wandered around and experienced just some of the things there was to do (seriously, there was so much stuff). Tommy Wiseau was there at his booth for The Room. A minute later, I nearly had to be resuscitated when I saw a Jurassic Park booth with ORIGINAL concept art drawings. The man who obviously didn’t see how faded my shirt and shoes were was trying to sell them all to me for 100 bucks. I had to politely decline, but opted for a classic JP logo shirt. Fuck yea. On my way back, I stumbled upon Larry Thomas, aka the Soup Nazi, and scored a picture (and made sure not to ask for any extra bread).

wondercon2
No hoverhand for the Soup Nazi

All around, WonderCon was a pretty amazing experience, and if anything, solidified that yes, this nerd world is a world in which I could continue to work. Last week, I mentioned how Rome wasn’t built in a day, and how my empire of Creative Career won’t be either. I also mentioned that I am starting to feel like I am laying bricks, and have now realized that business cards kind of look like bricks, don’t they? Let’s build this city!

What about you? Share your WonderCon experience!

Until later,

Casey of Obsessed-With-Books-Land

More pictures!

wondercon5
Rufio! Rufio! Rufio!
wondercon4
The Schwartz is with them.
wondercon3
Awesomely, these people did not know each other, but found each other in the crowd.

Follow me on Twitter for more goodies!

MORE GREAT READS FROM THIS SITE:

Party Time at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
4/14/14
Loch Ness: The Webseries and Me
04/07/14
I Got Rejected Today
03/31/14
The next Star Wars movie might have come early (links to Examiner.com)
03/31/14
Women Who Inspire Me – International Women’s Day 2014
3/08/14

Party Time at the Los Angeles Times Fesitval of Books

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I was going to publish an article about writing today, but thought why not be topical and write about the biggest book fair in the country, the Los Angeles Times festival of Books! For those of you that have not yet heard about this wonderful thing (I didn’t hear about it until my second year of living in Los Angeles), it’s a huge festival that takes place at the University of Southern California campus. It’s a weekend full of books, authors, panels, signings, booksellers, and fans!

FestivalOfBooks
Oh, and tents!

I would to tell you about all things I saw, but have to be honest and say that I spent the majority of the time looking at the Physical Education building, working at a Special Seller’s booth. Yes, you heard that right. I wasn’t only there. I was working at it, which means I got to lift heavy boxes of books all weekend get there before everyone else. Yay!

In addition to selling some books, I got lost looking getting people food and stumbled upon the John Green line, or should I say the John Green mob. This I found to be a pleasant surprise because I didn’t even know that he was going to be there until that morning. Had I known, I would have been like “Sorryjobcan’tworktodayhavetoseeJohnGreen!!!” While I would have loved to stand in line, get his signature, and tell him how much I love his educational videos (seriously, they are all great), I had to get my fellow booksellers some burger-y fuel. Due to my height, and the fact he was standing at that moment, I was able to see his head, which was enough for me to text my YA-fan friend: “I saw John Green!”

jennifer-lawrence-fangirling-whoalawrence
I saw John Green’s head! From like 40 meters away!

In addition to Mr. Green, I saw some other authors walking around, and was rather impressed with Laini Taylor’s bright pink hair (I will get around to reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone, because everyone, seriously everyone, told me to read it). I didn’t see as much the next day, but heard the line for Veronica Roth (the author of Divergent) was insanely large as well, which is pretty awesome considering that people think kids don’t like to read. If anything, they were the most ravenous and hungry of all the groups that were there (not that the poetry crowd wasn’t rowdy as hell, as they are wont to be).

I don’t really know what I was trying to say with this post (which is great to say in blogging), but wanted to bring out the fact that this year I was there, and last year I totally wasn’t. I was invited to go with my writing group last year, but had to work all weekend at a German market (and like every single fucking weekend I had that job). But really, if anything, this post shows that in 365 days from now, you could be (as I am from last year) one step closer to where you want to be.

If you told me a year ago I’d be at a the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, and would be even just a small, tiny, tiny part of it, I would have said you were verrückt. I mean, I was technically working this weekend, too, but selling books of authors who were on panels is way closer to where I want to be than telling someone which German mustard goes best with which wurst. (Hint: Bavarian Weisswurst and Sweet Mustard are like made for each other!) And if I could spring from the German market to working at the Festival of Books, who’s to say I could spring from there to bigger book things? Rome wasn’t build in a day, for sure, but at least now, I feel like I’m finally starting to lay down some bricks. And if I can start some brickwork, you can too. :)

What about you? Did you attend the event? Who did you see? If you didn’t go, who would you want to have seen? Who would be on your dream panel?

-Casey of Book-Obsession-Land

MORE GREAT READS FROM THIS SITE:

Loch Ness: The Webseries and Me
04/07/14
I Got Rejected Today
03/31/14
The next Star Wars movie might have come early (links to Examiner.com)
03/31/14
Women Who Inspire Me – International Women’s Day 2014
3/08/14
New video! “OUR 2014 OSCAR PICKS – FIRST ANNUAL CAT cAT AWARDS!” (links to YouTube)
2/23/14