Breaking out: The Class of 2k13 at ALA

I wanted to post a little more about ALA Chicago 2013: On Friday, June 28, The Class of 2k13 presented a panel called: 

Breaking Out: Veronica Roth and Debut Authors from The Class of 2k13 Discuss Their Upcoming Books

Here is the proposal that Polly Holyoke, author of The Neptune Project, put together:

Come hear NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Veronica Roth and debut authors from The Class of 2k13 talk about their exciting new books. This is your chance to meet the potential stars of tomorrow, today. This session will include a brief question and answer period AND a teen fiction trivia contest (librarians vs. authors) for fabulous prizes! Panelists include: K.A. Barson, 45 POUNDS, MORE OR LESS (YA Contemporary); Caela Carter, ME, HIM THEM AND IT (YA Contemporary); Debra Driza MILA 2.0 (YA Sci/fi); Geoffrey Girard PROJECT CAIN (YA Techno-thriller); Polly Holyoke THE NEPTUNE PROJECT (MG Sci/fi); Lydia Kang CONTROL (YA Sci/fi); Stephanie Kuehn CHARM & STRANGE (YA Literary Thriller); Demitria Lunetta IN THE AFTER (YA Post-Apocalyptic); Mindy McGinnis NOT A DROP TO DRINK (YA Post-Apocalyptic); Jennifer McGowan MAID OF SECRETS (YA Historical); Nicole McInnes BRIANNA ON THE BRINK (YA Contemporary); Kate Karyus Quinn ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE (YA Literary Horror); Liesl Shurtliff RUMP, THE TRUE STORY OF RUMPELSTILTSKIN (MG Fantasy); Tara Sullivan GOLDEN BOY (MG Contemporary); Cristin Terrill ALL OUR YESTERDAYS (YA Sci/fi); Tamera Wissinger GONE FISHING (MG Novel In Verse). Our members have already garnered several good and excellent reviews from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and four starred KIRKUS reviews. The Junior Library Guild also picked two Class of 2k13 books for its spring catalogue.

We didn't know it until afterward, but most of the time author panel proposals are submitted in conjunction with a publisher. Sometimes ignorance really is bliss, or in our case, was a way to not be influenced by the way things are usually done.

I had a wonderfully fun time at our event, and I hope that the librarians who attended also had a great time. Here's our class photo:

Front: Jennifer McGowan, Liesl Shurtliff, Demitria Lunetta, Polly Holyoke (event chair), Mindy McGinnis, Debra Driza, Lydia Kang. Back: Geoffrey Girard, Tara Sullivan, Kate Karyus Quinn, KA Barson, Stephanie Kuehn, Cristin Terrill, Caela Carter, Tamera Wissinger, Nicole McInnesI was going to post more photos, but just today my 2k13 classmate Mindy McGinnis posted a hilarious recap of the event, including several inventively captioned photos. I welcome you to check out the full story (and then some) at Mindy's blog: WRITER, WRITER, PANTS ON FIRE

Thanks for stopping by.

T

07.15.2013