Austin Teen Book Festival 2012

Writers and book lovers, mark your calendars for this fabulous, free event next year. I took my daughters, 11 and 14, and all three of us were bubbling over with creative inspiration by the time we left. This is the first year I’ve gone, and I didn’t know what to expect. Here’s a rundown:

Amazing, kick-a$$ opening keynote by author, Libba Bray. She gave us a bullet-point list for life that included such gems as, “Testing is bullsh@#!” (referring to teachers being forced to stick to a strict curriculum focused on standardized testing, which leaves no room for encouraging the kind of creative, out-of-the-box thinking that really makes a difference in the world), “Be nice!”, “Writing is revising!” and, “Serial killers are always interesting.” Here’s a link (thank you, Laura, for this post!): Libba Bray’s Opening Keynote ATBF12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, and there were light sabers and a great video sing-along to Total Eclipse of the Heart (remember that one?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were six different panels, based on genre, with authors giving us an inside look at their writing process and a short Q&A with the audience. I had time for three panels…

“We’re Not in Kansas Anymore” panel, with authors Sarah Rees Brennan, Libba Bray, Leigh Bardugo, Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, and Rae Carson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“What Would You Do For Love?” panel, with authors Tracy Deebs, Ally Condie, Kresley Cole, Jessica Shirvington, Tamara Ireland Stone, and Jessica Khoury.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Real Life Happens” panel, with authors John Corey Whaley, Jesse Andrews, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, EM Kokie, and Jessica Lee Anderson. (John and Jesse were SO funny! And weird. And FUNNY!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course we had to get in the giant Reached bubble for a picture, before we left! (Oh, and spend a small fortune on new books, autographed by the authors. Money well spent:)