A.S. King, Jennifer Hubbard, and I Pose with a Mystery Man

Plenty of wild things happened at Skyanne Fisher's PAYA Festival today.  A.S. King hand sold Beth Kephart books, because somebody had to.  Beth Kephart signed her books with A.S. King's name, because every tit deserves a tat.  Kate Walton looked gorgeous (nothing wild about that one, happens all the time).  Skyanne spoke of traveling to humdrum places like Ghana (Sure, Ghana.  Of course, Ghana.  Who doesn't yawn at Ghana?)  Elisa Ludwig showed up in a dress Beth Kephart wanted but Elisa (oddly) wouldn't give it to Beth.  Ilene Wong revealed deep secrets.  Margie Gelbwasser was adorable.  Heather of Children's Book World talked about how much she loves Jessica Shoffel (My Jessica Shoffel? I said.  My.  Very.  Own??)  And Beth Kephart got to sit beside the beloved Jennifer Hubbard, a full month shy of her Children's Book World event with Jennifer, David Levithan, and Ellen Hopkins.

And as if that were not enough?  There stood this delightful man.  Okay, so he could have used a little meat on his bones.  Sure, his hat wasn't as vintage as I'd have liked.  He was also (sorry!) on the tad short side.  But he was upright, strong, and he had a spine, and he could hold his own around three majestic authoresses.  Jennifer, A.S., and I fought over him—with the best vocabulary in the land, I can assure you.  Then he—not defeated, but slightly bored—suggested that we share.

We're big girls now.  Adults.  We did.

Thank you, Skyanne and PAYA!

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Join us at the 2012 PAYA Festival: the full author list

Skyanne Fisher has been doing her usual top-notch, heroic-caliber organization of the Pennsylvania Young Adult Book Festival (we call it PAYA), and this year, the third of this now-annual event, brings together dozens of uber-cool YA practitioners on Saturday, August 25, from noon to 4 PM, at the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School, located at 1585 Paoli Pike, West Chester, PA. 

You want to know who is coming, right?  Can't stand the suspense?  Here's who we are, as of now, in an approximate signing order (things could change, so check the web site closer to the date).  We'll be signing books (courtesy of Children's Book World).  There will be raffles.  There will be workshops, too. I may even wear my electric blue pants.  Heck, I may even dance flamenco and ride home on a handsome horse.  Though I'd first have to learn flamenco and then have to persuade a horse.  (There's time.  I'm working on it.)

You want to be there.  I know you do.

Signing from 12-1

Susan Shaw
Victoria Schwab
K.M. Walton
Margie Gelbwasser
Charlotte Bennardo
Jackie Kessler
Amalie Howard
Ellen Jensen Abbott

Signing from 1-2

Jennifer Hubbard
Jennifer Murgia
J.R. Wagner
Shannon Delany
Beth Kephart
Brigid Kemmerer
Jaclyn Dolamore
A.S. King
Jessica Spotswood

Signing from 2-3
Jeri Smith-Ready
Maria V. Snyder
Cyn Balog
Josh Berk
Cesya MaRae Cuono
Gwendolyn Heasley
Dianne Salerni
Rebecca Serle

Signing from 3-4
Jennifer Armentrout
Christine Norris
Sarah Darer Littman
Alissa Grosso
Wendy Higgins
Amy Holder
Elisa Ludwig
Tiffany Schmidt
Jessica Burkhart

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