Monday 7 July 2014

ALA Recap & Giveaway


Last week I (Rachel) was lucky enough to attend the ALA in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is the fourth ALA I've attending but that still doesn't stop me from being star/book struck and I'm usually running around the aisles in a complete daze! I met up with my book friends-in-crime, Arlene and Crystal from Winterhaven Books and towed my husband along as well, and we had a great time chatting books and hanging out.

One of the great things about the ALA is the authors you see and meet. Just in passing I spotted Shannon Messenger, David Levithan, Laini Taylor, and Jessica Brody roaming the aisles. But I did catch these authors at signings:


Julie Kagawa signing Talon at the Harlequin booth:
Julie Kagawa









Holly Black at the Little Brown Books for Young Readers booth signing my copy of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown & The Darkest Part of the Forest. Love that she changes her hair color each time. Last year was blue and this year we get turquoise. She's always so very nice!

Holly Black






Markus Zusak signing The Book Thief at the Random House booth. This signing line was LONG!!

Markus Zusak




Jeaniene Frost signing The Beautiful Ashes at the Harlequin booth:

Jeaniene Frost

 Kendall Kulper signing Salt & Storm at the Little Brown Books for Young Readers booth:

Kendall Kulper

I really held back this time in getting books but here is the one's I'm most excited about:



Arlene, Crystal, my husband & I caught dinner at The Cheesecake Factory situated in this awesome shopping space, The Forum Shops in Caesar's Palace (picture below). I thought I was transported to a Greek Temple of some sort with all the gorgeous and elaborate fountains and sculptures! Of course the scenery quickly faded away when we started discussing books!

Forum Shops - Ceasar Palace, Las Vegas.
The Forum Shots at Caesar's Palace (click on photo for source)




Last but not least we dined at Javier’s in the Aria Hotel and I highly recommend the margaritas, food and dark atmosphere!
 

 Javier's at Aria




There were some amazing books at the ALA and of course I wanted to share a few prized finds: An ARC copy of Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater, Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers and Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas to one Readers Den follower.  The giveaway is open to US Residents only. Simply fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win! 




 








a Rafflecopter giveaway

42 comments:

Wendy Darling said...

Aw, Rachel! I'm so glad you had a good time. :) I saw that Zusak line, and it was INSANE. And of course, filled with many ladies swooning over the author's looks, hah.

I am embarrassed to say this, but I just started reading the THRONE OF GLASS series and am loving it, so I am totally entering this giveaway JUST for HEIR OF FIRE, because they were all out by the time I got there. If I somehow end up winning, I'll cede the other two books to the next person. ;) Thanks for the giveaway and fun recap! One of these days I'll get to meet you in person, I hope.

Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

Wendy Darling said...

Oh, and the books I'm most excited about: WELL, HEIR OF FIRE (I literally finished ASSASSIN'S BLADE an hour ago and I totally cried) and BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE are probably two of my top picks for fall!

Christina Fiorelli said...

Christina R. in the rafflecopter

The Beautiful Ashes!

Thank you :)

Maidenveil said...

Talon by Julie Kagawa!

Joni said...

Looks like you have an AWESOME time. I'm so jealous… ^^

I'm looking forward to Heir of Fire, for sure! Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

Mary @ BookSwarm said...

NICE! I've done BEA but I'd like to do ALA sometime, too. Plus...VEGAS! (No, I've never been but that sounds like fun, too.)

Unknown said...

I CANNOT STOP SQUEALING, RACHEL. I am so, so happy for you that you went to ALA (for the 4th time!), one of these days I NEED to go. All the authors *swoon* I would die if I got to meet Markus Zusak. And Mortal Heart! *faints* I'm so glad you had a great time and that forum looks FABULOUS.

Unknown said...

Oops, and to reply to your giveaway, I'm excited for Mortal Heart, I already have Heir of Fire and am SO nervous to read it. I can NOT wait to read A Little Something Different because IT sounds so different!

starryeyedjen said...

That does look like what I imagine a Greek temple would! Gorgeous. I've never been to Vegas, but I've been to ALA once, though it was back when I first started blogging and I was shy and didn't talk to anyone. :( I think I am MOST excited for Jandy Nelson's new book I'll Give You the Sun. Followed closely by Mortal Heart. :) Glad you had a great time, and thanks for the giveaway!

Anonymous said...

Ahh! You look like you had so much fun at ALA, Rachel! :) I was hoping this was the year I went, but my plans fell through when I decided to come home for the summer. Anyways, that is mall? That is just gorgeous! :)
Ahh! And I'm excited to see what you think of The Young Elites. You're also the best! That's so nice of you to do a giveaway. Unfortunately, I can't enter, but the thought is much appreciated. :)

erin said...

that looks like it was sooo much fun! Thanks for sharing :) I'd have to say Heir of Fire as I have the first book in my TBR pile and it's one of my goals to finally get started!

Faye M. said...

Man this sounds so much fun, and I totally regret not living in the US, because I would have loved to see all these authors for real and discuss with fellow bookworms. AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET YOU AND WENDY DARLING, TOO! Wouldn't that just be grand? ONE DAY FOR SURE!

Faye at The Social Potato

Rachel said...

Ooh thanks for the chance!! I really want to read Mortal Heart :)

Amanda Pate said...

Heir of Fire definitely, not to mention Midnight Thief -that comes out tomorrow! Thanks for the awesome giveaway! :)

Amanda @ Of Spectacles and Books

Unknown said...

I am looking forward to Opposition by Jennifer L Armentrout and thanks for the giveaway!! :)

Anonymous said...

Kiss of Deception & The Young Elites. These both sound amazing! Can't wait to read!

traci16 said...

OMG looks like you had a fab time...Takin and Beautiful Ashes definitely!!!

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Sounds like you had a blast. i'd love to visit Las Vegas at some point.

Unknown said...

What a great event! I think I would love to attend ALA one of these days. Isn't Caesars Palace the neatest? It's been almost eight years since I've been to LV, not sure it's ready for me again. More like I'm not ready for it. I'm glad you had such an amazing time, Rachel!

elin said...

I can't wait to read Heir of Fire. That's one of my favorite series :D

Lauren @ Love is not a triangle said...

You look like you had a blast! I've never been to Las Vegas - one day! Also, after going to ALAMW, I am desperate to attend another of their events. It was sooooo much lower key than BEA. But for now, BEA is closer and ALA is mostly on the west coast. One day I'll get there. I cannot wait to read MORTAL HEART from your list above and THE YOUNG ELITES. Penguin has been doing mostly samples at BEA and then breaking out the actual arcs at ALA. Darn them! Glad you snagged one.

Unknown said...

Wow! Rachel! It seems that you had a wonderful time during ALA this year. <3 I'm so lucky to you guys US residents who can meet fabulous authors all the time. <3 (not all the time, but still.. :P) Can't wait to read your reviews! Robin LaFevers books are just... <3

Melanie said...

Ooh ALA sounds like a whole lot of fun! Wow, so many pretty books, it's awesome that you got to meet so many brilliant authors. Thanks for the recap, Rach! <33

Becca F (ReadingTeen) said...

Isla and the HEA! Heir of Fire! Silver Shadows! And many more, I assure you! GREAT giveaway! My fingers are definitely crossed! I'm glad you had such a good time at ALA! It sounds like so much fun! Thanks! :)

Steph said...

ALA looks like it was awesome! I wish I could go to conventions like that, but they never come close to me. There are SO many great books getting released in the next few months that I can't wait to read! Thanks for sharing with us and for the amazing giveaway!

Nicole The Reading Rebel said...

Talon,The Bane Chronicles Hardcover,The Fire Wish,Snow like Ashes are some.Thanks for the giveaway.

Carina Olsen said...

ACK! I am beyond jealous. <3 It sounds and looks like you had an amazing time :) So happy for you. <3 But so jealous. Grrr. lol :) One day.. hopefully. And ACK! So many amazing books :D I am DYING for Mortal Heart. <3 And The Young Elites. SOBS. Want it so much. Starting my hardcover of Sinner tomorrow :) So excited. Happy reading sweetie. <3

Robin said...

I am looking forward to tons of books!!! Two that I am most excited about are Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas and Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick! Thanks for the giveaway! :)

Michelle (A Thousand Lives Lived) said...

AHH I'M SO JEALOUS. I live in Canada so Vegas is a far away from home. I do want to attend the BookCon in NYC next year! I'm so jealous of all of those beautiful ARCs! :O

Eileen said...

Definitely Heir of Fire! The way Crown of Midnight finished almost killed me. I cannot wait to see more of Celaena, Chaol and Dorian!!

I just started my book blog (http://bookcatpin.blogspot.ca/) and am excited to meet some bloggers. Please come visit me if you have some time, thanks!!

Unknown said...

It looks like you had such a good time at ALA! I was definitely surprised to hear Markus Zusak attended but not surprised to hear his line was long since he's awesome!

I am definitely excited for Heir of Fire! But I really cant wait for Isla and the Happily Ever After! I read the sneak peak and I just need more Isla in my life, and Josh too! Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater is also one I am waiting anxiously for!

Unknown said...

ALA looks like it was really fun! There were a lot of cool authors there :D I'm excited for Isla and the Happily Ever After and The Young Elites!

Jer Bird said...

I Am excited for Heir of Fire and Blood of Olympus

Christine said...

Wow, looks like an amazing event--I'm jealous, but so happy for you that you got to experience it! :)
And I'm looking forward to The Young Elites--LOVED the Legend series and this new one sounds so good!

Unknown said...

I'd have to choose Opposition by Jennifer Armentrout! It is such a good series and I'm anxious to see how it ends! Thanks!

Unknown said...

Sounds like you had a fantastic time and Heir of Fire is at the top of my list!!

Unknown said...

Awesome giveaway !!

Stephanie T. said...

Definitely Heir of Fire!

Paige.D said...

I'm looking forward to Heir of Fire! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. The series is so addictive.

Alisha S. said...

Alisha Sienkiel in rafflecopter

I'm looking forward to Silver Shadows which comes out this month!

Hannah Reads said...

I'm so excited for this giveaway. Thank you for hosting! I'm obsessed with Sarah J. Maas and need this third book lol. September is too far away.

Anonymous said...

Isla and the Happily Ever After for sure!

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