Smart Chick Tour 2.0: An Epic Event

Smart Chick Kick It Tour 2.0

An Epic Event

Kirkland, WA 

October 2, 2011

1-4pm panel, till 6:30pm with Signing

 Authors

Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Rachel Caine, Melissa de la Cruz, Nina Kirki Hoffman, Sophie Jordan, Richelle Mead, Jeri Smith-Ready, Margaret Stohl, Rachel Vincent and Sara Zarr

I survived this amazing, awesome and epic event. I took a few pictures as well.

I arrived at 11:45am and ended up getting 2nd row seating and saved a seat for Jaime at Two Chicks on Books.

The Q&A 

This was broken up into 2 panels. Questions were just asked in general, so that every author could answer the questions. It started with detailed questions, than had a lighting round of Q&A, went back to detailed questions. After an hour of questions panel 1 ended and took an hour break with musical entertainment. 

At 3pm panel 2 started up with the same set up with 1 thing was added. What character would you kiss, marry and push off a cliff. A few of the panel authors did this and a few audience members as well. At 4pm the 2nd panel ended and the signing prep/line began.

Panel 1: 

Moderator: Kelley Armstrong

Sophie Jordan, Richelle Mead, Melissa Marr, Stephanie Kuehnert, Jennifer Lynn Barnes and Sara Zarr

Panel 2: 

Moderator: Melissa Marr

Nina Kirki Hoffman, Rachel Vincent, Melissa De La Cruz, Margaret Stohl, Rachel Cain, Kelley Armstrong and Jeri Smith-Ready 

The Signing

This lasted just over 2 hours total. Since I had so many books and I figured I would have to go through the line a few times, I said to heck with it I'm just going to sit here and wait until the end of the line. It was the best decision ever. Scooting 3 heavy bags along the floor wouldn't have been fun. I ended up rearranging my bags so all the authors books were together. Next time I am going to bring an extra bag to transfer the signed set to, but hopefully I won't have another crazy signing like this again for a while.

The line went out the door.

The two hours actually went very fast, I was able to talk to Jaime some more and I got to meet Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads. Well we didn't actually introduced ourselves to each other just talked about some books and I found out who she was after the event.

 The line was not well managed at all. It could have been done much better. Many people just had a few or even just Meads books and she was at the end of the line. So many people just waited through the crazy signing line just to get her to sign their 3 allotted books. Not well thought out at all.

Being the last person in line had its perks, I could take my time putting my books back into the bags without having to worry about holding things up. I did manage to get extra swag for a giveaway :D

I also managed to get a few pictures with some of the authors, during the packed signing line people weren't able to get posed pictures although any did get pictures with Richelle Mead since she was at the end of the line.

Till the End

I stayed till the very end, authors were planning their dinner details and I was able to get a last picture with Melissa Marr and I even got a picture of all of them together. Which not many people do have, unless they did some before the event. Sara Zarr is the only one not pictured, she left about 20 minutes after the signing started because she wasn't feeling well.

Mistaken Identities
I had 3 people think I was someone else I wasn't, it was very entertaining.
1) A random person before the event asked "Are you the author that was on a panel yesterday?"
"Nope, that wasn't me"
"You look a lot like her"

2) With my 3 bags of books I was greeted by the volunteer, introducing herself and shaking my hand. Me just thinking she was being very friendly so I introduced myself as well.
She asked "Are you here for the Smart Chicks event?"
"Yes I am"
 She asked "Do you need help with your bags?"
I politely refuse saying I can carry them.
She than says "I am going to do set us these guys first than I be right back"
I was a little puzzled, but I was thinking well I guess I can ask her how the signing event is going to go.
She comes back and proceeds to tell me that "This panel will be going up and than after we are going to set up the table for you guys."
Oops she thinks I am part of the panel.
I tell her "Oh I'm not an author I'm just her for the event"
"Oh ok, well you can sit anywhere you like"
She leaves and I am just left chuckling to myself

3) Melissa de la Cruz asks me "You look familiar, are we twitter friends?"
Sad to say "No I don't think so"

Previous posts in preparation for the event
Book Prep
Battle Plan

My swag

I did take more pictures, but I didn't want to add them all to this post to make it too long. I don't know how to make a slide show with the photos. Other other pictures were just more table pictures though during Q&A.

The End

P.S. those bags were freaking heavy!!

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