A few weeks ago Jo (Ink & Paper and Once Upon a Bookcase) organised another blogger meet up. Unfortunately she was unable to come along and join us, but if I'd been invited to spend the weekend in Ireland I probably would have changed my plans too lol. I'd like to say a massive thanks to her for making the effort to arrange everything though, we had a great time but you were missed Jo!
We all met up in the coffee shop in the basement of Waterstones in Piccadilly and spent a good few hours chatting about books and blogging. There is nothing better than spending time with people who are as obsessed with books as you are! Poor Michelle was telling us about a publisher who keeps contacting her to ask her to remove a review she has written from her blog. It was for a book she didn't get on with and didn't finish reading but having now read the review I thought she gave an honest opinion and the review wouldn't have put me off trying the book if it had been one I was interested in reading, having heard about the reaction from the publisher I wouldn't touch one of their books with a bargepole now though!
We also had quite a long conversation about self-published books and the problems you can experience when you receive them for review. I've reviewed a few self-published books but it sounds like I've been quite lucky compared to some of the other reviewers. Overall most of the others said they will no longer accept self-published books to review but I think I'll just take it case by case and see if any books particularly appeal to me. I'm having to reduce the number of books I accept to review anyway as I have so many on my to read pile at the moment that it sometimes feels like I'll never be able to catch up! That seemed to be a fairly common problem with the others so it was nice to know I'm not alone. There was a fair amount of book swapping going on too, I'd taken quite a few books with me for the others but ended up coming home with way more than I was expecting!
Kirsty gave me copies of Die for Me by Amy Plum, Unearthly by Cynthia Hand and Pretty Twisted by Gina Blaxill, Non lent me her copy of White Chin by Marilyn Edwards and Michelle gave me Haunting Warrior by Erin Quinn. Massive thanks to all of you :o) I've heard good things about all of them so really need to find the time to start reading them.
Of course we couldn't spend time in Waterstones without at least having a look at the books while we were there. I had gone with very good intentions not to buy anything but it's impossible to resist when you're surrounded by all those pretty covers and a bunch of bloggers who have a million good recommendations. Caroline loved Huntress by Malinda Lo so much that I just had to pick up a copy but that left me with a dilemma, it was in a 3 for 2 offer so of course I had to find 2 more books to get! That actually turned out to be a harder task than I was expecting, everyone had plenty of recommendations but most of them were books I've already read or already have copies of. In the end I decided on Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater (I own Lament but haven't read it yet but I'm such a huge fan of her Wolves of Mercy Falls series that I'm sure I'll enjoy these too) and Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (I've still not started her Mortal Instruments series but everyone assured me that I will love her books so I must get around to reading them soon). I've been looking at the Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy for ages now so when I saw the first book was only £1 I had to pick it up too.
It was really great to see everyone again, I always have so much fun at blogger meet ups and hope we can organise another one soon.
Who was there:
Carly - Writing from the Tub
Caroline - Portrait of a Woman
David - Les Plumes Asthmatiques (French) / The Breathless Quills (English) - Event Report (written in French but you can use Google translate if you want to read it in English - I had to lol)
Kirsty - The Overflowing Library
Matt - Teen Librarian
Michelle - Clover Hill Book Reviews
Non - Catnip
What a fantastic time. Such fab people. I am gutted I ddint get to meet MAtt he is one of my librarian hereos :D
ReplyDeleteMatt is lovely Emma. He was at the Headline do with us the day before. I wish I could have gone too, so glad you had a fabulous day.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you guys had a great time AND got some great books as well! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like you guys had a great time AND got some great books as well! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so sad that I wasn't able to come! Looks like fun was had and lots of books talked about and ogled over :)
ReplyDelete@ Book Angel Emma - it's such a shame you couldn't come, I really want to get to see you again soon! It's been far too long :o( I think you'd get on really well with Matt :o)
ReplyDelete@ Vivienne - it's a shame you couldn't make it too Viv, at least I'd got to see you the couple of days before though :o) We really need another blogger meet up that everyone can come to though!
@ Amy - It was a lovely day thanks & as usual I wasn't able to resist buying more books LOL. I wish I had more will power!
@ Clover - It would have been lovely to see you again hun, we must get together soon for a catch up!