Faking Normal Launch

This is the first post of my Event Recap Month, and I thought I'd start it off with one of my most recent events: Courtney C. Stevens's Faking Normal launch! I didn't know orginally that Courtney lived in Nashville, which is where I lived during my college years. I had planned to be in Tennessee for the Dark Days tour, but when Courtney invited me to the Faking Normal launch, which was scheduled a mere five days later, I knew I had to add it to my trip! (By the way, I did actually meet Courtney for the first time at the Dark Days tour, and that recap is coming soon!)

So on Tuesday, February 25th, I rolled up to Parnassus Books plenty early to get my books and (to be honest) charge my phone for my drive to Memphis directly after the party. Parnassus opened just before I left Nashville so I never had the opportunity to attend events there when I lived in Tennessee. Let me tell you, it's a really, REALLY cool store. Those star lights are the coolest thing ever, and on the other side of the bookshelf on the right is this super awesome book tunnel that is designed to look like Nashville's Parthenon. (If you're curious to see other Parnassus pics [not of the party, just the store], there are some really good ones here.)

Courtney kicked things off with a little speech, and she had some truly amazing words to share with all of us attending the launch. My favorite quotes: "On the other side of pain...is hope." "There is always the possibility of things getting better, and it depends on the people we surround ourselves with. My life is infinitely better because you are all on it." "Writing is a team sport, and my team is here!"

 

 Finally, she invited anyone with dreams to become published to look around the store and imagine themselves on the shelves and to make it happen. So, so inspiring!! Everybody was so happy to be there, and a lot of people had these awesome Faking Normal shirts on, even Victoria Schwab!

 The place was PACKED. It seemed like all of Nashville turned out for Courtney's awesome party!

 There was some amazing & uplifting background music going on while everyone was chatting and snacking and getting their books signed.

 Speaking of snacking, Courtney approved the concession stand herself! Yum!

 While waiting to get my books signed, I ran into some familiar faces!

 I met Myra back during the YA Advanture tour!

It was a big day for her too because she had two

shortstories published that day in the Fifty First 

Times and Grim anthologies!

And I met Ruta Sepetys at TLA last year & I have

an upcoming recap of the panel she was on with John

Corey Whaley, Jennifer Echols & Sherri L. Smith.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Jessamyn Gray (@jessamyngray) and Angela Frederick (@angelina41), two awesome Nashville librarians and Brad of Book YA Review. I was like, "Oh, another blogger! I'll have to follow you!" and then I realized the two of us already follow each other. *facepalm* Loved meeting you guys!!

Finally, it was time to hang out with Courtney for a few minutes before I hit the road for the next-to-last leg of my awesome bookish road trip.  Courtney happily signed my copy of Faking Normal as well as another for this giveaway AND gave me some really cool Faking Normal swag to pass on as well!

Giveaway!

Two winners: First place (US & Canada) wins a signed book and some swag. Second place (US only) is a Faking Normal swag pack. Ends 12 AM March 11. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PS If you don't want to chance the Rafflecopter, you CAN order a signed copy of Faking Normal directly from Parnassus. You can do that here. They have quite the stock of signed books to chose from AND they have a special club called their Young Adult First Editions Club which gets you six signed ya books every year.