#NTTBF15 RECAP

Yes, I went to NTTBF15. 

And yes, it was pretty much a last minute decision.

And HELL YES, IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST TIMES OF MY LIFE!

So, some of you might have seen my post last week describing what I like to call as my book blues. You see, February was off to a great start for me....I had my books and I was loving a lot of them. I had started this fling with someone ya'll might remember me referring to as Book Boy. I was healthy. 

Well, that all took a nosedive near the end of February, which left me feeling pretty crappy just about life in general. For more of the dirty details, you can read about my book blues or maybe how things have been since that post, tomorrow in my weekly (which will be a couple of weeks, sorry!) recap. 

I was desperate to get back to being Becca. Feeling better mentally, physically, emotionally, and bookish-ly (?) was something that needed to happen, because I hated feeling the way I did for so long. That's not me. So I made the last minute decision to get the heck out of Oklahoma, and drive south for the weekend. A big surprise for me was that my best friend decided last minute that she wanted to accompany me on said getaway, which I was all for since we have grown a little apart in the last year or so. 

Within 24 hours, we booked a hotel, packed, gassed up the car, and got to driving, which was an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE. We should've left way sooner, but we ended up getting out of OKC a little before one on last Friday, which put us right in the middle of Dallas rush hour traffic. JOY! Not.

We finally managed to get to our hotel, and by that time, we were exhausted, cranky, and HANGRY. We were supposed to meet up with some other bloggers who were going to an A.G. Howard signing at a local B&N and then dinner afterward, but after looking at Google Maps and it telling me that we wouldn't get there until an hour after the signing started because of....you guessed it....trafffic, we decided to venture out on our own in search of food.

We ended up at a local Chili's, which is something I never seem to go eat while up in OKC, so I was kinda surprised when we walked in and saw that they had these little tv thingies that sit on every single table. You can play games, and order, and pay! ALL FROM A TABLET! Wow, I sound like I live such a sheltered life, but I'd never seen that before! HA! Then, we had noticed that the manager kept looking at us funny, but I really didn't think too much of it until he came up to our table and kind of just stood there, staring. I thought maybe he was going to ask how our food was, but nope. Not a word. So I was freaked out, and said something. I don't even remember what I asked him, but he replied by asking us if we ever watch The Big Bang Theory, which I don't regularly but have seen a few episodes. My friend, Christina does though, and so he said, 'well, don't you think she looks like Penny?', and pointed at me. I have never gotten such a cool compliment in my entire life. I'm still beaming from it, even though I totes don't think I look anything like her. It must be the hair. LOL. 

After we ate, we went and got a bottle of wine to take back to our room. We ended up staying up practically the whole night, talking about old times and laughing our booties off! It was such a great time, catching up with one of the people that has been around in my life for so long, even though life has gotten in the way of our hanging out lately. I've missed our little adventures, and it felt amazing to embark on a new one! AND A BOOKISH ONE AT THAT!

Since we stayed up so late, we ended up sleeping way into the morning and missing most of the panels, which wasn't a big deal to me, because I wasn't sure if my mostly non-bookish friend would be into sitting through a bunch of panels anyways. By the time we found our way over to the Irving Convention Center, the place was insane! The parking garage was packed, and there were buses lined up as far as you could see on a side street! We meandered inside the building, and found the book store, which was also packed, and mostly picked over. I picked up a signed copy of The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson (who I sadly didn't get to meet) and Unspoken. Ironically enough, Sarah Rees Brennan turned out to be standing in line in front of us, but I had no idea because I didn't know what she looked like. Christina kept trying to tell me that was her, but I thought she was joking around (she likes to do that to me). Turns out, it was her! Christina kept trying to get me to ask her to personalize my book, but I was a chicken. We made small talk the entire time, but I was too chicken to ask her. 

But my next author sighting was a pretty big one. STEPHANIE PERKINS WAS STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. I told Christina, and she proceeded to talk me into going to ask for a picture. It took her five minutes to get me to work up the nerve. I don't even remember what I said to her, because I was so nervous, and I remember my hands shaking really bad, but it was amazing. Luckily, she's coming to OKC at the end of the month, so I'll have a chance at redeeming myself at my conversation skills!

Me & Stephanie Perkins! AH!

Shortly after, I ran into a few familiar faces! Mariah, Sara, Mary, and Katie!!! We only managed a few pictures, because Mary & Katie were working the fest, and Mariah, Sara, & I just gabbed about books before we all were rushed into the signing area! I also ran into Xander, who is an absolute sweetheart, and Jess, who is also the sweetest! I know I saw many other bloggers too, but at the time, I didn't realize it, because I didn't know they were going to be there and/or didn't recognize them, because pretty much everyone looks different when you come face to face with them!

Mariah, Sara, Mary, & Me

Xander & I

Very blurry picture of Sara, Me, & Katie!

And then there were the authors! I wasn't able to get pictures with every one of them, because it was so so so so so incredibly busy, but I was lucky enough to snag the few I did below! The authors were all so fabulous and sweet, but I think the two interactions during the signing that stood out the most to me were the ones with Sherry Thomas & Lindsay Cummings, who both recognized me from my totes and proceeded to gush over them. I was there to fangirl over them, and then they start to over me?! To say I was in shock was an understatement. It brought tears to my eyes and made me blush so hardcore. And not only with them. Any time someone mentioned them, I was at a loss for words. It's already amazing when someone compliments on twitter or my blog, but when it happens in person like that? The feeling is indescribable and priceless!

Me & A.G. Howard!

Lindsay Cummings and I!

Me & JENNY HAN! AHHHHH!

JULIE KAGAWA & ME!

LEIGH BARDUGO & I! AHHHH! (This was my second time meeting her!) 

The ONLY picture I managed to snag of Christina & I, with SARAH REES BRENNAN! And yes, I finally worked up the courage to ask her to personalize my book, but she remembered me from the line! :)

And then before we knew it, the festival was over! It went by way too quickly! I had so many great interactions with other bloggers and authors! I can't even begin to describe them. I'm so incredibly blessed to be able to say that I went to this, have the friends that I have, and to have met them all in person too. I cannot wait to do it again. I know this was a long post, and somewhat rambly, but I tried to keep everything to a minimum. There was so much more that happened! But here is my signing haul & swag that I managed to grab...

Which I realize now is extremely hard to see!

Were you at NTTBF15? Planning on going next year? (YOU SHOULD!) Let's discuss!!