On Meeting my Agent, Rob Thomas (Of Veronica Mars), and Blogging Friends

In September, I made the drive up to Dallas to meet my agent, Marietta Zacker, IN PERSON! She was a speaker at DFW's SCBWI conference, so I met up with her the day before for lunch and, of course, ice cream! She's smart, she's kind, and she's hysterical! We had a GREAT time, just like old friends.

Aren't we cute?! I'm one blessed gal, that's for sure. *hugs agent*

And last weekend I went to the Austin Teen Book Festival! What an amazing event, headed up by the one and only Jen Bigheart. She asked me to be one of the event photographers this year, so I came out of retirement, dusted off my camera and lenses (I really did have them professionally cleaned), and road tripped it out there with Maria. While I had a great time, I'm officially thankful I'm not in the photography biz anymore.

One of the highlights of the weekend was meeting Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas! He's so genuinely nice too!

I was also blown away by Sarah Dessen. I've only read two of her books, but after meeting her and listening to her on her panel, I'm a fan for life. She's just an amazing person. Sadly, I don't have a picture of us. Sigh.

But I do have pictures with the girls! I finally got to meet Julie Murphy in person!

She's so sweet, y'all. And one of the funniest people I've ever met. Watch for her book, Side Effects May Vary, coming from Balzer+Bray in March! 

And I finally met all of the Girls in the Stacks! I had so much fun rooming with them!

L-R: Top-Maria, me, Stephanie Pellegrin; Bottom-Shannan and Stacy from GITS, and Julie.

I VOLUNTEER!

L-R: Top-Katie from Mundie Moms, Stacy, Nancy also from GITS; Bottom-Stephanie, me.
(behind the camera is the super sweet and talented Magan Blasig of Rather Be Reading)

I had so much fun working behind the scenes and helping the Fierce Reads tour at their signing table. It felt like a stepping stone from attending spectator, to worker bee, to one day, however hard to believe right now, an author sitting on panels and signing books. So excited to start my debut year in just a couple months! Eeeek!

What have YOU been up to this summer? Go to any conferences or book festivals? Meet any blogging friends?

(Veronica) Mars Monday

I will preface this post with a couple notes for those of you that haven't watched Veronica Mars:

1 - you should

2 - you will love it even though it will leave you with a gigantic hole

3 - if you plan to watch, don't read the rest of this post, for it will spoil everything


Okay, now that the unfortunates have left the room, let's get down to business.

WHY THE BLEEP DID THEY CANCEL THIS SHOW??  And not only that, but why was it canceled WHERE it was canceled??  There is zero closure.  Of all the open wounds from all the shows in all the world...

Some things I love about VM:

• Veronica herself--she's quick-witted, sassy, adorable, and smarter than your border collie.  She's got quite the flair for picking up on the clues that your average teen girl dealing with the drama of her own love life wouldn't, and gets to the truth of every case she takes on.  And when she gets in a jam, she doesn't instantly know martial arts, she gets her butt kicked.  She's also very quotable: Talking to her friend Wallace, she rests her chin on her hand and ponders him.  "What?" he asks.  "Oh, I'm just trying to figure out which Gilmore Girl you are."  LOVE it.  Do I want to be more like her?  You bet I do--body structure (I can dream, right?), hair (I've already started styling mine in season 3 fashion... don't judge me), charm, wit.  The boys sure like her! Which brings me to...

• Logan Echolls--for much of Season 1, he was a bad word.  I didn't even think he was attractive (or in the running for boyfriend material) because he was such a jerk!  Then whammo... something changed.  He got protective of Veronica.  We got to see the softer side--kudos to Jason Dohring for the heartbreaking scene delivery; he's got it down.  When Logan falls in love, he falls hard.  You can see everything he feels through his eyes, which just melts the viewer. MELTS I tell you. 

• Keith Mars--Veronica's dad.  What a skit he is.  He looks like just the average dad next door, but not only is he brilliant, he's understatedly hilarious. Great casting job pairing up these two--the father/daughter chemistry is spot on.  

Let's talk about the last episode.  Logan has beat the crap out of Piz (though later it's discovered that Piz had nothing to do with that video leak) and Veronica wants Logan out of her life (GASP!).  But when Logan happens to be around when Veronica is publicly blasted by a secret society idiot, does he stand back and watch? NO. He beats the crap out of him too.  I think Veronica's smile at this is an indication that they'll be together in the long run.  Veronica's dad is running for Sheriff against the other PI in town who has no problem hanging Keith's dirty laundry out for all to see.  In the last minute of the show, Veronica awakes to find the front page of the newspaper featuring the trouble her dad is in, she goes to vote for him in the special election, then walks out into the rain. The End. 

Excuse me, but how is this an end?  It just leaves a whole lot of questions.  A big gaping hole in my heart that must be filled with more Logan/Veronica and I need to know that her dad won't continue to be wronged by the town.  

Here is how I've decided to pretend the last scene really played out: 

Not only do they show Veronica voting for her dad, but they also show many other townspeople voting for him too, so we know he will win and all will be well.  And who else is there voting? None other than Logan Echolls.  He opens the door for Veronica and they share a knowing smile as well as an umbrella, and walk down the sidewalk arm in arm.