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YA or Bust Book Event Recap: Stephanie Perkins, Gayle Forman, and Nina LaCour

4/27/2012

21 Comments

 
Minard, LaCour, Perkins, and Forman
Anna Minard (The Stranger), Nina LaCour, Stephanie Perkins, and Gayle Forman
YA or Bust poster
Welcome poster outside the library. (the glare was from the industrial lighting, sorry!)
This evening, I had the pleasure of attending the last stop of the YA or Bust! author tour across the lake at Roosevelt High School.  Having gone to several crowded author events in the past, I showed up an hour early.  The benefit of doing something so awkward is that I got to sit in the front row but the downside is that a few of us were hanging around while the janitor vacuumed the library and while the event was set up. But really, at this point I know to just embrace my awkward self and move on. Plus I met some adorable nerdfighters who were also there early. 

The authors on the YA or Bust! tour are Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door), Gayle Forman (If I Stay, Where She Went) and Nina LaCour (Hold Still, The Disenchantments). Their camaraderie was evident from the minute they walked up to the table, quickly transitioning from the seats to sitting on top of the tables so they could see and interact more with the audience. The discussion was moderated by Anna Minard from The Stranger. I had a bit of a laugh over the signage outside the school. Here it is:
Sign 1
Fine.
Sign 2
Fine.
Sign 3
Fine.
Sign 4
Kind of Funny.
The exclamation point, period, capitalization and commas in the signs prove that they are available for use, but I think the writer got to the last one and tried to fit it all in. I like to read it like this: "Gayle Forman, Stephanie Perkins, and Nina LaCour talking with the strangers. Anna Minard. Event is FREE!" Technically, we ARE all strangers and I quite like Anna Minard just getting one random statement of her name, but this paragraph is neither here nor there and I'll stop boring you to death with the lame things that entertain me.

Minard was a rather entertaining moderator, and it was clear she is herself a huge YA fan. As she introduced each author, she included an anecdotal story about an experience she'd had with one of their books. (e.g. She started reading an ARC of Hold Still after work and forgot to drive home.) Her first question right off the bat was to ask Gayle Forman whether she owned stock in Kleenex tissues, which got a laugh from the audience.  Surprisingly, Forman said that If I Stay was actually a joy to write and she found Where She Went to be a much harder experience. Later in the evening, when asked how she felt about writing a sequel to If I Stay that was essentially a spoiler for the first book, Forman said that generally, sequels suck. She never intended to write a sequel but she kept waking up at four in the morning. Her characters seemed to be saying, "think about where you left us" and that was an exercise she wasn't entirely prepared to partake in. Forman spoke a bit about what it is like to be in Adam's head--what it feels like to experience grief one step removed from tragedy, and what it is like to feel like you have no right to the grief you are feeling. I loved that. She also said that she found lyric-writing to be one of the hardest things about writing WSW.

Forman mentioned a blog, The Page 69 Test, wherein author's read and discuss page 69 of one of their novels. All three authors then did so, and here is what they had to say: 
      
      
When asked about "that" article from the Wall Street Journal about darkness in young adult literature, the authors were of the opinion that the article was meant to elicit outrage and opinion and it did its job. LaCour spoke eloquently about the importance of including all of these "dark" bits--suicide, drug use, death, etc.-- because it would be dishonest to exclude these real-life occurrences from books.

To lighten the mood, Minard asked Perkins about fashion. Perkins admitted that she sees Lola as a braver version of herself and then somehow the topic changed quickly to The Babysitter's Club (a transition I NEVER have a problem with). In Perkins' opinion, Claudia is the best character, Stacey comes second, and basically everyone else sucks. Aaaaand scene. Everyone was laughing because really, does ANYONE have something amazing to say about Mallory? Yeah, I thought not. Forman jokingly said she was far too sophisticated to read the BSC books--she was reading Jackie Collins instead.

Nina LaCour, when prompted, spoke about how much she enjoys road trips and how they are such a great vehicle (heh) to indicate transition. (going towards the future, leaving everything from the past in the rear-view mirror) She said that she only wants to do fun research for her books so she was happy to do the compulsory road trip and research on girl rock groups for The Disenchantments. LaCour talked about the importance of writing groups and having people to support you, read your work, and the importance of doing those things for others. Forman advocated for time and education to develop your writing skills and Perkins spoke about reading, reading, reading and actually stopping when you find a scene you like or when feel yourself experiencing some emotion. At that point, go back and see how the author brought you there, step by step. I'm no writer but I found this bit of advice interesting. It's always funny to me when I am just moseying along in a book and then I feel outright disgust or elation in one sentence. 
Nina LaCour, Stephanie Perkins, and Gayle Forman
LaCour, Perkins, and Forman.
An interesting fact (to me, anyway) is that Stephanie Perkins worked on Lola and the Boy Next Door for a decade. Anna came afterward and, though she admits it sounds corny, was based on a dream she had of being in a large room with a French boy who had an English accent. Perkins admitted that she's more of an Anglophile but that she searched for a setting that would work for her purposes and that ended up being Paris. She said she did a ton of research because she was afraid of messing something up and that after she got a book deal, she went to France for a month. She'd spent so much time writing about it that it felt like she'd invented this world--she said it felt like she was going to her own Narnia. Also, did you all know that Isla from Perkins' upcoming Isla and the Happily Ever After was a minor character in Anna? I didn't realize that. She revealed that Isla will be set at the same school as Anna and that it will involve Isla's senior year of high school. 

Here are a few lightning round questions they answered: 

"What scene from your own book is your favorite?"
Forman: The bridge scene in Where She Went and the checkers scene in If I Stay
LaCour: The bike scene in The Disenchantments (note: I can't read my notes to make this more specific)
Perkins: The Luxembourg Gardens scene in Anna and the Thanksgiving bed scenes in Lola.

"Which YA book do you wish you'd written?"
Forman: Jellicoe Road
LaCour: Before I Die
Perkins: Harry Potter

"What advice would you give to 16-year old you?"
Forman: Wear more sunscreen. Also, she talked about how travel is transformative and that she'd give more advice to 15-year old her to travel more. (She ended up spending her 16th year studying in England after a push from her father)
LaCour: Be more adventurous.  
Perkins: "I'd remind myself that my dad comes home for lunch."  


After the event, I met Sarah and her mother Sandra, both from Clear Eyes, Full Shelves, and Mindi Scott, author of Freefall and the upcoming Live Through This. I am always so excited to meet fellow readers, bloggers, authors, and book lovers. I'm only sorry I don't have a picture to share. *sigh* Maybe next time? There are some great YA events coming up. Get ready for some more recaps! 

Have you been to any author events lately? 
Readventurer F Signature
21 Comments
VeganYANerds link
4/26/2012 06:32:37 pm

Thanks so much for recapping this event for us, Flannery! It sounds fantastic and I'm about to go back and watch the videos, thanks for sharing those with us.

Also, I had a giggle at the sign outside the school!

Reply
Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/27/2012 03:08:42 am

I'm glad there other people who get a kick out of "when punctuation goes wrong." I'm sure there are probably a lot of us hiding in the blogging and reader worlds.

Reply
Maggie, Young Adult Anonymous link
4/26/2012 07:17:29 pm

Flann, I'm so jealous. I would totally go to an event an hour early and stare creepily at the janitor with you!

The sign reminds me of Arrested Development when the British guy is trying to give Michael his international phone number. :)

And thank you for all the vids!!

Reply
Vinaya link
4/26/2012 07:20:09 pm

I think you mean Isla and The Happily Ever After.

Also, posts like this always make me so jealous. I wish I'd been there. I wish authors came to sign books and tell fun stories in my country. I wish I could hang out with you at a book event. I am just a big bucket of wishes today!

Reply
Reynje
4/26/2012 07:44:33 pm

Brilliant post, Flannery! I love hearing authors talk about their work. I haven't read any of Nina LaCour's yet, but they're on my TBR.

I've been on one author event and I was so awkward! I hid in the travel guide section :)

Reply
Maree link
4/26/2012 08:02:04 pm

Hey Flannery. Great post. I really need to read this books. Gosh, I have so many on my to-read list. I've been to one author event where I met my favourite author, but seeing as I was only 13 I can't really give to much more inofrmation haha. I'm actually going to an event at my library on May 26, but I've never read any of the books or heard of any of the authors speaking which makes me feel bad, but the topics sounded so fun! (and it's free) I'm really looking forward to the talks on women and writing mystery and what the authors would have with them if marooned on a desert island. There is also a debate on whether there is anything better than reading. Plus, there aren't that many events to go to near me so I'll take what I can get :D

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Catie (The Readventurer) link
4/26/2012 08:48:03 pm

Fantastic and hilarious coverage of this event, Flannery! I love all the little details that made you laugh. I hope I can be this brave at the one I'm going to! I'll probably be with Reynje, hiding out in the travel guide section.

Reply
Sarah (Clear Eyes, Full Shelves) link
4/27/2012 03:10:42 am

Catie: My mom was so PSYCHED to meet Flannery because she blogs with you! It was toooooooo funny.

Reply
Catie (The Readventurer) link
4/27/2012 07:23:21 am

Haha, that IS too funny! Yesterday when I saw your post that Sandra would be coming too I was emailing Flannery with the news immediately and telling her to say hi to you two for me. Hahaha.

Jasprit link
4/26/2012 09:09:57 pm

Great post Flann, I'm probably going to sound like a tape on repeat! But it's so not fair that we don't get awesome events like this! And totally like you I would have been one of those people to arrive there really early and get the best seats possible, I'm glad you did as the videos and pictures are proper clear! I also can't believe it took that long for Perkins to write Lola! Thanks so much for the details on this event sounds like you had a fun time! I will have to experience these event vicariously through you! :)

Reply
Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
4/26/2012 09:29:28 pm

I like that videos show the authors' personalities. LaCour is so shy! I need to check out her books.

Reply
Noelle (Young Adult Anonymous) link
4/26/2012 09:31:32 pm

First of all, I'm so impressed at your level of recall/detail Flannery! I've tried to take notes before at an event and then looked afterwards and I had written "this is awesome" and "buttons--so cool." I still can't remember why buttons are cool.

I would have loved to go to this tour--I've read 5 out of 6 of the books! Thanks for sharing and continually cracking my shit up.

Reply
Gellie
4/26/2012 11:45:14 pm

I LOVE PERKINS AND FORMAN. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM AND THEIR WORK. I WISH I COULD HAVE GONE THERE BUT NO. I HAVE TO LIFE A HEMISPHERE AWAY.

Please excuse my capitals.

I haven't heard from the other author yet but after this I'll be sure to check out her works!

Reply
April Books & Wine link
4/26/2012 11:59:29 pm

Ha ha, that last sign IS hilarious.

Also? That tour looks like it's fun. I am so jealous that it didn't make an east coast stop.

Also? I am really pumped that Isla will take us back to Paris. I cannot wait.

Great write up, Flannery!

Reply
Lucy link
4/27/2012 01:35:39 am

So glad you were able to go to the YA or Bust event, Flannery, and share such a great recap. I was sick and unable to attend the LA tour-stop but now I feel like I was there! When I attend these events I'm so bad at taking notes and just try to go off of memory so I really appreciate the level of detail in your recap. And the videos of the authors too are a nice touch. The favorite scenes the authors called out are some of my favorites too. With that line-up of authors I would have gotten there an hour early too - the sign outside the hs also made me giggle.

Reply
Kelly Jensen link
4/27/2012 03:20:16 am

Great recap -- and the sign is hilarious.

Reply
Missie, The Unread Reader link
4/27/2012 03:22:26 am

OMG! Gayle! I would have died!!! Thanks for sharing the amazing pictures and tidbits. Those gals sound awesome.

Reply
Jo [Wear the Old Coat] link
4/27/2012 07:15:51 am

Flann, I adore you.
This post was excellent. I'm such a loser when it comes to recaps.... I just get so starstruck and then drop my pens and notebooks and LOSE MY SHIZZ.
What a brilliant recap. I'm incredibly jealous.

Also... I'm really jealous you got to meet Sarah and her mum. No fair. I would kill to hang out with you guys.
*pouts*

Reply
Rachel B
4/27/2012 11:36:31 pm

What a great write up Flannery! I attended the YA or Bust event in my area and really enjoyed it too. These three ladies were very entertaining. Marie Lu moderated our event and was fab. I loved how you included video of their readings. Confession: I also awkwardly show up to these events way early. :)

Reply
Heidi link
4/28/2012 04:26:02 am

Flannery, this was a fantastic recap of what sounds like a fantastic event! I had never heard of the Page 69 Test before, but I love the concept, and the questions/answers were all fantastic. I'm so happy for you to have gotten to see these authors, I've only seen Gayle Forman before, but she was wonderful and lovely, and I'm sure LaCour and Perkins were as well!

Reply
Chachic link
4/28/2012 02:54:20 pm

This was such a great recap, Flann. Thanks for sharing! I'll go back later to check out the videos. If I ever got to attend an event like this, I'll probably go an hour early too. I haven't read Nina LaCour's books but this makes me more curious about them, will keep them in mind the next time I'm thinking of picking up a contemporary YA novel. I remember Isla from Anna and it's good to know that her third book will be set in the same place. Looking forward to reading that!

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