Wordstock 2013

So, about a month or so ago, I got a text from my friend and fellow writer, Ashley, telling me all about this book festival in Portland, Wordstock. Of course, I was really excited to begin with; but when I found out that Maggie Steifvater and Cinda Williams Chima were going to be there, I knew the plan was set. The Scorpio Races and the Heir Series are some of my favorite modern books, and actually getting to meet the authors was too rare an opportunity to pass up.

The plan was that I would meet up with my friends, Ashley and Rachael, at my church after mass on Saturday, and we would head to Portland from there. Simple, right?

Well, the night before the Wordstock trip I decided to stay up until midnight, writing after I got home from a friend's house. Sleep is pretty overrated after all, right? I'm young, and I can handle missing an hour.

My trip started off with me waking up, bleary eyed, and realizing that was I running late for mass...by about an hour.  Even if I jumped out of bed and sped to the church I wouldn't make it on time. However, if I hurried up, then I could be there at the end of mass, so problem solved. Therefore, I skipped breakfast/coffee, threw on some makeup and an outfit I'd laid out the night before (the one smart thing I did before going to sleep), and was just about to head out the door when I realized I didn't have any directions to the Oregon Convention Center (nothing like planning ahead, right?). So back to my room it was, and I quickly jotted down some directions from Google maps on a piece of paper. Then I put some gas in my car and made it to the church about five minutes later than I meant to; but that's okay, because I found out the mass was longer than usual that morning. Besides giving Ashley a panic attack (she thought something terrible happened when I didn't show up on time), everything was going great.

After that, things went pretty smoothly. We drove in my lean, green, speed machine (my affectionate, yet sarcastic title for my 1999 Saturn) all the way to Portland, with the radio blaring as loud as it could without completely drowning our voices. By the time we'd parked in the Convention Center's parking garage, my excitement was reaching full capacity.

At first, in my naïve state of mind, I thought I could carry all the loot I'd be getting from the different publishers/vendors in my arms...ha! After no more than half an hour, I realized I couldn't possibly do without one of the big red tote bags being sold by the entrance. So many publishers, editors and distributors! My stack of papers, business cards, catalogues and whatnot made my shoulder hurt after a while.

 



But even if you're not a writer, there is still plenty for you to do and see. Many publishing houses in the Northwest had a selection of their books for sale, and authors are coming and going all day long. If you want to attend the event next year, check out the list of guest authors beforehand, and my guess is that you'll find at least one you know. And, to my surprise, there were even events for the children. I think I counted about thirteen very realistic Star Wars cosplayers walking around the festival, complete with Chewbacca, Han Solo, Princess Lea, Darth Vader and Boba Fett (forgive me if I spelled his name wrong...I'm a nerd-in-training, ha ha).

Finally, about 2pm, my friends and I found a nice little spot in the corner of a coffee shop next to the exhibit hall, and we settled down to kill time with our drinks. We were trying to decide what to do about dinner when...guess who walked into the shop. Cinda Williams Chima! She ordered something, and I had the crazy idea that it might be fun to ask her if she wanted to sit with us. I wasn't freaking out fan-girling...yet...but the idea wouldn't quite let go. It was just coffee. She had no obligation to sit with us, but it might be fun if she was willing.

While Ashley and I were deliberating the idea, Rachael was an angel and asked for us. And...Cinda said yes! For an hour and a half, all four of us sat and talked about pretty much everything to do with the writing life and a little bit more. Before we went out separate ways, she was nice enough to let me take a picture with us in it, so I will always have photographic evidence that this really did happen, haha. After she left, Ashley and I just looked at each other and...yeah...then we fan-girled.

Eventually, we decided to walk two blocks to Red Robin for dinner, and we made it back just in time to be first in line for the book signing. Ashley and I had both bought a copy of Dream Thieves and Enchanter Heir earlier that day (I actually lucked out and got the last copy of Enchanter Heir), and we were ready to have them signed by their respective authors. But come to find out, they were sitting on a panel first, so there would be an hour long wait before the signing actually took place. That was all right. We welcomed the chance to sit and rest our feet near the signing table while we waited. There was a yoga and video game convention going on at the same time, so there was no lack of things to see.

However, just as our hour long wait finished up, a lady wearing a Wordstock badge walked out of the exhibit hall, gathered up all the signing things and walked straight back inside. I quickly ran over to the two women guarding the original table only to find out that the book signing had been moved at the last minute. So, we entered the hall...and found a looooong line of people waiting for their chance to meet the different authors. We ended up being the last to have our books signed by Maggie and Cinda, but it was worth the wait.

Overall, it was an awesome day. As I drove my speed machine home, trying hard not to slow down traffic, I couldn't help thinking about how blessed I was to be given the chance to enjoy this adventure. I didn't know I would be writing a blog post this time, so there aren't many pictures; but next year I will make sure it's recorded properly. Wordstock 2014 had better save a spot for me, because I'm going to be a regular from now on. *Two thumbs way, way up*