Austin Teen Book Festival Rocks!

I attended the Austin Teen Book Festival in Austin, Texas, with my seventeen-year old daughter Shelby. We met almost all the authors and interviewed Christina Mandelski, Gabrielle Zevin, Scott Westerfeld, Tera Lynn Childs, Sophie Jordan, and Heather Brewer.

Scott Westerfeld delivered the keynote address to a jam-packed house of tweens, teens, and ya book lovers. Every session we attended was packed, and the teen readers were enraptured. It was fantastic to see so many teens who are inspired by these authors and reading.

I saw a group of teen boys carrying stacks of books they just purchased from the event center. Several of them were trying to read the books as they walked. They weren't watching the sidewalk or where they were going, they were so "into" the printed word.

I hope you like these photos of our experience.

Scott Westerfeld addresses the teen/tween/reading audience:

Scott Westerfeld talks about his book Leviathan

The ya authors listen to Westerfeld's keynote speech:

A dance troupe from Austin performs as zombies to Michael Jackson's "Thriller"

Gabrielle Zevin with me. Her book All These Things I've Done in hand!

Shelby with Christina Mandelski (The Sweetest Thing) and guess what? Christina really is "the sweetest thing!

Scott Westerfeld poses for Shelby

Heather Brewer (Vladimir Tod books) talks to author friends

David Levithan (Will Grayson Will Grayson) and others listen to Westerfeld

Two teen readers outside the events center during lunch. No cell phone? No I-phone? No Ipad? No Kindle? No tablet? Can you dig it?