Last year when I went to the Book Expo, the national conference for bookselling, I had goals. I intended, by hook or by crook, to get my new baby, the Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) of Prisoners in the Palace, into the hands of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. After all, she’s sort of royal, she loves Victoria (even wrote a book about her) and best of all was signing books at the Book Expo! So my friend Sari and I arrived at 7:00 to get our tickets for the signing (the Book Expo has tickets for the big names, everybody else you just wait in line). And I did it – she couldn’t have been more gracious. She had me sign it and wrote something nice in the children’s book she was promoting. And on my way out of the line…. I was interviewed by the Today show (much to my aunt Susie’s excitement).

I found YA bloggers whereever I looked and sent so much traffic to my publicist at the Chronicle booth that they noticed a drop off the next day. I had a brief discussion with Gerry Trudeau (my hero!) about the importance of a good signature. Had my picture taken with Elvis and Dr. Ruth!

This year it wasn’t quite as exciting. I didn’t have any celebrities to stalk. I picked up the ARC for my new book, Promise the Night — but they aren’t really promoting it yet because it’s late fall and today was all about the spring line. I had a great meeting with my editor about book #3 (hooray). Wandered around alone (all my writerly friends had kid commitments yesterday) and met Dava Sobel and MIchael Scott (the authoer of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series — my daughter’s favorite).  I considered waiting around to meet Tyra Banks but didn’t want to seem to be supporting a book called “Modelland.” Seriously thought of waiting to meet Jeanne Birdsall who writes the lovely Penderwick novels. And ultimately decided to come home.  What a difference a year makes! (I did get my annual very cool Chronicle books tote bag though!)