In My Mailbox (34): ALA & Book Apps Edition

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. IMM is where we get to share what books we received for review, bought, borrowed, or were gifted in the past week. For more information, visit her IMM info page here.

IN THE MAIL:

I was thrilled when this Gorgon package arrived late last week as part of the Melina Around the World Challenge! For my review and details click the linked title below :).

The Gorgon in the Gully by Melina Marchetta (Goodreads)

Thanks and hugs to Shellee Roberts for sending me a bookplate and these goodies!

International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams (Goodreads | Amazon)


WON:

I won this book app in a drawing at ALAMW, thanks to Amanda and her team!

The Survivors by Amanda Havard - book app! (Goodreads | iTunes | Amazon)


BOUGHT:

I couldn't resist buying the Chopsticks book app, I'm a couple of chapters in and I've had fun exploring it... I actually bought Shine at ALAMW so Lauren Myracle would sign it for me :).

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony - book app! (Goodreads | iTunes | Amazon)
Shine by Lauren Myracle (Goodreads | Amazon)


MY TOP 10 16 OF ALA MIDWINTER:

There were a LOT of freak'n awesome titles at ALAMW12 (recap here)... but here are the ones I'm most excited to read. It was so hard to chose ones for this stack. I finally had to stop adding or switching ones out! There's a little of everything here: dystopian, contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, historical fiction, romance, and a retelling!

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (Goodreads)
The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour (Goodreads)
Rock On by Denise Vega (Goodreads)
Partials by Dan Wells (Goodreads)
Croak by Gina Damico (Goodreads)
Illuminate by Aimee Agresti (Goodreads)
The List by Vivian Siobhan (Goodreads)
Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf (Goodreads)
Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers (Goodreads)
Struck by Jennifer Bosworth (Goodreads)
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin (Goodreads)
Wrecked by Anna Davies (Goodreads)
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (Goodreads)
Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone  by Kat Rosenfield (Goodreads)
Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama (Goodreads)
The Raft by S.A. Bodeen (Goodreads)

To say that I've had an amazing past few weeks of books is an understatement! I'm overwhelmed, excited, and struggle with what to read next. I'm sooo excited to dive into the book apps too! 

What's in your mailbox this week?!

Recap: ALA Midwinter 2012

Last weekend, I was fortunate to be able to attend ALA Midwinter 2012 in Dallas, TX! Stacy from Girls in the Stacks generously let me stay in her home, along with Katie of Mundie Moms. Really, I can't thank Stacy and her family enough! We had such a fun weekend together.

#ALAMW12 was... awesome, fun, and overwhelming! I mean, with all the BOOKS and publishers, beautiful displays, and everything... Friday evening, opening day, was a sensory overload. After just a couple of hours I somehow managed to leave with an overflowing bag of books. Then we went to the blogger/author dinner at Campisi's which was organized by Jen Bigheart at I Read Banned Books and the TX bloggers. It was crazy fun, 80+ bloggers/authors attended! Below is a picture taken at the dinner by Jen Bigheart.

Katie, Andye & Amy @ReadingTeen, Stacy, Yara @OnceUponaTwilight, Nancy, and me

Saturday was a full day visiting all the exhibits and hanging out with fellow book bloggers! We couldn't resist posing for a photo with the Muppets :). Unfortunately, even though we had the guy take something like 5+ pictures... all of them turned out blurry!

Stacy & Nancy @GirlsintheStacks, Me, Katie @MundieMoms, and Ginger @GReadsBooks

Another highlight from Saturday was chatting with THE Katherine Tegen, of the Harper Collins imprint Katherine Tegen Books (think Divergent, and Love & Leftovers)! Yes, she exists, and is so nice! We all geeked out and had to take turns getting a picture with her... here's mine:

The fabulous Katherine Tegen... and me. 

John Green @ Dallas Library

Sunday was pretty much a day of John Green, and also the YA Romance Panel. Stacy and I went to see Green's social media presentation in the morning, and also his talk about banned books at the Dallas Library that night. He is full of awesomesauce. I had him sign my copy of Paper Towns and personalize my signed copy of The Fault in Our Stars (BTW, mine has a red J squiggle). I wanted a picture with him but they weren't allowed... I was a little disappointed but I understood, if he took pictures with everyone the line would have been crazy long... It was really cool to see so many teenage nerdfighters at the library's public event. They were sooooooo excited to be there and to see him. 

Seriously, ALAMW12 was such a fun weekend! I was so excited to meet blogger/twitter peeps... like Melina @ Reading Vacation, HD @ Reading Writing Breathing, Lauren @ 365 Days of Reading, Jess @ Gone with the Words, Lindsi @ Books, Sweets, and other Treats, Kate @ Exlibris and many more (sorry, I just can't list everyone here)! I also met some great authors, and just to name a few: Lauren Myracle, Sophie Jordan, Mandy Hubbard, and Tom Angleberger!

Me, Lauren @ 365 Days of Reading, and Katie @Katie's Book Blog

I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to attend this conference. I shipped 4 (yes four) book boxes home via media mail and I hope they arrive soon! It will seriously be like Christmas morning :). I'm exhausted, but I'm already looking forward to the next event, when we can all meet up again (BEA anyone?).