Sunday, March 15, 2009

Book Heaven on Earth!

I. AM. SO. EXCITED!!

I have been drooling over the upcoming Christian Book Expo 2009, which is happening just up the road in Dallas this next weekend, March 19-22. But this week is spring break for my kids, and there's the cost of the hotel, and I just didn't think it was realistic that I would be able to go.

But God and my man are full of surprises, and yesterday afternoon I made my reservations.

I then sat there and stared in amazement at the list of OVER 200 AUTHORS that are going to be at this event! Book signings, workshops, readings, panel discussions - it almost makes me twitch just thinking about it! I'll get to meet some of the authors I've featured here, including those who are fairly new to the publishing world (or at least new to me) as well as the well-established icons of the writing and publishing world.

Not that I would name-drop or anything (ahem!), but I'll be hanging out with Nancy Rue, Lysa TerKeurst, Mary Connealy, M. L. Tyndall, Colleen Coble, Terri Blackstock, Tracie Peterson, Kim Vogel Sawyer, Jennifer Rothschild, Deeanne Gist, Kathy Herman, Beth Wiseman, and many, many more! (Yeah, male authors will be there as well. You may have heard of them - some guys named Randy Alcorn, Max Lucado, Davis Bunn, Henry Blackaby, Lee Strobel, Stephen Arterburn, Robert Liparulo . . . .)

Oh, my. Is that a shade of green I'm seeing through your screen?!

(I'm wondering if I should take some of these just in case it gets too exciting or there's just not enough time for such mundane activities!)

Surely there will be some goodies to bring home for a giveaway or two! Many of the publishers are advertising discounts as well as some freebies. And yes, I'm taking my camera! (And my minivan, which will hold lots of books!)

And at the end of each day, I'll have to stagger back to the all-to-myself hotel room. Sigh.

Did I mention that I can't wait?!


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18 comments:

A Stone Gatherer said...

Oh Linda what fun!!! How exciting! I would even like to be there!! Can't wait to hear all about it!

Mel said...

Linda I am very green LOL...it sounds like just the place for you!! I cannot wait to hear all about it. I saw your list and saw that Max Lucado would be there, he is one of my all time favorites.

Have a wonderful blessed amazing trip.

Unknown said...

Yes - you did see me turn green with envy!! :-)

I'm so excited for you!!! I can't wait to hear about your trip and all the people who'll be privileged enough to meet YOU!

sara said...

yes, it is green you see coming from the screen!! HOW FUN!!! I will just have to live it vicariously through you! take LOTS of pictures.

plus, I can't believe we will be missing each other in Dallas by just a few days! That would have been great to be able to meet up!

have a wonderful time. Tell Randy Alcorn that I am waiting patiently for a new book!!! :)

Debbie Petras said...

Linda, how exciting that you get to go!!! Thank you for linking to the list of authors who will be signing books. I found a friend of mine on the list; Brenna Stull. Because of your post, I found her new blog and that she's on twitter now and facebook. So, we will reconnect. Her hubby used to be one of our pastors at my church but they moved to Texas a number of years ago.

So, thanks Linda and if you get the chance to say hi to Brenna, give her a hug from me.

Skoots1moM said...

how fun! enjoy...praying safe travel and stay for you...can't wait to hear and see what you encounter...take lost of pics! i'd love to meet max lucado!
god bless....

Kelly said...

I am so happy for you, but I am green with envy too. It is almost St Patrick's day, so alittle green is okay, right?

My ADHD Me said...

"all to yourself hotel room" sigh. That's enough to make it a perfect trip just by itself.

BTW, LOVED the link! Most people would laugh at it, it just DEPENDS on whether or not they take the time to check it out!!

Beverlydru said...

Yay for you! And double YAY to your wonderful husband for encouraging you.

Xandra@Heart-of-Service said...

With all the chaos that has been in your life recently, I think the all to yourself hotel room would be worth the trip!

Can't wait to hear about who you meet and what you get to read!!

Xandra

A Stone Gatherer said...

Hey something else to get you all excited is over at my place!

Lindsey @ A New Life said...

Oh my goodness!! You are going to be here in Dallas? We should hook up for lunch one of the days. I was going to come but my hubbby is out of town that day. But I can get away for a few hours if you are up for it. I am going to try and at least see Lysa speak. Let me know!

Lindsey @ A New Life said...

P.S. I live about 20 minutes away from where it is at, as an FYI.

bp said...

That is so exciting!!! I am reading Kathy Herman's new book, I "met" her on facebook. Have a wonderful time!

Sandy @ The Scoop on Balance said...

I wanna go too. WAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Sandy

Melissa in Mel's World said...

You Go Girl...I am "green" with envy...I keep looking at the list of authors and am blown away at the sheer amount of talented people they have going. You are going to have a GREAT TIME!!!

I can't wait to hear all about it!

Take lots of pictures for us!

xoxo,
Melissa

Kim said...

Can we carpool??? I wanna go!! Have a blast, Linda!! I'm so happy for you!

Kim

Anonymous said...

Linda - thank you for your post and your enthusiasm! We want to make sure that all of your readers know that this event is open to the public. CBE is all about connecting authors and readers. We hope anyone looking for something fun to do this weekend will consider CBE! For only $29/day they can choose from more than 150 workshops, meet more than 200 authors, score some incredible deals, and attend the evening concerts hosted by Max Lucado and Sheila Walsh! AND, just to sweeten the pot they can save $5 off when registering online by using the code cbe5off. Kids under 17 are free! Can't wait to see you there.