Booktubers, Boba, and Ben Stein, OH MY! — YallWest and Writing Unleashed Recap.

Last week, I was busy wearing holes in my flipflops, turning into a sunburned lobster, and drinking as much boba tea as I could without just rolling away down the hill like Violet Beauregard in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

^^ This is me acting like a boba.

In other words: I was adventuring at YallWest and then–a few days later–the Writing Unleashed retreat! I know that recaps can be boring blog posts because they’re All About Nadine but I returned home with major zombie brain and can’t think of anything else to write. So bear with me? I’d buy you boba if I could.

YALLWEST

YallWest = a gigantic bookish event in SoCal filled with YA authors and YA books and a lot of sunburns.

This was my first time attending YallWest and it was WILD! I knew there were lines and a billion books and delicious food trucks, but I had no idea how crazy and fun and busy it would be! I attended with my lovely author friend Ashley Townsend (the author of a Robin Hood time travel retelling ?).

We met and connected with so many incredible authors like Angie Thomas (she’s a DOLL!), Alexandra Bracken, Sandhya Menon, Marie Lu, Marissa Meyer, Kiersten White, Kasie West, and Jenny Han! Every single one of these authors was absolutely delightful to meet.

Angie Thomas! BEING THE SWEETEST EVER.

Sandhya Menon, author of When Dimple Met Rishi–she was so sweet! Even though I realized later that I said Rishi’s name wrong. ?

Marie Lu!!!!!

I also got to spend a lot of the day with the royalty of BookTube! Tashapolis, Katytastic, Jessethereader, and PolandBananasBooks!

THESE HUMANS THO…

As fun as it was hanging out with brilliant author friends, these BookTubers are full of heart, laughs, and plain ol’ fun. It was a surprise and delight to spend the day with them drinking boba tea, comparing (and poking) sunburns, and talking writing.

If they’re ever at an event near you, GO MEET THEM. If you want a taste of their goofy personalities, this YallWest recap video by Natasha (Tashapolis) is delightful…and they kind of talk about me in it (see moment 10:28 ?) so I major fangirled. I’m so excited that I’ll get to see them again at BookCon in two weeks! (Where I will be signing and giving away ARCs of Fawkes, so YOU SHOULD COME.) Also, Kat is trying to convince me to start my own YouTube channel. I’m sorely tempted (and may or may not have spent most of yesterday making a list of video topics.?) Tell me honestly: WOULD YOU WATCH SOMETHING LIKE THAT? *runs and hides*

WRITING UNLEASHED RETREAT

The second half of my adventure was spent up in the cooler San Luis Obispo area of California at the Writing Unleashed retreat, put on my Mary Weber and C. J. Redwine! I took the train up the coast and met up with them early to help with some of the final planning stages.

Note the boba. ? You can see the rabid excitement in my face.

We went out to the ocean and took toes-in-the-sand photos. It’s funny how I grew up next to the ocean, but the older I get the more I fall in love with the sound and smell and rhythm of it.

After boba and sandy beaches, we headed to the retreat and thus began a half-week of soul care, brainstorming, and delightful fellowship. I roomed with my dear dear Sara Ella whose urban fantasy trilogy JUST CONCLUDED! Go read it! Now! NOW!

During this retreat I not only wandered through a magical garden, but I also HAD A BREAKTHROUGH WITH MY CURRENT NOVEL! Not Fawkes–the one after it (that you know nothing about. I’m sorry. But soon! SOON!) I had just turned the first draft in to my editor on May 1st and it was with the most bland lame ending ever. But NO LONGER! The ending has been reworked in my brain. I’m afraid it’s going to be a lot more painful for everyone. But at least it won’t be boring. Mwahaha!

TRAVELING HOME

Oh, you thought the adventures were over? HA! Nope!

After being introduced to San Luis Obispo’s best donut place (SloDoCo) and best sub shop (Gus’s!) I took the train back with my wild adventuring friend Ashley. Then the day finally came to fly home and I ditched all the make-up and nice clothes because I was traveling (and, thus, invisible to the world.) I knew I wouldn’t see anyone who knew me or anyone important. (You may laugh at me now…) I was just going to hide in my “I write books, what’s your superpower?” T-shirt and super comfy jeans…and so I got onto my plan, settled in, and….

…my seat mate showed up:

Yes, that’s Ben Stein. Yes, I wanted to introduce myself by saying, “Bueller.” But instead I acted like a regular frumpy human being and we actually had a delightful flight. He shared his cashews with me and pretended to steal my Panda Express (I totally would have let him take it.) I don’t know that I’ve ever had a more pleasant seat mate. He made everyone around him feel important and valued. SO COOL!

I always hear about the “I bumped into someone famous” stories and NOW I HAVE ONE ALL MY OWN! May you have one, too, someday. 😛

So that’s the end of my trip! I arrived home, our car broke down, we lost the keys to our house, and all the typical mishaps sent me to bed around 1am. But it was still with a smile on my face and a head full of memories.

Who’s the most famous person you’ve ever gotten to meet?

If you could go on any type of retreat, what would that look like in a perfect retreat world? 🙂 

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