Sound Bites & Snap Shots

{photo source}

When Bill learned that Rick Riordan was going on tour to promote his latest book in the Heroes of Olympus series, he started making plans to take Walker.  One of his speaking engagements was part of the 25th Annual Southern Festival of Books in Nashville.  The Celebration of the Written Word took place over the whole weekend but Walker and Bill ventured down for the day on Sunday.  Rick Riordan’s lecture was scheduled for 4pm and they wanted to get there early to line up. It was just like a concert in that way. 

When they arrived, Walker and Bill approached a table where the Camp Half-Blood t-shirt were.  They discovered they were giving the shirts away for free.  Score! 

Walker was able to visit the book mobile for the Diary of the Wimpy Kid although Jeff Kinney was not present. 

Walker and Bill went to a lecture called Decisions and Consequences: YA Novels with Gabrielle Zevin, J.J. Howard, and Terra Elan McVoy.  Walker really enjoyed hearing Ms. McVoy speak and got a signed copy of her book, Criminal. 

Then they went back to the line for Riordan’s talk.  They spotted Margaret Peterson Haddix, Matthew J. Kirby and Deron R. Hicks.  Walker was familiar with Haddix and Kirby and later went to hear them speak at a lecture entitled Adventures in Time: Middle Grade Novels.

Here is Walker with Margaret Haddix. He had just purchased her books at the book fair at school so he was excited to see her in person.

He also got to meet Matthew J. Kirby who wrote The Clockwork Three. He had not read anything by him before but he had his book already for a year at home.

As they stood in line waiting for Riordan, they also caught a glimpse of Kevin Henkes’ character, Lilly and the Plastic Purple Purse. 

Walker ventured off alone to hear Haddix and Kirby speak.  There was a slight miscommunication between Bill and Walker about when Walker would return.  The line for Riordan’s talk started to move toward the doors and Walker was not back.  Bill asked the people in front of him to hold his spot in line and ran off to get Walker.  When they returned, they had advanced considerably closer to the door but Walker and Bill were able to locate them and get in line. The auditorium seated approximately 1,800 people and it was almost filled to capacity. 

They sent me this self portrait and other pictures when they got into the auditorium.

From all accounts, Rick Riordan gave an amazing talk.  He was a true storyteller and his hour-long lecture passed quickly.  The day was a memory never to be forgotten.