Jamie's recap of PAYA

I gave a recap on my personal blog of my day at PAYA when I got home that night. I decided I should probably share with you all about my day.  This year was the first year of PAYA-- a literary event to bring YA book lovers together and to raise money for the Pennsylvania libraries so that they can build strong YA sections.

I was a little apprehensive about going to this event by myself. I didn't really want to be hanging out by myself all day. Luckily, Christina contacted me and let
me know that she and a bunch of other book bloggers were going to meet up for brunch before the event started. I was definitely excited to go now that I was going to meet up with other book bloggers!

I made the 50 minute drive to West Chester and met up with the group of bloggers and authors for brunch. We went to a really cute restaurant in downtown West Chester and got to chat. It was so much fun meeting everyone and talking about books and blogging.  It was so much fun getting to meet these awesome bloggers and authors. I met-Katelyn from The Bookshelf Sophisticate, Anne from Potter, Percy, And I (and her really sweet mom Veronica), Laura & Michelle from Borders Express in Exton, Cyn Balog, Jennifer Murgia, and Shelena Shorts!

After brunch we went headed back to the PAYA event! We did some major damage to our wallets before the signings started.  I bought The Pace (Shelena Shorts), Angel Star ( Jennifer Murgia), The Secret Year (Jennifer R. Hubbard), and Sleepless (Cyn Balog). We had so much fun meeting all the authors--despite the fact that we were sweating our butts off in that room. They are some really awesome people! Afterwards we browsed around the used book sale and checked out the bake sale and the raffles that had a ton of really great prizes!

Anne, myself, Katelyn, Cyn

Myself, Steph, James, Jenn, Anne, Kristi, Christina

We then got a chance to mingle with some other book bloggers who were there. We got to chat with Kristi from The Story Siren, Steph from Steph Su Reads, James from Book Chic, Jenn from Book Crazy, and Caitlin from Scarrlet Reader. They are honestly all such wonderful and fun people. It was such a great time being able to chat with fellow bibliophiles about the crazy world of blogging, our passion for reading and all about how our significant others put up with our sometimes insane bookish ways.

 I hope to get a chance to meet up with them all again sometime! I'm excited for other literary events. I'm planning on going to the Brooklyn Book Festival and the National Book Festival in September. I hope I'll get a chance to meet up with other bloggers!