Why I love librarians, and win Last Rite!

This time last week, I was on my way to Houston for the Texas Library Association annual conference. I knew Texas was a big state. I used to live there. But I had no idea there were so many librarians there! This conference is HUGE, and I met a ton of fabulous librarians and readers. I also met some amazing authors, like Kristin Cashore, who helped me figure out which end of my straw hat was the front.

We had an awesome lunch with a great group of librarians, and I told them the same story you've heard here on my blog of how I started writing. It was for my daughter, who's a total bookworm. She spent her lunch period in junior high in the library and her librarian directed her to many excellent YA books.

I started reading them and loved them and decided to write my daughter a book for her birthday. So, it's really all because of my daughter's librarian that I ever wrote a book. Here's my WANTED poster from the event. Five extra contest entries to the first person who can tell me what's wrong with this poster. (Update: Cynthia was close on her second guess and Jackson got it, so I'm giving them both the 5 bonus entries. Answer: There are two Personal Demons covers, but the one on the right was never a cover--ebook or otherwise. It was an early cover comp that was never used.)

I hung out before the luncheon with some other Tor authors, including the lovely Kiki Hamilton (The Fairie Ring), Cherie Priest (Boneshaker, etc) and Orson Scott Card (Enders Game, etc)

I spent some time at the Tor booth where I found this:











I met one of my favorite ladies, Katie Bartow, the founder of Mundie Moms.

(sidenote: I also got to hang out with Katie's sidekick, Sophie, this weekend in Reno :p)











And, I met my lovely agent sister, Nikki Loftin, who's The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy releases this summer from Razorbill!

I spoke on a panel with fabulous authors Stacey Kade, Jessica Warman and Charlie Higson, which I sadly don't have a picture of. A good time was had by all =)








But now I'm home and a day late posting my contest. So for those of you wanting another chance to win a signed copy of Last Rite, here it is! Just enter in comments to win signed copies of all this:

A runner up will receive a signed copy of Original Sin. Remember that entries do not carry over from week to week, so your name needs to appear in the comments below to enter for this giveaway. To enter, all you have to do is comment below and tell me if you go to your library for books. Remember that five extra contest entries go to the first person who can correctly tell me what's wrong with the wanted poster above. You must be 13 or older to enter. Extra entries can be accumulated as follows:

Follow this blog: +1
Follow me on Twitter (@LisaDez): +1
Tweet or Facebook a link to this contest: +1
"Like" the Personal Demons Books Facebook page +1

Add up your points in your comment, please, because my math sucks. Also, leave me a way to contact you if you WIN! Contest closes Friday April 27th at 12 noon, PST. Winners will be chosen by the randomizer and posted here that afternoon. Starting next week, the contest prizes get bigger (think: NOOK), so don't forget to check back every Monday between now and May 7th!


Good luck!!!