Even though it’s kind of expected, I didn’t do an official launch party for the release of my debut novel Sing Sweet Nightingale. Instead, I had a whole release weekend of events! It was busy and crazy and so many levels of amazing I don’t even know how to describe it.

Plans for this weekend o’ awesome began last year when my editress Danielle Ellison warned me to block out the weekend of March 8th. “You’re going to be in Virginia,” she said. Since I had no reason to protest, I didn’t! I started making plans to join my editress, her bookstore One More Page, and the Arlington Central Library at Washington Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia for the inaugural NoVaTEEN Book Festival.

Turns out that it was going to be more than just the festival! On Friday, I joined Diana Peterfreund at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virgina to talk to two different groups. Since this was my first ever school visit, I was really nervous, but it went so well! The kids were respectful and interested and they asked good questions. Lelia from One More Page Bookstore in Arlington coordinated the event for us and she was so sweet! All in all, it was a great morning.

Saturday was the main event, NoVaTEEN Book Festival at Washington Lee High School! It started with a keynote speech by the incredible Phyllis Reynolds Naylor at 10 and ended with a group signing at 4. In between were larger panels in the school’s auditorium and smaller sessions in several of the nearby classrooms. I joined Jon Skovron and Lea Nolan for a “breakout session” at 11 where we spent a lot of time discussing the different constructs of hell and then I got to sit back and listen to other people talk for a couple of hours before my own main-stage panel! At 3, I joined fellow debut author Elle Cosimano and veteran Victoria Schwab along with moderators Elisa Nader and Aimee Agresti for a discussion on Bad Boys and why they’re so amazingly attractive. I got to talk about my early love for the rogue George Cooper from Tamora Pierce’s Alanna series and what makes the difference between a bad boy and a villain. Somehow, I didn’t make a fool of myself, so I call the whole day a win!

Sunday, I headed to Alexandria, Virginia for a solo signing and talk at the cutest bookstore: Hooray for Books! During the event, we revealed the title for The Dream War Saga, book 2: Deadly Sweet Lies. The staff was fantastic and I hope I get to go back there soon!

And then, Monday, my mom, my uncle, and I spent the afternoon at the International Spy Museum while I played #iSpy with Marni Bates on Twitter. It was a blast!

So now, pictorial proof:

Arriving in DC!

It snowed a few days before we landed. This was all that was left when we arrived.

But my Uncle’s backyard looked a lok more wintery!

These are the FIRST finalized copies of SSN I ever saw! And they were at my Uncle’s house waiting for me!

Hanging out with my mom and my uncle in Maryland

Mom practicing piano at my Uncle’s house

When your mom comes with you on a school visit, you get pictures like this. Here I am arriving at Yorktown High! 😉

Another picture in front of Yorktown

The super-cool Diana Peterfreund joined me at Yorktown

Lelia from One More Page coordinated our visit for us and she was so sweet!

Talking to a class at Yorktown

More from Yorktown!

I’m thinking this was misplaced because I don’t see an exit O.O

In front of Washington Lee for NoVaTEEN!

Everyone thought this was fabulous!

I got to meet my Agent-Sister Elisa Nader! She’s wonderful <3

They got me gluten free pizza! Because they were so sweet

I got to hug these two during NoVaTEEN! Sarah Guillory and Danielle Ellison are two of my SHP loves <3

My book for sale at NoVaTEEN

Waiting for a panel to start during NoVaTEEN

At the end of the day was the Bad Boys panel

I got to share the stage with Elisa Nader, Elle Cosimano, Victoria Schwab, and Aimee Agresti

Signing after NoVaTEEN

I was so lucky my mom didn’t mind hanging out all day!

All of the authors who participated in NoVaTEEN. A GREAT group!

The authors and the organizers! Thank you for all your work!

Such a nice display set up at Hooray For Books!

I got my own little corner of the store at Hooray For Books

We revealed the title for book 2 at Hooray For Books: Deadly Sweet Lies

I was even in the window of the store!

The staff at Hooray For Books gave me a present! They were so sweet <3

Out to lunch before the Spy Museum!

We visited the Spy Museum on Monday at the recommendation of Marni Bates

The elevator makes you look EVIL!

Part of the Spy Museum. I bought a copy of this in the gift shop.

I also bought these in the gift shop. 😀

But that’s not all!

I flew home Tuesday morning, grabbed lunch, rushed to work, made my students write essays because I didn’t have anything else prepared for them, rushed home, jumped online, and did an hour-long live chat with the girls from Reading With Me! We gave away prizes and I answered a lot of questions. But don’t worry! Even if you missed the live event, you can still watch the whole video on YouTube! Or by clicking play on the video below:

Phew! Now I’m home and a little sad because all of those awesome things are over! But now I get to start working on my thriller work in progress again and then jump into edits on DEADLY, so I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to keep busy! 😉

I just want to say one last thank you to everyone who made this weekend so special. There’s far too many people to list individually, so just know that if I saw or spoke to you this weekend, you’re part of the list. Thank you so much! <3