I have not had time to sit down and actually read a physical book in a hot minute BUT because I got so many fun new books at Realm Makers (because how could I not?!) and am reorganizing my bookshelves... I can't help but talk about books.
So, we're going to talk about the books I got at Realm Makers that either I've excited to re-read, or I'm excited to jump into for the first time. And for almost all of these books I got to personally meet the author, which is way cool, and was one of my favorite things about the conference.
Let's just say that just having these books on a pile on my floor brings me so much joy because I adore books, and especially I adore signed books with pretty covers. It's like a hoarder, but only with books... or someone who collects art, except only book covers. Or someone who has a whole book of signed baseball cards, but I have a whole bookshelf of signed books.
In other words, books are my love language, and I am so thrilled to talk about these.
The Looking Glass Illusion
This is the first book I officially got... and the only one I got for free. And it also came with probably my favorite memory of the entire conference, a memory that I will cherish and play over and over in my head for probably ever.
The story starts with a good friend of mine, and one of my roommates, convincing me to do a scavenger hunt. Or actually, really, the story starts with Sara Ella, my all-time favorite author, putting on a scavenger hunt - the kind of scavenger hunt where you have to do different things and get photographic evidence of all the, usually silly, things you do or find.
I had not been planning on doing it, even though the prizes were epic and I mean, Sara Ella is incredible and I would do pretty much anything to get my hands on an early copy of her book, The Looking Glass Illusion, which is the sequel to The Wonderland Trials, because I just wanted to enjoy the conference and not stress out about doing this scavenger hunt.
BUT, when my good friend asked if I would do the scavenger hunt with her... I said yes. Because I'm fun and such a cool friend like that and I figured, why not.
So the first night we were at the conference, at like nine, ten o'clock at night, we were running around the conference building getting pictures of crying at a fountain and asking the receptionist for pens and papers and having the hardest time finding a clock of all things!
Then we couldn't find a Starbucks cup and met some interesting people and it was quite the adventure, let me just say. But eventually, we had all the pictures and had them in the right order and literally raced to go find Sara Ella because we knew that people would be jumping to do this scavenger hunt and get this early copy of her book.
And we won.
My friend won the first prize, and I won the second prize, and it was so so much fun. We were kind of floored because honestly, we hadn't really been expecting to win.
But that wasn't even my favorite part. That wasn't what made me smile so hard afterward that it hurt.
It was being able to talk to Sara Ella and tell her how much her books, specifically Coral, have impacted me. And Coral was not an easy book for Sara. It didn't always get perfect, happy reactions. It's a raw, bittersweet, heartbreakingly beautiful book and being able to tell her how much it meant to me and how powerful it was in my life was such a blessing to my heart, and I think, a blessing to hers as well.
So, long story not short haha that was one of my most precious, favorite moments of the conference, and how I got The Looking Glass Illusion.
Splinters of Scarlet
Now, moving on to book number two, a book that yes, I actually bought - and, the first book that I knew for sure I was going to buy. Because going down into the conference hall at Realm Makers and looking around at all the authors and books is so overwhelming. I want to just buy the whole building and every single book in it.
But I had to make choices and it was so so very hard... but this book, I knew I was going to buy before I even knew what it was about. Before I had even seen the cover (and yes I very much do judge every single book by its cover.)
I knew I was going to buy it the second I started talking to the author.
Some people are just like that. You start talking to them and instantly you know you want to be on their side, you want to support them, you want to be part of their life and part of their story and read what they have to write.
And Emily Bain Murphy is that kind of person. Realm Makers is full of people like this actually, and honestly, if I was buying books based on how much I loved the author I would have bought hundreds. But there was something about Emily's down-to-earth sweetness and kindness that really touched me, and I was like man, I have to get her book.
So I did, and currently it's sitting on my floor - soon to be shelf - looking beautiful and perfect and I can not wait to pick it up and read it.
Enhanced
Enhanced is one of the few that I have actually started and let me just say it. Is. Epic. Like already, just five chapters in, I'm so obsessed with the world and the theme - and the concept of being defined by your DNA and the worldbuilding just *chef kiss* it is so perfect.
It's a book that I've actually been wanting to get for quite some time now, but was just waiting for... the right opportunity, I guess? It's gotten quite a bit of hype among my Instagram circle and from authors like Sara Ella and Nadine Brandes, who I, as you probably already know, really look up to and respect (and want to be someday XD).
But I also don't usually read sci fi/dystopian, though I write it. So maybe that's why I hesitated buying it.
When I met the author, Candace, though at Realm Makers, I started to get more interested. She was there when I talked to Sara Ella and that whole thing went down, and I could see her sweet friendship with Sara, and her genuine happiness and kindness.
But what really convinced me that I had to get her book was seeing her the next day rocking a backwards hat in the middle of a crowd of people dressed pretty nicely for the conference. I was like wow, she can really pull that off.
I need her book.
I know that's so random and weird... but when you're surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of good books, you gotta make something the tipping point. But it really wasn't the backwards hat, or the fact that she always has the sweetest smile and the most on-point fashion, it was her confidence to be her, and stand out a little bit in the crowd.
She wasn't afraid to be comfortable and fun and give her own little flair to the conference business casual. And I loved that.
So, the moral of the story, if you want someone to buy your book, wear a backwards hat ;)
The Sun Still Rises
I also got an anthology, which I am so excited to read because it has some of my favorite authors and, a really good friend of mine (as of the conference) who I didn't even know had a published anything! It also has some of my instructors who have also become close friends.
The Sun Still Rises is actually an anthology in the memory of Lani Forbes, who died of cancer in 2022, and is a beautiful picture of hope, even in the face of death.
Being able to meet her husband and the whole team that has banded around the memory of her life was such an incredible witness of trust and faith and rest in Jesus, even in the waves of the trials of life and the crushing reality of losing someone you love.
And I mean, The Sun Still Rises, what a title. A title to remind us that the sun will still rise, there is still hope, and there will always be hope. The sun will rise on the other side of every dark night, every trial and trouble and heartbreak.
On the back, it says, "Light shines brightest in the darkest places." Isn't that so true?
And A Whole Ton Of Other Books
I could go on and on about the other six books I got, like Shadow by Kara Swanson, which has the best opening scene/chapter of any book I have EVER read. That one is pretty special to me because... when I read it, it really hit me hard. And I adore the author, who is also one of my incredible instructors, so it just all in all has a little home in my heart.
And then there was Romanov, which I got in a book exchange but was planning on buying anyway. Through that, I got to meet Nadine Brandes, my author and mom-life heroine who also has the cutest baby ever.
I chose Calor, which is the only book I didn't get signed because the author lives in Australia, because it won the Realm Makers Book of the Year award, and Recorder, which I bought because Steve Laube himself - and if you don't know who that is, he is my dream agent, publisher and hero, but is also kinda scary and intimidating XD - convinced me to buy it.
And then last but not least, Emberhawk... which I kind of bought for the cover. The author was so so nice too, and a lot of my author friends had super cool conversations with her.
So, that kind of wraps up my book experiences and stories from Realm Makers. I probably would have gotten more books, if it wasn't for the limited room in my suitcase (though I could have fit more I think). There's always next year though right?
As school starts up and I know fall is getting busy with sports and all the things, my prayer for you all is that you would have time to rest a little, and daydream sometimes, and live in a constant state of awe of who your Heavenly Father is.
And whether you're reading or writing, doing school or going to work, teaching your kids or picking them up from the school bus, do it all for His glory because He is an awesome God who deserves it.