So, I guess you can figure out from the title of this post that UtopYA 2012, year one, was a blast. A small first year convention of female authors of paranormal young adult fiction and readers who love it, UtopYA was well worth the visit to Nashville, TN. I am honored to say I met the most fabulous people, both writers, readers, and the organizers. April, Susan, Jamie, and Janet all did a fabulous job of putting it together in a short time. Next year will be even better, and I can’t wait to go back. The convention took place in the Scarritt-Bennett Center of the beautiful Vanderbilt University campus.
I’ve been to GenCon and it’s fun to get lost among the crowds and excitement, but a small convention is where you make friends. I got to know everyone at least to some degree and can remember their faces and names (for now…ask me again next year, and with my memory, I will be nearly starting over). If I leave anyone out, don’t hate me. I want to give a shout out to all the friends I met, from Lea Hieber (author and Auror’s Tale actress), Myra McEntire, Raine Thomas, Michelle Leighton, Tiffany King, Cydney Lawson (luv ya!), Stacey Rourke, Heather Hildenbrand, Carol and Adam Kunz (aka C. A. Kunz), Chelsea Fine, K. C. Neal, Amy Bartol, all the kids of A Novel Idea, and others I can’t name off the top of my head (sorry) to Janet Wallace, April Robbins, Jamie Anderson, and Susan (didn’t catch her last name). You all rock!
And here are some picks I took, not near enough to justify the fun, but here’s something to remember my first ever visit to Nashville and the first UtopYA…(btw, these are taken with my smartphone, and some aren’t exactly focused perfectly)…
The great organizer, Janet Wallace, opening the show!
Author Myra McEntire (Hourglass and Timepiece)
Downtown Nashville (Broadway)
Me and Myra 
My Nook before it became a real blur of signatures
Auror’s Tale cast and crew
My table (blurry pic)
Alas! I wish I had taken more pics, but I am not a big socialite. Being anonymous amongst a large group is almost easier for me than being more intimate with a small group. I skipped out on a few after hours events because of needing to decompress and just wind down. The joys of being a true introvert; it is a burden socially, but I do what I can. I just hope people understand.
All the books on the table were gone by the time Saturday events ended. Hooray! I didn’t have to ship anything but swag back home. Thank you, everyone!
