The View from Fairview

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's Day! and Turtles!

Turtles are considered good luck in so many asian cultures. At the Arboretum got this photo of three of them sunning themselves!

Happy Mother's day!

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Peacocks (and Peahens) everywhere

A couple of years ago, there were two peacocks running up and down our street. Now I realize they were runaways from the Los Angeles Arboretum. I went there today and they were everywhere! There was one attacking a car in the parking lot! This one was pecking at the glass, trying to get into the gardens.

Look at the glorious plumage on this one. They sell feathers in the giftshop for $1.50 each.

Yeah, wanted to show the peahen, just so you see the difference.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

L.A. Times Festival of Books 4-21-2013

I went to the L.A. Times Festival of Books but I didn't blog about it because I was knee-deep in the A-Z challenge. So, alittle late but...

Here is the gorgeous campus at USC

These sisters, Isabella & Irena De Wardin were promoting their series of books "The Humming Bird" by giving away copies! It was a family affair. Their mom was so cute, passing out bookmarks and posters.

From Left to Right: Ransom Rigg, Melissa de la Cruz, Maureen Johnson, Katherine Marsh, Lisa McMann.

I went on Sunday, so I missed Cassandra Clare's panel. But this panel entitled "Love and Vengeance, Real & Unreal" was pretty interesting.

This is the second time I had the pleasure of hearing Maureen Johnson speak. She is hilarious!! She's working on the Bane Chronicles with Cassandra Clare. Can't Wait!

Ransom Rigg wrote the "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" and is working on the sequel.

Melissa de la Cruz wrote a ton of bestelling novels including the Blue Blood series. Lifetime is making a 10 part TV series based on her "Witches of East End". She's writing a new series "The Court of the Last Princess"

Katherine Marsh is the author of "Jepp, Who Defied the Stars" which is historical YA about a court dwarf.

And Lisa McMann wrote the Wake trilogy (Wake, Fade, and Gone). She's got a new "Visions" series and "Crash" is the first book in that series.

I found out that some students these days, when they have a book report due, they contact the authors! During the panel's Q&A, one girl, who probably had a book report due, asked what the theme of the author's books were! lol. This is when the authors started saying how they got asked this question alot! I never thought about doing that. Now I know! And interestingly, two of the authors didn't know what their theme was.

Here is a unique way to promote your book! "Grapeshot and Demon" by Vincent P. Scully

Oh and I just happened to wander by Sarah Dessen who was signing, so I picked up "The Truth About Forever"! I forgot to get a picture (because I was so excited!)