YALC and all the things...

Okay, so that weekend was just crazy.

Time to write down my thoughts.

Overall, I rather adored YALC.

I also really adored the venue, believe it or not. I really got caught up in the atmosphere of London Film and Comic Con and it really inspired and brought front the passion inside of me. There were just so many people at it displaying their passion for comics, movies and books so proudly and without shame that I couldn't help but feel in my element in the big hall (even with the sweltering heat on Saturday). I was surprised at how much I actually ended up loving the feel about the place. I expected to feel crushed and claustrophobic, but I actually came to feel safer lost within the huge - and I mean, HUGE - crowd of fangirls and boys.

A few people have said how they think YALC would benefit from being held separately to LFCC but, for now, I think LFCC is a great place to have it. Though I wouldn't mind a whole load more publishing booths and (hopefully) a chance for bloggers to get involved in the future, I think for a convention just debuting for the first time, it was FANTASTIC. I can only hope they bring it back next year. And the year after. And the year after... I have no doubt if this does become an annual occurrence, it will just keep getting bigger and better.

The only problems I had with YALC were due to ME. I loved the event itself and the thought behind the panels and the signings, but I got SO frustrated with myself. I have never felt so awkward or shy in my life. Though I can admit I'm shy at times, I'm usually pretty good when it comes to meeting people. This might be because my mum's a teacher and I've grown up watching her approach people and talk to them with confidence and ease, but you seriously wouldn't know that about me if you talked to me at YALC. The only reason I'm so frustrated with myself is that I don't feel I truly came across as me, just an awkward, shy blah-blah head.


I'm not sure if this is because I barely knew about the many, MANY bloggers going and the lack of forward planning, but I was so shy when it came to approaching bloggers. And that surprised me. I thought I'd be much more confident. I just feel I missed out on the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and give them a glimpse of the real me. I don't think we need to go into the part where I'm a blah-blah head again.

The bloggers I did talk to were lovely though. So I really hope I meet them again in the future and be more me! I hope I didn't paint too bad a picture of myself. :3

ANYWAY. The haul. I'm not going to show you all the swag I got because it would take SUCH a long time - especially since I have a truck full *eyeballs the three people responsible for this truck load ;P* - but I will show you the books! I managed to get my hands on ten, two of which were free, four of which I got signed and three which I've already read since YALC.

I'm so excited about ALL of these. (And, yes, I realise the smudge on my lens). The four I got signed are Fearsome Dreamer by Laure Eve, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black (she said she liked the clockwork angel necklace I was wearing, highlight of my day!), Trouble by Non Pratt and Take Back the Skies by Lucy Saxon. The three I've read are Trouble - so good! - Take Back the Skies - even better! - and Deep Blue - which was fantastic!

If you went to YALC, what did you think? If you didn't, do you think it would've been something you'd like? Read any of the books I picked up? What did you think?

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo