SOCIAL MEDIA

YALC and all the things...

Wednesday 16 July 2014
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


9 comments :

  1. INDIRECTLY MENTIONED. YES. I AM FAMOUS. <3

    Anyway, awesome post! I really wanted to go but seeing all of the tweets about crowds etc made me almost glad I hadn't been there. I'm not good with crowds. But this looks so fun and hopefully I'll make it next year. Completely understand what you mean about the sudden shyness thing, by the way. It's so awkward >.<

    Glad you had a good time! :)

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    1. ;)

      Thankies!! You might end up getting caught up in the whole atmosphere like me, you never know. ;D Hope you can go next year! I'd love to meet you (and I won't be shy, I won't let myself)! ;P

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  2. INDIRECT MENTION SWAG. *eyeballs you back*
    I WISH I COULD HAVE GONE AND AWWWWH RACHEL I feel your pain but YOU REALIZE IF I HAD GONE YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A WAY BETTER TIME AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOTES MAGOTES MORE AWESOME RIGHT?

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    1. *pokes your eyeballs* *flaunts off* *immediately runs back to check on said eyeballs*

      I WISH YOU COULD HAVE WENT TOO! It would obviously have been TONS better. ;)

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  3. It looks like you had so much fun!! I wish I could have attended! That book haul is amazingg. You lucky girl Rach, I'm hella jealous right now. I wish we could have actually gone together that would have been so much funn :) SO glad you enjoyed yourself and got some amazing books <3

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    1. I certainly did!! I wish you could have went too!! And, YES, going together would have been heaps of fun! xD

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  4. I am SO jealous that you were able to go to YALC! I wanted to go but alas, I am on the other side of the world! The books you got all look so rad and I am sooooo jelly right now. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us! :)

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    1. Hmmm... Maybe next time you could teleport over? I'm sure teleportation will be invented by next year... and it will OBVIOUSLY be free of charge. ;D

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  5. ACk, really sad I didn't get to meet you!!!!!!!!!!! We could have been awkward and shy together ;) I know what you mean, though - something about the hugeness of the event and the massive crowds made me feel kinda more shy than normal... I agree that overall, it was amazing, though! It was definitely brilliant for a first time event, and LFCC was the perfect place to hold it (at least for the first year, I do think it would be nice in future for YALC to big enough to have its own venue) and I hope it happens again next year and the year after and forevermore!!! :D

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YOU ARE BEYOND AMAZING! Thank you for sharing your thoughts/opinions/feels! I'll be replying to your comment (hopefully) very shortly!