DISCLAIMER: I am not encouraging anyone to put themselves in a compromising situation with some random person they met in some random chat room. If you’re going to meet someone who befriended you on the internet in real life, you need to be smart about it—meet in a public place, make sure multiple people know where you’re going and when you’re supposed to get back. MAKE GOOD CHOICES. That is all.
I don’t know how many of you are friends with me on Goodreads, but if I’m bumming around online, I’ll more than likely be there. Part of the reason for that is I co-moderate a buddy reading group with one of my best friends.
A friend that I met on Goodreads.
A friend that I talk to on an almost daily basis.
A friend for whom I’ve gotten books signed for and who has gotten books signed for me.
A friend who, before yesterday, I’d never met in real life.
We didn’t need to have a face-to-face relationship, b/c we bonded over what we both love most in the world (after family): BOOKS.
A void that had been growing since I first fell in love with dragons and vampires was filled by this person I stumbled across on the Internet. I no longer fear spontaneous combustion when reading a new release, b/c even my bookish friends don’t prioritize reading the latest installment of a series immediately, and I have no one to talk to.
It. Is. A W E S O M E.
So when we had an opportunity to hit the same convention, a gathering of many of our mutual favorite authors, we jumped on it.
Then it’s time to actually go to the convention, and the apprehension set in . . .
B/c come on, even though we get on well via text message and online book discussions, there’s always going to be that phantom fear of, “what if everything turns to crap when we meet in person,” or something similar.
But it didn’t. *throws confetti in the air*
We met near Cafe du Monde for a cemetery tour, and we ooohhh-ed over the architecture, and we aaahhh-ed over Marie Laveau’s tomb, and we ate too much fried food, and generally had a great time.
I’m not including any pictures in this post, b/c I’m sitting in my hotel room, working on my iPad, but I promise to include LOTS in my full post, when I get back home.
In the meantime, I’m going to gallivant all over the French Quarter with my book bff.
B/c the internet makes the world a much smaller place.
What about you? Have you ever met one of your online book buddies in real life?
My name is Jessica and I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’m trying my hand at writing, but mostly I read. My favorite genres are Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and the YA versions of those genres, but if there is a book of a different color getting lots of buzz, I’ll read it too, just to be informed. If I’m not reading or writing, I’m probably on Goodreads or Pinterest or baking blueberry pies because I love them.
Sadly, I haven’t. Mostly because the ones I really, really like to meet are either on the other side of the Atlantic, north Europe or Australia and I’m all alone here on tiny Portugal.
One day, I’ll win the lottery, get a house full of books and meet them all 🙂
If only. 😀
Wish I was there. Say hi to Robin!
I got to meet a few of my online friends when I went to BEA. It was amazing how it just felt like I was meeting long time friends that I have always known. There were no awkward first meetings it was all hugs and talk talk talk talk…lol. It was very sad having to leave, but I can’t wait till the next time we meet! 🙂
Can’t wait to see your full post with pics! 🙂
Stormi Johnson recently posted…Friday Meme’s ~ Little Boy Blue
Isn’t that just the best?! I’ve had the opportunity to meet several of my blogger friends in the last couple years at Conventions and it had never been a disappointment. Back in May I finally got to meet my blogger BFF and I was nervous because we talk on the phone and text and she’s literally my BEST friend. What if it was awkward? Nope! Not even for a second. It was like we’ve been hanging out in person forever 🙂
Berls recently posted…Just a few Half-Moon Hollow books I read | Part 3
That is so awesome! I’m glad you got to finally meet your friend. I’ve had various online friends over the years, but I’ve never met any of them in real life. Sounds like a cool book convention. I hope you have loads more fun!
Molly Mortensen recently posted…I’m still here!
Sadly not yet, the closest I came was via FB camera chat, which was totally awesome. So glad you’re having such a wonderful time with your book BFF. Have a blast.
April Hollingworth recently posted…Cover Reveal
LOL I know exactly how you were feeling and what you’re saying, Jessica. Lexxie and I felt that way when we finally met face-to-face last year at RT. We’d been talking online for a few years…we got on well and had so much in common despite living on different continents. We were both nervous to meet though. And then we met and it was like we were old friends (because we kinda were) who hadn’t seen each other for awhile. It was awesome! So enjoy the rest of your time with your book bf!!! The internet is a grand thing, isn’t it??
I haven’t. Mostly because I suffer from Agoraphobia and other than take the the dog out front to potty, I haven’t left my apartment in 6 years.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Freebie Friday!
That’s awesome! I’m so glad you guys met and get along so well. I met a fellow blogger at RT this year. We hadn’t really been that close online, just chatted here and there on Twitter but when it came to register for RT and we were both going, she asked me if I wanted to room with her and another girl. At first I was like, “HELL YEAH!” I mean, not only would it be cheaper to split a room, but having roommates would force me to get out and attend events instead of hiding away. But then time started getting closer and I thought to myself, “In the normal world, would you randomly room with two complete strangers?! What if we don’t get along? What if they snore or have some funky habit or something?” Thankfully, when I picked her up (I drove, she flew) to take her to the convention hotel, she was really cool and the girl she’d met the previous year at the convention, who was also our roommate, was also really awesome. It turned out the three of us got along really well. I’ve also met an author the same way. We chatted online a lot and I reviewed a lot of her books. She was going to a low-key convention and since it was on the cheap scale, I decided to go for a night and go to the book fair. We met up and I actually went out to dinner with her and her husband and then walked around Fremont St and the two of us have been friends since. 🙂
Kristin recently posted…Review: Beast by Brie Spangler
I know. You worry you won’t have anything to say or that they end up hating you or vice versa. Typically most people are like how they are online, but I agree… that first meeting should be in public. I’ve meet people IRL that I knew online and so far it has always gone well. 🙂
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…Audiobook Review: The Curse of the Tenth Grave by Darynda Jones
I met one once, we were in this DBD forum and were all we live in the same city?! But alas we drifted apart when she stopped reading
I have and it totally brings the shyness and awkwardness out of me. Somehow I feel so much cooler behind the computer. But I LOVED meeting Melanie (waves!), Geeky, and others at RAGT last year and Kimba at BEA this year. Cons are the BEST!!!! 🙂 I wish I could afford RT next year (holy moly, $500 + hotel + books + transportation?!?!)… meh..
So happy that you got out to meet a “book bestie” 🙂
Kristin recently posted…Sunday Post #102: Hey! It’s Not Sunday!