UtopYA 2014: A Recap

Hi everyone!!
Well, it has been a week since UtopYA 2014 has ended and I have been going through pics and trying to put together this post just so you guys can know how awesome this conference is...

So, I figured the best way to fill you guys in on all this fabulousness is to just start from day one and tell you everything...LOL!!!

So, upon arriving, it's like a family reunion.  You meet up with friends that you haven't seen in a year (more or less) and that's when the screaming begins...YES...there is screaming, squealing, hugs...just any type of excited emotion you can think of is pouring out of you...

Hence the amount pf pictures being taken now...Yes, we must have those memories solidified so that we can always treasure these moments..

So, starting on Thursday and all the way until Sunday...I was getting as many pics with my friends as possible...

Check out the amazing people I was able to see...

 Pictured: Carlyle Labuschagne, Starla Huchton, Michelle Warren, Lila Felix, Heather Lyons, Teal Haviland, Rachel Harris, Heather Self, & Bailey Ardisone

 Pictured: Jackie McPherson, Heather King, Lisah Stephens, Candace Selph, 

Jessica @LovinLosLibros, & Val @Stuckinbooks

That was just a fraction of the awesomeness that was there by the way....

Now Thursday evening I was given such an honor by the amazing Janet Wallace to be able to dine with our keynote speakers for the conference.  I was extremely excited and as you can see it was a beautiful place to dine...

After choosing the table in which I would sit at, I had the esteem company of fellow blogger Toni @Mybookaddiction, Janet Wallace, her husband, Katie Cook and the wonderful Sylvia Day.  Yes, my nerves were crazy...but it was beyond FANTASTIC!! Between the fabulous dinner and conversation it will definitely be one of those nights you will never forget. OH...and check out this delicious dessert that was served...Mmmmm....To die for!!!

And yes, to wrap up the awesome dinner evening, the awesome Sylvia Day posed for pics...Words cannot describe how memorable this night was...

But, it wasn't completely over...As soon as dinner finished I ran downstairs to see if I could catch up on the Reader Appreciation Party hosted by the Marvelous Tiffany King, Quinn Loftis, Carol and Adam Kunz, and Jennifer Armentrout (who couldn't make it b/c of the craziness of the airlines)...

This party was epic and they had games, prizes, and of course cupcakes...

Just ask Quinn and Tiffany how good those cupcakes were...(they had icing everywhere..LOL)

So, day one ended and I headed to the room to chill.  So much to do and I knew Friday would be non-stop...

I had a fab roomie this year...Jackie @SatedFaery...Thanks Jackie for rooming with me!! Major shout out to you!!!

Ok...so Friday begins and we begin as always meeting together to hear announcements, win prizes and hear from the keynote speakers.  

Janet started it off right with music and getting everyone pumped for the day...

Our keynote speaker was Sylvia Day and she packed in an amazing speech that riddled the guests with informative advice and interesting experiences.

After this, we all headed out to catch some of the awesome panels that were offered as well as head in to the exhibitor rooms to see some of our favorite authors...

Check it out...

Here is Nely Cab with her award winning Table..Yep she won Best Swag and Best Decorations...(yes, she had some cool swag...)

Later on Friday evening, there was a huge FAN INVASION author signing...

Check out the authors that were here....

It was a lot of fun and people were lined up eager to see their favorite authors...

So, for me...I was completely exhausted and checked out for the night...

Saturday has now rolled around and as we all meet together this morning, our keynote speaker comes in and again, delivers a phenomenal speech that totally captivates the audience...

Meet Gennifer Albin, author of the Crewel series and Catching Liam...

Directly afterwards, Gennifer was meeting and signing... Heather and I jumped in together to get our picture made...Just loved meeting her...

After this the level of my nerves skyrocketed because I was about to be on my first panel...Blog Your Face Off...I seriously thought I could puke...But, I have to say that I felt it went very well and so much was learned during our hour...

Blog Your Face Off Panel: Heather Smiddie (moderator), Michelle Miller (author), Tess Watson (author), me, & Toni @MyBookAddiction

 The awesome crowd for the panel...(I see you Heather :D)

Once the panel was over...I could finally breathe and time passed hanging with my amazing friends...

The Beta Babes with Rha Babe...

(Heather, Jackie, Misty, Me, Candace & on the phone is Lisa!!)

 The Awesome Annie Hargrove and Mary Smith  

 The fabulous Lindsay Paige

The Awesome Jordan Deen

 My girls: Heather & Jackie..

I have to add...Flat Ian arrived and seemed to stop the show...Heather here giving us a show of his hotness...

But...UtopYA offered us a few live bodied models too...And lets just say that you could be having a conversation with someone and BAM hotness walks by...

Check out one of those moments here...

 I whisper to Jackie to let me get a pic of her so this way the model can be in the pic...Jackie steps it up and pssst's him...

 Yes, it was funny to see that we wanted a pic of him...But he was awesome and decided to pose for a pic...

So everyone, meet Jesse Daniels, cover model...

The last thing to come is the awards ceremony that night...

 Janet welcoming everyone..

 Katie Cook hosting the awards...

 Heather and I 

 Annie and I

 Myself, Bailey, Mary, & Candace

 Back: Jackie, Toni, Candace

Front: Me, Starla, Mary

Everyone dressed up and looked BEAUTIFUL!!!

Having fun...

 Me and Nely Cab

  Me and Lila Felix

Me and Heather....

So, as you can see there was so much to do and so many people to see...

Being able to hang out with some of the most amazing people I know is priceless...

While there are some that I didn't get to spend as much time with as I would have wanted, being able to see Mary, Lindsay, Bailey (and hubs), Candace (and Jason), Annie, Toni, Nely, Misty, Carol, Adam, Heather, Quinn, and so many more....

Heather: Thank you...thank you for being YOU...When I look back on UtopYA 2014, my most fondest memories have you wrapped up in them...

Jackie: Thank you for being an awesome friend and roomie!! WOOT!! We had some awesome times!!

So, now that this year is over...Plans for next year are already under way...

 Check it out..Next years theme is TIME TRAVEL!!! Woot!! How fun is that going to be??

So, now is the time to get in on the action...

You can go to Eventbrite now to get your earlybird tickets...Here are your options:

$70 Earlybird General Admission

4-day pass to the UtopYA convention (UtopYACon)
Fan admission to the Saturday Public Signing Event
Admission to the Fourth Annual UtopYA Awards

$95 Earlybird VIP
4-day pass to the UtopYA convention (UtopYACon)
Fan admission to the Saturday Public Signing Event
Admission to the Fourth Annual UtopYA Awards
Lunch Thursday and Friday
Souvenir T-shirt

For more information you can go to UtopYACon 's website or their Facebook page

So, I am closing now and saying thank you to Janet Wallace for such an awesome Con...What she has created here is something that you just can't describe.  I really encourage you to get in on the full experience of this powerful conference next year...

Happy reading everyone!!
Kat