Our panels began with each of us briefly introducing our books, and then we answered questions. First stop: the Warren Newport Public Library in Gurnee, IL.

We spent a lot of time traveling. Media escorts would meet our planes and drive us to our hotels and events. En route, we stopped at additional bookstores to sign stock and snack it up.

A blogger or two would interview us at each stop. Some simply chatted with us. Others, like Lily and Stephanie in Bethesda, came prepared with thought-provoking questions about government, individual responsibility, and world building. Their interviews are appearing online, and links can be found via Twitter with #FierceReads.

It was lovely to meet so many readers who were passionate about books. They brought their families and stayed to talk. Cover to Cover Books, Columbus.

One of Leigh’s Pennsylvania fans came in a home-made kefta to show her delight in Shadow and Bone.

We rarely had time to be tourists, but we couldn’t resist a detour to Rowan Oak, William Faulkner’s home. It was steeped in Southern atmosphere.

A couple of readers like Emily, who is also a writer, skipped their Homecoming Dance to come to our panel in Oxford, MS.

After our panels and visiting, we signed stock. The mountain of stock at Off Square Books in Oxford, MS, was the biggest I’ve ever seen. Jill Moore and her crew plied us with brownies, wine, coffee, iced tea, pizza, chips, spinach dip, sweet potato pie, and promises of future fishing trips.

We finished up at Books of Wonder in NYC, buddies. The tour vastly exceeded my expectations and I’m so happy I had the chance to go. From left: Genn Albin, Marie Rutkoski, Leigh Bardugo and me, Caragh O’Brien.