to that end our editor at large megan labrise caught up with this year's finalists to connect with them as if we were all at a party together. view the full conversations on kirkus.com but here's a sneak peek. >> in a typical year we would all be gathered at the austin public library for the ceremony and the cocktail party beforehand, everybody in their finery. i wanted to ask where can we find you as a finalist before the awards ceremony? for myself i will say you can find me by the mini dessert table trying to make a mini dessert into the size of a full-sized desert. where would we find you before the awards ceremony? >> i will attend the award ceremony in 2018 so i know the library has an amazing area that's pretty much last time. it was also close to the bar. that's where you're going to find me. >> what is the highest compliment a reader could pay ? >> one of the biggest compliment i like to receive about the book is it's a weird one. but i like when readers tell me that at the end of it daily feel a little bit bereft. i like when the tell me they're concerned and worried about wha