There were so many fun and interesting people to meet at Book Expo America, not the least of which was this crazy guy, “who lives in a pineapple under the sea?!”
First were all my book blogging buddies, my “imaginary friends.” Stephanie from The Written Word met me at Penn Station on Thursday afternoon, and we went over to the Javits Center where we connected with Julie from Booking Mama.
After attending the Editor’s Buzz panel and the Keynote, we headed to Arno Ristorante and had dinner with several other book bloggers, their families, and friends from Hachette Book Group:
(standing from left: Steph from ReviewerX, Steph’s mom – Kelia, Valerie from Hachette, Lenore’s husband – Daniel, Stephanie from The Written Word, Miriam from Hachette, Dawn, Julie from Booking Mama, and Brianne from Hachette. Seated from left: Lenore from Presenting Lenore, Amy from My Friend Amy, and Kelly from Hachette)
The next day while walking the exhibition hall I nearly walked right into Rosemary Wells. I believe the show etiquette is to not approach an author unless she is in a booth or at an autographing session, so I resisted the urge to grab her arm and tell her that our copy of My Very First Mother Goose has worn out from so many readings, and that our pairs of kids identify with the sibling relationships in the Max and Ruby books. It was really hard to resist the urge to start up a conversation with her … I actually followed her a few steps, then turned and walked in the other direction when I thought I might start talking and babbling!
There are three types of autographing sessions at BEA, most will result in you getting an autographed copy of a new or upcoming book, although a very few didn’t have books available and signed other promotional material, like a marketing postcard, instead. All the autographing sessions were listed in the BEA Guide (over an inch thick!), so an attendee could literally plan her day around meeting her favorite authors.
Some of my blogging friends had set their alarms early to get free tickets to the autographing sessions which were limited in number; these are generally the higher-profile authors. Both these and non-ticketed sessions were held in the lower level of the Javits Center. You’d arrive in the appropriate line at the given time, and wait your turn to say hello and receive your signed book.
I didn’t camp out to get tickets, but was pleased to find tickets to Joyce Carol Oates’ (signing her upcoming novel, Little Bird of Heaven) still available when I arrived that morning. I waited in line with Trish from Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’, and struck up conversation with the women in line near us. It turns out that one of the women didn’t realize it was a ticketed event. My Friend Amy came to the rescue: she was unable to use her ticket due to a schedule conflict, so she shared it with this lovely stranger and made her day.
I had connected with Sarah Pekkanen before BEA, and we made plans to meet at some point over the weekend. She was leaving for home a day earlier than originally planned, so our meeting became a quick “hello” in the autographing area. Here we are (left to right: Trish, Dawn, Sarah, and Amy). Sarah’s son is looking at Trish and thinking “Hey lady! Aren’t you the one who won the Kindle at BEA Tweetup last night?!?” If you’re not familiar with Sarah’s writing, check out her author website. Her novel The Opposite of Me will be published by Atria early next year.
I caught Candace from Beth Fish Reads, Kathy from Bermuda Onion and Julie from Booking Mama resting in line while they waited to meet Emeril.
Other authors I met in the autographing area were Amy Krouse Rosenthal with her children’s picture book Spoon, Francine Prose with her Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife, and Chandler Burr with You or Someone Like You. Burr will be at the Harvard Book Store on June 18; I’m hoping to speed read his novel and be there for his reading.
There were large acrylic boxes at the ends of the lines, with a sign suggesting a donation of $1 per book received in the Autographing Area. This money was given to support The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) which works in opposition to censorship – I wonder how much was raised?!
Many authors were scheduled to sign in their publisher’s booths as well. This in-booth signing was new to BEA this year, and it seemed to draw a lot of excitement and attention to the booths. While in line to meet Mary Casanova who was signing her latest American Girl book, Chrissa, I met Terry Doherty from The Reading Tub. Terry told me that this non-profit has the ultimate goal to “get kids excited about reading and learning.” The efforts and accomplishments of The Reading Tub are impressive!
So, ticketed autographing, non-ticketed autographing, in-booth autographing, running into book bloggers and authors … BUT WAIT! There’s more! Over the next week or so I want to share a few more highlights of my BEA experience – breakfast events, book blogger signings, and the Editor’s Buzz and YA Editor’s Buzz. Stay tuned!
What a great re-cap of the event. It sounds a bit overwhelming to me because it just seems as if there was so much going on at once but your re-cap made it seem a bit more doable. I look forward to hearing about the other highlights.
It is so great that you all took notes and pictures and are sharing all this will those who didn’t get to go. It looks like it was so much fun!
Actually they did in-booth autographing last year as well, so I don’t think it was new.
I look so hot and sweaty in all the pictures…I wonder why? Maybe all the books I was lugging around?
And Sarah’s baby is the CUTEST little guy you’ll meet!
You got to meet Sponge Bob in person!?!
The Big Man, Spongebob, and blogger friends? How much better can it get? I LOVE these updates! Keep ‘em coming!
Great picture of dinner! At that time, it seemed like we would have all the time in the world to chat, and sadly, it didn’t work out that way. Maybe next time?!
I’ve enjoyed reading about your BEA adventures! Thanks so much for these posts.
Awesome recap! I can’t believe how much you covered in this post! I love all the pictures and found myself downloading a few. It was such a great experience and I had so much fun hanging out with you!
I know 2 young men who are EXTREMELY jealous of your meeting the big SB in person. Me too
Sounds like you packed enough in those days to write about for a while ! Looking forward to future posts.
Super post. You caught me at the first moment I met Julie and Kathy in person. Don’t we look like we’re already old friends? I loved hanging out with you. Hope we can do it again.
I had a good time at BEA, but I was only there on Saturday. I missed SpongeBob :< I only caught glimpses of some of my favorite bloggers, but it was fun to put a face with the blogs.
Can’t wait to hear even more!
Great recap Dawn. I’m happy you had such a good time!
Hi Dawn. <> Well, I’m looking forward to meeting you. Please come up and talk to me at the book store (and please don’t be insulted if it takes a second for me to place you; on book tour all you do is meet people you’ve never met before…). I’ll be interested to hear what you think!
best,
Chandler
Fantastic Recap. Looks like a great time!
Ti – I was overwhelmed for about the first hour after breakfast on Friday. I was much better prepared on Saturday!
Rhapsody – it was fun … I hope you get a sense of that (I’m trying to give an idea of what it was like, not say “look at all the fun I had!”)
Amy – It must be interesting to compare last year in LA with this year in NY. Thanks for setting me straight.
LuAnn – in person! or is it “in sponge” ?
Sandy – who will I pull out of my hat next?!’
Lenore – I don’t think we had the chance to say another word after that dinner! Yes, next time we need more pure social time!
JoAnn – I’m happy to share them. It helps me to sort out what I did, too!
Julie – is the post too long? It’s just. so. hard. to. stop!
Kristine – we’ll need a pot, not a cup, of coffee for all the details!
Beth – yes! Everyone was old friends from the first minute
Nicole – I missed Olivia (Ian Falconer) … bummer!
luanne – just a few more posts …
Dar – Maybe you can come to NY next year?
Chandler – were you in the room when I said it makes my day when an author leaves a comment?! Yes, I’m hoping to get in to Cambridge in 2 weeks.
Toni – I’m glad it’s fun/interesting to read about it.
How fun! This is just making me commit even more to going next year. I need to hold a fund drive. Do you see anything wrong with me taking my kid’s lemonade stand money? The experience alone should be enough for them, right?
This tells you how with it I was – I don’t remember you taking that picture of us sitting in line!
SpongeBob looks pretty darn happy to be at BEA. Was he there as an author?
Aw, thanks Amy! I think baby Dylan was thrilled to be surrounded by you three. He likes bloggers even better than Sponge Bob. We had a great time, too, and I’m just starting to read some of the galleys. Thanks for posting the picture, Dawn!
xoxo
Ha Ha I love the picture of the baby staring at Trish!! Great recap.. I’ve so enjoyed all your BEA posts!
This was a fun post to read. Thanks for taking all the pictures and sharing them with us as well as all the different events at BEA.
Even more highlights to share? Wow! It’s been so fun to read about the experiences at BEA. I think the highlight for me would be to get to meet some fellow book blog friends. I’m just a bit jealous right now you know
Literate Housewife – definitely pass the plate at the lemonade stand
Kathy – that’s so funny — do you remember sitting down to rest?
softdrink – I don’t think SB was signing anything, more of a quick squishy hug.
Sarah – so glad we got to meet! I don’t believe Dylan let out an unhappy peep the whole time he was at BEA … what a cutie!
lisa – glad you’re enjoying them; just a few more on their way this week.
Margot – I wish I had taken more pics; of the bloggers especially
Iliana – oh, no! They’re meant to be fun sharing … no green-eyed monsters, please!
Wow, the bookend opposite SpongeBob. What an honor! It was great to meet you Dawn. I saw you a couple of times in other autograph lines, and I recognized Trish’s hair from a MAW Books video … but the sea of people just never parted enough to come by.
Glad it was a great trip, and can’t wait to here more about the breakfasts and buzz!
It has been fun reading these and seeing all the photos of my favorite bloggers!
Terry – You must have a list of of people you were happy to meet, too!
Jenners – I’m hoping it’s the next best thing to being there
Great recap of the signings and meetings…fantastic…You really did pack a lot into your BEA experience