I haven’t talked about it much yet, but next week I’ll be leaving my dorky lair in Wisconsin to head to New York City for Book Expo America, a three-day trade show and convention dedicated to books!
Last year I only went to BEA for a total of about two days – I’d just started my new job and didn’t have much vacation. But this year I’m going all out: seven full days in New York to go to BEA, the Book Blogger Convention, and (hopefully) a little bit of sight-seeing around the city.
I’ve loved checking out other blogger’s plans for BEA – and found a few events I would have otherwise missed – so I’ve put together a tentative-ish list of the things I’m hoping to get to while I’m there. None of these plans are set in stone. I’m just putting up a list to see if other people want to try to meet at certain events or otherwise meet up.
Monday
Monday is my “I’m a tourist in NYC!” day for the week. I’m planning to meet Tara (BookSexy Review) and one of my roommates, Anastasia (Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog) at Javits in the morning, then spend the day gallivanting about the city. We’ve talked about visiting Strand Book Store, the New York Public Library, and Central Park.
At 3 p.m. I’m heading to the Random House Reader’s Circle Tea. That night, I’ve got plans to meet Florinda (The 3 R’s Blog) and some others for dinner, time and place TBD.
Tuesday
- 10 – 11 a.m.: I’m planning to attend the panel Online Book Discovery: What Is Driving the Conversation? This seems like a must-attend event for online reviewers and writers.
- 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: I’m thinking about heading to Twitter Fundamentals for Book Professionals, although may skip it since I do know quite a bit about being on Twitter already.
- 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Andrew Shaffer, author of Great Philosophers That Failed at Love, will be signing at Table 23.
- 2 – 3 p.m.: There’s a session on Evergreen Book Marketing, which sounds intriguing.
- 2:30 – 3 p.m.: Karl Marlantes will be signing copies of his upcoming nonfiction book, What It’s Like to Go to War, at book 4621.
- 3 – 4 p.m.: Lev Grossman will be signing copies of The Magician King (squee!) at Table 19.
- 3:30 – 4 p.m.: Craig Thompson will also be speaking at this time – so many good events!
- 8 – 10 p.m.: I’ve got the Bookgageous BEA Bash at the Lolita Bar on my calendar, which sounds like so much fun. I can’t wait!
Wednesday
- 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.: An autographing session with Marisa de los Santos, author of Falling Together.
- 10 – 11 a.m.: An autographing session with Matthew Norman, author of Domestic Violets.
- 11:30 – 12 p.m.: An autographing session with Bill Willingham, author of Down the Mysterly River.
- 1 p.m.: Erica (@HarperPerennial) has organized a Chipotle group lunch excursion, so meet at the Harper book if you’d like to tag along. Should be fun!
- 2 – 3 p.m.: The lovely Nancy Pearl will be chatting, and I’d like to see her if I’m back from lunch in time.
- 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: There is a panel sponsored by the National Book Critics Circle called Book Reviews Online that I’d like to catch, if I’m not too exhausted from the day.
- 6 – 8 p.m.: I’ll be at the HarperCollins Celebration of Book Bloggers, which should be a lot of fun! I am a big fan of most books published by HP, and Harper, in general is fabulous with blogger outreach.
Thursday
- 8 – 9:30 a.m.: I’m signed up for a ticketed event, a Book & Author Breakfast, featuring Jon Lehrer, Roger Ebert, Anne Enright, and Erik Larson. I am so darn excited about this one.
- 12:45 p.m.: Amanda (The Zen Leaf) is putting together a blogger lunch excursion. I’m not sure where we’re going or more details, but give me a shout if you want to come too.
- 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.: This is the Book Blogger Convention reception which was a lot of fun last year. It was cool to get so many bloggers all in the same place and put faces to names I hadn’t met yet.
- 5 – 7 p.m.: Atria Books is hosting a blogger reception at Simon and Schuster that I’m thinking about going too, however…
- 6:30 p.m.: JKSCommunications is hosting an event at the same time. I’m still not sure which to go to (or whether to make myself crazy and try both). Busy!
Friday
This is the day for the Book Blogger Convention, so I’ll be there all day. I haven’t decided what panels I want to go to yet – all of them look so good.
Whew, that’s the end of my plans. I’m flying out pretty early on Saturday morning, so Friday night will be my last bit hurrah in the city.
In Conclusion…
If you want to plan to meet up or make plans – breakfast, lunch, dinner, meet at a session, stand in line together, sit around nursing our sore feet between sessions – feel free to e-mail me at sophisticated.dorkiness [at] gmail.com. Or, catch me on Twitter (@kimthedork) – I just got a smartphone (woo!), so I’ll be well-connected at BEA.
I’m also hoping to blog some updates from BEA, but we’ll see how the weeks goes. If there are no new posts after Sunday, you know why.
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There is a lot going on next week! I’ve got so much on my calendar, I don’t think I’ll be able to do it all. I hope I get to see you.
Kathy: Yes, so much stuff! Tuesday seems to have just exploded with things piled on top of other things. I know I won’t get to everything, but I want to try 🙂 I’m sure we’ll run into each other — I’ll be on the lookout.
This all sounds so wonderful! I wish I could go, but I am sure you will all have more than enough fun and will post about it so I’ll live vicariously through you!
Helen: I’ll do my best to post updates! Last year I tried to blog when I got home, but I ended up really lazy! If I do updates from BEA, hopefully I won’t get so behind.
WOW — have a grand time — and hope you run across some FANTASTIC non-fiction books so that you can tell us the titles to read (hint-hint)
Betty: I hope to find some great nonfiction too. I’ve found a few titles I’m excited about and plan to ask publishers what some of their exciting titles are. Exciting!
Sounds like a GREAT trip. Be sure to post along the way.
Marlena: I think it will be — this is my first big trip since starting to work, so I’m looking forward to getting away and doing some fun things in New York.
I’m trying not to plan too much–it’s overwhelming! I’m looking forward to meeting you at lunch on Thursday, if not before.
Teresa: Yeah, the more things I put on my calendar, the more it seems like I’ll never figure out a plan. I’ll have to trim back, a lot, but that’s ok too.
All week in NY? Woo-hoo!! Have a wonderful time!
softdrink: I know! It’s such a long vacation — I can’t wait. I’m bummed you won’t be there though!
The Online Book Discovery panel is on my list too. I’d like to get to the Nancy Pearl talk as well, but I think I’m trying to get a couple of books signed for my stepson during Wednesday mid-day, so we’ll see how it goes. And I’m contemplating that same Thursday-evening schedule conflict you mentioned…
…so we may see each other quite a bit, besides at dinner on Monday! I’m definitely getting excited. Looks like you’ve got quite a week planned for yourself!
Florinda: I think lots of bloggers will be at Online Book Discovery — I’m curious to hear what industry people will say (or not say) about bloggers. I’m not sure I’ll make Nancy Pearl either, but I’d like to try 🙂
Okay I just cancelled my hotel reservation and now you have me green with envy-I want to come. Maybe next year. Enjoy yourself Kim-I will live vicariously through you.
Esme: Awwww, sad! I will try to find some cookbooks to mail to you 🙂
I’ll be at BEA for the first time this year. Thanks for the list. I am also planning to be at the Bookrageous Party on Tuesday night so hopefully I’ll see you there. I’ll be reading at Guerilla Lit on Wednesday night but I hope to head to one of the BEA-related events aftewards.
Helen: That’s great! This is sort of my first time too — I was just there for about a half day and the Book Blogger Convention last year. Hopefully I’ll see you at the Bookrageous party!
Great plans, and I see some overlap so will definitely see you 🙂
Amy: Fantastic – I can’t wait 🙂
Have fun! I’m sure this is going to be exciting! Your plans are making me jealous! { In a good way. 🙂 }
Aths: I think it’s going to be a great trip — so many things to do, and then being in NYC on top of it. I was really jealous (in a good way) of people who were there for the full week last year 🙂
Wait, is Marisa de los Santos going to be signing copies of her new book? Surely not! Is she? Jealous jealous jealous if so! I absolutely love her and cannot wait for her new book to come out. Also I definitely want to come to lunch on Thursday, so I hope to hear more about that. 🙂
Jenny: Yep! I didn’t know about that one until Amanda @ The Zen Leaf mentioned it to me. I haven’t read the second book in this series/related books, but like the first one.
And yes, come to lunch Thursday! Remind me to tell you about it on Sunday. I don’t think it’s anything fancy, just bloggers meeting and Javits and walking somewhere to eat.
I’ll be there Thursday and Friday and would love to meet up. I haven’t done any planning yet, but I’ll shoot you an email when I know more what’s happening.
I heard Nancy Pearl speak at a library conference and she’s terrific!
Joy: Awesome! Please do send an e-mail when you know what you’re up to. I think Nancy Pearl will be so fun if I’m able to go to that panel 🙂
If’s there’s one thing I wish in the run up to BEA (I mean, other than that I could clone myself…), I wish my phone were smarter. It would be uber-helpful. Alas, my phone is only sorta smart.
Ah, but nevermind my dumb phone – it’s smart enough to be on Twitter, at least. Looks like there’s plenty of overlap between my and your schedules. Looking forward to seeing you! =D
Megan: I just got my smart phone last week, and it is fabulous. I think it will be really helpful when I’m trying to find places in NYC and get around that way. But if it’s smart enough to be on Twitter, that’s enough to coordinate with people at the show — can’t wait!
I’m definitely planning on going to Craig Thompson–that’s a big one for me! Can’t wait to see you!
Ash: I’m excited about that event. Amanda said he might be talking about his new book, which would be fabulous!
I AM SO JEALOUS 🙁 The only consolation is I will be sitting on a beach 🙂
Lu: Sitting on a beach would be nearly as awesome. I loooove the beach.
And I’ll be sitting on a boat. ‘Cept not my boat. Delivery is expected June 8 or so. DO HAVE FUN and can’t wait to hear all about it.
Care: So jealous of the boat! That’ll be awesome too.
I wanted to try to go to the Wednesday Book Reviews Online session at 3:30! I’ll look for you there, if I’m not too tired.
I get in Tuesday night, will be there until the next Tuesday !
Rebecca: Ha ha, yes, me too. I have a feeling by Wednesday afternoon or Thursday I’m going to be wiped.
wow, you’re so organized. definitely jealous of you and everyone who will be enjoying your pants off. have a great time!
lisa: I’m really not that organized — I’ve barely looked at the schedule for BEA, I’ve gleaned from other people. There are a million things I’m missing, I’m sure of it!
Great plans! I really have to get all my plans into my phone so I am not running around like a chicken with its head cut off!
It looks like I will have to work on Tues and Wed but I would love to sneak over to Javits (although it is clear across town) for the Marisa de los Santos signing on Wed. I will be at the convention on Thurs though and am excited about the author breakfast too! And of course at the BBC on Friday.
It looks like we are going to some of the same events (Atria, Harper, BBC reception) so I hope to see you there!
Colleen: I’m so glad to have everything in my phone rather than messing around with paper calendar lists. It makes me feel more organized 🙂
Let me know when you get to the author breakfast on Thursday — maybe we can sit together! Can’t wait to see you.