I can’t even believe that it’s already been a month since BEA. How time flies! This is the first year I have ever been to BookExpo. I was trying to think of more exciting ways to start this blog post, but there’s nothing like stating the truth simple on the page. I’ve been blogging for over two years now and I hadn’t really been to major ‘trade’ festivals. Last year I went to the Boston Book Festival and the Boston Teen Author Festival, but nothing like this.
To say I was nervous for BookExpo was an understatement – vastly. So I thought I’d section this very long post into a few different sections: what I did to prepare & my experience on the show floor. I’ll do a separate post on what I should have done, & my BookCon experiences. This is just the first reflection part in the series.
My BEA Preparations
So I talked to many different people on what to expect, and they all said to wear sneakers, bring tons of snacks, and make an excel sheet. This was both good and bad news. Excel sheets are the bane of my existence. I say this lightly all the time, but this is the ACTUAL bane of my existence. I had my survival kit all put together – and even received a mini one from FierceReads – which consisted of granola bars (found out I only really like one), bagels, water (which I drank none of the first day), and various sugary snacks.
The other thing I did, besides have stress dreams about being trampled, was prepare an excel sheet. This is so helpful (even if you’re a luddite like me). You could definitely use the BookExpo app, but I really didn’t figure it out till too late. Plus I needed my badge number, which I didn’t have for a while until I emailed, because I got a media badge (YAY!). So I spent two or more hours making a complete color coded spreadsheet with things I wanted to do for sure, and then extra things which were my second choice, and all events. (I actually had a breakdown when my excel sheet was corrupted and I couldn’t open it. I was sobbing. It was ugly). Each day was a different sheet in my master list. At the end of every day I would go through and delete repeated events (if I was searching for one specific galley) and update the events I managed to go to. Then I printed this out every morning. And this was all.
I also brought a large suitcase and checked it. This is my biggest piece of advice. Do it. It was only around 4 dollars and it saves your back and the walk home. You can visit throughout the day and stow books in it. It’s incredibly helpful and the staff there are just so kind. Make the extra effort and be nice to them. It’s worth it.
Oh I did also get there really early around 7am. This was because I didn’t need an autographing ticket, people who wanted those came even earlier. But since I was commuting from outside NYC, it meant getting up at 5am for four days after going to work that week and then the next week. To say I was feeling rougher every day is a VAST understatement.
My BEA Experience
I had the absolute best time. I must have picked up around 80 books in during BEA and even more tote bags. But it’s not even all about the books. It’s about the atmosphere. I met the nicest people in line who were just all excited about books. It’s wonderful to get out of your bubble and meet new people. You literally all have something in common – you love books. Oftentimes I have a hard time coming out of my shell, but it was almost as if one layer of the small talk is stripped away.
At the same time, there’s this energy, this adrenaline that fuels you. This is what makes eating regularly and keeping hydrated so important. Because you can get along on adrenaline and hype alone. I spent the entire day on the floor whether it was waiting in the autographing lines or the booth lines or even drop lines. Some of my best experiences were coming later to the autographing lines with smaller authors and just walking in. I had the absolute best time with the autographing lines, but definitely like up way in advance of big authors. Oftentimes they only have a certain number of copies. The same goes for everything. To me, it’s like the best things come to those who wait (and who aren’t trampled and whose line doesn’t get randomly moved). The booth lines are a little more tricky because they can wrap in strange ways and there isn’t a lot of space, but make friends. And ask questions. Ask the fellow people who are hovering, ask the booth staff, ask your friends.
I only attended a few panels, but the Buzz panels are not to be missed. Not only do you get to hear about books that might have missed your radar before, but the editors give it a little more personal touch. Additionally, you can always go to the Meet the Buzz Authors after if you want to say more. This is a great way to follow up on the things you heard in the Buzz panel. Besides these, I also went to one about fairy tales – which is one of my sweet spots (of which I have many). The panels here were superb and they were a great way to really rest your feet. So I highly recommend any of them!
Breakdown of Day 1
I just thought I’d let you know everything I did, because I have my highlighted schedule!
9:00 Giveaway of 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
10:00 Fierce Reads Recommends
10:00 Young Adult Editor’s Buzz
10:00 Drop of A Curse So Dark and Lonely
11:30 Swoon Reads Arc Cover Vote + Giveaway
2:30 Odd One Out Signing
2:00 All Souls Drop
4:45 Enduring Appeal of Fairy Tales and Myths Panel
5:30 Rule Drop
As you can see a few of my morning events were at the same time, because if you’re early you can get out of there in about five minutes and on the way to the panel I was able to pick up the drops of some of the books I was relaly looking forward to. I was able to wait in line for the Fierce Reads Recommends, then run to Bloomsbury, then the panel. So that is totally doable especially if you’re passing the booths anyway. I also built myself in time to just walk around and circle the floor from 2:45 to 4:45. I was an hour early for Nic Stone, so I was the 2nd or 3rd person in line.
After this day my partner met me with my suitcase and we walked to a publishing event where we got some food and drinks on a Boat. This was fun, windy, but I was ultimately exhausted so I didn’t stay too long, but I was able to meet up with a friend and that was super fun!
Breakdown of Day 2
10:00 Abrams Drop of Beneath the Citadel/YA Titles
11:00 Check, Please Signing
11:30 Swoon Reads Giveawy
12:30 Clockmaker’s Daughter Signing
1:30 Stars Now Unclaimed Giveaway
2:00 Ignite the Stars Signing
2:30 Novl Arc Drop
3:30 Tor.Com Novella Drop
After walking around a bit, I left BEA Day 2 a bit early. I had to go drop the books off at work, before buying shoes, and then going to the Fierce Reads Happy Hour. The happy hour was phenomenal. I got to meet Leigh Bardugo, Tomi Adeymi, Alex London, and Anna-Marie McLemore, which was amazing. The drinks and food were fantastic, but it was also great to hang out with Dana and Melissa!
Overall,
I was overwhelmed, but it was a lot tamer than I expected. I heard from other people who had gone multiple years in a row that this was a lot less hectic than others. So that’s good to hear. I was initially very overwhelmed, but by day two it was a lot better. At the same time, after the initial rush – which is basically just for totebags – it’s very easy to walk around the floor, take it in, and pick up some books. The overwhelmingness wears off a bit and it becomes easier to take things slowly.
Stay tuned for more on BookCon, my tips for next year, and my wishlist for next BEA!
Sounds like you had a great time!
I did, it was overwhelming in a way, but good fun too!
It sounds like a blast! I love convention adrenaline, haha. I hope to be able to attend BEA sometime in the next few years – probably as a librarian more so than as a blogger.
that’s even better! librarians are the best!!!