BEA Book & Author Breakfasts!

I was able to attend both the Adult and Children’s Book & Author breakfasts offered during the conference – that being said, as Rick Riordan said - the term “breakfast” is used rather loosely considering it consists of a pitcher of OJ and pot of coffee and one bowl of bagels and muffins to be divvied up amongst 10 people per table – and that’s just the people who had tables – there was also chairs set up in rows in the back in order to open the session up to more people (who can, coincidentally just bring their own bagel and coffee or juice and enjoy it just the same) – but the “breakfast” aside, because really, who is going to be able to focus on food at an event that is chock full of awesome authors including Mary Pope Osborne, Veronica Roth, Wally Lamb, Octavia Spencer and Chelsea Handler anyway right! 

The event started out with the Emcee’s giving a brief welcome note (or in Chelsea Handler’s case, a comedy sketch) which was chock full of awesome and sang the praises of the authors and their works (both past published and pre-pub titles), and was followed by 3 authors (how they picked these authors out is beyond me because EVERYONE was amazing). Then each author came up and gave a talk about their background, writing process, the whole experience of being such  well-known and respected authors, and in some cases, they mentioned the their latest book. 

Veronica Roth gave an outstanding speech about how humility is freedom when it comes to writing. And Wally Lamb stated that us (librarians, booksellers, bloggers) are the electricity connecting the reader and the author to one another.  

 Heartfelt stuff you guys! 

Definitely worth the extra cost if you are able to swing it!

BEA 2013 aka GET ALL THE FREE BOOKS...not really...read on :)

As I mentioned in my previous post – the whole ‘GET ALL THE (FREE PRE-PUB) BOOKS’ was so NOT the angle I took in attending this conference. I was in it for the panels, the knowledge and to fill up our order cart when I got back to work from all those buzz panel titles mentioned, and to implement ALL the awesome social media tactics I picked up in various sessions - among other things! Meeting librarians I had spoken to only online (say HI Twitter friends!) was a TOTAL perk for me! 

However each morning when I walked in I saw a line of people snaked around the lobby, people sitting with their coffee and copy of Publishers Weekly, at 7:45am, waiting for the Exhibit Hall to open at 9AM. And to their credit, there was MUCH MORE to the Exhibit Hall than the free books – AMAZING NY Times bestselling authors were doing in-booth signings of their latest (and to be released) books, there were 3 feature stages which hosted various sessions for editors, publishers, authors, and even celebrities! Autographing tables were set up to host hour long sessions for fans of their favorite books.  So yes, waiting in line = AWESOME. 

And you know what you guys – the first time I stepped foot in the exhibit hall I was SO overwhelmed. ALL the people, the big fluorescent lights, the HUGE signs (thank goodness for the signs), the BOOKS, the random running into Grumpy Cat and various celebrity authors as I perused the booths – and OH THE AMAZING of it all. Seriously I had to stop a minute and look at my agenda and see who was where when and WHY was I there again and, oh yeah, did I mention this was like a surreal experience!? 

Never have I seen such dedicated readers, librarians, booksellers, bloggers, and everyone gathered together in celebration of the book! Truly amazing! 

So yeah, totally NOT a GET ALL THE BOOKS conference – although bonus if you snagged some good ARCs and are promoting them on your blog, giving them away at your summer reading programs etc!!! 

Plus - if you missed some of the events being held in the exhibit hall, you can view the videos of author interviews and buzz panel presentations here! 

BEA leaves me breathless!

I know erotica is like ALL THE RAGE now but c'mon you guys, get your minds outta the gutter because .... just read ....

Please ‘scuse me while I catch my breath …. BEA was last week and after the catch up at work, I’m FINALLY able to fill you all in about ALL THE AWESOME that BEA had to offer.

I’m telling you guys, if you’ve not gotten the chance to go before, it is definitely worth the conversation with your library director or supervisor to  try to carve out a wee bit from the budget to attend because let me tell you – IT IS WORTH IT – and I’m not talking GET ALL THE ARCs worth it (that’s another post and also – gasp – NOT the angle I was going for when I got into this gig to begin with), I’m talking, expand your knowledge base, learn how to promote your library, meet amazing people in the industry, get a first peek at upcoming titles, really feel the LOVE for LIBRARIANS and libraries – WORTH IT.

At first I was a little discouraged that ALL the people were there to snag ALL THE ARCs – but then I saw the STANDING ROOM ONLY panel sessions and my theory was quickly squashed because you guys – these sessions were not your typical run of the mill – gather librarians for a panel – session – these sessions included presenters from the BIG 6 publishers, Twitter, ALA, and then some! Like TOP NOTCH people folks! Like, you have a question, you ask it DIRECTLY to the publisher or editor on the panel – AND you GET AN ANSWER! Talk about exhilarating! 

In addition to the panel sessions, I was fortunate enough to attend a couple of the Books & Authors breakfasts (more on that love in a separate post), as well as wonder the Exhibit Hall and run into a certain celebrity chef or two – ahem Giada & Anne Burrell.

But more on the intricacies of the conference later – I’ll just tell you all – PLEASE, do all you can to score yourself a ticket to this conference – I’m cannot emphasize enough how amazing it is and how exhilarating and inspiring it is for us librarians!

Follow along over the next few posts as I take you through MY journey at BEA 2013!