BEA Recap: Another Year of Exhausting Fun

As most of you probably know either from my Twitter, Instagram, or previous posts last week I was at Book Expo America in New York. It was my second time going and I seriously had so much fun. It was exhausting and every night my feet were killing and I was starving but I also met some really amazing fellow bloggers, saw some authors I am a huge fan of, and learned about some exciting new books. Here is what I did/

Day 1: Blogger Con Happened but So Did Truthwitch

First day of BEA, I woke up bright and early and headed to the Javits. I got there at around 8:15, registered and then headed to Blogger Con. When I sat down I was approached by Melissa from The Novelty Podcast who gave me a gift from my OTSP Secret Sister. I had suspected who it might be but it was great to have confirmed that it is Elizabeth from Book YAbber. We met last year at BEA and it was so great to see her again. She framed the picture that we took last year in an amazingly decorated frame. I totally love it! I wish we had gotten to catch up and chat more but this year we just didn't seem to be in the same lines.

Blogger Con had a great opening panel discussion and I was really enjoying the first workshop but I was fixated on getting Truthwitch. I heard the line was getting out of control so I headed over there instead of doing blogger stuff. I was so excited to meet Britt from Please Feed the Bookworm finally! We are total book soulmates and we spent a lot of time planning together. I also got to meet and Sarah from Words with Sarah, Becca from Pivot Book Reviews, Pilli from In Love with Handmade, Christina from My Life in Books, and Katie from Katie's Book Blog. And of course Octavia from Read.Sleep.Repeat and Nikki from There Were Books Involved who I met last year and I was so excited to see again. We hung out in line and caught up. I mean we were in line for nearly two and a half hours before they let us in. 

When they finally let us in it was a mad dash to Macmillan for the Truthwitch tickets. I am ashamed to say when I saw people running I started running too. People were backing away slowly. It was so embarrassing. But I got my Truthwitch ticket and it was all worth it. But shameful. After getting my ticket, I wandered around the floor and picked up a copy of a few galleys including Illuminae. Seriously, this book is freaking gorgeous and the most intense ARC I have ever seen. While wandering around the floor I met Michelle from Pink Polka Dot Book Blog who is like the only other Pittsburgh blogger I know so it was great to chat with her. On the whole I spent most of my day doing galley drops and in-booth signings. I knocked out all the Harper drops I wanted which was very exciting and freed up a lot of my week. I only got two signed book, These Shallow Graves and... Truthwitch. I feel bad about running but I did get to meet the amazing Susan Dennard who I talked to about the Something Strange and Deadly series and how I'm still not over that thing that happened in Strange and Ever After. All in all it was a fantastic day. I got thirteen total books and I'm so excited for so many them!

But I of course have to mention the after BEA festivities. After the Javits I headed back to Octavia, Nikki, and Christina's hotel. On the bus over I finally got to meet and chat with Jamie from Perpetual Page Turner. She is so sweet and I'm glad we got to meet in person. We were all starving so I went with Nikki, Octavia, and Christine to Shake Shack. It was delicious. I wish we had one in Pittsburgh! After dinner I went back to the girls' hotel to wait out the rain before I headed back to Woodlawn exhausted but so happy.

Day 2: The Day Where It Was All Balanced Out

Day 2 I got up so early and headed to the Javits again to get in line really early. It was supposed to be all about Passenger but after the shameful running for Truthwitch I decided I didn't want a repeat. Plus I decided I wasn't totally interested in the early ARC, I'll definitely buy a copy so I can wait a bit to read it. So I went to Penguin for the in-booth signing for Ernest Cline. It was a little early so I walked around with Nikki and Katie. We hit a few of the smaller publishers and I got a copy of More Happy Than Not and took this really adorable picture of me as Jackaby. Then we met up with Octavia and headed to Ernest Cline. I totally fangirled about how much I loved Ready Player One and he was so nice. I can't believe I got to meet him. 

Then we wandered a little more and I met up with Britt, Sarah, and Becca. We took a snack break, hit a few signings (including Mary Kubica who I told how much I loved her debut The Good Girl), and then Britt and I went in line for Gregory Maguire. It was my third time meeting him in a year and I told him that and was super awkward. After that I headed over to Little Brown for the Libba Bray for her in-booth. Or as I like to call it, the feeding frenzy. That line, just no. But I got a ticket, met Libba and she was amazing. I reminded her about chatting about Beauty Queens last year and we took a selfie with "cuteness filter." I was so hungry, thirsty, and tired of people so I took a break before I headed to the 3pm signing of Lois Lane Fallout. I met Layla from The Midnight Garden who was so sweet. We talked all about my favorite topic Sansa Stark and this season of Game of Thrones plus books and the ones we are excited about. 

That was my last signing so I went to get my stuff and say goodbye to everyone before I headed home. It took forever to get back to Woodlawn (two hours you guys, it was out of control). But another great day! Again I got thirteen books, but half of them signed this time.

Day 3: The Day With The Crazy Busy Morning

Friday was the last day of BEA. Usually the last day is the light day but it was out of control this year. So I headed to the Javits a little later than usual but still got a decent place in line. Thanks so much to my line buddies for the week: Britt, Sarah, Pilli, Bekka, Nikki, Octavia, Christina, Katie, and Melissa. You ladies are amazing! When the doors opened I was all about the galley drops. I headed from Harper to Penguin and got a bunch of books I'm really excited about. Many of the books I got were ones I wanted to get signed in the afternoon so it really freed up a lot of my time. Then I went to Kim Liggett's signing of Blood and Salt. She was so freaking sweet and I can't believe someone who writes horror can be so nice. I cannot wait to read her book. 

After that I headed to the autographing area for all the things! All of them. I popped in Carrie Ryan's line to get Daughter of Deep Silence. Then I jumped in Julie Murphy's line for Dumplin. It was amazing to meet Julie and talk about how we seriously need this MC in YA. After that I checked on Rainbow Rowell's signing but it was already out of control. So I once again missed out on meeting Rainbow. But instead I headed to Leigh Bardugo where I used my front of the line pass to get the oh so precious Six of Crows. I totally planned out what I was going to say to Leigh but I was so awkward and forgot to take a picture with her which made me so sad! But leaving the line I met the ladies from On the Same Page: Brittany, Alyssa, and Amy. Which I had really wanted to do not only because I'm such a fan of them but also because my Secret Sister in the first round was Amy who got me some amazing packages and my current Secret Sister is Alyssa. It was so amazing to meet them and chat and flail.

It was then time to take a break, ditch some books in my suitcase, and eat some food. I knew today was going to be crazy when I had to take a stop at the suitcase. Both Wednesday and Thursday I was good with just one tote bag for the day. Then I headed to Harlequin to wait for their Teen Hour. I snagged a few bonus galleys on the way and also got to chat a lot with Bayram from Never Ending Books, who I totally didn't realize I knew from Twitter until much later in our conversation, and Nicole from PopCrunchBoom. Seriously, the Harlequin in-booths are the best. You get a bunch authors and they are so well managed. 

At that point I realized I was basically done for the day so I hit a few extra signings that I wasn't counting on. This included Alexandra Bracken who was of course delightful. I flailed about my ships in The Darkest Minds and how they sailed. She's wonderful and I am so glad I got to meet her again this year and in a more relaxed line, not the crazy Passenger mayhem. I also got to see Carrie Ryan again and snag a copy of City of Thirst, the second book in the middle grade series she cowrote with her husband, which I love. After that I was done for the day so I met back up with Nikki, Octavia, and Christina.

After leaving the Javits we headed to blogger dinner where I met so many bloggers I hadn't met yet and got to chat a little more with some I had not talked to much. It was planned by Tiffany from Mostly YA Lit. She was so sweet and it was great chatting with everyone. The dinner was at Bourbon Street in Hell's Kitchen. I thought I would never not be hungry again so I got the three course fixed price menu but I lied. I honestly filled up on the gumbo so when my meal came I only ate a few bites. Then I decided to share my dessert because I really couldn't eat another thing. After the dinner I went back to Nikki, Octavia, and Christina's hostel where we hung and laughed so hard about basically everything. I had to leave to head back to Woodlawn. It was so sad to say goodbye because I seriously love these ladies. I had so much fun hanging out with them both at the Javits and after. 

On the whole I it was a fantastic and exhausting week. I got to meet so many amazing authors that I love and got tons of amazing books. I wanted to take things a little easy this year and while I did get more books than I wanted it was only a few more (42 in total) and there were some surprise books that I didn't know we're going to be there. But the best part of the week was definitely the people. From the bloggers, to the the authors, to the publishers everyone was so nice and reminded my why I love this world. I really hope I can make it work financially to go next year when it is in Chicago because despite the hassle, exhaustion, and expense BEA is worth every single second.

My total haul for BEA15 organized by release date (month)

For those of you who were not able to make it to BEA and had to suffer through my flaily tweets and lack of attentiveness on the blog, I have a special giveaway. Keep your eye on my Twitter and enter to win a copy of Court of Fives by Kate Elliot! It's one of my most anticipated releases of the summer and I want to share an extra copy I got in the mail with you. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: Top Five Books I Will Be Waiting In Line For at BEA

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

1.) Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
(Amazon / Goodreads)
Published: January 5, 2016 by Tor Teen

Synopsis: On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others. In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Why I'm Waiting: Epic Fantasy, elemental magic, strong female protagonists, and a roguish prince all written by Susan Dennard

2.) Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
(Amazon / Goodreads)
Published: October 6, 2015 by Macmillan

Synopsis: Game of Thrones meets Ocean's Eleven in this brand-new book in the world of the Grisha by New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith. A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first

Why I'm Waiting: More from Leigh Bardugo set in the Grishaverse. Plus I seriously love heist stories. OHMYGOD I need this book!

3.) Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

(Amazon / Goodreads)
Published: January 5, 2016 by Disney Hyperion

Synopsis: Violin prodigy Etta Spencer had big plans for her future, but a tragedy has put her once-bright career at risk. Closely tied to her musical skill, however, is a mysterious power she doesn't even know she has. When her two talents collide during a stressful performance, Etta is drawn back hundreds of years through time.

Etta wakes, confused and terrified, in 1776, in the midst a fierce sea battle. Nicholas Carter, the handsome young prize master of a privateering ship, has been hired to retrieve Etta and deliver her unharmed to the Ironwoods, a powerful family in the Colonies--the very same one that orchestrated her jump back, and one Nicholas himself has ties to. But discovering she can time travel is nothing compared to the shock of discovering the true reason the Ironwoods have ensnared her in their web. 

Another traveler has stolen an object of untold value from them, and, if Etta can find it, they will return her to her own time. Out of options, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the mysterious traveler. But as they draw closer to each other and the end of their search, the true nature of the object, and the dangerous game the Ironwoods are playing, comes to light -- threatening to separate her not only from Nicholas, but her path home... forever.

Why I'm Waiting: More from Alexandra Bracken! Plus you guys it's an epic adventure through time! Plus look at that cover and the synopsis and *dies*

4.) After Alice by Gregory Maguire
(Amazon / Goodreads)
Published: October 27, 2015 by William Morrow

Synopsis: From the multi-million-copy bestselling author of Wicked comes a magical new twist on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lewis’s Carroll’s beloved classic

When Alice toppled down the rabbit-hole 150 years ago, she found a Wonderland as rife with inconsistent rules and abrasive egos as the world she left behind. But what of that world? How did 1860s Oxford react to Alice’s disappearance?

In this brilliant new work of fiction, Gregory Maguire turns his dazzling imagination to the question of underworlds, undergrounds, underpinnings—and understandings old and new, offering an inventive spin on Carroll’s enduring tale. Ada, a friend of Alice’s mentioned briefly in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is off to visit her friend, but arrives a moment too late—and tumbles down the rabbit hole herself.

Ada brings to Wonderland her own imperfect apprehension of cause and effect as she embarks on an odyssey to find Alice and see her safely home from this surreal world below the world. If Euridyce can ever be returned to the arms of Orpheus, or Lazarus can be raised from the tomb, perhaps Alice can be returned to life. Either way, everything that happens next is “After Alice.”

Why I'm Waiting: More from Gregory Maguire. He has written some of my absolute favorite fairy tale retellings. I love the ones with more high concept fantasy stuff so I'm excited to see his take on Wonderland.

5.) Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
(Amazon / Goodreads)
Published: September 22, 2015 by Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins)

Synopsis: The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America.

Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.

Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research

Why I'm Waiting: I haven't read any Rae Carson before (shhh, I know) but I've heard amazing things and a historical fantasy set in the gold rush with a girl who can sense gold. I want to go to there.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday? Are you at BEA with me? Will I see you in any of these line? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Really Want to Meet

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

You guys, I'm sorry but BEA is two weeks away and it's basically all I can think about. So this is going to be very BEA centric post. I'm sorry to any followers that are not going to BEA. I know it's not always feasible and sometimes the constant reminders can be annoying. But this was a perfect topic to flail about BEA.

1.) Leigh Bardugo
Number 1, without a doubt have to have to see them at BEA is Leigh Bardugo. I loved the Grisha trilogy and I am so excited for Six of Crows. Should I tell her I figured out the twist about the Firebird?

2.) Susan Dennard

Another absolute must see. I loved the Something Strange and Deadly series, though I'm still not over that ending. Truthwitch sounds absolutely amazing but I really can't wait to meet Susan.

3.) Rainbow Rowell
I missed getting a ticket to Rainbow last year but not this year. I totally need to meet her and act like a total idiot because I love her so much.

4.) Ernest Cline
Ready Player One is a total favorite book and Ernest Cline will be there signing ARCs of his new book Armada. I must meet him. I MUST!

5.) Geraldine Brooks
I've read a few books by Geraldine Brooks and they are fantastic Historical Fantasies. Her new book is about King David which sounds really good.

6.) Rae Carson
So I know I haven't read the Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy but I plan too, want too. But seriously how amazing does Walk on Earth a Stranger sound? Super amazing!

7.) Marie Lu
I'm currently working my way through the Legend trilogy and loved The Young Elites. I really hope to meet Marie after having read all her books. Plus the prospect of The Rose Society has me dying!

8.) Kim Liggett
I have interacted with Kim on twitter a little and she seems very delightful. Plus I really want to get my hands on Blood & Salt. It sounds creepy, mysterious, and gory. Clearly I need it!

9.) Marissa Meyer
I mean how much do I love The Lunar Chronicles series? So much! I really want to meet Marissa and maybe talk theories. I did that last year with Alexandra Bracken and it was amazing

10.) Sara Raasch
I really want to meet Sara, she's seems like such a delightful human being. I wish she was signing Ice Like Fire not Snow Like Ashes but I will consider waiting in line just to meet her.

Honorable Mention to a few favorites I met last year and I want to meet again
Libba Bray and Gregory Maguire

And a few who won't be at BEA and I REALLY want to meet

11.) J.K. Rowling
I mean she is the queen. I would die. I would be speechless. I would lose the ability to even.

12.) Brandon Sanderson
Within the past year Sanderson became an all-time favorite author and an auto-buy. I feel like a lot of you all have met him and I'm over here like "Pittsburgh is a cool city, come to Pittsburgh"

13.) Victoria Schwab
Again, Victoria has become and auto-buy and she is another author that just seems so delightful on social media that meeting her in person would be a complete treat, Perhaps she will come somewhere close to me next year when she's touring.

Who is on your list of must meet authors? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Discussion Post: What I Learned My First Year at BEA

It is officially May! And you know what that means, Book Expo America is fast approaching. Last year I did a Getting to Know You Post. I'm not sure if I will do that again but if you are going to BEA you should check that out HERE and get to know me. Not much of that has changed. Except this year no beach first and I recently got my hair cut so you may actually see it down!

But this year I decided I might do a discussion talking about some of what I learned last year. I have been talking to Britt from Please Feed the Bookworm who is going to be my BEA Buddy about this stuff so I figured I would share it with everyone. But keep in mind, I am by no means and expert at BEA. I have been once and I wouldn't say I really did it up. But if this is your first time, don't be scared, you'll be great! Here are some of the tips that I have.

 1.) The Best Part of BEA is the People 

- Blogger Con is a great way to meet people in a low stakes environment.
I know that it's the same time as the first day of BEA and we all want to get there for those signings and ARC drops but if you have paid for Blogger Con you should go. I learned a lot last year and I met some really cool people who I spent time with throughout the week

- Say hi to people, own the awkwardness 
One of my biggest regrets is not going up to bloggers I recognized because I was too awkward. Guess who else is probably awkward, them. (Right?). Don't be afraid to introduce yourself. I attacked Octavia and Nikki last year and I was so glad.

- It's totally cool to fly solo. 
Most of the lines I went to last year I went by myself. I know the buddy system is key. Octavia has a whole post about it. And I like buddies as much as the next person but don't feel like you have to have a partner in crime or a horde of fellow booknerds wait in line with you. I like being a one-woman wolfpack. I didn't feel like I had to see if the other person also wanted to wait 2 hours for Gregory Maguire. It sounds anti-social but I DO WHAT I WANT! But really it freed me up to meet people in line and chat them up. It lets you meet new people if you are solo.

- Chat up publishers when things are not crazy hectic for them.
They want to talk to you. They want to recommend books to you. I went to booths when there were no galley drops and found out about events and drops happening the next day.  If you were late to a drop or you didn't get a copy of the book don't be afraid to ask them to send you a copy. I've never done it but I hear it can be done. BEA is as much a networking event as anything else.

- Business cards are an essential investment 
Like I said, networking event. Pick up some business cards, I recommend VistaPrint. These are great not only to give to publishers but fellow bloggers. If you meet a really cool person in line and you want to check out their blog the best way to do that is to get their business cards. Let people do that for you. And actually, I loved my business cards so much, my blog redesign is based on them. Well, the color scheme at least.

I stole this from Elizabeth. She took pictures, I didn't.

- Pictures are worth a thousand words. Take them!
And not just of your book hauls. You will always have your memories but physical evidence of that is good too. Take some selfies with blogger friends. Especially take pictures with authors. You may never meet Leigh Bardugo again, take a picture with her and then fangirl about it for years to come.

- Hang out afterwards! 
Yes, BEA is a networking event but it is also meant to be fun. So many amazing bookish people are all in one place take the time to break bread and chat in a more relaxed environment. This may be my biggest regret. I didn't hang out afterwards. But this year I told Britt not to let me head back to the Bronx (where I'm staying). Everyone else, hold me to this. We need to hang out! Tell me where you're going for dinner. Any meetups you are having or know of? Invite me to bookish events that evening!

 2.) The Amount of Books is Overwhelming but Amazing 

Surprise in-booth signing? Drop everything!

- Make a plan but be prepared for nothing to go according to plan
You gotta be more organized than Santa. Make a list and check it three times. A lot of people like printing out the signing schedule and highlighting what they want. Personally I like making my own spreadsheet. But you can plan as much as you want, when you get there all hell will break loose. It's important to plan but just know that you may have to improvise. Last year I dropped everything for a galley drop and missed out on three other books but it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it ended up being an in-booth signing. Things didn't go as planned but I regret nothing.

P.S. If you are looking for a comprehensive list of YA signings and drops Nicole for YA Interrobang has a great Google Doc. And if you want to see my Google Doc so that we can coordinate, let me know and I'll share it with you. I'm not being stingy, I just don't know who might be interested.

- Everything will inevitably be at the same time, you have to prioritize 
Why don't things go according to plan? Well for one thing, have you seen the schedule? It's out of control. Like six things are from 10-11:30 on Friday morning. You need to decide what is your top priority, can't miss books. Color-code your list. I also suggest putting things into your phone calendar so that you have alerts.

- Get schedules of when the drops are going to be 
I did terrible with galley drops the first day last year. I didn't know that most publishers will put out a printed schedule for either that day or for the whole week. Grab those schedules first things and when you are waiting for your first signing of the day adjust your plan of attack. There is nothing worse than missing a drop for that highly anticipated book because you didn't see that it was scheduled. If you are wondering what galleys will be offered, Publisher's Weekly has a really great list.

My haul from last year.

- You will have more books then you know what to do with. Maybe be a little more selective.
I don't get a lot of print ARCs. Last year I was like a kid in a candy store. I was like Augustus Gloop in the Wonka Factory. Don't fall into the chocolate river. I got about 70 books last year and read like fifteen of them. I'm not saying it's a bad thing to take as many books as possible, I'm just saying don't just take it because it's free. Take books that you want to read.


- Getting books personalized is amazing but not really essential 
This sort of goes hand in hand with the above advice. Sometimes you grab a book in a signing because it sounds interesting and then you don't end up reading it. Or maybe you did read it but you want to share it with a friend or in a giveaway. If it has your name on it, you're kind of stuck with it. This year I will probably only get the books I know I'm going to keep personalized, the rest will just have a signature and that's amazing! Do I like my ARC of Egg and Spoon more because it's personalized and my copy of Wicked is not? Answer: No. I met Gregory Maguire, he signed my book and I made an idiot of myself. That's all that matters. (P.S. I got Wicked signed at a different time. Only in rare circumstances will an author sign an outside book at BEA).

- Rolling suitcases are essential 
70 books over three days is a lot of books. A simple tote bag will not do the trick. You need a suitcase with wheels. For a few bucks you can check that bag outside the exhibit hall and go back to drop off books at any time. It's so worth it. But you will be getting tote bags. Don't try to put them with or next to your suitcase, you'll have to pay for it or it'll get confiscated.

3.) I hope you like lines! 

- There are lines EVERYWHERE 
Lines for books, lines for galley drops, lines for food, lines for the bathroom, lines for lines. If you like lines then BEA is the place to be. But seriously use these lines to your advantage. This is your chance to chat with people. It's also your chance to sit down and rest your. Eat your lunch while you're in line. This is break time.

I got in line for Gregory Maguire so early!

- You need to get in line early, especially for really big authors.
You aren't supposed to line up any more than a half hour before a signing. But I'm saying get there early because you shouldn't be surprised if a half hour before there are already 100 people in line. The patented "not a line" often comes into play here. I got into a few lines two hours early just to make sure that I had a good spot.

- Book Con is sheer insanity 
If you thought the lines were crazy at BEA, you know nothing. Much of this should be better this year because BEA and BookCon are on two separate days. But this is the where anyone and everyone can go and meet their favorite authors. This is where you will see big name movie screening and celebrity panelist. BookCon is the only time I saw a stampede for a galley drop. BookCon is also the only time where I lost my place in line going to the bathroom. The person just didn't save it for me even though I asked. If you think I'm joking check out The Irish Banana's gif recap. I'm not saying this to scare you away from going. I'm just trying to prepare you.

4.) Tech Problems Are Not Exaggerated 

- The Javits is absolutely a succubus for cell phones. Those portable charges are phenomenal and worth the money. 
Seriously, I don't know how and I don't know why but you can have a full charged battery for one minute and the next minute you're down to 40%. The Javits will destroy your battery life. Getting one of those external battery chargers is so important so you're not looking for an outlet. This is the one I have and it was a lifesaver.

- You will not get cell phone service. 
It's probably a battery succubus because you are constantly roaming and trying to find service. The Javits is a large cement building and there are thousands of people trying to use the same cell waves. The deeper in you go, which by the way is where the autographing is, the least likely you are to get service.  Don't bother tweeting or Instagramming throughout the day. Your phone will not be work it, it will kill your battery faster, and you will just be annoyed!

But the most important thing I learned is..,

4.) Take Care of Yourself 

- Drink lots of water 
I cannot stress this enough. You are on your feet all day, you may not feel tired or thirsty but you will be. After the first full day of BEA last year I was so exhausted and it was mostly because I didn't drink enough water.

- Don't forget to eat. Bring lots of snacks 

She's grumpy from not eating lunch

Just as important as water is food. Am I making BEA sound like some sort of post-appocalyptic wasteland? Well it's a dystopian world of books so it's cool. No but seriously, you have to eat. One day I didn't get a chance to eat lunch until about 2pm and I was not a happy camper and neither was my stomach. You may want to get in line really early for your afternoon signings or finishing AM signings late. Bring snacks. Things like trail mix and fruit.

- Food is really expensive at the Javits, bring your own
I spent $12 on a sandwich and a banana. Get your food before you come in. I'll probably make a few PB&Js and bring those with me. Stop at Duane Reede on your way in and pick up things to snack on. My best advice is to stop at the bagel carts around the city for breakfast. The coffee is strong and hot, the bagels are $2. You can't beat that. Plus if you bring your own food you don't lose valuable time waiting in line and you can get a good spot for your first afternoon signing.

- Wear comfortable shoes 
Everyone says this and they mean it. You will be doing a lot of walking and standing, your feet will be killing you. Do not be afraid to wear sneakers. You should totally dress professional with dresses and nice pants but your footwear should be functional. Leave those heals at home. I mean I wear heals about two days a year but still. I would even suggest avoiding flats with little support. And if you are like me and you want/need to buy new shoes break them in first. And at the end of the day, soak em in a footbath. Take care of your feet.

- The buses at the end of the day are a godsend! 
And the best way to take care of your feet? Don't walk or take public transportation home. There are these absolutely amazing buses that will take you to where you need to go. I found these buses on day three and wish I had found them on day 1. They drop people off at large hotels and landmarks so ask one of the drivers to find one that will be near where you need to go. I'm staying in Woodlawn with my brother and the bus took me directly to Grand Central so I could hop on a train. IT. WAS. GLORIOUS.

All right, that's what I learned. Did I forget anything? What advice would you give to a BEA first timer? What did you learn at your first, second, fifth BEA?

If you are looking for more tips here are a few I found really helpful before I went.
The Book Addicts Guide
The Irish Banana
Read.Sleep.Repeat
Miss Print

And check out the BEA 2015 Goodreads Group for more info and to chat with others going!

This is my excited face!

But seriously, BEA is so much fun. I am so excited to go back. I can't wait to meet everyone and see people I met last year. I can't wait to meet authors and get signed books that I will desperately want to destroy my TBR to read. I can't wait to wait in line for the bathroom and forget to eat lunch because I'd rather get a copy of that sequel I can't wait for. But mostly I can't wait to see you and meet you even if I don't know you and you don't know me.

IS IT MAY 27TH YET?

Leave me a comment with your thoughts. And if you are going to BEA this year let me know so I can say hi. And if you see me across a crowded exhibit hall say hello. I'll be the six foot tall girl with brown hair and glasses looking nervous or grumpy.

And if you have any tips for BEA newbs leave them in the comments. Or if you have BEA tips for me leave them in the comments. Or if you just want to flail about BEA leave a comment. EXCUSE ME WHILE I FANGIRL!