Bookish Event Recap: ALA vs. Book Expo

Hi Everyone,

So as many of you know, I was at the American Library Association (ALA) conference last weekend. It was amazing and exhausting. I was originally just going to give you an ALA recap where I explained my trip, what I did, the books I am excited about, you know the usual stuff. But then I thought it would be fun to compare the two events. It's particularly interesting because I have attended both events in Chicago. So I think I can do a pretty good comparison.

On the whole, it was an amazing weekend. I got to see a ton of awesome bloggers, meet some amazing authors who I love and admire, and I picked up some really exciting books. It was my first year attending ALA after going to BEA (or the now named Book Expo) so I wasn't sure what to expect. I had heard from some friends that had been to both that ALA is much more chill and just about wandering the exhibit hall and talking to publicists about the books they have to offer. And while it was that, it was so much more. Alright, let's dive into the comparison.

The Exhibit Hall

This is a pretty good view of the booths.

As I said, I attended both events in Chicago so both events were at McCormick Place. After being there for BEA last year I knew exactly where I was going and how everything was set up. Or so I thought. I mean I did know where the exhibit hall was and the bathrooms, but the floor was super different.

At BEA, basically all you have is publishers' booths and autographing tables. I would say about a third, maybe even half, of the exhibit hall is devoted to the autographing area. The booths are then dispersed throughout the rest of the hall. While at ALA there is no autographing area so all you have are booths. However there are a ton of other booths besides those devoted to the publishers. There was artist's alley, a gaming and graphic novels area, education areas, vendors, all kinds of things besides publishers. I liked this because it added more variety and honestly there was more "empty" space. It was easier to find a corner to sit down and relax in and they even designated some space for that in the hall which was very nice.

However, at ALA the publishers booths were all in the same area. No publishers had self-contained booths either. They were all sort of like cubicals  and all really close together. There were a few exceptions like Disney, Sourcebooks, and Simon and Schuster but for the most part all the booths I wanted to visit were in one long line closest to the entrances. It was literally this order: Penguin/Random House, Harper, Macmillan, Abrams/HMH, Scholastic, Little Brown. There may have been one or two different ones in there to break things up a little but they were all so close together it really muddied the waters when it came to lining up for signing. Although it did make things nicer for walking around looking for drops and you didn't have to remember where all the big publishers were.

Winner: ALA. I would have liked the publishers to be spread out a little more but that congestion happens at BEA too in the autographing area and this was honestly not as bad. Plus they had a designated sitting area for you to relax in. Can't beat that.

Author Signings

The lovely Kerri Maniscalco

The first thing I will say about this is that there were way more signings at ALA than I was expecting. I think I had heard from people that there were only going to be a few authors that attend. And it wasn't anywhere near as many as BEA but there were still plenty of signings. If you have attended BEA you know that there are two different types of signings. There are in-booth signings and autographing. At ALA there is only one, in-booth. This is exactly what it sounds like, it occurs in the publisher's booth where the author sits at a desk and signs the books for you. And because there is no autographing area that means ALA only has half the signings.

I would also say ALA probably has more already released books because of the awards ceremony but BEA has more authors and probably bigger authors. Some publishers bring their big tent pole authors like Scholastic with Maggie Steifvater but for the most part it's more middle of the road names and big authors who had books out last year. And sometimes they are giving the book away and sometimes you buy the book. They also bring other books by that author you can get, Like for Maggie received All the Crooked Saints and could buy The Raven Boys.

But there are amazing authors at both places. Basically everyone who went to Book Expo was also at ALA. I got to meet Maggie Steifvater, Kerri Maniscalco, Alexandra Bracken. Marie Lu, Anna-Marie McLemore, Cat Winters, Sharon Cameron, E. Lockhart, Melissa Albert, Kristen Cashore, Adele Griffin, Stacey Lee, Brandy Colbert, and Amy Reed.

Winner: BEA. I have to give this to BEA just because of the sheer number of author signings. At ALA even if you have a bunch of author signings you still have time to chill and wander. At BEA, I have spent whole days in autographing areas and not been able to do everything because they were all at the same time. Which honestly is something in ALA's favor, more doable.

ARC Drops

This is probably where things differ the most. At BEA the ARC drops are extremely structured. The publisher will tell you exactly when they are releasing a specific book and that is the only time you can get it, When it's gone, it's gone. So you need to build into your schedule those times so you make sure you get there early to line up. At ALA that is not the case. Some publishers will have specific drop times, particularly first thing in the morning, but it's not so structured.

At ALA you can, and honestly should, go up to the publishers and ask if they have copies of a certain book. Many of them will not put the books out for a drop and will instead keep them in a cabinet for those who ask for copies. I don't think I ever saw Penguin do a formal drop like I'm used to, not even in the morning. But if you asked them they would give you any book that they brought copies of. Same with Macmillan.

The thing to keep in mind with this though is that you totally need to ask about this as quickly as you can. Your first day is the day you need to ask about that priority book you were hoping to get. They will more than likely give it to you if you ask or they will tell you when you can get. But keep in mind, everyone else will be asking too and they don't have an unlimited supply of the book. I saw some publishers run out after the first day. Don't assume that you can ask the next day, or even later in the day for the book.

Winner: ALA. You really can't beat the ability to ask and then more than likely receive any book you ask for. It's nice to not have to structure in drops throughout your day and to be able to check in when you get a spare moment. Plus when you ask about a certain book the publicist might say "oh, you like YA fantasies? Have you heard of this book?" and then they will give you a similar title which I think is awesome.

The Books

In both conferences there are seriously book everywhere and anywhere. It is an opportunity for the publishers to talk about their upcoming titles and put them in the hands of the people who can read them and then share their thoughts with others who might be interested in reading them. It's just as easy to get more books than you could possibly read at either event. I think at ALA it's probably more selective. You can ask about specific books and therefore get ones you are much more interested in rather than taking one you know nothing about because it's being dropped with a book you do know.

Most of the books featured are fall releases. I would say that probably with ALA there is definitely more already released books. At BEA I only got a few books that were already out and at ALA I got close to 10. Plus because ALA is a little later than BEA there are also more 2018 releases. When looking through my books I had much more 2018 releases than I thought. Even some not coming out until March.

Winner: Tie. But ALA might have a slight advantage because you can be more selective. I like being able to ask about books I am interested in and being able to talk to publicists is way better than just hoping the book will be out or knowing when to come back.

The Lines

For both conferences there are also seriously lines everywhere and anywhere. I have never seen so many lines in my entire life as these kind of conferences. I'm sure it has nothing on ComicCon but I don't know that I want it to. This is enough for me, too much for me. I will say that because there are less signings and not structured drops, there are far less lines at ALA than at BEA when there is so much more going on at a particular period of time.

The other really great thing about ALA is that they actually let you line up in advance. AT BEA they were such sticklers about that sort of thing, You couldn't get in line until a half hour before and if you tried to they would tell you to leave. I felt like at ALA they were like "yeah, start a line, just stay out of the way and we'll grab you when we're ready for you." I mean I think I was in line for Maggie Steifvater for over an hour and a half and there were people in some lines for a few hours.

But the only problem with the fact that there are less lines during ALA is that those lines, especially ones for YA titles or big titles, can be insanely long. The line for Angie Thomas was out of control. I got so intimidated by it that I didn't even try to get in it. The line for Alexandra Bracken was also pretty crazy. I did something else and then got in that one when it died down a little and I ended up being one of the last people. SO, less lines but super crazy lines.

Winner: ALA. I'll take a crazy long line where they let you line up in advance any day. It never felt crazy or overwhelming in the way BEA did. There weren't any miscommunication of where the line was, it was just long. And the people working the booths were pretty good about crowd control. Plus at the end of the day my feet didn't hurt all that bad. Twice I even walked back to my hotel.

Blogger Dinner! (photo credit: Lauren)

The People

I mean, the people are great (for the most part). The people are great no matter where you are going. When you are bringing bookish people like authors and librarians and bloggers all in the same place you are going to have great people. My first time at BEA I remember thinking how amazing it was to be with all "my people." That's what I felt like at ALA this year. It was amazing meeting people and being somewhere with people who also care this much about books.

For authors, I have already talked a lot about this but I did feel like ALA had less authors and less big name authors. A few of the publishers brought their big names but for the most part I felt like ALA was more about middle of the road kind of authors and even debuts. And yes, I would have loved to see Leigh Bardugo and Marissa Meyer again but it was great to meet some new authors.

As far as bloggers go, there were actually more than I expected. I didn't go to BEA this year but I feel like I didn't even really know that many people going. There were a few blogger friends that I would have liked to see and hang out with but I do feel like there were great bloggers at ALA. I got to meet some new ones, see some I know, and hang out with a few at a blogger dinner. It was so nice to see Nicole from Feed Your Fiction Addiction (and her mom who is awesome!), Shannon from It Starts at Midnight, and Holly from The Fox's Hideaway. It was also amazing to meet Lauren from Stooting Star Mag who organized the blogger dinner and the ladies of Once Upon a Chapter, Stephanie and Alexa, who were my line buddies many times and gave me some helpful tips. And of course my lovely roommates Katie from Katie's Book Blog, Montana from The Book Belles, and Michelle from Pink Polka Dot Books who was stuck with me all weekend as we drove together from Pittsburgh. Although I did miss the rest of my girls from last year. It just wasn't the same without you awesome nerds.

And yes, of course there was drama. There is always going to be drama. Any time you get that many people anywhere there is going to be someone behaving badly. And bloggers, librarians, randos off the street who want to pay $75 for books are not exempt from that. But I'd say for the most part that everyone was really nice and professional. Although probably a little punchy because they were tired and hungry. That was me.

Winner: BEA. I think having so many less author signings means that I have to give this one to BEA. Plus like not that I'm ever invited to any but BEA has parties that bloggers are invited to and I think that publishers tend to gear more events to us. So if you are a blogger you may get more out of Book Expo because ALA is intended for librarians.

Okay, there you have it. My thoughts and kind of recap of ALA and how it compares to Book Expo. I don't think I can say one is better than another. They are both really fantastic. If you are going by these categories ALA gets a slight advantage. But they are both really fantastic and fun bookish events. There are amazing authors to meet, upcoming books to learn about, bookish friends to meet and hang out with, and plenty of exhausting fun. If you have the chance to go to either I would definitely recommend going.

 If you have any specific questions please let me know. But honesty, it was a lot of fun and super exhausting. I'm definitely planning to go again. Next year ALA Annual is going to be in New Orleans and I'm hoping to go.

Have you been to ALA? What did you think? Did you go this year? What was the best book you picked up? Have you been to Book Expo? Have you been to both? What were the major differences for you? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Read On a Whim

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I don't often pick books up on a whim these days. Being part of this blogosphere means that I am often overly aware of all the new books that just came out or are coming out. They almost always come from a recommendation from a fellow blogger. Sometimes I'll read a backlist book on a whim just because I'm in the mood for it but even then it's pretty rare.

So for this topic I decided that I wanted to talk about books I picked up at BEA that I knew little about and grabbed on a whim because the cover looked interesting or I heard someone say they were interested in it. Plus I think this is a good way to highlight some of the smaller books that were there instead of the big ones. We all know about Heartless, Gemina, and Replica but what about the others?

1.) Thieving Weasels by Billy Taylor - Add to Goodreads
So I saw this book was part of the YA Buzz Books Panel and the title and cover did not hook me at all. But then I heard it is like a male Heist Society and I absolutely needed it.

2.) The Lie Tree by Francis Hardinge - Add to Goodreads
I was walking by Abrams and I was attracted by the cover for this and then I read the synopsis and it looks like it's right up my alley. I mean YA historical mysteries are always my favorites.

3.) The Continent by Kierra Drake - Add to Goodreads
The Harlequin in-booths are always great ways to grab books you didn't even know existed. I mean seriously though there isn't even a synopsis for this book on goodreads. I think it's dystopian.

4.) Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Maria Griffin - Add to Goodreads
The title of this book sounds like it's stempunk but I don't think it is. Maybe, though. It feels a little Frankenstein-esque. I knew little about it but it was part of a drop with Replica and seemed like a book I would like.

5.) The Thousandth Floor by - Add to Goodreads
I knew nothing about this book even after seeing it on a drop schedule. But one of my roommates grabbed it and was excited so I thought, why not. It sounds interesting though, like a pretty unique dystopian.

6.) Baby Doll by Katherine McGee - Add to Goodreads
I was waiting for something else at Little Brown and someone said they had this book and that it was like Room meets Gone Girls and that's all I needed. I love a mess with your head YA myster/thriller.

7.) Spontaneous by Aaron Starmer - Add to Goodreads
I stopped by the Penguin Random House booth to ask about The Reader which I thought was going to be at BEA and wasn't. But the publicist mentioned this book and it sounds super weird and unique. All I know is that it's about kids who blow up.

8.) The Graces by Laure Eve - Add to Goodreads
Again, cruising by Abrams and saw this book. It looked like something Magical Realism which I've been very into lately or like it had something to do with mythology. But the synopsis I think is about witches.

9.) Kingdom of Ash and Briar by - Add to Goodreads
My roommate Rachael had a very specific and detailed list of books and this one was on it. It's a dark fairy tale retelling so I went with her and grabbed a copy because yes, that sounds fantastic.

10.) Rani Patel in Full Affect by Sonia Patel - Add to Goodreads
This is another book that was at the YA Buzz Panel and I knew nothing about. But the cover looks cool and it sounds like an interesting contemporary so I grabbed a copy.

And those are some of the smaller titles I grabbed at BEA16. Did you go to BEA? What did you grab on a whim that you aren't really seeing people talk about. Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

BEA16 Recap: Amazing and Exhausting Fun!

Hello friends!

I am back from another year of Book Expo America. I absolutely love this event. It is such an amazing opportunity to connect with fellow bloggers and book lovers, meet authors who wrote some amazing books, network with publishers and bloggers, pick up some exciting fall releases, and learn about books that flew under your radar.

This year was the first year it was outside of New York so I was interested to see how Chicago would do it. And the answer, amazingly! I was super impressed with McCormick and their efficiency, adaptability, problem-solving, and general presentation. It was fantastic! Next year is back to New York but I'm almost considering doing ALA instead because that is in Chicago. I do think one of the things that made it great for me was the fact that we stayed at the hotel right across the street. It was so convenient and I could just roll out of bed and head down there in the morning and then get back there immediately at the end end of the day to nap and chill. It made for a much more relaxing experience rather than having to lug everything back to my brother's place in the Bronx during my New York BEAs.

Plus this trip was made infinitely better because I was staying with a group of delightful and fun blogger friends. There were twelve of us total staying in three rooms so there was lots of hang out sessions before and after the show floor. Sure we got on each other's nerves because we are introverted Internet people but they are so lovely. I loved spending time with them and I already miss seeing their real faces and not their avatars. Michelle, Christina, Rachel, Octavia, Shelly, Britt, Becca, Katie, Nikki, Angie, and Pili (click on their names for their blog links) you all made this BEA so amazing.

I also think that because this was my third BEA I knew what to expect. Or should I say, I knew to expect the unexpected. You can never fully prepared for Book Expo America but you can know what you need to do to get ready and what it will be like when you get there. And you can make a plan of attack that makes you less anxious. That's what I think what I was able to do this time. I'm not an old pro yet, but I'm getting there maybe.

Tuesday

Pre-BEA: Before all the craziness happened

Before the official start of BEA I headed to Chicago to meet everyone. I headed to the airport about 10:30AM for my 12:45 flight. When I get to the airport I got the call that my flight was delayed. But it was was only about a half hour delay so I head there anyway so I can eat some lunch before the flight. And ugh, what a rough flight. The weather delay made sense with the turbulence on that flight on both take off and landing. But I got to Chicago in one piece. When I got there I met up with Christina and we got coffe and waiting for Nikki, Wendy from Book Scents, and Jess from Gone With the Word to get to the airport so that we could share an Uber to the hotel. We stuffed five people and eight suitcases into one car. It was a tight squeeze but a totally fun ride. When we got to the hotel we dropped off our suitcases and then decided we wanted to go to Target to get snacks and drinks for the week as well as anything we may have forgotten. A lot of the group was like "let's get wine" and I was over here like "where's the jerkry?" BEA Pro-Tip: high protein snacks. But when we finished at Target we headed back to the hotel to wait for the rest of our group to get dinner. We ended up going to Lou Malnati's, which came very highly recommended. It took forever to get a table and our food but t was totally worth the wait and seriously delicious Chicago deep dish. After that we just went back to the hotel, chilled and talked and laughed. Naturally.

Wednesday 

Day One: I thought this would be the easy day.

The first day of BEA was the half day. So before it all began we went out for breakfast with some other bloggers at Yolk. Wendy planned it and there was a great group of ladies there. Plus, holy giant portions, Batman. I had a five egg omelette you guys. It was freaking huge! I only ate half of it.

So then after breakfast we headed back to the hotel before going to the conference hall to get in line. We figured with there not being much happening there wouldn't be much of a line but we still went down at 11:30 to get in line because we're early birds. Before I realized it the line was huge and there was no structure to it so obviously when the doors opened there was a free-for-all and everyone flooded in. 

Day 1 Book Haul

It's honestly all a blur where I went and when. All I know is that I went around to get schedules of drops so I could make a plan of when and where I was going to go. Plus I stopped by some of the smaller publishers to ask about copies of books I wasn't sure would be there. That's how I ended up getting a copy of Ghostly Echoes which is so exciting! Mostly it was just drops that day but it was still super stressful. I think it was partially anxiety and partially that I didn't have a plan. The highlight was getting to meet Michael Dante Dimartino and getting a copy of Rebel Geniuses, getting How to Hang a Witch which I didn't even know what would be there, and that I got books in drops that meant I to get later in the week so it opened up my schedule a lot. Lowlights were the Harper drop for Three Dark Crowns where they wouldn't let us line up early and we just had to hover in the way on all sides of the booth and the stupid dice game at Little Brown. I got lucky and got wild card so I got the book I wanted but it was silly that they didn't just let us pick.

But all in all it was a good day and I got some great books. It was crazy and hectic but it was a good way to jump back into the craziness that is BEA. After that our group decided we needed Shake Shack for dinner so we headed downtown courtesy of this amazing Lyft driver who was blaring hip hop and R&B music. Octavia was in the front seat singing and at one point a bus driver stuck in traffic next to us rolled his window to compliment the music. Seriously you guys, Uber and Lyft drivers are the unsung heroes of BEA. After a delicious burger and cheese fries which which was jut what I needed for cure my exhausted hangriness, we wandered I around a souvenir shop for a little bit before heading back to the hotel where I promptly passed out. 

Thursday 

Day 2: Where I Lack Self-Control

After the stress of being unprepared for the first day of BEA, I made sure I had a plan for this day. So after a quick coffee stop I headed to the entrance at 7AM to wait for the doors to open. The line wasn't too bad and it let me meet and chat with some bloggers that I've been following for years, like Jessica from A GREAT Reader and Nikki from Take Me Away. I was really impressed with McCormick for seeing that the line was crazy the day before and put up ropes to direct things. It was fantastic. When the door opened there was a mad dash to Macmillan for their 9AM ticket drop for in-booth signing. After the embarrassment last year I didn't run but I did get there fast to get a ticket for Kristen Simmons Metaltown signing. After that I was went to Harper for their 9:30 drop of Replica and a few other books. After that I went back to Metaltown and met the very sweet Kristen Simmons. Then I headed to the autographing area for the signing of Of Fire of Stars. I was going to use my Front of the Line Pass but it wasn't too bad so I decided not to. At that point they told us they would run out of books so instead I decided to just drop off my books at my suitcase and catch the last bit of the YA Buzz Books Panel. It was great and I was able to get some books I'm really excited about. After that I headed to Bloomsbury for their 11:30 drop. 

Day 2 Book Haul

I first went to line up at Harlequin and relax a bit but I heard that the 1pm ticket drop for Macmillan was crazy. So Michelle stayed in the Harlequin line to get all the books that we would share and I went to Macmillan to get us both tickets. But it definitely was pure insanity. It seemed like a good idea at the time to have all those tickets get picked up at the same time but they wouldn't let us line up beforehand so there was a ridiculous amount of people crowded in to the space in front of their booth. It got overwhelming very quickly. But they finally moved us to a line and I got a ticket for Vassa in the Night and one for Michelle for Stacey Kade. They only let us get two each so Britt very sweetly agreed to get David Levithan for Michelle and Vassa for herself. At that point I needed another stop at my suitcase so I went to drop off mine and Michelle's books before getting water and relaxing a bit before the afternoon stops. Then it was to Little Brown for another dice game. Which is where I saw the amazing Laini Taylor and got a picture with her and some other lovely bloggers and got a copy of And The Trees Crept In thanks to Ashley from Books4Nerds for swapping me. Then a few other stops before heading to Disney for their Iron Man in-booth with Aion Colfer who was so nice and asked me about my piercing. They were supposed to have mocktails but by the time I got there they were gone, which was fine. I just stopped by Harper to see if there were still books from their 4pm drop of The Female of the Species and The Thousandth Floor. There was so I grabbed them and headed back to the hotel exhausted. I only wanted 14 books but I ended up with 21! Although some were books I was hoping to get the next day so it freed up the schedule a lot.

When I got back everyone was really tired and hungry but we relaxed before a bunch of them headed to all the publisher parties. Those of us who did my go to any parties stayed at the hotel hanging out. We were trying to decide if we wanted to order food so and the expression "because I'm so hungry I could eat my eggs" seemed hilarious to us. We ended up getting Chinese food and having a Hamilton singalong. It was perfect.

Friday

Day 3: All the Signings and Waiting.

Friday was the third and final day of BEA. I was absolutely exhausted and ready to go home to nap for days but I was so sad for it all to be over. I woke up early and ate those eggs that I was so hungry I could eat the day before stopping to get coffee and heading to McCormick to get in line. There were a ton of ticketed authors this morning so I knew a lot of people would be in that line early so I didn't get there quite so early but I wanted to get a good spot. Once again I met and chatted with some very sweet bloggers and bookish people while waiting in line. One of them even told me she heard there were tickets for Maggie Stiefvater's signing left if I was interested. And I love me some Maggie so I grabbed one.

In general this day was much more laid back but that was also because for me it was all about the signings which I hadn't been at many earlier in the week. So I bounced from place to place all morning basically. First I went straight to Macmillan for their 9AM ticket drop so I could get tickets for Leigh Bardugo and Stephanie Garber. Then I went to Maggie's line to stake out a good spot. After that I went to the 9:30 drop at Penguin Random House for The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon before heading back to Maggie. I love seeing Maggie so that was amazing but there we so many people with Front of the Line Passes so it was a little disheartening to get there early and not get through the line right away, but I was doing that later so I couldn't be too mad. And then I went to Macmillan to meet Leigh Bardugo. I met her last year but I forgot to take a picture so of course I had to take one this year. When she looked at my name, she made my life, by saying she loves it and that I sound like a badass steampunk female heroine. Seriously, Leigh Bardugo loves my name! Then I went over to another Fierce Reads lady, Marissa Meyer. This was when I was using my Front of the Line Pass, and I felt bad cutting off Nori from Read Write Love 28 but she was so sweet about it and we joked that it was payback for her doing it to me at Maggie. Marissa was so sweet and I made sure to get a picture because I love her books. And then finally, back to Macmillan for Stephanie Garber signing her debut, Caraval. It was a very Macmillan morning.

Day 3 Book Haul

At that point I needed to get off the floor and relax so Nikki and I decided we needed lunch and a real lunch, not just the snacks we were carrying in our bags all week. So we went down to the cafeteria and grabbed delicious $6 hot dogs. Wendy had raved about them the day before so I knew it would be good. After that we headed to Penguin to check on the line for the afternoon drop of Gemina. It was already starting but not too crazy so I went to the signing of Stalking Jack the Ripper with Kerri Maniscalco. She was so sweet and remembered me from Twitter. And then it was back to PRH for Gemina. I ended up in line with some fellow Sanderson Army members, Jessie and Dani from Ageless Pages, who I had not had a chance to chat with much during the week so it was great to hang out with them in that massive two hour long line. The nice thing about that too was that I was able to go make some pit stops during that line. I went to a few other publishers, grabbed a drop at Disney, and MET JAY KRISTOFF! He was just hanging around and so I got to talk to him a bit and take a picture. Everyone wanted to see how small they were compared to him but I'm tall so I wanted to compare that. But seriously, wow he is a giant! Then I was able to get a copy of Gemina and with my BEA complete I headed back to the hotel.

Photo Credit: Octavia

That night was the Blogger Dinner so after resting up a little bit and getting changed we headed to the restaurant which was only about a mile away. And despite our exhaustion and the fact that it was raining we still decided to walk over there and it was actually a nice walk. The dinner was also totally fantastic. It was planned by Octavia from Read Sleep Repeat and Whitley from Reading With a Vengeance. They had fun things like bookish drinks to order, a banner to sign, and a raffle with fun prizes. Plus I was able to talk to some people I didn't get to meet during the week like Rashika from The Social Potato and Mishma from Chasing Faery Tales, they were both so nice. And I finally got to meet Jessie from Goldilox and the Three Weres who I have been chatting with forever about fantasy books among other things. She was as amazing in person and it was so great to talk IRL. The dinner was great but by that point I was mentally and physically drained so I headed back to the hotel BEA officially over.

And now that I am back home, still tired and groggy from a week of non-stop excitement, lines, being on my feet, and lack of sleep I miss it. It was so much fun. It was great to see all the friends I made at past conferences and meet new friends this time around, it was great to meet amazing authors both of books I love and books I'm excited to try, and it was great to find out about all the new books for the upcoming season. I took home a total of 41 books, more than I wanted but I'm excited about all of them. I can't wait to start reading and to share my thoughts here for you all.

Total BEA Book Haul

Did you go to BEA? What did you think? If you didn't go what would have been the one book you would want to grab? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Expo America Tips Podcast and Discussion Post

Hi everyone, it's that time again. It's time to start stressing out about Book Expo America or BEA. In less than a month, a lot of us bloggers and bookish people will be off to BEA in Chicago. It's a week of what I like to call, "the most exhausting bookish fun you can have all year." It's often really overwhelming in terms of the amount of books and people you will see but if you are sufficiently prepared it will be great.

I am by no means an expert, those exist I'm sure, but I thought I would share some of my favorite tips and things I learned from my two trips to BEA. If this is your first time and you have questions hopefully this will answer some of them. Or if you are thinking about going then maybe this will encourage you. It really is a fantastic couple days full of books, authors, and fun. If you get the chance to go I would absolutely take advantage of it.

Also this is the podcast discussion topic so if you would rather listen to my tips, yeah, you can! Britt and I welcomed special guest Michelle from Pink Polka Dot books so you get tons of tips and different perspectives on things which is really cool.




And in the interest of being inclusive and all-encompassing, I thought I would also do some longer discussions on some of my tips and add a few I left off. My first year I did a getting to know you post so people can recognize me and say hi so I'll leave that HERE and I did another tip post last year if you want to check that out HERE. Also of note for people may be my wrap up posts which talk about what I did when. Imma overload you with information because that's what I like because I'm INTJ so here you go, 2014 BEA Wrap Up and 2015 BEA Wrap Up. But anyway, tips.

1.) Own the awkward. 

Me fangirling to Ernest Cline

Don’t be afraid to fangirl to the authors or say hello to random strangers in line or bloggers you recognize from Twitter. It’s definitely a great way to meet people who all share the same interest and to put a face to the avatar so to speak. But that also means that you shouldn’t be afraid to fly solo. My first year I didn’t know anyone and I did everything on my own. It was great. I just kind of went where I wanted and just did my own thing. Plus it helped me meet people because I didn't have anyone to talk to. I'm a good small talker so I tend to talk to people for as brief as a “hey, will you watch my stuff” or as long as a “hey whatcha reading?”

And as far as authors go, they are people too and often super sweet. Tell them you love their books, tell them you're excited to read them. The first year I talked to Lauren Oliver about Caspar and last year I told Leigh Bardugo I had to read her books in my bathtub because "that's my safe zone." I fangirled so hard with Ernest Cline about how much I loved Ready Player One. Did they think I was weird? Probably. But you know what, I remember those interactions and they were great.

2.) Take care of yourself. 
It’s a long day and you are on your feet for most of it. Sit down whenever you can, long lines are a great place to relax or just find a corner away from everything to recharge. Also drink lots of water, bring a bottle and fill it often. My first year I was bad at that and after the first day I was exhausted and it was mostly dehydration I think. And bring high protein snacks. You’ll be starving and will either not be able to get away for lunch or not want to spend the $20 on a sandwich at the cafeteria. But seriously, I know you are going to want to do as much as possible but you need to sometimes say no so that you can eat a relaxing lunch and drink a ton of water. You and your well-being should come first not getting one more book.

3.) Hang out afterwards

I hung out with these awesome nerds!

This I think is the biggest rookie mistake. You go to BEA for the first time and you are excited to meet people and chat but then at the end of the day you're exhausted and you just want to go back to your hotel to put your books down and nap. DON'T DO IT! I mean do it, naps are great and us introverts need some alone time to recharge but hang out after said nap. This is the only time a year you get to see that person you chat with on Twitter. Hang out with them. My first year I didn't do this but last year I forced myself to go to the Blogger Dinner and get Shake Shake afterwards with people. It was great. We had so much fun laughing and now we're all sharing hotel rooms. I know that there are some publisher parties but even if you're not going, there will still be events happening that are open to anyone (like book signings) and people planning fun things to do. There's a Blogger Dinner again this year so sign up. Go to them. Hang out! Have fun! Or don't I mean, you do you.

4.) Plan a lot in advance but be ready to throw it all out the window when you get there. 
I’m kind of a crazy planner, a thing I'm realizing as I talk to other people about how they prepare for BEA. But I like being super prepared, like overly prepared. I want to know exactly where I’m going from moment to moment. And that’s because nothing will go according to plan and this way at least I have the basics of one. I spend a good month putting together my color-coded spreadsheet based on what I want to do and when all the signings I'm excited about happen. Then I get there every morning, review my schedule, and change plans.

You really have to be super flexible. But that's mostly because things will go to shit very quickly. You'll look at your schedule and realize everything is at the same time and then there will be all kinds of unexpected things like galley drops, in-booth signings you didn’t know about, or super long lines that take up a lot of time. It’s good to make a super specific schedule but it’s going to all fall apart and that’s fine. Just be as prepared as you can be and then when you get there, wing it.

5.) Prioritize and be selective. 

The books I got last year, much less.

This kind of goes hand in hand with the last one but when you’re making your schedule know what can’t be missed and go there first. You need to decide what your top priorities are and go with that first. Seriously guys, there will be more books than you know what to do with. It can definitely be overwhelming but it can also be like Augustus Gloop in the Chocolate Room. Don't just take things because you can. Decide which books you'll read or are genuinely interested in. Yes, there will be surprises that turn out to be amazing books but if you have too many to read you'll never get to the gems.

My first year I ended up with like 75 books and I only read like 20 of them. My second year I took home 45 books, more than I wanted, but I read 30 of them so I feel like it was much better ratio. That year I was more selective and didn't just take books because I could. It's not a loss if you don't get everything and anything. You'll feel less overwhelmed if you are more selective.

6.) Get in line early.

What's this line for?

BEA is like line central. If you like books and lines you are in the right place. And people are super serious sometimes about their line. And I mean, they kind of have to be. It's hard to maintain order with that many people Some publishers and volunteers have it down and it's because they're serious about it. Most of the time the lines start an hour and half before the actual signing especially for big stuff. At the Javits they didn’t like you lining up that early but people do it anyway. There’s always like pre-line huddles and not a line lines though. Ask the attendees what they are waiting for and you may be surprised that it's what you want too. Or it may be something you had no idea you needed.

But keep in mind, if you are hell bent on meeting that author then get there really early and ask around for where the line is then park yourself in it and hunker down. And don't be one of those people who gets there late and then tries to cut. Saving a place for your friend who is in the bathroom or hitting up a galley drop is fine but be conscientious about it.

7.) Dress for comfort but business casual
This is more of a conference and less of a convention. If you're going to BookCon and want to bust out your fandom t-shirt that's cool but at BEA it's more like what you would wear to the office. This doesn't mean you have to go all out professional just dresses, nice pants, etc. Business casual.  Bring layers for one thing. The temperature is so variable this time of year so it's good to have an extra cardigan or something. But that being said dress for comfort. You will be on your feet all day and sitting on the floor when you're not. Nice pants or a dark denim with a nice shirt is totally okay. Also footwear is super important. Comfortable shoes is the key to success. So wearing sneaking is definitely advised. Seriously don't be embarrassed about wearing sneakers with your dress you will be glad you did.

8.) Get the galley drop schedules and wander the floor first thing.
For one thing a lot of galley drops, these are unsigned ARCs that you can take, happen first thing in the morning. I like visiting the major publishers right when the doors open. Plus that's a good time to collect their schedule of galley drops. Most publishers don't announce in advance when they are dropping books but you can either get a printed schedule for that day or they'll post their schedules so you can take a picture of it. The show daily, a magazine that comes out every day, is also a good place to look for daily galley drop schedules. Grab one on your way in and scan it while you're waiting in line. Galley drops are great because if you get a book you really want it can free up your schedule for signings.

9.) Bring a wheeled suitcase not tote bags.
Remember what I said about it being the place for line lovers. Well BEA is also heaven for tote bags. Every publisher, every day is giving out a free tote bag. You can go nuts collecting them all like Pokemon. Or just like pick your favorites and use those. I usually had one big one I would use and then if it got full I would empty it and go back for more. That's where your wheeled suitcase comes in. You'll get a lot of books so it's nice to have an easy way to transport them back and forth to the hotel. At the Javits you could check a bag for a few bucks and I'm guessing McCormick is the same. It's worth the price at the end of the day.

10.) Get a Reader Pass
This is the best kept secret at BEA. If you can spring for the extra $55 let me tell you, it is totally worth it. This is an additional pass that offer insurance on your signed books but more importantly it gives you a one-time use front of the line pass. What this means is that you can go to the beginning of the line without waiting. It's like the FastPass at Disney. It basically means that you can go ahead of everyone without waiting. Which is great because of everything I already said about lines and things being at the same time. It may seem like a pretty penny just to skip one line but i'm telling you, it's worth it. Not only are you assured that you get that one must have book but it also relieves a lot of stress. I used mine last year for Leigh Bardugo and it was fantastic. I got some side-eyes from people who waited but I regret nothing. These passes don't sell out and anyone can get one. GET ONE!

And that's all I got. But that's a lot, honestly probably too much but I figure maybe I'll overwhelm you now so when you get there it's easy. So now the question is, who else is going to BEA? I seriously want to meet people. I'll be there all three days of BEA, but not BookCon, so if you are there and you see me come say hi. Or tell me you're coming so I can be on the lookout for you. My favorite thing about BEA is meeting the people, people I know from Twitter and their blogs, or even just strangers so I can find new blogs. So say hi. Even if you see me in a big group. Don't be intimidated by those ladies, they're nice.

Okay, I should stop babbling. We'll babble together at BEA. Yes? Yes. Are you coming to BEA? Do you have any tips? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

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!

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!