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Book Blogger Convention - NYC in May
Mod
Just wondering if anyone out there in TNBBCland had heard of it and was going, that's all.
I swear.
Really.
I heard of Book Expo America last year and only a few days ago about the Book Blogger Convention. It sounds quite interesting, especially since(if I read the site correctly), your Book Blogger registration fee includes entrance to the Book Expo.
Mod
I might be going. It all depends on my financial situation. :-)
I think I might sign up for it. I am kind of bummed that both this and the BEA are on week days. I have gone to BEA for 3 years and they have always been on a weekend so I havent had to take days off of work.
That's 4 days in a row! but the long holiday weekend is right there which makes it nice.
Mod
I would only have to take two days off, as I am off tues and wed... but this sounds almost too great to pass up.
When you have gone in the past, what is it like? Do alot of authors go? Are there tons of free books?
I actually live in Manhattan, so it is great for me. Honestly, I think BEA is like the most amazing two days ever. It is the mecca for book lovers. i have had the blessing of always beign able to go for free becuase of my job (working at a magazine company that also publishes some books) and not actually have to work.
They publish a list of several hundred authors that all will be autographing books. There is a main autographing area, with about 30 lines. Authors set up for 30 min to an hour and sign books for people. This goes on for both days of the expo. There are usually 15-20 top authors that will be signing that you need to sign up for tickets in advance for - or show up SUPER early to get pre-tickets. People like Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson, the Lemony Snicket guy, etc. I have usually skipped those because during the hour line to get that one book, i can get 15 others at other less popular lines.
In addition to that, ther is the main exhibit area, where publishers have authors sit in their booth and sign books. There is another published schedule for this.
In addition to THAT most of the publishers put out stacks and stacks and stacks of their newest releases and soon to be released books. Many of them refresh with new titles as the hours pass.
Probably the majority of books are galleys or ARC's but there are also plenty of real books being given out. I am a little embarassed of this number, but I have gotten up to 400 books in 2 days at BEA. The majority of them signed. I was unable to go last year (got married that weekend) but the prior year it was also in Javits in NYC and I parked a car outside in a lot and would bring bags to my car, unload and go back in for more.
This is not really in the spirit of the expo - the books are really for people who will buy or order books for their library/store, but I can't help it. It is my favorite two days of the year.
I have found it is a GREAT way to discover new authors. I have certainly read my share of duds as a result, but they havent bothered me becuase they were free.
I will say, your feet and back will be hurting by the end!
Oh my god, words cannot convey how awestruck I am by your post, Bridgit. That sounds like my idea of heaven. Really.Lori, you have to go.
Ok. i just signed up for the blogging conference. The fact that you get entrance to BEA is what sealed it for me. My blog has suffered lately, but I am determined to get back into it. I'm very excited!
I hope you guys can go! I read some blogs of people who have gone there last year and how they were able to get early copies of certain books, specifically Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I just saw the new title and cover for the 3rd book which is supposed to come out this summer.[image error]
This would be a great place to get some goodies!
oh wow. you just got me very excited Kristine! I definitely want a copy of that!
Mod
If I lived even remotely close to this, I would go. You should go, Lori! It sounds fantastic!
You can bring a friend, but they would have to pay. There is a price for friends - $295 for the full time and a bit less for just one day. In previous years, it was 3 days long and I would go for 2 days, then be exhausted and pass on the badge to someone else to use for the third day.
Actually, I think I am going to cancel my registration for the blogging conference. I feel bad, but my motivation was just for the BEA free pass. I found out that if you are a Friend of the Library you can go to.I dont want to take up a spot on the blogging event when i am a less than dedicated book blogger.
Ah, I just signed up for BEA today and may be staying in a hostel with several other bloggers! Awesome!
Mod
Well, the bloggers rate is a reduced rate, because bloggers are sort of considered media, therefore cheaper. The actual rate for everyone attending, I think is 295$
Mod
Mod
Yeah - the 90 gets you in to the exhibition, but i dont think in to any of the educational stuff. And its not really $295 for everyone else. Its a closed industry event. You can't just attend. The attendees are supposed to be librarians, booksellers, authors, publishers, media, etc. The average person is not allowed to atted. The 295 is for 'industry' people that dont fall in one of the specific categories, but you still have to provide documentation proving you are actually in the book industry. For example, I can show my business card that shows I work for a publisher.
and actually, the cheapest actual attendee rate is 95, so the blogger rate is REALLY a steal.
Mod
If you are signing up for the blogging conference, you dont need to prove anything. When you sign up, they ask you the name of your blog and its URL. Then you are registered. You automatically get passes to BEA if you are attending the blogging conference, from what I understand. I just meant 'other' people. People who just want to attend BEA and arent going to the blogging conference. Becuase it is not open to the public.
Mod
I think i am going to sign up. Id be stupid not to!
No problem! I love talking about it! And your mentioning got my butt in gear and got me to register too - so thanks!! Now I need to figure out where we can fit a new book case in my house to fit all the free books! Hopefully closer to the day we can see who is actually going and possibly plan a little TNBBC meet up!
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Mod
Not really sure about the bloggers convention. I decided to just do BEA - I can't take that much time off of work. I registered for BEA and got my pass by email already. Hopefully it will be the same for the bloggers convention.Would love to be part of the TNBBC Crew at BEA!
And dont worry - i was alone my first two times and had such a great time. You can set your own schedule and hit the authors YOU want to see instead of fitting everyone's schedule.
Be sure to check the BEA web site in April when they post the scheduel of author signings. I always plot my itinerary in advance so i know where to go and when!! ( I am such a dork...)
You guys are making this soooooo tempting!!!
I work for a publisher and none of my coworkers had never heard about the Book Blogger Convention until I mentioned it after reading Lori's post (thanks Lori!). I don't think anyone from our office will be attending this year (as it conflicts with BEA), but it's definitely something we're having a closer look at for next year. So much book reviewing has moved to the blogosphere, and it sounds like this convention would provide a fantastic meeting space for publishers and bloggers to connect, and to make useful contacts on both sides of things.
If I still have a job at the end of this month I will go with you Lori! I live in Queens sooo....????
Mod
Marisa, the blogger convention is actually held in the same place as the expo, and occurs the day after. the blogger convention gives you a free pass to the expo..... Maybe you want to reconsider?
I think it would be so cool to have a TNBBC hookup in the city and we could parade around the expo arm in arm, keeping each other company while waiting in the long lines to meet the authors :)
Mod
theres a free literary convention taking place in Inner Harbor Baltimore this coming weekend. Saturday April 17th.
Check it out here: www.citylitproject.org
Can anyone make it? I am currently working on my hubby to take me. Its a 3 1/2 hour trip but one that looks totally worth it!!!!
Lori - you should also check out the BEA website again under the Autographing section. A partial list of authors/books that will be available is up. I think they will have a better list up within 2 weeks - with descriptions/times, etc. but its fun to get a preview.
Mod
Some get 1/2 an hour and some get an hour. For anyone you want to really go to, make sure you get there early. The more popular, the earlier. They havent named the 'ticketed' authors yet - generally those are the people that will have the longest lines. For those, you need to get a ticket in advance of the exhibit hall opening - basically arriving early enough on Tues or Wed. Even with a ticket though, you should try to be online at least 30 minutes or more before their autographing time. For the non-ticketed authors, it really depends on how popular you think they are in general. In many cases, just showing up on time will be fine, but in others, you may need to get there 20-30 minutes early.
The good news is that there are SO many concurrent signings happening, that generally lines arent so long that you can't get a book.
My best advice is to prioritize the schedule and for any ones you are really set on getting, keep an eye out for any lines starting about 30 min early. When it starts to grow, move over.
I tend to skip lines that are crazy long and go to the shorter lines, preferring to get 5-6 books in the time it takes for others to get just one.
But again, it really is all dependent upon the popularity of the author.
Mod
Haha! Sounds good to me!! You'll have to keep up! I map out my attack plan at least a week in advance and have an itinerary broken out by 15 minute intervals. Im crazy and treat it like its a challenge to get the most books. I'll be stalking the BEA website for the next few weeks to see what the signing schedule will be.
I've been to the BookExpo -- it is awesome. You should go.
Mod
So Im home sweet home... exhausted but sad my short getaway is over already.
The lit convention was not exactly what I was expecting, but was still totally worth the trip.
No free books, sadly. Everyone was selling their stuff for 10 bucks or more... so I restrained myself and did not purchase anything. Though I met two nice guys - a poet and his publisher, and gave them my business cards after talking up TNBBC and my blog.
They seemed interested and said they would check me out and possibly send me something. I have their cards as well so i can harrass them :)
I got to see a shitload of authors read and got to ask some questions too!
Here's who I saw read:
Geoff Becker (Hot Springs)
Andy Devine (WORDS)
Dawn Raffel (Further Adventures in the Restless Universe)
Sam Lipsyte (The Ask: A Novel)
Masha Hamilton (31 Hours)
Thrity Umrigar (The Weight of Heaven: A Novel)
Elizabeth Kostova (The Swan Thieves)
I got to ask Masha and Thrity, who read together, about the writing and editing processes of their novels. And I asked Elizabeth how she felt about the digital age of publishing and eBooks, as a writer and a reader.
I can't wait to see the line up for next year. And this has definitely made me even more excited about NYC next month!!!!
Lori wrote: "Today was the Baltimore City Lit Project Festival, and my hubby and I took a trip down there to experience it....And I asked Elizabeth how she felt about the digital age of publishing and eBooks, as a writer and a reader..."What did she have to say about it? Glad you had fun!!
Mod
She made a great comment about "an old kindle will never smell as good as an old book" and made reference to a book as a part of your body. An extension of a person.
Thanks for this, Lori. I can see her point and yes, it must be very difficult for authors, especially new ones, but as an advocate for the disabled (and someone heading in that direction) I have come to find my Kindle as an extension of my own body. There must be a way to make this industry amicable for everyone.Cheers for the reply!
Are any of you going to the American Library Association (ALA) convention in DC in June?
Mod
Renfrew wrote: "Are any of you going to the American Library Association (ALA) convention in DC in June?"I won't be at ALA, but I will be at Printers Row for Graywolf Press in June.
Anyone going?
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Has anyone heard of this before? I think I want to go, but I dont want to go alone. There are some cool topics they will be covering as far as getting your name out there, contacting and interacting with publishing companies....
Im itching to register.....
Anyone interested in going to this thing? Anyone?