exactly one week from today, yr beloved FYAers posh d. and jenny will descend upon the clustercuss known as the book expo of america (BEA). AND WE ARE TOTALLY SPAZZING WITH EXCITEMENT! like 20 pixie stix level OMG!
BEA is like the book version of SXSW, except with less hipsters (which hopefully means less b.o. and sadly means less free PBR). it’s a three day literary love-fest for publishers, authors and book bloggers, and i hear that this year’s conference is gonna be the best one yet. why? um, cos FYA WILL BE IN THE HOUSE! HOLLA!
given that this is our first time, jenny and i basically have no idea what we’re doing, beyond hobnobbing with other book geeks and trying to grab as many free cocktails as possible. in other words, besides the things we do every day, we’re not sure where to start!
fortunately, there’s lots of experienced bloggers out there willing to share some advice. unfortunately, this is not the kind of advice we need. i mean, *obviously* it’s important to “wear comfortable shoes” and “bring a bag for all of the free books!” y’all, that’s child’s play. i’m looking for someone willing to answer the tough questions, like:
1. which parties will feature an open bar and how can we get in?
2. what’s the ideal method of approaching a widely-admired YA author without seeming like a creepy stalker?
3. how can you then ask said widely-admired YA author to come have a drink without yr inner swimfan scaring the crap out of them?
4. is it rude to tell a publisher, “look, i only want yr GOOD free books. none of this twilight knock-off shizz!”?
5. how can FYA score a multi-million dollar blog deal?
6. WHERE THE EFF CAN WE GET A COPY OF “MOCKINGJAY” FOR THE LOVE OF KATNISS?!!!!
so, if you’re reading this and you’re a BEA vet, please share yr wisdom with us! and rest assured that once FYA has this BEA under our (fashionable and sassy) belt, we’ll be shelling out the REAL advice for newbies next year.
for now, i’ve put together a loose plan that will hopefully be filled in with lots of happy hours, peeta vs gale debates and new bff-making:
WEDNESDAY DAY:
10-11: You’re Reading That!?! Crossover YA/Adult Readers Come of Age
2-3:30: AAP Annual Librarians Book Buzz
2-3:15: YA Editor Buzz Panel
4:30: Autographing Table: Steve Brezenoff
WEDNESDAY NIGHT:
6-8 PM Books of Wonder
Suspense, Magic & Romance for Teens and Tweens
7-9 PM Algonquin Hotel
Celebration of Book Bloggers
7-10 PM Powerhouse Books
Tweet Up
THURSDAY: DAY
9:30-10:30: Big Name Authors with Graphic Novels
2-3: YA Authors of YA Editor’s Buzz – Ally Condie, Rebecca Maizel, Kody Keplinger, Sophie Jordan, Erin Bow
2:30 Kirsten Miller at the Penguin Young Readers booth
THURSDAY NIGHT:
4-6 PM: Book Blogger Convention Reception
7 PM Goodreads Pub Crawl
yeah, you read that right. GOODREADS PUB CRAWL! rest assured i will use all of my powers to make sure we end up at a karaoke joint by the end of the night.
i actually think i’m most excited about the “You’re Reading That!?!” panel, since it’s all about what we do here on le blog. in fact– wait, why are WE not talking on this panel? um PARTY FOUL. ok, well, besides the suspicious absence of a FYA representative, it still sounds amazing:
***
How can booksellers and librarians supply the interests of their teenage customers yet stay connected with that crucial 18-35 year olds demographic—the ones who still read and buy YA titles in great numbers? The recent success of Little Brown’s Twilight Series highlights the need for industry professionals to be proactive in supplying fresh and fascinating titles for this burgeoning market.
Opening speaker: Lizzie Skurnick, the Fine Lines columnist for Jezebel.com, has written on books and culture for the New York Times Book Review, NYT Sunday Styles, the LA Times, NPR.org, The Washington Post and more. Her blog, Old Hag, was a Forbes Best of the Web pick. The author of Shelf Discovery: The Teen Classics We Never Stopped Reading (Harper), Skurnick has also written titles in the Sweet Valley, Love Stories and Alias series. Response Panelists: Libba Bray, the 2010 Printz Award winning author of Going Bovine and the crossover favorite Gemma Doyle Trilogy (Random House); Ellen Loughran, Visiting Associate Professor at Pratt SILS (YA Literature and Services), has served on the ALA/YALSA Printz and Alex Award Committees as well as ALA’s Notable Books Council; Jennifer Bailey Hunt, Editorial Director, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, has guided the publication of numerous YA crossover mega successes. Hosted by Barbara A. Genco, Editor, Collection Management, Library Journal.
***
I KNOW, RIGHT?! jezebel’s fine lines?!!! libba bray?!!
i should also mention that there’s a lot of non-YA stuff going on at BEA, a fact i am reminded of daily by emails from publishers. here’s a brilliant example:
Inked from head to toe, Guinness World Record-holder Julia Gnuse is the Most Tattooed Woman in the world. Since 1991, Gnuse has covered 95% of her body with tattoos using the same artist for every design. At the show, Gnuse will showcase her record setting-body for attendees.
BOOK NERDS GONE WILD, Y’ALL!
make sure you follow us on twitter for drunken exciting updates, and rest assured we’ll be documenting the highlights (and shameful acts of swimfannery) here on FYA once BEA is over.
wish us luck*!
p.s. if you’re going, let’s geek out together! email us and we’ll set up a V. Important Business Meeting, location TBA (The Bar Area).
*free cocktails
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More importantly, can someone invent some sort of device that will ship these free drinks to Meghan and I????
Well, I’ll take Meghan’s share since she’s hatching a baby. Don’t worry, Meghan! I don’t mind! I’ll selflessly drink your booze!
1. good question. don’t know the answer.
2. don’t approach them in the bathroom.
3. tell them you have an awesome blog.
4. Just say you can’t carry very many books so you are being choosy.
5. I hope you find the answer.
6. You can get a copy of Mockingjay at the bookstore on August 24th. Sad, but true.
lenore, THANK YOU FOR THIS VITAL INFORMATION. yr response to #2 is especially helpful. yr response to #6 is especially UNhelpful. p.s. are you going?!
Yes I will be there!! I would love to scheldule an important business meeting with you, b/c I am your biggest (swim) fan!
I WISH we could get Mockingjay early, but the word on the street is no advance copies this time. Not even for Suzanne Collins’ mother.
PS – I will be at the Algonquin Hotel event and the tail end of the crossover YA panel (probably). I’m going to the Dystopian YA panel which overlaps with it.
yeah, i heard the same thing re: mockingjay but THERE MUST BE A WAY. if katniss can sleep in a tree, I CAN FIND AN ARC OF THIS BOOK.
just emailed you re: VIBM.
I’m a librarian from central jersey and I’ll be there on Wed. Stuff like this (and comic con) are part of why my job is awesome.
I would love to have a Very Important Business Meeting!
in reference to #2: I met John Green once and consider it one of my proudest moments that I didn’t make a total fool of myself.
joanne! yes! have yr people call our people (ahem, that’s our powerful businesswoman way of saying EMAIL US!) and we’ll set up our VIBM.
also, i’m v. impressed that you managed to stay cool, calm & collected in front of john green. i “met” him and david levithan recently at a book reading/signing, and even though our encounter lasted less than a minute, i managed to utter the phrase “satan’s fire cock.” PROFESH!
lmao i think it is actually awesome that you said that to john green and david levithan. your my hero.
Lenore and Joanne, I can’t wait for this VIBM!!!! I am so excited for this, I think I’m squeeeeeeeing!!!!!
I’d love to meet up with you guys. I will not be one of those attending the author breakfasts. I plan to enjoy my cocktails in the evenings and sleep in a little in the mornings. Vacation does not equal 7:30 a.m. See you next week!
girl, i give a firm DOUBLE TRUE to yr BEA style. just sent you an email so we can meet up! huzzah!
I’m so jealous. I will be with you in spirit. Just remember:
‘Enjoying a book and then meeting the author is like enjoying a steak and then meeting the cow.’ -Someone
brian, maybe jenny and i will print out yr tux picture and then take pictures of prom-you at different places during BEA. OMG that’s actually a really brilliant idea! hmm.
p.s. need i remind you of this equally famous quote: “Enjoying a book and then meeting the author after a generous happy hour is like eating a steak and then getting a happy meal OMG THERE’S A TOY IN HERE.”
A flat Brian!
that’s some wise words. i think i’ll change it up and say “music” and “artist” though.
THIS SERIOUSLY LOOKS LIKE THE COOLEST THING EVER. I feel so jealous right now that I’m, like, ten seconds away from morphing into one of those underminey YA friends. PLZ TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES.
Also, BARBARA STREISAND IS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER?!!!? That is both RANDOM and AWESOME, hahaha.
On a random note, I can’t seem to get the suggestion box to take my comments. I’M WORRIED THE SUGGESTION BOX IS TELLING ME TO STOP BEING SO SUGGESTION-Y lol.
megan, the suggestion box loves you! as you now know, since it even accepted comments for other posts! which i have deleted, per yr request.
yeah BARBARA STREISAND. ridic! did you see jon stewart will be there too? SWIMFAN ALERT.
I cannot WAIT to live vicariously through you two! This is going to be the most amazing week of OUR COLLECTIVE LIVES.
I am now suffering from extreme jealousy! I have always wanted to go to BEA!
In some ways, I assume that TLA (Texas Library Association Conference) is a much, much smaller version of BEA (like seriously a speck of dust on the head of a pin small), but here is my advice.
Free books-do not be greedy, but take what you will read and then review on the blog, or pass on to others. That is the whole purpose of ARCs (advance reader copies) and it is the way publishers create buzz about upcoming books. Mockingjay will not be an ARC. The great Scholastic has spoken. Don’t assume that what they have out is all they have. Most publishers stage their books, so they put a sampling out each day. If you see a single ARC that is labeled for “display only” but you are dying to have it, ask the rep. Lots of times they will reach under the decorative table cloth to reveal a stash of ARCs that are just waiting to be displayed! Do not take display ARCs or regular display books. This is considered v. v. v. taboo and is likely to get you shunned in many important circles. On the last day, lots of publishers may have deals-either selling their display books at dirt cheap, or letting you take stuff for free. This way they don’t have to pack it back up and ship it back to wherever their warehouse is. Though lots of the publishers are from NYC, I would assume there are probably similar deals to be had.
Meeting authors-Again, my experience from TLA has taught me that authors are “just like US!” and are very gracious and happy to talk to fans. You will often see them drooling over one another/stalking their favorites too. There are a few that are not at all like their books, much to the dismay of their fans, but not usually the ones that agree to speak and sign books. It helps to have an opening line or gimmick. Mine was my library mascot-a pink pony named Twinkles. I approached authors after sessions or signings and simply said-”Hi, I’m a librarian and this is my library mascot Twinkles. Would you mind taking a picture with him?” One only needs to see my FB album of Twinkles @ TLA to see that even Suzanne Collins is willing to take a pic with a pink pony. So lead with the fact that you are a blogger and have a question that you want all authors to ask or something.
More about authors-lots of authors sign at their publishers booths, but most conferences also have a separate schedule for author signings in a particular place in the convention hall. Stations are set up and you queue up like cattle in a line to meet whomever it may be and have them sign your books. Some pubs have rules about how many books the author will sign, and if you have to buy the books from them. It also makes it easier to gush to the author when they are not staring directly at you whilst signing your books.
The convention center-find out if you can have a wheeled cart, cause lugging bags around will wreak havoc on your back. TLA doesn’t allow wheeled carts, so we schlep about like pack mules with lots of bags on our backs. If your hotel is not close by, utilize bag check to periodically drop off your goodies. Take a couple of the good multi-use bags, like the earth friendly ones that most grocery stores sell-but a lot of vendors will have free bags too. You might also bring an extra empty suitcase so you will be able to pack all your freebies in it. Or be prepared to ship stuff home!
Have cash with you and wear comfortable shoes. Bring a small notebook to take notes at your sessions. Bring your camera and charger. And have a great time! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
katie, you are BRIMMING with excellent advice. thanks so much! i actually just ordered a really good backpack so i can carry books more easily (and look just like my actual YA self! bonus! er?).
you know you still owe us a blog post starring twinkles & suzanne collins! ahem.
Just found this blog-for someone who’s never been to BEA, I give pretty good advice!
http://polishoutlander.com/?p=1395
And another good cache of tips:
http://www.somethingbookish.com/2010/02/bea-tips.html
that blog was part of the blog tour hosted by the book blogger convention (uh, i can’t believe i just used “blog” three times in one sentence). overall the tour was helpful in giving me a general sense of what to expect, but i got the feeling that FYA has slightly different priorities than most of the other bloggers out there (and i think you know what those priorities are).
so I noticed that stalking lauren oliver / getting a copy of delirium was not on your list of things to do, which only means one thing. you guys haven’t yet read before i fall.
READ IT! it’s def teabs-y material!
and i don’t even think scholastic has a BOOTH this year, so mockingjay arcs (which probably don’t even exist) will be even more elusive! seriously you may have to go all hackers on us if you want a chance to read that manuscript.
also, the abc not-a-dinner and mostly silent auction has drinks (there’s even a pretty drink in the picture!)
http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=852446
but it’s like 80 dollars, and I don’t know if it’s filled yet. but fyi.
summer, let’s meet up! email us or check us out on twitter (if you haven’t yet). i think our v. important business meetings will be happening randomly via twitter…