BEA Recap Part II

The second half of BEA was the crazy half, full of long days, busy schedules and lots of awesome books and authors.

Thursday, May 28

Day 2 felt a lot more like a normal BEA day. I got up way too early in order to get toward the front of the line to get in. I staked out my spot, and then joined some blogger friends at the Harlequin Teen Breakfast where I got to hear authors Eleanor Herman, Adi Alsaid, Katie McGarry and Jennifer L. Armentrout along with publicists from Harlequin Teen talk about their awesome books.

Eleanor Herman, Adi Alsaid, Katie McGarry and Jennifer L. Armentrout

Thursday was the day that I got to meet some of my most favoritest authors that have written some of my most favoritest books ever. It started at breakfast when I got to gush embarrassingly to Katie McGarry about how much I absolutely LOVED her new book Nowhere But Here. And she was SO. NICE.

Me and Katie McGarry

After breakfast, I headed back up to my spot in line and got ready to make a bee line for the Disney booth so that I could meet Alexandra Bracken and get my copy of Passenger, which sounds AMAZING.

Alexandra Bracken signing Passenger

Over the next few hours, I caught a few lucky drops, and stood in a few lines for some signings. Mid-day, I took a much needed trip to my suitcase. The suitcase drop ladies were really busy...

Holy suitcases, Batman!

I got to meet the author that was the main reason that I came back to BEA for late in the day on Thursday. I am a huge fan of the Lunar Chronicles series, and Marissa Meyer was so nice! It was so exciting finally getting to meet her.

Me and Marissa Meyer - OMG!

After a quick trip to the hotel to drop off my suitcase and meet up with a good friend, Brooke from The Cover Contessa, she and I headed to 5 Napkin Burger to meet the Inkslinger PR maven and friend KP Simmons and her two secret special guests Kristen Proby and KA Tucker. I know, RIGHT? Best. Dinner. Ever. I got to hang out with several blogger friends, and two authors whose books I absolutely LOVE. Plus - there was cheesecake. It was seriously the best ending to a really amazing day.

Me and KA Tucker!

Friday, May 29

Friday was the day that my schedule was the most hectic. But, in keeping with the theme of the week, I was determined to not get stressed out about it. Once again, I lined up early and engaged in more front of the line shenanigans.

Oh Hai, Steph!

I spent my day trying to get to the highlights on my schedule and staying as far away from all the Six of Crows lines as I could

Abbi Glines is so beeeeeeeautiful!

My most coveted book of the week was Scorched by Jennifer L. Armentrout. And Val and I made sure to get to the signing area nice and early. The result - front of the line, baby.

Val holding the coveted whiteboard

By the end of Friday, I was pretty beat, so Val and I took it easy the rest of the evening. We ordered pizza, pet our books and I read the first half of Scorched.

Books at the end of day 3

Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31 - BookCon

Last year, BookCon was a fiasco. It was still super crazy and busy this year, but it was seriously SO MUCH BETTER than last year. It was much more organized and structured. In an effort to remain as low key as possible, Val and I showed up only an hour before the doors opened on Saturday, and about a half-hour after they opened on Sunday. Neither of us had any goals of getting books - we only wanted to attend a few panel discussions and check out the booths. We saw new adult royalty Abbi Glines, Colleen Hoover and KA Tucker speak on a panel about new adult romance books. I loved the Penguin/Random House panel I attended on how audiobooks are produced. The Forever Romance quiz show panel with authors like Meredith Wild and Jill Shalvis was fun. And I won a copy of Laurelin McGee's new book Miss Match at a panel featuring them.

The "line" to get in to BookCon on Saturday - 0_0

Abbi Glines, KA Tucker and Colleen Hoover

Me and Val loving the fact that we get to SIT for these panels

Read FIERCE

Last year, I came home with over 100 books. The year before that, just over 80. This year, I stuck to my guns and only brought home books that I was excited for and really wanted to read. As a result, I came home with less than 50 books. Less than 50 AWESOME books.

BEA Recap Part I

And, thus, my third BEA comes to a close. It was so different from my other years for a lot of reasons. I had been on the fence about going until about March of this year, but now that it's over, I can safely say that I'm so glad that I went.

I made a promise to myself that this year I would not get all worked up about books or authors I missed or parties I didn't get invited to. I would control myself and only take books that I knew I would be interested in. And, for the love of all that is holy, just say no to more tote bags.

Want to see how I did?

Tuesday, May 26

I took the train to Penn Station. It was my first train ride, and I rather loved it. It was fast and easy and I read the entire trip. Upon arrival in the city, I walked to my hotel and waited for my roomies, Hannah from The Irish Banana, Val from Stuck in Books, and Andye from Reading Teen, to arrive. Once everyone was together, we grabbed dinner and started setting up for the YA Rooftop Party, organized by Hannah, Andye and author Liza Weimer. This was an especially exciting year for Liza, as it was the first year she was at BEA as a published author. It was so exciting to see her excitement! And, she even had her first signing at the party. It was an amazing time and a wonderful opportunity to chat with publicists, authors and other bloggers, and I'm so glad I had the chance to join in the fun this year.

Leaving the station

Hannah and I on the rooftop - pre-party

YA Rooftop Party in full swing

And the YA Rooftop Party totes were seriously awesome

Wednesday, May 27

The first day of BEA was... weird. I'm so used to getting up at the butt crack 'o dawn to get in line at the Javits before things get crazy. But, with the conference not starting until 1 p.m. on day 1, the morning was rather leisurely. I slept in, got breakfast at the hotel, and then, with nothing better to do, Val and I decided to go get our badges awhile and check out the BEA banners. We ended up just getting into line way early - like, 3.5 hours early. Funny thing - we weren't the only ones. We spent our time chatting with other bloggers, planning out our day and looking through the show daily.

I always feel like somebody's watching me... Val being a creeper while we wait to get in

I hadn't brought a suitcase with me because I knew I wouldn't need it. Turns out, I was right. On day 1, I swung by all the booths to check out the drops, but didn't grab many books. I wanted to make extra sure I was going to read what I picked up. I waited in a few signing lines, got lucky on a few drops and was able to snag books that would free up parts of my schedule later in the week. I stuck to my schedule and got everything I wanted.

Amy Ewing signing The White Rose

And then it was off to the Harlequin High Tea in the beautiful Woolworth building. They were even nice enough to send transportation! We met five of their authors - Kristan Higgins, Marie Force, RaeAnne Thayne, Karma Brown and Jodi Thomas - and heard them each talk about their upcoming books. The food and drink at the Harlequin High Tea is always incredible - these wonderful folks really know how to throw a romantic party.

Kristan Higgins, Karma Brown, Marie Force, RaeAnne Thayne and Jodi Thomas

After chatting with the Harlequin authors for awhile, Val and I sped off for the HarperCollins Blogger Party in the Fox Sports Lounge. Many of the awesome Harper publicists I only know by name were there, as well as some of the authors. We finished filling our bellies with Japanese-themed food and wine before we Ubered back to our hotel just as the rain was starting to fall.

HarperCollins Party

After petting our books and re-packing our totes, we set our alarms extra early so we could get a jump start on the first full day at BEA....

Day 1 Book Haul

BEA: Ch- Ch- Ch- Changes...

Can you believe it's time to start talking about BEA again? It's almost time to start making schedules and dinner plans and packing lists. Who am I kidding - it's past time for those things, and I've already started. Let the madness begin.

This year will be different from all the others I've attended for a few reasons.

1. Goals - I haz them

Year one, I was blinded by the books. The first time at BEA, you can plan and plan, but when you walk in that convention hall, all those plans go out the window. It's inevitable - don't fight it. Year two, I was a bit full of myself. Although I was better prepared, I got cocky and still walked away with some goals unfulfilled and way too many books.

Yes - I said too many books. There's been a lot of BS thrown around by others out there who have a problem with the amount of books we can, and do, bring home from BEA. They sit on their judgy high horses and shake their bookmarks at us and say, "How dare you take books you don't think you'll read when those of us who didn't fork out the money and time to plan for the trip didn't get any! For shame!" Haters gonna hate and all that.

This year, I will come home with far fewer books than before. Not because of the people wearing the judgy pants. But, because I've learned how to say no better over the past two years. I've made a decision to plan better. And, I have to ship my books home this year since I'm not driving. What? You thought my reasons might be more noble?

2. BookCon - Take Two

Me last year at BookCon:

I'm such a damn hypocrite. I swore up and down after BookCon made me feel like a moody, sweaty crazy person that there was no way I was going to go back. So, yeah, about that...

I do think this year will be better. I really did enjoy the one panel discussion I attended last year, and I'm optimistic that ReedPop saw the huge clusterfuck that was BookCon last year and, by spreading things out both logistically and chronologically, made a better event for us all to enjoy this year. And, if not, well, I can always go shopping.

3. New Faces

I have been attending book signings and events for a few years now. I've been to a lot of them. And, I have never even once been to a book signing without my sister from another mister...

Sadly, I think Book Con pushed my sister wife, Jen from At Random, over the edge, so she's staying home this year. As this will likely be my last year attending BEA, I decided to cut the apron strings and go without her just to get that one last experience that only BEA can offer. It won't be the same, though.

I'll still have Val from Stuck in Books and Hannah from The Irish Banana Review to snuggle up with. And, I'll be rooming with some bloggers I've never met before this year, so I'm expanding my horizons. And, then I'll run home, and have a day with Jen where I tell her every sickening detail, and we both oogle my books and pet my swag. And, she knows I'll be bringing some back for her too. :)


Despite all the changes this year, I still have no doubt that BEA will be just as exciting and maddening as it was all the other years I've been there. In fact, I'm counting on it. Some thing have to stay the same, right?