Oh, do I have stories for you! And pictures! And words of adoration for people I met!
This past weekend was Book Expo America. While the event spanned four days, Thursday through Sunday, I was only there on Friday and Saturday.
I flew in to JFK on Thursday, and I arrived frazzled and frantic as I tried to figure out which terminal Jenn’s flight would be coming into. The New York humidity was making me sweat like a 14-year-old boy who just finished his first wrestling match. That was great. Jenn’s flight was only going to be delayed by 30 minutes, but then it was an hour, then two hours, then three hours, then FOUR HOURS after her flight was supposed arrive, it finally landed in JFK. At that point, I’d already missed having dinner with some bloggers and some folks from Hachette such as Miriam and Valerie (hi, Miriam! hi, Valerie!), but I was so happy to be at BEA that I didn’t mind. Besides, what can you do? Sometimes flights are delayed. C’est la vie!
When I was flying to JFK from California, I realized I’d left my business cards AT HOME. WHO DOES THAT? Apparently, ME! I could have forgotten my underwear, my deoderant, my shoes, anything but my business cards! Fortunately, my husband was able to overnight the cards so I could have them on Friday.
On Friday Jenn and I got up at dark o’clock in order to get a ticket to get a signed copy of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the sequel to The Hunger Games. That was totally worth it, so expect to see some good giveaways having to do with Catching Fire and The Hunger Games later this week or next week.
At lunch I went to meet Tyler from Scholastic. We’ve become friends on Twitter, so I’ll admit it’s a little nerve wracking to meet someone you only know online. Will you like them as much in person as you will online? Will they like you? Let me just say, I had a fantastic time with Tyler as he showed me around Scholastic, and if I lived in New York we’d totally be real life friends. I guess we’re real life friends now, but I won’t get to see him ’til next year! *sob* Tyler is one of the people who blog at On Our Minds @ Scholastic. Rumor has it that they will be giving away a copy of Catching Fire for people who didn’t get to attend BEA.
Unfortunately, my camera was a big FAIL at BEA, and some of my pictures are corrupted. A few survived, though:
This is part of the Scholastic library, where they keep a copy of all the books they’ve published. It’s very cool and run by an even cooler librarian.
Scholastic’s mission is written on the carpet of one of their hallways:
This is the view from the top of the Scholastic building. It was an awesome view! My pics do not do it justice:
This is a building on the roof of the Scholastic building. I just liked the color…it made me happy.
This is a fun…thing…in the Scholastic store:
Scholastic was a lot of fun, very colorful, with lots of Cliffords hanging around. Everyone I talked to was nice and I think I might ask Tyler for another tour next year. I loved it.
Also, you can see what I saw in this 105 second tour of Scholastic.
I got to meet Joyce Carol Oates and she even let me gush at her. I absolutely love her and can’t wait to read her newest book, Little Bird of Heaven.
Friday night was the BEAtweetup party where they were going to give away a Kindle 2. Well, Adaptive Glue was giving away a Kindle 2, which is super generous of them! I told Jenn that if I won I’d probably drop my drink, so when they announced my name, she grabbed my drink and pushed me forward. I seriously thought I might faint, because despite my post that I would NEVER WANT A KINDLE, I’ve since changed my mind (long before this drawing happened!) and must admit that Chartroose was right and I was wrong. *blech ech gag* (that was me eating my words…they don’t taste too good)
I’ll be posting about the Kindle as soon as I’ve had a chance to read a book on it. Promise!
After the BEAtweetup we went to a kidlit party where I had a great time with Lori the librarian. Seriously, she was a kick in the pants and me and Tyler think that the area surrounding the library she works at will be the most literate area in the country in about five years (due in large part to her enthusiasm about children’s, middle grade, and young adult books, and due in small part to the fact that she’s the cutest. thing. ever.).
On Saturday morning I had my “signing”. I want to thank NetGalley and Fran Toolan for doing an amazing job of organizing that! I had a great time chatting with publishers and authors!
Saturday afternoon was the book blogger panel, which seemed to go well. Publisher’s Weekly did a good summary of the book blogger panel.
Despite promising myself that I wouldn’t pick up too many books, I couldn’t help myself! There were a lot of young adult books that just sounded fabulous, so I grabbed them despite the fact that it meant checking my suitcase and piling more books into a reusable bag. Three books I’m looking forward to reading soon are:
- Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor
- The Devil’s Kiss by Sarwat Chadda
- Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
On Saturday night I went out to dinner with Jenn from Jenn’s Bookshelf and Nicole from Linus’s Blanket. Nicole lives in Brooklyn, so we went to a restaurant that she recommended called Dos Caminos. They had the best Prickly Pear margarita I’ve ever had! We were bummed when their margarita machine broke, but it was probably for the best since that margarita was potent! We chatted for FOUR HOURS and were reluctant to leave even though it was 11:15pm and I had to catch a plane at 7am! We talked about absolutely everything, and I think it was very telling that our conversation was able to get away from just talking about books and blogging and get into other discussions. Not that I don’t like talking about blogging! I love talking about blogging and would talk about it for hours on end, but we really clicked and talked about lots of things that I’m still thinking about today.
BEA was an absolute blast! Hopefully later this week I’ll have a few more pictures for you. And don’t forget to stay tuned since I’ll be giving away two copies of Catching Fire, along with a copy of The Hunger Games to go with it, just in case you don’t follow my instructions and haven’t read it yet. 
Quick highlights from BEA:
- Getting an ARC of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (sequel to The Hunger Games)
- Meeting Tyler from Scholastic
- Winning the Kindle
- Getting more books than I can list that have me thinking about calling in sick just so I can read them all
- Having dinner with Jenn and Nicole
You should plan on going next year…I already am!
| Tags: bea, bloggers, book expo america, kindle 52 comments »
May 31st, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Eeek! You won a Kindle! That’s so awesome. I’m super jealous of all of you who got to go to BEA.
May 31st, 2009 at 5:53 pm
It was such a pleasure to meet you!! Now catch up on some sleep!!
May 31st, 2009 at 6:16 pm
An ARC of Catching Fire??? Oh I wish I wish I wish!!!!!
May 31st, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Great post! It was a pleasure to meet you at the tweetup and share some cabs and discuss pioneer woman and wine. Hope to see you in NYC again!
May 31st, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Okay, I want to work in a building that has carpet that looks like that!!! Whoever said the color green was calming, was missing out on the power of language to transform.
Also, congrats on the Kindle. I LOVE mine, and call him my boyfriend (yes, I’ve done one of those weird things and given it human-like characteristics). Can’t wait to see what all you’ve downloaded and how quickly you get lost in it!
May 31st, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Great recap! Sounds like you all had a wonderful time. I’m thinking about going next year, as NYC is an Amtrak ride away for me. Congrats on the Kindle … enjoy!
May 31st, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Congrats on winning the Kindle Trish.
May 31st, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I’m completely jealous, Trish – wish I could have gone *making sure to make note of next year’s event!* Congrats on winning a Kindle…I want to see the list of books you grabbed!!
May 31st, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Congrats on your Kindle win and getting a copy of Catching Fire! I’m glad to see that you had such a great time!
May 31st, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Love the pictures of Scholastic! I already told my hubby we are going next year.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:02 pm
AHHHHHH!!! You had fun AND got good stuffs, it can’t get better! I wish I could have grabbed a copy of Catching Fire!!!! (oh and a kindle would be nice too…but I don’t ever win anything).
Congrats to you!!!! Can’t wait to read more!
May 31st, 2009 at 9:24 pm
It sounds like such a fantastic time Trish! I’m going to go next year…I’ve already started saving for it. Congrats on the Kindle!! That’s awesome! And I’m so proud of you ladies for representing us so well at the panel. Thanks for that! You know, I really wish I had a contact with Scholastic. They’re one of my favorite publishers. I’m just to shy to reach out and ask, lol…I should get over that :p
May 31st, 2009 at 9:30 pm
You’re going to love your Kindle! I’ve now read four books on mine and traveled with it, and it’s just so convenient! I’ll be reviewing mine soon, and I’ll be sure to link to your review and Kathy’s as well.
Aren’t the folks at Adaptive Blue awesome?
May 31st, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I am so jelous that you have a Kindle & I want to hear all about it and how much you love it! Lucky you
Glad you had a great time Trish!
June 1st, 2009 at 3:41 am
I loved reading this post! Congrats on your Kindle. Have fun with all your new books.
June 1st, 2009 at 4:29 am
Congrats on your Kindle! Sounds like you had an awesome weekend at BEA. I’m jealous, but I will be seeing you there next year!
June 1st, 2009 at 4:58 am
What fun! Thank you so much for sharing. Now, if you decide that your Kindle just isn’t for you… LOL! Seriously, it’s perfectly fine to change you’re mind about electronics. I do it all the time.
June 1st, 2009 at 5:37 am
I was so excited when you won the Kindle! BEA was so much fun. I was thrilled to meet all the bloggers – everyone was exactly how I expected them to be!
June 1st, 2009 at 5:55 am
Hey, Trish! Thanks for the BEA recap. I didn’t go, but I got a taste of it thanks to you and Tyler. Oh, I’m one of the OOM@Scholastic bloggers and sit at the desk next to Tyler…except the day you visited. Sorry I missed meeting you but maybe next time. Total congrats on your Kindle. Funny, I was just saying this morning that I would be willing to win a Kindle in a sweepstakes. Seriously! I was listening to NPR’s $$ drive, at the time. You’ve shown me, it really can happen.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:39 am
I’m glad you had a good time, I feel like I barely saw you!
June 1st, 2009 at 6:44 am
Ok, I am *way* more jealous about the ARC of Catching Fire than I am about BEA in general. I WANT ONE!
June 1st, 2009 at 7:06 am
Ahhh, I’m so jealous of all of you who got to go to BEA… Maybe one day! And congrats on winning the Kindle 2. I’m one of those people that can’t imagine ever wanting one, so I’ll be interested to hear what you think about it
June 1st, 2009 at 7:48 am
I still can’t believe you won that Kindle. The look on your face was priceless! LOL. It was fun hangin’ with you while you were in New York — you’ve definitely got a new real life friend in NYC now. And thanks for posting those pics of Scholastic!!
June 1st, 2009 at 8:01 am
The Scholastic tour sounds AMAZING! What a cool trip!
And a Kindle? What more could you ask for?
June 1st, 2009 at 9:20 am
I should forward the photos of you when you were giving your “acceptance” speech. Like Tyler mentioned, your face was priceless!
June 1st, 2009 at 9:27 am
Sounds like you had a great time! Congrats on the Kindle win. You will have to let us know how you like it!
June 1st, 2009 at 9:31 am
Congrats on winning a Kindle! I can’t wait to hear more about BEA! I’m definitely planning to go next year.
June 1st, 2009 at 9:31 am
So you won a Kindle AND met JCO?
I am drowning in envy.
June 1st, 2009 at 9:45 am
Sounds like you had an awesome time! I’m loving all these wrap up posts! I’ll definitely be attending next year. Looking forward to seeing how you like the kindle.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:12 am
i’m SO sad i missed it–especially since i’m only a 70-minute car trip to manhattan! waah! next year i am GOING. and will whoop it up with you and all the rest of the bloggers.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:14 am
I am SO jealous! I think the part that make me the most envious is your meeting with Joyce Carol Oates. How totally awesome! Congrats on the Kindle win too. Woo-hoo!
June 1st, 2009 at 11:47 am
My DD (age 12) just read (I should say devoured) The Hunger Games. She loved it. Maybe I’ll read it too. Congrats on winning the Kindle!
June 1st, 2009 at 11:50 am
Great to hear and see what you did….am very jealous over the Kindle and JCO!! smiles- A
June 1st, 2009 at 12:05 pm
It was great meeting you at the Tweet-up!!!
June 1st, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I’ve already got next year’s BEA on my calendar. Sounds like it was a great time!
June 1st, 2009 at 2:53 pm
WOW. That sounds like such an amazing couple of days!
June 1st, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I am SO JEALOUS you got to meet Joyce Carol Oates. Wow, lucky you! Sounds like an awesome trip.
June 1st, 2009 at 4:28 pm
SOunds like so much fun. Lucky girl.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Sounds (and looks) like a wonderful trip! Wish I could have been there. Congrats on a winning a kindle. I wasn’t a fan at first but I have to admit the kindle comes in handy, especially when traveling. How great that you got to meet so many cool people!
June 1st, 2009 at 6:52 pm
How awesome that you won a Kindle!!!!!!! Congrats and welcome to the world of Kindle. I LOVE mine. I still read books in their original printed form but do love the Kindle and all its bells and whistles. I enjoyed reading about your trip to the Big Apple and BEA. Thanks for sharing!
June 1st, 2009 at 7:18 pm
OOoo! I’m so jealous of your attending BEA, your books, author signings meeting bloggers and even the Kindle 2 (and I don’t even want one!) Either way, it sounds like you had an awesome time. Enjoy your new books and Kindle 2.
June 1st, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Congrats on the Kindle! Surprisingly I still can’t drum up enough interest in one, but as more people get them maybe I will be swayed. After all I now have a dvd player, a mac, and i-pod countless other things that I thought I would never have any use for.
June 1st, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Congrats on the Kindle win and the Catching Fire ARC! Coolness! I still can’t imagine myself going to New York City, even though I’ve bopped around London with no problem, but it sure sounds like you guys all had a terrific time!
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:25 am
So glad I got to meet you in person — even if it was just for 30 seconds! And you looked kind of stunned when they announced you as the winner.
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:43 am
Oh what gorgeous pictures of Scholastic!!
It was so great to meet you, and to have you as my roomie. I hope you are able to make the National Book Festival and The Baltimore Book Festival. I’m seriously considering attending The Book Group Expo!
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:36 am
We missed you at dinner, Trish, but so glad we got to catch up anyway! CONGRATS on the Kindle.
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:55 am
Congrats on winning the Kindle. It was great to meet you, if only briefly at the TweetUp. Man, that place was crowded.
Sounds like you had a great time. I’m bummed I missed Suzanne Collins and Joyce Carol Oates.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:34 pm
What a fabulous trip you had! Dinner with the girls was probably the best part of the whole trip I imagine. Though a sparkly new Kindle2 is not too shabby either. I’m glad you had such a fabulous experience.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:58 am
Love the Scholastic pictures; the expo sounded great. Congrats on the Kindle>>>ENVY HERE
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:54 am
This is fantastic! Jealous of the kindle — but mostly of the great time it sounds like you had a BEA. Sign me up for next year!
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:33 am
Sounds fantastic … except about the waiting for the 4-hour delayed plane. And now you have a Kindle!!! yay! I love mine … I think you will find that you will start to prefer it over a regular book. Interested to see what you think after you start Kindling!
June 8th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Nice blog. I’m a Danish novelist (The Tsar’s Dwarf, Hawthorne Books) who lives in Portland, and I was at BEA09 as well. And at the tweet up. And I’d be happy to join you guys for your Portland blogger weekend in July. Where do I sign up?