I’ve decided to do some BEA recap posts for three reasons: 1) I need to catch up on reading and blogging 2) I need to decompress and process the experience and 3) I want to share my experience with others!
Sunday – May 22
I arrived to BEA on Sunday afternoon after a 78 minute train ride to Penn Station and hauled my HUGE suitcases and tote bag all around and up the stairs to catch the subway to Port Authority to wait for April from Good Books and Good Wine to arrive. I was all sorts of nervous….about BEA and about meeting all these people I have talked to for almost a year on the internet. What if they don’t like me? What if I get trampled at BEA because I’m not pushy or rude? WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN? April finally arrived and we hugged and it was so not awkward..it was like we had been bffs for life. She is GORGEOUS and so fun and I knew we would get along great because her suitcase was just as huge as mine! We had the most hilarious adventure getting our suitcases up and down stairs, through turnstiles and walking a mile with our bags because we didn’t realize we got off the subway stop before we were supposed to. We laughed the entire way and chatted and just generally had a good time.
We unpacked our stuff and freshened up and then made our way (without Shanyn whose flight was delayed) to meet face to face with some of our blogging bffs for pizza at Pala Pizza in the East Village. It was AMAZING to see everyone for the first time…many hugs and laughs were had. It all just came so naturally as if we’ve always known each other. The pizza and the wine were amazing! We then decided to go out….and let me tell you…book bloggers are a GOOD TIME. Much dancing and craziness was had and I seriously had the best time with these ladies.
Monday – May 23
Today was our first official day in the city and our agenda for the quite day. The first thing you must know about your time in the city for BEA…you will be up SO early. I was up anywhere between 5 and 6:15 depending on the day and the activities and also factoring in that I take forever to get ready (can I get a “amen from Shanyn and April?) and commuting time on the subways.
April, Shanyn and I were up bright and early for a breakfast at Harper Collins with the lovely ladies (and gentleman!) of Harper Teen. It was SO nice to put faces to names that I have interacted with previously and meet some new faces from the publicity team. Everyone was so nice and welcoming..I felt like a rockstar! There was an awesome Dark Days tote on our chairs and it was filled with SO many awesome books that I cannot wait to read. I have to say the ones I was most excited for were Liesel and Po
We then headed over to a lunch at Simon & Schuster! Again, it was so nice to meet the publicity/marketing team behind everything. It was also amazing to see SO many other bloggers for the first time and it was just such an exciting event. We received another tote filled with AMAZING books that had me oh so excited. They invited Elizabeth Miles, author of Fury
We then got to hear the publicity team talk about some awesome upcoming titles and I’m chomping at the bit to get reading them. It was seriously such a fun time the way they presented it and they had TONS of giveaways during it. I somehow got lucky and won a signed copy of Elixir
We then headed over to the Teen Author Carnival which was crazy busy but awesome! I listened to the panels entitled – Kick Ass Females in YA: And Why It’s A Big Deal To Have Them (with authors such as Andrea Cremer, Elizabeth Scott, Malinda Lo, and more!) and then Teenage Angst: Getting It Right – The Emotions, The Voice, The Drama (with authors such as..OMG freaking Gayle Forman, David Levithan, Susane Colasanti and more). We also bumped into the ever so awesome Jeri Smith-Ready who hung out with us for a bit showed Jen from Makeshift Bookmark some love. Both panels were great and the authors were so entertaining and it was so interesting to hear their answers.
And now for the FUN part for those who couldn’t make it to BEA. I got an extra copy of Forever
Rules:
* US residents only for this one…sorry international folks. I just spent a crapload of money at BEA so I have to limit it.
* You do NOT have to be a follower of this blog. This is about sharing the love of books with other book lovers. But please, by all means take a looksie around my blog to see what I’m about and if you’d like to come visit again! I think I’m pretty darn awesome to follow š
* Fill out this EASY PEASY form. Seriously. Easy peasy.
* Giveaway ends June 5th at 11:59 pm.
Kate says
Glad you had fun! Sounds like you met some fantastic authors. Can't wait to see all the awesome books you got.
Liz says
I love the picture of you girls with your suitcases, because that is how I pack as well. It must have been so awesome meeting so many cool bloggers and authors! I'm glad BEA didn't disappoint š
Melanie says
I need to work on some recap posts, too, but I'm not even sure how to process everything yet. I think I need more sleep first š
Such an incredible, surreal, insane, fun week!
Beth S. says
Sounds like an amazing time!
Hillary says
Sounds like you had a good time!! I cant wait to see all the book you got!
Shanyn says
I should just make a post on my blog that says "Jamie's recap pretty much will be exactly what mine says" haha š
April (BooksandWine) says
Ditto to Shanyn!
lol our big ass bags. lololol I am still laughing over that.
Thanks for making my BEA time so kickass, I could not have asked for better rooomies!
Ginger @ GReads! says
Thank you for sharing your experience with us š I love reading about everyone's point of view on the event. I WILL be there next year! It is a must.
BookChic says
Sounds like you had a wonderful beginning to the week! Those swag bags from Harper and S&S sound so cool- I'm really excited for a lot of their upcoming books. It was so great to see you too every so often at BEA and hang out and chat a bit longer at the Jane Lynch signing. Don't forget to send me the pics you and Shanyn took! I'll send you my one very bad pic that I took of you and Jane, lol.
Meredith says
Sounds like so much fun! It's been so cool to see everyone's BEA experiences!
-Meredith
Meg @ A Bookish Affair says
Sounds like a good few days!
Ash says
Looks like you had a great time! It's funny how we all had such different experiences even though we were at the same place.
Library Gal says
Loved this post Jamie! The pics are wonderful and I'm so happy you had such a good time!
Dazeddez says
Looks like you had an amazing time š love the pictures
Nicole Weisz says
I wish I could have went, thanks so much for sharing your experience. It sounds like a good place to be.
welcome to our wonderland says
oh my I loved shiver and linger I would love to win forever š fingers crossed
Ashley @ Book Labyrinth says
Sounds like a great time!! It's kind of making me laugh how I've seen some very different descriptions of the same events.
Jessica ( frellathon ) says
I so wish I could have gone. But glad to see a good time was had.
Amy @ bookgoonie says
Enjoyed your wrap up. Great pictures. Way cool giveaway.
Patty says
Thank you for the giveaway! It sounds like you had a great time!
Alexia561 says
Great recap! I'm really getting a kick out of the BEA posts, as everyone had a different experience, despite all being at the same expo. š
Beverly says
Super excited about the giveaway – I sooooo wanted to go to BEA, but alas – I was unable. Thanks for hosting – I am alreay a follower!
lisa [the nerd] says
SO cool to read about your experience. thanks for the fabs contest!
Michelle says
Too much awesomeness to be spoken of! It's amazing how much a person can cram into such a short amount of time. The best part? Spending it all with amazing people whose company you enjoy. Glad you were able to!
Jenn says
You had so much fun at BEA! Wish I could have been there to hang out with you as well. I hear you on the taking forever to get ready part. I'm in the same boat with you.
Jen @ A Book and a Latte says
Love this post and your pictures. So jealous of peeps that went to BEA! I'm DYING to read Forever!!! Thanks for giving us a chance to win. I'm an old follower :). Hereās my first ever giveaway post! ~ Jen @ A Book and a Latte
Sheila (Bookjourney) says
Fun post – love your first picture@ So glad you had an awesome time – I agree, book bloggers are so awesome!
Vy (Vy's Blog) says
Sounds like you had an amazing time in NYC! Thank you for the giveaway š
Baggins says
These are such great photos!
Awesome giveaway, thanks!
Nicole Settle says
I love all these BEA posts. Wish I could have been there.
Sarah says
Definitely sounds awesome, I love all the photos!! I hope that I get to meet all you lovely ladies someday š
Two Readers Reviews says
So glad that you had such a blast at BEA! I SO hope to be there next year! š
ParaJunkee says
You rock. Thank you muchos.
Lena says
You look like you had so much fun. That's it, I'm definitely going next year!
Thank you so much for the giveaway. I'm dying to read Forever!
*huggles*
Jen (Makeshift Bookmark) says
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your face in the first picture. You're such a nerd. Hahahah and I am jealous of how pretty you all are. AND I'm so glad I got to talk to many of you on the phone. Including ALMOST Libba Bray, except my stupid freaking voicemail didn't pick up. LKAJHESDLkf;alksdjf
Melissa (Avid Reader) says
Oh my gosh, it looks like you guys had such a fantastic time. I really, really hope I get to go next year.
Jessy says
Sounds fun but exhausting.
Lisa R/alterlisa says
Sounds like an awesome trip
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alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
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lostnthestacks says
Has the winner been posted?