The BEA (Book Expo America) Post

I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do for this post. I could list the books I got (all of them or just a few) but I thought that just talking about the experience would be better. (I will list my favorite I got at the bottom / the ones I'm most looking forward to reading).

I went to the Blogger convention the day before BEA started. It was different then last year, I had done this before, and I had an idea of what I was doing - kind of - so I felt better sitting and listening to the keynote speakers.

The Keynote speaker was author Will Schwalbe, who wrote a book called The End of Your Life Book Club, and I loved his talk. One of his main points was how we should all ask each other 'what are you reading?' more, and it would randomly pop into my head over the weekend. It's a good question to ask at BEA if you're in a line and bored and exhausted, people at a convention about books normally have an answer.

However, if you went out, just on the street, and asked someone - they might not. They'd be surprised, might say they're not reading anything, that they're inbetween books, which is just kind of... sad. I hope you know what I mean about that, meaning there's a book for everyone and they could be missing out on the one that would convince them to change their whole life and move to Australia. Anyway, let's not get too philosophical here, aren't you here to hear about books and shenanigans?

I met up with my friend on the first day in line, Jennifer Levine, who you should follow on twitter here (she has Glass, it was kind of awesome, and she's documenting conventions with it so you should probably check her out). And we ended up hanging out pretty much the whole convention and tag teaming lines and stuff, it was a blast. I got to see some other friends, who are authors, and I hadn't seen in far, far too long.

I think one of the best things ever, was meeting Daniel Handler (aka: Lemony Snicket), he is hilarious and amazing and will just joke with you until you have to walk away because the line needs to keep moving. He was fantastic and I'd love to be his best friends (also his pink tie rocked, I wish I'd remembered to compliment him on it). Also, there was a younger girl in front of us, probably about ten, and she was fangirling kind of quietly and in awe. It was adorable.

Another 'best thing ever' that we did, was get first in line for one of those author friends signings. Robyn Schneider was signing for a short time and we wanted to see her (and get arcs of the book I feel like I've been hearing about for years). And she was overwhelmed by the line, it was incredibly long. And, apparently, a fairy played her out on a flute? I missed this, as I didn't stay for the whole thing, she told us after, when we ran into her at the HarperCollins booth, apparently the fairy was signing after her.

I didn't take really any pictures, honestly. I should have, probably, but I just didn't. I couldn't find my main camera when we were packing and I ended up with just a Flip camera, my other one with no memory card. I have pictures from the week, but not many.

I talked to a girl in line, waiting for Harry Potter lithographs, and she was a nerdfighter (I'm assuming, she was also fangirling David Levithan), and she was amazed I didn't vlog. And her and Jenn kind of convinced me so - soon, that will be happening soon. As soon as all the books that are just piled on the floor get in the new bookcase that isn't set up yet.

Now, onto the books. Before that, though. Did any of you guys go to BEA? Could we have met? (I didn't write a 'hey, I'm going to this thing post' because I bought my ticket two weeks before it happened because my mom thought we should go. So there's that).
If you did: what books did you get? did you have a blast?
If you didn't: did you watch some of the livestreams? Were they awesome, too? And did you just avoid twitter all week to not become jealous? (That's what I do during cons I'm not at, so I'm curious if any of you do, too). Now - books.

Books I got and am most looking forward to:
Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman (I already finished this on the drive home, shh. It was amazing!!)
Vicious by Victoria Schwab
The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
Under the Empyrean Sky by Chuck Wendig
Where Did You See Her Last (All The Wrong Questions #2) by Lemony Snicket
The Carpet People by Terry Pratchett (which is a rerelease, but I've never read it and it's apparently very different from the original book he published when he was very young).
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

And there's more, a pile about, but those are the ones I have in a pile next to me, waiting for the right time to be picked up and read.

BEA: A Recap

First off I want to say two things (1) this is probably going to be a very long post and that (2) I really enjoyed BEA. I want to mention that every blogger, author, and everyone else was so nice. Even when we were all a bit loopy by Thursday (I was completely exhausted, but I still went for pretty much the whole day, so much was happening it was so interesting and a lot of fun).

To the real recap: I went to the Book Blogger Conference the day before BEA really started. And it was a lot of fun, and I did meet some awesome bloggers, but I didn't go to anything that happened in the afternoon, I just went to the hotel and took a nap because the concept sounded interesting, but it didn't seem like they'd give me anything helpful. (I know my own writing style and I don't blog to make money, also, I was just plain exhausted).

And then Tuesday rolled around and I was waiting in line with a bunch of other people and we were all chatting and everything about everything and anything, mostly books. I truly don't remember a lot of the conversations I had with people, I remember snippets, and I tried to make it a point to get everyone's card so I could go and check out their blog later, as if I'm not subscribed to enough already. I'm going to, hopefully, eventually get a video up of the books I got, but at the bottom will be some of the ones I'm most looking forward to.

Wednesday and Thursday were just as much fun and I went to more signing and tried to not pick up as many books, because while I was reading the back of the book to make sure I liked it, I ended up with a lot. And I was with my mom, who was also picking up books, so we ended up with a lot and I'm hoping to have a giveaway up soon.

The signings I went to and the authors I met were definitely a highlight of the event. I love being able to tell an author I love their work or their blog/videos or maybe just their outfit. And I got to meet Suzanne Lazear, whose book looks amazing and I've been talking to on Twitter for quite a few months now, and I got to see Leanna Renee Hieber who I met probably a year ago about in New Hampshire and who I consider a friend. You should check both of these authors out, if you haven't.

My overall thoughts on the whole week were that it was an amazing experience and that I almost broke my arms carrying books (books are heavy, people, lift with your legs). And that while I didn't go to the Teen Author Carnival or any other outside activities, except one, there were a lot because there were a lot of authors in town and it was just amazing. If you have the chance to go, I'd really suggest it.

And I know this is a little late, considering that BEA was over two weeks ago, but it's been a bit hectic here. The least of it being my birthday this last Friday (22nd) and my mom's birthday today (24th), but I'll hopefully be getting back to blogging on a regular schedule very soon. (I have two more big trips this summer. One coming up this week and the other the beginning of August. VidCon and Leakycon are my favorite parts of the summer!

Books I got (and can't wait to read):

The Twisted Tragedy of Natalie Stewart by Leanna Renee Hieber, And this is the second book in her Magic Most Foul series and if you haven't read the first one, you definitely should. It's been described as The Picture of Dorian Grey meets Pride and Prejudice with a splash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde. 


Innocent Darkness by Suzzane Lazear which is a steampunk faerie tale. Let me say that again, steampunk faerie tale. I can't wait to finally be able to just read this one! And then there is The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow which is also steampunk and it just looks amazing.

I'm also looking forward to The Diviners, Carnival of Souls, The Blessed, Magisterium, Throne of Glass, Origin, Crewel, Falling Kingdoms, and so many more. (All of these sound amazing for one reason or another and I wish that I could just read 24/7 all summer).

BEA (I'm going there. Eep!)

First off, I'm really sorry about my slight absence. I mean, I did post a WWW Wednesday this past week and before that was the read-a-thon, but there have been no reviews and I'm truly sorry. Hopefully this will explain some of it, the other had to do with school work, I was doing a lot of it.

BEA is happening in less then a week, on Monday my mom and I will be driving to New York City, something we've done numerous times, but nothing for something like this. BEA, if you don't know, is Book Expo America where there are books, authors, and book lovers galore. Also, many more people who are involved in some way with the book industry, it's a book extravaganza, a book expo. I've been to conventions, I've actually been to a lot of conventions, but nothing like this. And, if feels silly, but I don't feel like I should be going, like I'm not qualified or something. Of course, I am a pretty new book blogger, but it's an amazing opportunity and when my mom asked me, seriously, if I wanted to go, I couldn't say no. (I may have been talking about it and how all these authors are going to be there and all of these book bloggers and there was minor fangirling involved).

This is one reason I haven't ended up posting anything this week, but also, yesterday, I finally started this thing I've been meaning to do. I'm calling it Project: Organize Books (Seriously, You Should of Done that Months Ago). Also may be known as: Project: OB (SYSDMA). I'm not going to lie to you and say that I have some books, I have a lot of books. It didn't fully hit me how much until today, they're all spread over the kitchen floor as i try to organize them. On blankets so anything I missed sweeping or just appears doesn't injure them in anyway. I'll probably make a full post or even a video about this, because it's huge and much more fun then I expected, though a lot of work.

Anyway, by to the real reason for this post. BEA. I feel less nervous about it today, about the not feeling qualified part, because I was thinking about how much I love books and how giggly I was being surrounding by hundreds of books in the kitchen. And that I have worked really hard to make this blog what it is now, I consider it a job. It's a job i thoroughly enjoy, but it takes up so much time, it can't be anything else but a job. So I'm feeling a bit better about everything. Of course, there's the fact that I'm on 16 (17 June 22! So soon!) but that part I've gotten over, because I'm hoping no one will write me off as 'too young.'

I'm going to stop rambling about this now, but it was on my mind and I wanted to share it with you. If you're going to BEA tell me! If you want me to say hi to you that is, I'm going to try to actually approach people and say I love their blogs if I know them and, of course, love their blog (which is a good chance, since I haven't met a book blog I didn't like). Also, if you've got any tips/tricks that you think my mom and I may find useful, feel free to share them. And, yes, my mom is coming with me because I am under 18 and can't go onto the floor alone, apparently. Also, she really likes books, too. I even got business cards which, just to tell you, are really pretty.

I hope you're having a good week and I hope May was a good month for everyone. Best wishes!