So, I'm back from my second year at BookExpo America at the Javits Center in NYC! Guys, it was such an amazing time (yet again). Now that I've been there twice, I can honestly say that it's equal parts awesome, thrilling, exciting, exhausting, nerve-wracking, painful (my feet will never be the same) and just plain fun. I highly advice everyone that ever has a chance to go to take it and run! It's an experience.
BEA might not be for everyone though. While I think this year was a lot more organized, it's still a cluster sometimes and, let's be honest here, it is completely and utterly draining. Most people arrive around 8 AM to get in line (some even earlier), and there are actually a few publisher events that take place in the morning, which take away from sleep, too. I think that the lovely Jenny from Supernatural Snark and I probably got a grand total of about 24 hours of sleep in 5 days. So, yes, it's tiring. Will I do it again though? Hells yes!
Here are a few things I learned this year:
1. Flip flops, while completely comfortable on the showroom floor, do not make for great walking back to the hotel.
2. I can steal cabs like a good ol' New Yorker. I cannot, however, hail one to save my life.
3. Sometimes a free night with cheesecake is better than a night out in the city.
4. Book bloggers, as a whole, are just awesomesauce.
5. I am not, and will never be, a New Yorker.
6. BEA is an adventure each and every time you go.
Jenny, Yours Truly, Dan Cohen (Author) and Danny
My BEA in Pictures:
Because I know a ton of you desperately wanted to go but couldn't, I'm going to be offering up a few of the copies I snagged just for you! So, without further ado...who wants to win an ARC of What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang?!
Here are the rules: You MUST be a follower to enter. This giveaway is open internationally and will end promptly at midnight EST on June 22, 2012. As always, the winner will be selected by Random.org and will be notified via email.
Still want to enter? Click HERE!
***Disclaimer: Please note that these are singular copies that I received at the conference and also received for review. In no way, shape, or form did I slight other bloggers by taking duplicates to giveaway.***
Awww...it looked like you guys had such a blast, Melissa! I'm so glad that you got to go and that you posted pictures to share! They were so fun to look through! Oh, and the giveaway is pretty sweet of you as well! :D
ReplyDeletePenguin has water? How cool! I'm looking forward to hearing more about BEA. How many books did you get in all? Thanks for the Oppurtunity to win this book!
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how excited I am that there are pictures of me dying and also licking a water bottle on the internet. O_o
ReplyDeleteI have to say though, looking at those pictures just made me laugh:) I wish I had a video of us at McDonald's at 11:30 at night, or a picture of our faces when we saw the Whopper Bar was closed.
I miss you like you would not believe and we need to make plans for me to come to the great state of New Hampshire. Love you:)
It was so nice meeting you the other day at the MacMillan breakfast. (Awkward girl across the table in the blue dress.) It was just as exciting meeting bloggers as it was meeting authors. BEA was w ild experience, and I agree it could get painful -- I'm pretty sure I had ankles before I got to NY!
ReplyDeleteAwesomesauce! What fun! You gals look like you had a blast!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway, Melissa. BEA sounds awesome, but hectic!! Love the pics of you and Jenny!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteI love your little learning comments and your pictures. Glad you enjoyed yourself!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lot of fun! Thanks for the giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy that you had fun! :) Thank you SO much for this - I really, really, really am excited for this novel!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how sore I was at the end of each day. With so much going on, it's so much fun but so absolutely exhausting (and I was only there for three of the four days!). Loved meeting all the awesome bloggers (like you!) and authors and chatting with the publishers about their upcoming releases...wow. I'd do that again in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeletehaha, looks like you had lots of fun! and thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteLove those pics! So cheeky! :) Glad you had fun!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics!! Glad you had an awesome time!
ReplyDeletehttp://lovesbooksreviews.blogspot.com/2012/06/stacking-shelves-6-e-bookbuying-edition.html
I'm glad you had fun! I really, really want to go one year. If my hubby and I do end up moving to Baltimore next year, you better believe I am going. Since I'm in Texas right now, it's a wee bit much to go all the way to the top of states. Lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
I sure do hope you come next year! It's always a blast!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
ReplyDeleteWe're nothing if not cheeky, and thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnything for my all-too-awesome followers :)
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you come again next year, Mary! It was SO good to see you! I wish we'd had more time to hang out as a group...it's SO dang busy, eh!?
ReplyDeleteOf course! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you :)
ReplyDeleteOf course! Good luck :)
ReplyDeleteAnytime! You're welcome :)
ReplyDeletehaha I'm glad! And thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Leanna! It's definitely an adventure and super exhausting, but it's totally worth it :)
ReplyDeleteglad you had a blast
ReplyDeletetnx 4 the giveaway
It was so awesome to get to meet you!!
ReplyDeleteMelissa!!! I love you to pieces and I miss you already!
ReplyDeleteAnd... I love the disclaimer!
And just for the record you, Jenny and Me seem to have always matching clothes in those pictures... just saying!
ReplyDeleteIt was so fun to get to talk to you at the Penguin booth - even if it was only for a few minutes! You rock!
ReplyDeleteWish I could have been there!
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I just looked at Jenny's recap and it sounds like you guys had a blast despite not getting much sleep. Spending some time with fellow book lovers and then getting to eat cheesecake sounds like a perfect day to me :)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe Penguin has water. So awesome!
ReplyDeleteLove these photos! Even though I'm a little confused as to what's going on in some of them, haha. It sounds/looks like you and Jenny had such a fun time! Aw, I'm doubtful I'll ever get the chance to go to BEA, but I guess I'll survive somehow.
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