Pre-BEA: Bloggers Conference
This year, the Bloggers Conference was actually one of my highlights of the whole convention! I was a speaker with Jeremy West at the Design 101 panel.. and it was amazing! Just the idea of speaking at the conference was a huge honour and I was INCREDIBLY impressed and surprised with how many people showed up! The room was packed. There were easily 100 people there!
A few minutes before the panel began
I attended the conference last year and had some ideas of how it could have been improved, so when I was invited to speak, I really tried to keep those ideas in mind and implement them in the Design 101 panel. I think/hope I was successful, because a lot of people have told me that they loved the panel! That’s the best feeling in the world!! When the panel concluded, I had tens of people approach me at the table to say hi, introduce themselves, ask for a business card, and ask me to send them the PowerPoint slides. It was just amazing to see so many people enjoy the panel, approach me, and see some faces I recognized from the blogosphere.
Then I attended two other sessions: Blogging and the Law, and How Bloggers Have Changed the Game. I walked out of the latter one. 🙁
Although the rest of BEA was amazing, that panel and feeling was pretty hard to beat. 😉 Also, this was by far the day that I met the most bloggers!
I snagged a couple books at the end of the conference:
People I met:
(just a small portion that immediately come to mind!)
- Deniz from Closet Geek Books
- Heather from Heather Hearts Books
- Tabitha from Not Yet Read
- Nimue from Endlessly Bookish
- Meredith from Pandora’s Books
- Danny from Bewitched Bookworms
- Jenna from Coffee, Books, & Me
- Steph from Cuddlebuggery
Thursday: BEA Day 1
Thursday was actually a pretty laid-back day for me. I had a few things I wanted, but not a ton. I picked up a few galleys in the morning that were just sitting on the floor, including: I’ll Give You the Sun and Belzhar. After that, I headed to the YA Buzz panel for the sole purpose of picking up The Jewel. Of course, halfway through the panel I realized that HarperCollins had put The Jewel on Edelweiss like two days prior…
After the panel, I made a beeline for the HarlequinTeen signing because I HAD TO FREAKING GET TALON!!!!! I’m so insanely excited for this book! I was very lucky to be near the front of the line because that line was gigantic. I never understood why Harlequin only does like one big signing a day with about 5 authors at once. They should spread them out and do one at a time instead…
I actually didn’t even go to the autographing area at all on Thursday! It was all galley drops and in-booth signings for me. 🙂
People I met:
I swear I met a bunch more, but I feel like I’m having a brain fart right now…
Thursday Haul
Friday: BEA Day 2
Friday consisted of me entering the exhibit hall at 9am and stopping by at a few galley drops as I made my way to the autographing area. I planned on lining up for Heir of Fire immediately, even though the signing wasn’t for two hours (11am). I ended up being #19 in line, which was pretty close to the front! I imagine there were at least 200-300 people in line by 11:00.. it was insane. The line snaked all the way around the autographing area, probably multiple times.
After that, I had a pretty leisurely day. I went to the signing of Since You’ve Been Gone, then wandered around a bit. I had like two hours to kill before the next signing I wanted to go to: The Fine Art of Pretending. I mostly passed the time by having a leisurely lunch and finishing The Jewel. I read by myself in a corner on the floor #weirdo #antisocial
People I met:
- Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner
- Debby from Snuggly Oranges
- Octavia from Read, Sleep, Repeat
- Jenna from Jenna Does books
- Jen from Library of a Book Witch
- Jennifer from Live to Read, Love to Read — We had the BEST MOMENT EVER! I was on the escalator going up, she was across from me on the escalator going down. As we pass each other, she just shouts, “Omg Ashley from Nose Graze! I love your blog!” That was like the highlight of my day because it was such a funny moment. We couldn’t even stop and chat because we were going opposite directions!
Friday Haul
Heir of Fire!
Just before bed…
I put on my nerd socks, cuddled up in bed, and read Heir of Fire with some M&Ms 😉
Saturday: BEA Day 3
Saturday. The day of crazy. X_X
First thing, I went to the Scholastic breakfast with Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, and Maggie Stiefvater. I’m glad they fed us because I was hungry! I only knew like two bloggers there so I was kind of awkwardly trying to weasel my way into the little groups. I met all three authors and had them sign my cool looking “Scholastic Backstage Pass”.
After that, I wanted to go to the Daisy Whitney signing for The Fire Artist. I made my way across the exhibit hall and eventually crossed into BookCon territory. And oh my god X_X It was packed wall-to-wall with people! It takes about 15 extra minutes to walk from one side to the other, just because there were RIVERS of people and you just had to go with the flow (when it wasn’t a complete standstill, that is).
As soon as I got The Fire Artist signed, I high tailed it out of there. I am sad I didn’t get to say goodbye to some bloggers, but it was so crowded and I just wanted to bail as quickly as possible! Luckily I caught a cab the second I stepped outside the Javits.
But the highlight of my day? Coming back from the hotel and seeing this:
Over the past few days I’d been lining my books up on the hotel room desk.. and today, the cleaning staff decided to respond by inserting a Trump SoHo hotel bookmark into my current read and laying 5 more hotel bookmarks on the desk. TOO CUTE!
People I met:
Final BEA Book Haul
The Jewel is missing from this picture because I ended up giving it away after I finished reading it.
Video Haul
If I look tired, sleep-deprived, and jet-lagged it’s because I am! Bleh. 😛 What a day to be vlogging…
This year vs last year
Last year felt like RUN RUN RUN! I had so many books I wanted and was constantly running from one place to the next. Then I went home with like 35 books.
This year I felt like there were only 3 books I REALLY wanted, and I didn’t really care if I got the others that I “sort of” wanted or not. As a result, I was so much more laid back at BEA. I wasn’t running from one place to another; I was just casually strolling down the aisles. That also meant I probably left earlier every single day of BEA. And in the end, I came home with fewer books (about 20), but I’m very okay with that. 🙂
I also felt like there were fewer new releases at BEA this year. There were a lot of authors signing old books. Like, Libba Bray was signing The Diviners, which she also signed last year; Alexandra Bracken was signing Never Fade, which she also signed last year; they gave away paperbacks of The Bone Season, but they gave away ARCs of the same book last year; and there were a few others that followed the same pattern.
A note on getting taxis
I’ve read a lot of posts that say “good luck getting a taxi at the Javits center”. And honestly, it’s not that bad. You just have to walk about 30 seconds outside Javis. Do not try lining up at the Javits taxi rack. Taxis DO NOT PULL INTO JAVITS in the afternoon. They just don’t. However, if you walk 30 seconds up to the street, you can get a taxi there in less than a minute. The longest I ever had to wait for one was about 2 minutes. Just walk up a ways until you find a spot where a taxi can see you and easily pull over, then wait. Tons of taxis drive by and you’ll catch one pretty quickly.
Other highlights
Meeting bloggers
Jenna from Jenna Does Books, me, and Jen from Library of a Book Witch
View from the hotel
Brunch with the fam
The hotel’s rooftop pool
I did attend BEA and met a lot of the same people you did, but don’t think I ran into you. Ah well, maybe next year. I love the way you listed the bloggers you met each day. I was much more laid back this year than last year as well. I felt that I could always get a book once it comes out at the library or bookstore, so it was a lot less pressure for me.
Bummer that we didn’t see each other!
I felt the same way about the books. For example, I did really want Landline but I didn’t get it. But I wasn’t that upset because I knew it was coming out in like a month and I can just get it then. 🙂 So no worries!
Thanks so much for sharing this. I love seeing all these pictures and having an idea of what it was like 🙂 You snagged some great books, especially Heir of fire and Talon! I’m also familiar with Kate Forsyth (by name) and I really want to pick up her retelling 🙂 I love those. How disappointing that you didn’t clicked with Stitching snow. It sounds so promising.. so I will still give it a shot. It was fun watching you (in a non-creepy way, haha) I don’t think you look that tired! I found you quite bubbly!
My pleasure! 😀 It was a lot of fun putting this post together.
Yeah I’m really bummed by Stitching Snow. I might give it another try but it’s lower priority now. I hope you like it!
I tried to not look tired in the video but I feel like I’ve got major bags under my eyes XD
Love all your pictures! I didn’t get any pics of the stacks of books and I wish I had. I brought my DSLR and then didn’t want to haul it around with me so I left it in my suitcase.
You met me on Thursday, too! But only briefly, because I was hightailing it for the end of the Harlequin Teen line (which I left shortly after because it was too long and they said we weren’t guaranteed anything). 🙂
Oh yeah! I loved meeting you, even if it was just for two seconds. 😉 I’m glad we ran into each other though!
DSLRs can be annoying to carry around because they’re soooo heavy. But I didn’t bring mine last year and wanted to take nicer photos this year. 🙂
I’m still incredibly bummed that we never met up. There was so much time and opportunity! Se la vie, I suppose. ; ) Perhaps next year if we both make it back.
I’m glad you had a good time. You’re too funny “#weirdo #antisocial”. I totally would have sat in a corner and read for a couple hours, too. But this being my first year, I was running around trying to get All The Books. I still missed several. But, I’ve resolved myself to the same fact: If I want it, I’ll buy it later. No problem.
I was a little perturbed by the authors signing “old” books. I did get in line for Kiera Cass signing The One, though. Being that she’s also a Hokie, I just wanted a chance to say hi (I’ve seen her at a Panera in Blacksburg, VA before but felt too awkward to fangirl there. Plus… what if it wasn’t her?! Oh, the horror!).
I know!! I looked everywhere for you and your tote (sooo awesome!). We need to plan better next year. 😛
And yes, I totally agree with your mentality: if I want it, I’ll buy it later. That’s exactly what I’m doing with Landline, which I missed.
Agree, there need to be more dragon books! It looks like so much fun, except for BookCon. Hope they do it on a separate day next year! 🙂 When I make it next year, I definitely want to meet you in person Ashley! 😀
Yeah BookCon was a nightmare. It seems like their plans for next year are to add a second day for BookCon. So the schedule will be:
Wednesday: Bloggers Conference
Thursday: BEA
Friday: BEA
Saturday: BEA + BookCon
Sunday: BEA + BookCon
To be honest, I’m already planning on skipping Saturday AND Sunday next year :/
I’d love to meet you in person too!!! Fingers crossed that you make it next year. 🙂
That sounds like so much awesomeness that I just like kinda died a little bit on the inside. One day!
Glad you enjoyed more this year. I feel like anything that makes you uncomfortable – even if it is for all the awesomest books of the year – then it’s really just not worth it, you know?
Maybe you’ll make it next year! 😀
And yes, I totally agree with you when you said it’s not worth it if it makes you uncomfortable. BookCon was such a nightmare! The rest of BEA was fabulous though.
I have to say that your presentation at the conference was the best session. I was really upset by the How Bloggers change the Game or whatever it was called. It was all about vlogging and so much animosity between the two groups, nothing good was accomplished. Plus, the name should have certainly been different. I’m sorry I didn’t get to talk more to you that day. I know I said hi, but that was it 🙁 I enjoyed BEA until Sat. Sat was just too crazy for me. I ended up leaving b/c I had a panic attack over the crowds (I have NEVER had that happen to me before in my life!). I missed a lot of signings and books b/c I just wasn’t willing to brave the crazienss that was Book Con. I’m glad they are making it two days next year, maybe it will be less crazy! Glad you had a good time!
Thank you so much Brooke! I’m really thrilled to hear that feedback about the panel. 🙂
Ugh How Bloggers Change the Game was horrible! I know the panelists said there was a “miscommunication” with what the panel was going to be about. They said that it was pitched to them as “How one vlogger impacted sales for The Darkest Minds”. BUT, it was listed on the website as something totally different for like 2 months. How did NONE of the panel members notice that and email the organizers? I just find that hard to believe.
I also think it was a bit annoying how there were TWO vlogging panels, both with the same person on each one. I think it’s great that they had one, but two panels with the same person on both was not needed >_< I'm so sorry you had a panic attack! 🙁 I understand how that could have happened though; it was such a madhouse! And you're right: it just wasn't worth it.
I’ve already made changes to my blog. Deleted a few things off of it that you said weren’t really necessary. My next step is to streamline my pages (although I totally forgot what you guys said for tabs, maybe you can email me the PP presentation bhwrrn1 (at) gmail (dot) come?). I was not happy with the two vlogger panels, especially since it was the same person. And I agree, a miscommunication? HOW is that even possible? It was even clearly printed in the booklet they handed out. I’m sad about the madhouse as I would have liked to stay longer and see more authors for sure. Glad you had a great trip. Would love to see you again next year!
I just emailed you the slides. 🙂 I’m also hoping on doing a series on my blog based off the slides. It’s great that you’re already implementing some of the ideas!
And yeah, it’s a bit ridiculous that the same person was on TWO panels about vlogging. And I don’t get how no one noticed. When I was chosen as a panelist I checked the website like every day because it was so cool to see my name, photo, and bio listed under “Design 101”. Did NONE of those panel members ever check the website and see the incorrect title/description?
Bleh.
Got it! Thanks so much.
Yeah, very weird. Oh well, said and done. Hopefully, next year will be different. Although, I can say I will not be going to the conference next year. Other than your panel, I really didn’t get much out of it.
I’ll probably always attend even if just for the book giveaway at the end lol. Maybe that sounds bad, but it’s nice to be able to scratch a few books off my BEA wishlist. I also find it easier to meet and chat with other bloggers at the conference since people aren’t running from one place to another (galley drops, signings, etc).
I’m not sure I want to pay that price just to get the books. If I could get in cheaper or even for free to the conference then it would be worth it. But it was pricey this year for what was offered. I would love to just be able to meet and greet with bloggers for sure.
Which days would you go to BEA otherwise? I think getting the “Blogger Pass”, which includes the conference and all of BEA is the best deal if you want to attend all BEA days. If you want to only attend one (or even 2, idk) days of BEA, then yes it might be cheaper to just buy a single day pass.
In the past, I went as media, so it didn’t cost me anything. But I will go as an exhibitor next year so it will only be $80 for all the days.
AAAH I’m so glad BEA was so much fun for you! I can’t wait till I can make it over there. Haha. Seems like such a fun event. And AAH the beautiful books! I just snagged the Jewel and Heir of Fire on Netgalley and Edelwiess and can’t wait to dig in! Can’t wait to hear what you think of them!
XOXO, Inky
I reaaally hope you can make it one year!!!
Win that you got The Jewel and Heir of Fire! Awesomesauce!
I love that the hotel left you bookmarks! That smart advertising right there! 😀
You got some really interesting looking books. I had seen Stitching Snow around, but never looked it up, and now I’m definitely interested in it!
I have my fingers crossed that I will be at BEA next year, so hopefully I can be added to your list of bloggers you’ve met! 😀
I know!!! I went up to the front desk and said, “Please thank whoever cleaned my room this morning. They left me bookmarks! Coolest thing ever!” I’d love to stay at this hotel again (Trump SoHo) because they were all SO nice and attentive.
I really hope you make it next year! 😀
It sounds like overall you had a fantastic time!! I’m still so clueless about the entire BEA experience, but hopefully I’ll be there next year to experience it all firsthand. Great post! And a great book haul!
It would be so cool if you could attend next year! You’d love it. 🙂
Looks like you had an awesome time! I wish I could have gone. Maybe next year – though RT is in my hometown next year, so I may just stick with that. And then I hear BEA is moving to Chicago in 2 years which would be way easier for me.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you for next year! It’d be great if you could go. 🙂
But yeah, BEA is booked for Chicago for 2016. 🙂
Awww this looks like you had the most amazing time! I’m so, so jealous of The Jewel and Heir of Fire! :). Praying that I can save up enough to jump on a plane and get over to BEA. It looks like booknerd heaven. Your hotel looks absolutely stunning as well and so cute with the bookmarks!
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! 🙂 Maybe you’ll make it next year!
Oh what fun! It just sounds (and looks) so awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience and the pics! I probably will never get there, but it’s fun to live vicariously through others! LOL
Aw, never say never! 🙂
I absolutely adore your pictures Ashley, so beautiful. I’m a little ashamed now positing my crappy uncreative iPhone pictures:)
BEA was fun and I agree that it’s much more fun when being a little more relaxed!I was never stressed and missed most of the galley drops but that was fine by me. Actually I got most of the books at some events where I was so lucky to be invited.
So sad I missed your panel Ashely, but I also heard people saying that it was a fabulous panel!
Thanks Danny! I’m so glad we saw each other again this year (a few times!). And yes, I missed a few galley drops that I wanted, but I was perfectly okay with that. I’m happy with my small-ish haul. 🙂
Love your recap! I’m still trying to figure out how I’m going to do mine xD I will start reading Heir of Fire tomorrow and I’m so excited! Unfortunately, I got to NYC ON thursday and went running to the Harlequin teen hour and still couldn’t get a copy of Talon or Stone Cold Touch *sobs* But I met this extremely nice blogger who said she’d send it to me so Yay for that! I actually saw you standing in line but was too shy to say hi xD Also, you pictures are just gorgeous O_O may I ask what camera your using? I’m currently in the process of looking for a camera to buy because I want to use my free time during the summer to get into photography 🙂 Amazing recap post!
Thanks Kaina! 😀 I had a lot of fun putting the post together.
Huge bummer about Talon/Stone Cold Touch! That line was soooo long. It’s so nice of that blogger to offer to send them to you though. 🙂
Aww you should have said hi! I understand why you didn’t though; I’m shy too. I suck at saying hi to people, lol!
I use a Canon 6D camera with a 24-105mm lens. It’s a bit pricey though! :X If you want a cheaper one, you could look into the Canon T5i with 18-55mm lens. The quality isn’t as good, but it’s cheaper and more of a “starter” camera/lens.
Love your pictures! I almost wish I had attended your panel instead of the 201 section, since the content seemed to be the same, but the one I was in also turned into a bit of a sales pitch. I ended up leaving to go to another event in the afternoon, but I heard all about the disappointment of the Bloggers Changing the Game panel. I had really hoped that things would have improved for this year, but I just didn’t get the information I went in thinking I would get. A few other bloggers and I are planning on doing an UnCon option during BEABloggers next year in hopes that we can get a bit more accomplished.
I’m planning on posting my panel slides on my blog in some format.. whether that’s in the form of actual slides, or just typing them out into a blog post. 🙂
And good idea for next year!!
Also, let me know if you go through with the UnCon idea and want help with it! It sounds like it could be so cool!
We actually created a Facebook group to keep up with ideas if you want to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/244491055758109/
I felt like I was at BEA just from reading your post. I told my sister that we simply must go either next year or 2016 when it will be in Chicago (which is much closer). Cannot wait to see all of the other BEA slides or posts.
You should totally go next year or the year after if you can! You’d love it. 🙂
Looks like you had tons of fun and wow I’d expect the lines to those signings super long too. I think when I go to my first BEA, I’ll probably only go to like 5 signings because I want to focus on meeting other bloggers and looking around the publishers’ booths. That is so cool that you got to talk in a panel!
Yeah the booths are great. To be honest, you can often get by just with galley drops and in-booth signings. There was very little I actually wanted from the autographing area this year!
I’m so jealous of everyone who got Talon! I wanted to go to the signing at Harlequin at BookCon, but the line was filled an hour before the actual signing (lines were so ridiculous!) I hope I can go to actual BEA next year 🙂 Glad you had fun!
Ugh, yeah, I imagine the BookCon line for that was crazy!!!
It was fantastic to meet you Ashley! I’m glad you had such a great time and were able to get the books you really wanted. (Also, omg, I’m staying at your hotel next year. That roof garden looks lovely!)
It was so great meeting you too! 🙂 And yes, the hotel was fabulous. I’d love to stay there again next year but my mom (who I always go with because her birthday falls over BEA) likes to hop around and always try new hotels. 🙂
Haha, good to know that Jon and I made such an impression on you on Thursday ;-). It was awesome chatting, I hope I didn’t detain you for an awkwardly too long amount of time 😉
It was so great meeting you! I had a lot of fun. 🙂 I was just suuuuper tired by the end. I felt like I was ready to drop lol! Too bad you didn’t meet me earlier in the morning when I was more alive. 😛
BTW I’ll be emailing you tomorrow!
Thanks for putting this together! I really like that you were able to have a more laid back experience, I think that sounds much better than running around all day. And, I would probably have found a corner to read too. 🙂 Kudos to the housekeepers!
Yeah running around all day can be fun, but man it’s exhausting!
Sadly I couldn’t go to BEA (I don’t think I’ll ever be able to) and I am insanely jealous of everyone who gets to go. But, I love to see the BEA book hauls and recap posts. It makes me feel excited even though I wasn’t even there. Luckily, Harper Teen added some awesome book son Edelweiss and Heir of Fire was on NetGalley so I’m happy with those. The one book I REALLY wanted (Black Ice) my friend was able to get me a copy. One day I hope to go to some kind of bookish event where I get to meet authors and bloggers.
Curious, why did you walk out of that panel. Seems like that could have been a cool panel and it sucks if was a disappointment…
I know, you’d think that panel would be awesome, huh? It certainly sounds cool. But it wasn’t!
That only “Blogger” on the panel was a “famous” booktuber.. Which isn’t even a blogger. Then the moderator begins by saying, “this panel is all about how awesome this booktuber is.” I laughed, because haha. But, it turns out, she wasn’t joking. The panel was 60% about how awesome and fabulous that booktuber is and 40% about how booktubers in general are better than book bloggers. They said things like:
* “Booktubing is more influential than book blogging” – direct quote
* Booktubing generates more sales than book blogging (implied)
* Booktubing takes more effort than book blogging (implied)
The whole thing was just so offensive to me. Fine if you want to say those things to a room full of booktubers or at a booktubing conference… But you don’t say them to a room full of book bloggers!
I’m happy this year was more laid back for you 🙂 It must be tiring to run around all the time, haha. I wish I could go to BEA 🙁 Especially because I live in NY anyway. But school *sigh*. And really, it’s not so much the books (because there’s only a few I would REALLY want), but the people!! I want to meet the people behind all my favorite blogs 🙁 I guess there’s always next year…
The people at the hotel were nice to leave bookmarks. 🙂 I wonder if they all do that? Probably not…
Anyway, I’m happy you had a good time and met so many bloggers! But about that video, how is that looking tired?? I wish I looked like that; I look more dead than anything. :/
Aw, bummer about school. 🙁 Meeting people and bloggers really is awesome. At least maybe you could still go to the Book Blogger Picnic if you can’t meet BEA? It takes place after BEA (around 6pm) and a ton of bloggers attend! I’ve never gone because it hasn’t worked out with my schedule, but I’d love to. It always sounds like a lot of fun!
Your pictures are amazing! You make me wish that I brought my camera with me, though I wouldn’t get near the level of awesomeness that you did with those pictures. I was actually close to meeting you – we were both in the Sarah J. Maas line, you were #19 & I was #15. Jon mentioned your blog & I saw your badge and I should’ve said something, I always link to your blog in my bookish rounds posts, but you looked so engrossed in the Jewel, I didn’t want to interrupt! (You know that meme, “Don’t bother me. I’m reading.” Though, also, one of your pictures of Sarah Maas, I’m kind of in; I’m that girl with the purple shirt and green phone taking pictures — sorry if I made it harder for you to get a pic!). I hope the Jewel was a great read & I’m currently reading Heir of Fire too. I’ll definitely have to come back and compare thoughts with you :).
Really sweet of your hotel to have left you those bookmarks — my friend and I put the “do not disturb” sign up the first two nights, but it didn’t matter, because for some reason every time we came back… the room had been cleaned lol. But NIIICE roof garden!! And also, I’m sad to have missed your panel — if I did go to blogger con, that’s one I would have definitely attended. Glad to hear it went so well, though :).
Thanks Christina! I vowed to bring my camera this year because I didn’t bring it last year, lol.
Aww you should have said hi! I wouldn’t have minded the interruption. 🙂 How cool that you’re in my photo though!! LOL! I hope we both love Heir of Fire. 🙂
That’s really weird about housekeeping cleaning your room lol X_X
Like you, I went to the Book Con side of the floor after the Scholastic breakfast. It was like we had been living in a harmonious little bubble, only to have it stampeded over. I ducked in a few times throughout the day in bursts, but it was nutso.
I know! It was so empty and quiet over by the Scholastic breakfast.. then we stepped into a lion’s den O_O
Wow, I am so jealous. I can’t wait until I can afford to go. You met so many cool authors and bloggers. But let’s be honest. Heir of Fire! Heir of Fire! Heir of Fire! Heir of Fire! Heir of Fire! Heir of Fire! Heir of Fire! Heir of Fire! Heir of Fire! HEIR OF FIRE!!!!!!!
Jennifer you would LOVE IT!!! Seriously!
This is an awesome wrap up! This was my first BEA – I was at your panel! You guys did a great job.
Well done on getting Heir of Fire! I saw that line and just gave up, lol! And yes, BookCon was nuts. After getting knocked around, I ended up avoiding it.
Thank you so much for coming to the panel! 😀
BookCon was a mess. 🙁 I will not be going to it next year!
Your hotel is so sweet, that is completely adorable xD
I’m so glad I got to see you, even if it was only for a little bit 🙂 Saturday was a messsssssss. Agreed. I’m so amazed you actually braved the autographing area. I was there for ONE drop at 10:30, and left like an hour later. It was just completely ridiculous.
I’m so glad I got to go to BEA this year though 🙂 I hope I’ll be able to go again next year. And then we should hang out moooooore.
Totally!!! We need to spend more time together next year instead of like a drive by “hiiiii” haha.
Yeah Saturday was horrible X_X I just really wanted to get The Fire Artist then I bailed ASAP.
I’m seeing all these BEA roundup posts and feeling both jealous and excited, but it sounds like you had a fantastic time there, even though it must have been really tiring! I mean, I can’t imagine waiting in line for 2 1/2 hours just for a book, but since it’s HEIR OF FIRE… an entirely different story. So super pumped for that book, I’m glad that you’re enjoying it so far! And I totally wish I could’ve been at your panel. It would definitely be enlightening for a newbie like me. Well, if that many people approached you after the panel, I’m sure you did amazingly. ;D
What’s the difference between BookCon and BEA, though? They’re all book conventions, aren’t they? Still, looking at the number of people in the pictures you took makes me feel kinda afraid. It looks so easy to get disoriented — especially for a short person like me — and get lost! But I guess in the end it’d be totally worth it. And with a hotel like yours? Even more worth it. The view is gorgeous! And they were so nice to give you those bookmarks, haha.
Anyway, thanks for sharing, Ashley! Can’t wait to see what you think of TALON and HEIR OF FIRE. I agree, there haven’t been that many good dragon books in the YA genre (the last one I read was SCORCHED by Mari Mancussi and that was a disaster), so I really hope that Julie Kagawa lives up to the hype. *fingers crossed*
I’ll hopefully be posting some of the content from the panel on my blog, so you can get an idea of what it was like. 🙂
BEA is the three day convention: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. On Thursday and Friday, only “book industry professionals” are allowed. That means: bloggers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, and press. If you’re “just” a reader, you can’t buy a ticket.
In previous years, they had “Power Readers” on Saturday, where it was the exact same setup, but normal consumers/readers were allowed to buy a ticket to attend BEA just on Saturday.
This year, they rebranded it as “BookCon”. At normal BEA, attendees have access to the entire exhibit hall. This year, at BookCon (Saturday only) they basically drew a line down the exhibit hall and said “If you’re a BookCon attendee, you cannot cross this line”. So BookCon attendees had access to like 1/3rd of the floor. They could see the booths on that side, visit the autographing area, etc. So it was kind of the same event, but A TON more people and just for one day only. However, there are fewer galley drops and stuff on Saturday/BookCon. And I heard they were actually selling a few books to BookCon people instead of giving them away for free.
I can’t go to BEA because I live in the other side of the world, and I’m still just a minor. But I’m glad that you got to enjoy it! 😀 If I ever got the chance, I hope I can go as well. Someday when I have the ability to go. 😀
Aw, bummer! Maybe you’ll have a chance when you get older. 🙂
Oh, god, you don’t know how much I wish I were you right now! My goodness, that view is GORGEOUS. And I was just looking at the pictures of those books and WOW, I have to attend BEA someday. Hopefully soon! Also, my gosh, you’ve met Cassie Clare and eaten breakfast with them. OH GAWD. I WANT TO BE YOU. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Maybe you’ll be able to go next year! 😀
Congrats on the panel! It looks like it was very informative and helpful! So sad that I missed you at BEA but maybe next time? BookCon was insanity and going into the BEA portion on Saturday was such a nice reprieve from BookCon madness.
Your hotel looks really gorgeous and how sweet that they gave you some bookmarks! 🙂
Thank you! 😀 The panel was an amazing experience. I’m bummed that we never met! I’m hoping to go next year though, so maybe then. 🙂
Yay! I see myself in one of your pictures! (talking to Adi Alsaid) 🙂
I’m so glad you had a great time at BEA. I was fortunate to go to your panel, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Learned lots of helpfo info! I also chatted with you at the Heir of Fire line. I just now realized that I forgot to introduce myself (smacks forehead). Um, so my name is Anna and it was nice to meet you! 😀 lol
Haha I’m like the paparazzi. 😀
I’m so glad you loved the panel! That’s so great to hear. And haha, nice to meet you, Anna! 😀
Thanks for the shout out Ashley! I was much more laid back this year as well. I also agree – there were fewer new releases. I do however lament the lack of SFF adult presence at this show but that just means I’ll have to find a SFF genre con to attend…definitely Comic Con.
You did so great on your panel and it was so lovely meeting you. I think that is the best part of the show is meeting people that I follow online and those publicists that I email with. It was such a treat to meet all of you!!
Thank you Tabitha! It was so great meeting you too. 🙂 And I agree: the best part is meeting people you know from online. It’s so cool!
I think if I ever get to go to BEA I want my experience to be like yours. Pick a few MUST HAVES and be okay with whatever else I fit in. 🙂 Loved your recap post and also wanted to say how awesome I thought it was that you were on a panel!
Thanks so much! 😀
I really really enjoyed your BEA post more then any I have seen. It was very well put together and really truly sounds like you had a great time.
Thank you Angie! I had fun putting it together. 🙂
Times like this I wish I didn’t live across an ocean in London! 🙁
Flights are expensive, it looks like so much fun though and I liked the way your post was written 🙂
Yeah, flights are insanely expensive. 🙁 I live in England too so I know how much you have to dish out. Sigh! It would be cool if there was a BookExpo London. 😛
Oh my goodness, I love this post. I have never been to BEA before, but I would love, love, LOVE to go next year! Free books are great, but meeting the publishers, authors and other book bloggers sounds like so much fun! Thanks for such a great post jammed pack with such great details!
It would be awesome if you could go next year! 😀 Fingers crossed!
It’s took bad that we didn’t get to meet each other, but as I said before I did see you 🙂 Maybe next year…
Anyway, I think we got better at getting taxis later, plus a taxi driver told us NOT to stand in line in front of Javits. My haul looks a lot bigger, but in my defense is less than last year and I did grab some books for my kids and such.
I think I might try the blogger conference next year (I’ve never been)
Yes, next year!! I’m already excited LOL.
You should try the bloggers conference! Even if you don’t love the panels, I still think it’s worth going. It’s a great opportunity to meet bloggers, and it’s always nice to be able to scratch some books off your BEA wishlist. The last two years I’ve gotten like 4 books at the conference so then I didn’t have to try to get them at signings/drops the rest of BEA. The conference is worth it, even if just for that lol XD
But I also think it’s easier to meet/chat to bloggers at the conference than at the rest of BEA. People are really relaxed and laid back at the conference, but it’s more RUN RUN RUN at BEA because everyone is trying to make signings or galley drops.
Nice to see you at Blogger Con again this year!
Likewise! I was wondering if I’d end up seeing you. 🙂 I’m glad I did!
Great recap! Looks like you had a blast!
Great recap! I’m still conflicted about BEA Bloggers and some other elements of BEA …guess that’s why it’s taking me forever to write my recap! I think I’m going to start from scratch and make it short and sweet>
It sounds like you had a lot of fun! I felt the same in regards to only wanting a few books, so I was more laid back. I got the ones that I wanted and if I didn’t get anything else, it wasn’t really a problem. I wasn’t trying to stress too much.
I tried to be casual this year too, but I did too a bit of running around here and there, and ending up with 20 something books. Which is okay– I got to meet some great authors and bloggers, so that made me happy!
Great recap!
Love all your pictures!!! I’ll have to let Jenni from Live to Read, Love to Read that you mentioned her. She was my roommate and told me how much she loves your blog! 🙂
Thank you! 😀
So awesome that you were on a design panel. Can’t wait to start mine. 🙂 I hope you had a great time at BEA and you’re not alone in needing to separate yourself from all that humanity and take some time for you and read.
I did get to go to BEA this year and I went to your panel! It was so good to meet you in person. You were one of the people that inspired me to make the jump to WordPress from blogger and I’ll be forever thankful for that!
Thank you so much Kate!! I’m thrilled that you’re loving WordPress. 🙂 I bet it’s hard to imagine going back to Blogger after making the switch.
You’re welcome Ashley! 🙂
I do love WordPress and I could never imagine going back to Blogger. Actually last month I just switched to a brand new platform (Rainmaker) which is based off WordPress, but I still highly recommend WordPress for any blogger or author just starting out. 🙂
Ughhh, I’m so jealous :(( I wanted to go to BEA so freaking bad this year – and the fact that I was actually planning to makes it even worse that I missed out. I saw SO many awesome posts from my favorite bloggers and pictures of them all meeting each other. I really wish I could have met you! And seeing the ARC of Talon everywhere kinda makes me want to cry lol…that’s the ONLY book I want releasing this year 🙁
I was so upset that you didn’t make it!! Maybe next year?
I’m not sure, I’m kinda waiting for it to come to Chicago because it will be less costly (and scary lol). We’re still drowning in debt from the new house right now so I dunno if I’ll be able to afford it next year yet =/
Bummer! I’ll hold out for 2016 then 😛 I think that’s when it moves to Chicago.
Thank you for this wonderful post! I wish I could afford to attend BEA in the future, it’s such a great event not to be missed.