Yesterday I recapped my #BEA15 experience. And be sure to check out my photo gallery! 

My dad and I chose to register for the BEA Bloggers Conference, which included the 3-day BEA pass and was actually cheaper. Also, I knew it would be an incredible opportunity to meet and network with other book bloggers. Pretty exciting!

We arrived at the Javits Center bright and early Wednesday morning to pick up our badges. While waiting for the keynote panel to begin, I met my first blogger friends, including Meghann of Becoming Books and Maura of Maura4u. We exchanged business cards, which was fun (I loved handing out my cards!).

The keynote panel was called “State of Blogging and Books.” Speakers Patty Anker, Ron Hogan, and Kameron Hurley discussed blogging trends and the possible future of blogging. The panel was moderated by Thea James.

I chose two of four morning sessions following the keynote. Then I skipped the first of the afternoon sessions because we were exploring the exhibit hall, but returned for the last session of the day. I summarize my three panels below!

CREATIVE CONTENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH YOUR BLOG

Moderator: Brittany Kaback
Speakers: Sarah Moon, Kat O’Keefe, Sarah Pitre

This panel was especially interesting because the speakers included a blogger (Pitre), a podcaster (Moon), and a booktuber (O’Keefe). They discussed what it meant to “go beyond the blog,” by embracing collaborations with others, events, and book clubs.

It was exciting to hear more about booktubing – I love the direction booktubers like Kat are taking their channels. Their videos are unique, funny, and interesting. I wondered, should I give booktubing a shot?? Or post videos on the blog every now and then?

Question: Would you be interested in book-related videos on the blog? Is this idea something I should pursue or not? Comment to let me know!

TACTICS TO CREATE KILLER CONTENT FAST

Moderator: Nina Amir
Speakers: Maura Sweeney, Kate Rados, Kate Tilton

This panel gave me concrete tactics for producing content faster, which I really appreciated. Our new friend Maura, who podcasts, was a panelist. She was great, and I enjoyed hearing her speak.

One of the first tips for generating new content is something we all know but tend to forget – listen to your audience! Seek feedback, and decide what to act on. (Side note: Cait from Paper Fury created a survey for her readers a while back and I thought this was an excellent idea – she posed specific questions that gave her audience a structured way to submit feedback.)

Maura introduced a concept she called “cross pollination of media,” which is basically about reaching new people by utilizing different platforms. For example, I might look into creating a podcast or video to go alongside a blog post.

Other tactics for streamlining the posting process included keeping a blogging plan/calendar, scheduling posts, creating templates, and organizing thoughts/ideas in Scrivener.

GOING BEYOND BLOG FORMATTING

I was super excited about this panel because it was moderated by Ashley Evans of Nose Graze, and I really wanted to meet her. (I just recently discovered Nose Graze, and it is a wealth of great content.)

Moderator: Ashley Evans (Blogger & Web Developer)
Speakers: Stephanie (Blogger/Designer), Hazel Ureta (Blogger)

The speakers explained the difference between HTML (structure) and CSS (design), and how they can be used to customize our blogs. This customization included bolding and italicizing text, changing text and background color, adding links and images, etc. The panel was interactive, so the speakers quizzed the audience and we helped create a dummy site so we could see HTML and CSS in action.

I enjoyed the panel and introduced myself at the end, and took a picture with the panelists.

*I’d like to note that every panel I attended during Blogger Con was really well done in terms of organization. The moderators were fantastic at keeping the speakers on track and on time. The speakers were focused and articulate and careful to give one another adequate opportunities to share. This was so awesome.

Thanks for reading!

GIVEAWAY

I came home from BEA with so many great books, and I’m so excited to have this opportunity to share with all of you. Enter to win a signed ARC of The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker! (US only.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’m still in disbelief that I actually attended BEA. The event was on my 2015 bucket list, so I mentioned it to my dad in early February, and he said we’d make it happen. Even when we booked our flights, it didn’t quite feel real.

Before I knew it, the month of May had come upon us. I had majorly procrastinated. About two weeks prior to the event, I began to panic because I had not yet created a color-coded schedule like everyone else. I decided to buckle down, and that’s when the Googling began. I read so many BEA-prep posts I could quote them in my sleep! No kidding. Rolling suitcase. Snacks. Portable charging device. Snacks. Comfortable footwear. Snacks.

TUESDAY

Arrived in NYC around midday and went to a Yankee game that evening. (Anyone else a fan?!)

When we got back to our hotel that night, I freaked out a little because BEA IN THE MORNING OMG. I made sure I had everything at the ready – rolling suitcase, snacks, schedule, outfit, sneakers. And then I went to bed but didn’t get much sleep. (How could I?!)

WEDNESDAY

Woke up early. My dad and I grabbed breakfast and took the subway. When the Javits Center came into view, it took my breath away. It’s a BIG building.

So this first day of BEA was more about the Bloggers Conference for us. (I’ll be blogging about my Blogger Con experience tomorrow!) The exhibit hall wouldn’t open until 1.

After our morning sessions at Blogger Con, my dad and I grabbed lunch and jumped in line for the exhibit hall upstairs. I was armed with my schedule and the catalogue for the day, which highlighted some of the authors/books/events taking place that afternoon. (It also advertised several galley drops which hadn’t been listed online!)

I was practically bouncing when the exhibit hall opened and the line began moving forward. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, so it was incredibly exciting when we entered and I saw all the booths and the stacks of books. My dad and I went a little crazy that first afternoon, grabbing every tote bag people thrust at us and every available book we laid eyes on.

I snagged an ARC of A Thousand Nights from the Disney Hyperion booth, because that was happening first thing. But then, according to my schedule, I didn’t have anything really pressing until my last Blogger Con session at 2:30.

And I’m actually glad that was the case, because it gave me a chance to freely explore and to get a feel for the layout of the floor. I was also lucky to run into Alexa of Alexa Loves Books and Kelly of Belle of the Literati at a Macmillan galley drop, and later Summer of Blue Sky Shelf (she knew who I was, which was cool)!

After my last Blogger Con session, I returned to the exhibit hall to wait in line for an autographed copy of The Witch Hunter. And that marked the completion of my first day of BEA, so my dad and I found a quiet spot outside the hall to sort our books. I eliminated several books, and then packed up my suitcase.

THURSDAY

Thursday was my busiest day. It was characterized by waiting in very long lines for what felt like a really long time. But it was actually quite fun because I made so many new friends.

This is what went through my head every time I met fellow bloggers: MY PEOPLE!

My schedule was so packed with awesome galley drops and author signings that I knew I’d be making some tough choices. First on the list: run to Disney Hyperion to get in line for a special edition ARC of Passenger by Alexandra Bracken. I was about 100th in line, but it was worth the wait because Alexandra Bracken was super sweet and personable! Meanwhile, my dad surprised me with a signed collector’s edition of James Dashner’s Maze Runner.

After Passenger we made our way to the autographing area. So I’m waiting in line for Megan Sheperd, author of The Cage, when my dad goes, “Isn’t that James Dashner?” So I turn around, and sure enough, there’s James Dashner just chillin’. Someone held my place in line while I approached him for a picture.

I also met booktubers Kat (Katytastic) and Jesse (Jesse the Reader) in the autographing area, and they were super nice!

It should have been time for lunch after that, but I realized the line for the Harlequin teen “power hour” was already forming. “Power hour” was pretty awesome because 5 authors were signing. I was pretty excited about Adi Alsaid’s Never Always Sometimes and Eleanor Herman’s Legacy of Kings. Also, major points to Eleanor Herman for wearing a toga and a crown.

That afternoon I spent some quality time at Macmillan, first while waiting in line for an ARC of Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales, and then while waiting for Marissa Meyer (EEK!).

Meeting Marissa Meyer was most definitely the highlight of my day. I love her books – she’s an incredible story teller! When her signing for Fairest was over, I looped back around to chat with her. I totally fangirled. 🙂

Shoutout to all the new friends I made on Thursday while waiting in lines!

Krystal @ Books Are My Thing / Talia @ Nerd With a Voice / Tzivi @ Cookie Addictions / Emma @ Miss Print / Nicole @ The Book Bandit / Ana @ Ana Loves

FRIDAY

This was the highlight of my morning: My dad and I got off the subway and were walking toward the Javits Center, maybe 2 blocks out, when I turned to my right and realized I was walking alongside Shae from Shae Lit! I introduced myself (and hoped she didn’t think it was totally creepy that I recognized her on the street) and we chatted on our way to the Javits Center.

I got in line for the Black Widow signing at 9, then quickly made my way to the autographing area because Leigh Bardugo would be signing ARCs of Six of Crows at 10:30 and I knew the line would be super long. (It was.) I used my front-of-the-line pass, which was an excellent decision. Leigh Bardugo is so sweet and just generally awesome.

I snagged a few more books before my dad and I left. I was quite tired.

I could not have done it without my dad, who deserves a huge thank-you for helping make the trip possible and also for doing everything I said. (“Dad, you MUST go to Penguin immediately for the Soundless drop!” OR “Dad, please wait in line at Table 12 for a signed copy of Snow Like Ashes.”)

Shoutout to my Friday friends!

Summer @ Blue Sky Shelf / Christina @ Christina Reads YA / Emi @ A Spoonful of Words

*And if we met and I did not mention you in this post, I apologize. If we didn’t exchange business cards I have probably forgotten your name! But THANK YOU THANK YOU to EVERYONE I met at BEA who made this trip extraordinarily special. 

FINAL STATS

Total: 47 books

31 ARCs
10 hardback, 37 paperback
18 signed

Check out my gallery of pics from #BEA15. And come back tomorrow to read about my Blogger Con experience and to enter a giveaway! 

I am SO excited to be attending BookExpo America this year. I’ve been looking forward to it for months, but now that it’s here, I don’t know what to do with myself.

I’ve been purposefully procrastinating because it’s so overwhelming, and therefore do not feel quite as prepared as I could be. But these past few days, I’ve really buckled down and done some research. I’d love to share with you what I’ve learned. I hope it’s interesting and helpful, especially for those of you who are also first-timers.

Registration

So I registered about a month ago for the BEA Bloggers Conference, which includes the 3-day BEA pass. (It’s also cheaper!) I checked and double-checked this, because the pricing chart was rather confusing and I wanted to be sure I was choosing the correct badge.

*I actually contacted Shae @ Shae Has Left the Room to ask her a few questions about registration, and she was super sweet and helpful. She also pointed me in the direction of the Press Pass, which is free. I submitted my info but was not approved for this pass. It was worth a shot! Thanks, Shae 🙂

Quick note: I’ve turned this into a family trip to NYC, so travel/lodging was taken care of. I did not go through the process of booking my own flights or searching for a roommate.

Tips & Tricks

Since registering, I’ve been Googling “BEA tips and tricks” and also searching through the archives of trusted blogger friends.

Many bloggers who’ve attended in the past put together fantastic pre- and post-BEA blog series chronicling their planning process and sharing their experiences. I’ve listed the links to these informative blogs below. (And what’s great is that many of these blogs point to other blogs with BEA posts and that’s how I’ve found them all! Yay for bloggers promoting other bloggers!)

Shae’s 6-part BEA Tips blog series
Octavia’s So You Want To Go To BEA? blog series
Jon’s What No One Tells You About BEA (And You Should Know…)
Liza’s Tips for BEA
Nose Graze’s How to Own the Hell Out of BookExpo America
Nose Graze’s BookExpo America Tips – Things I’m Glad I Did & Things I Learned

Through one of the sites listed above, I also discovered the Goodreads BookExpo America discussion. I submitted a question to the 2015 Signing Info thread and received a lengthy reply shortly thereafter.

What I’ve Learned

• Wear comfortable shoes!
• Bring a phone charger! (Apparently the Javits Center has terrible WiFi and drains your battery.)
• Bring snacks! (When do I ever NOT bring snacks?)
• Know the difference between ticketed and non-ticketed author signings!
• Utilize the ‘shipping’ area or bring a suitcase so you’re not carrying loads of books all day long!
• Create a color-coded schedule! (No, seriously. Almost every ‘BEA prep’ post I’ve read recommends this.)

I’ve explored nearly every inch of the official BEA site, and I’ve also played around a bit with the online BEA show planner. Now, I’m creating a spreadsheet (my color-coded schedule) and researching the ARCs I’ll want to look out for at the event.

Check out the Publisher’s Weekly list of ‘Can’t-Miss Kids’ Galleys.’

Networking

Besides all the books (ARCs! ARCs! signed copies!), I’m really looking forward to meeting/networking with other bloggers. I think it’s going to be really cool to meet some of my online friends in person, and to have the chance to tell them how much I appreciate their work. I’ve even ordered business cards, which I’m pretty stoked about.

Clearly I am not an expert on all-things BEA. But I’m a pretty good finder-of-online-information, so if you have any questions, I’d be happy to point you in the right direction.

ALSO, let me know if you’ll be there! We can stand in lines together and chat!