BEA feels like one hundred years ago after the madness of the last week! After returning to the US Monday, and editing all of my Jamaica trip *and* BEA photos, I’m finally ready to share my experience.
My unofficial first day of BEA was on Monday May 22. I started my morning at the Simon and Schuster Blogger Lunch. I was really excited to hear all about S&S upcoming Fall 2011 releases from the awesome ladies on the marketing publicity teams, and finally meet some of my blogger friends I chat with regularly on Twitter. I also got to see some old friends, the ladies of Good Choice Reading.
Maria, Damaris, and Wanda from GCR.
Author Elizabeth Miles told us all about her new book Fury, which sounds totally awesome, and was already on my goodreads TBR list. Then we saw a short slide show featuring all of the upcoming Fall YA releases. Let me just say, there are some AMAZING books on that list. People in the audience were especially were gasping over The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, and The Pledge.
During the presentation, a mini contest was held giving out some of the current and upcoming books. I won a copy of Wither by Lauren DeStefano. Damaris was even luckier, and won the entire re-designed Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld:
Love the new covers!
After lunch, Ellen Hopkins arrived, and read us snippets of her new novel Perfect. Like all of Ellen’s books, it was a bit graphic compared to most YA. But still sounds completely engrossing, and totally original. After more book chatter, the lovely Simon team had a surprise for us: we were going to the Top of The Rock! I’ve lived in NYC for 5 years, and still haven’t made it up there.
Unfortunately, the weather didn’t really cooperate and it was incredibly foggy. But it actually made it even cooler, because it felt like we were on a movie set or something. I joked that with all the fog, it would make for a great cover shoot for a YA book about angels. Too bad you can’t plan in advance for weather like that!
Jenna and her sister Lillie in front of the creepy fog background!
The ladies of Simon and Schuster.
April, who is the proud owner of one of the first book blogs I started reading regularly.
After Top of the Rock, Jenna, Lillie and I made a mad dash to SoHo for the Teen Author Carnival. We arrived just as the library started to get packed. I was the evening’s official photographer, so I got settled in, and started documenting the event. Sadly, I broke my best lens on the way to Sunday’s Books Of Wonder signing with Megan McCafferty and Elizabeth Scott (my bag just barely bumped the floor, and the lens now refuses to focus), but I still managed to get some great shots of the huge group of authors in attendance.
A handful of the authors who participated, before the panels began.
The schedule.
Some of the books for sale at the event:
Carrie Jones and Hannah Moskowitz.
Yara and Damaris with the always wonderful Andrea Cremer.
The crowd. Or rather, half of it!
Authors chatting before the panels.
Mitali and Devyn, introducing all of the authors.
Panel # 1 was called: “Kick Ass Females in YA: And Why It’s A Big Deal To Have Them”.
Featuring:
1. Malinda Lo
2. Andrea Cremer
3. Michelle Zink
4. Courtney Allison Moulton
5. Carole Estby Dagg
6. Elizabeth Scott
7. Michelle Hodkin
8. Kirsten Hubbard
Carole Estby Dagg
Courtney Allison Moulton and Andrea Cremer.
Michelle Hodkin and Kirsten Hubbard.
Moderator Lisa DesRochers
Michelle Zink speaking.
Malinda Lo.
In an additional space, the “Otherworldy Adventures: With a Bit of the Real World Thrown In” was about to begin. I bounced back and forth between each of the panels, but before #2 started, I ran into these two characters:
Scott Tracey and Leah Clifford. Authors, and roommates. I felt like I already knew them, after participating in a few of Leah’s hilarious late night live shows on BlogTV.
Panel # 2 was introduced, giggling commenced, and I quickly realized this was the goofy author panel:
The entire panel: Nova Ren Suma, Carrie Jones, Michael Northrop, Leah Clifford, Scott Tracey, E. Archer, and moderator Chelsea Swiggett.
Karsten Knight was co-moderator.
The packed in audience!
Back in panel #1, Elizabeth Scott really did not want to be the first author to answer a question:
I ran into Ellen Hopkins, Mitali’s Mom, Devyn, and Korianne in the hallway.
After a few trips back and forth between each panel, it was time for the second hour of programming to begin:
Before the authors began speaking, I chatted with Lindsi. Who did not want her photo taken candidly.
Mitali and Devyn introduce the authors.
Panel #3 was called “Teenage Angst: Getting It Right – The Emotions, The Voice, The Drama” and featured:
1. David Levithan
2. Susane Colasanti
3. Melissa Walker
4. Kody Keplinger
5. Hannah Moskowitz
6. Gayle Forman
7. Torrey Maldonado
8. Caridad Ferrer
Kody Keplinger, Torrey Maldonado, Caridad Ferrer, and moderator Ellen Hopkins.
David Levithan and Hannah Moskowitz.
Susane Colasanti and Gayle Forman.
Back in the tiny room again, the “Debut Author Showcase: The Journey to Publication” panel was introduced:
The panel was moderated by 2012 debut author and book blogger Lenore Applehans, and featured the following authors:
1. Carole Estby Dagg
2. Amy Fellner Dominy
3. Kirsten Hubbard
4. Bettina Restrepo
5. Michelle Hodkin
6. Nick James
7. Scott Tracey
Each author began by talking about, or reading from their debut novels.
Nick James, Amy Fellner Dominy, Kirsten Hubbard, Michelle Hodkin, Bettina Restrepo, and Scott Tracey.
Bouncing between panels, I managed to photograph and chat with a few additional authors:
Andrea Cremer.
Gretchen McNeil. We had a great chat about “authors behaving badly”.
Goodie bags, just waiting to be torn into!
Scenes from the librarian’s desk.
Back in panel #3:
David Levithan being thoughtful.
Torrey Maldonado talked about challenging the stereotype that reading books is “girly”.
Panel #4 again:
Once all of the panels were completed, the authors divided amongst the two rooms, and held a massive book signing:
I love Elizabeth Scott, she came so prepared!
Courtney and David were all smiles!
Gayle and Kody.
By the time I made it to the second, smaller and more crowded signing space, I was so weighed down with books and camera gear that I didn’t take any photos! But I did manage to grab Jeri Smith Ready (who was in the audience) to pose for a photo, and force her to listen to me gush uncontrollably about how I devoured Shift and Shade in less than 24 hours:
Before long, the event was over, and it was time for the massive group photo:
Trying to get in position.
Almost there!
Ready!
Authors + event co-organizer Mitali
Mitali and Ellen.
Me and Andrea, who is beyond nice, and one of my absolute faves.
Overall, Day One was completely and utterly exhausting, but also even more amazing than I could have hoped for. I met some very sweet and kind fellow bloggers, authors, and publishing folk. I practically waddled home with all of my new books (including a highly coveted copy of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer!), and couldn’t feel my feet by the time I arrived. But it was totally worth it! Come back soon for reports from days #2 and #3 of BEA.
Special thanks to Simon and Schuster, and Mitali, Devyn, and Korianne!
See the full event photo set here.
All Photos and Content ®2011 Rachel Scroggins/Bookshelf Lust.
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