BEA WEEK EVENTS

BEA is just under a week away, but I am already feeling the “omg so much to do!” insanity and falling behind on reviews. Along with my regular work, doing fun things like shooting a beautiful fashion show (for blog #1), and helping my parents pack for a move, I am booked for every day this month! Thankfully, BEA’s official schedule ends around 5pm every night, leaving time for blogger meetups, parties, and more signings. Here are some of the most exciting events I’ve found:

SUNDAY MAY 22:

TERRIFIC TEEN TITLES Event at Books of Wonder:
1 pm – 3 pm
CASEY SCIESZKA – To Timbuktu: Nine Countries, Two People, One True Story
STEVEN WEINBERG – To Timbuktu: Nine Countries, Two People, One True Story
ELIZABETH SCOTT – Between Here and Forever
AMY IGNATOW – Popularity Papers: Book 2
ROBERT SHARENOW – The Berlin Boxing Club
MEGAN MCCAFFERTY – Bumped
18 West 18th Street, NYC

MONDAY MAY 23:

Lady Gaga at Best Buy, Union Square.
9pm-??
CD Release/Signing
Not a bookish event, but just as exciting!
(This isn’t confirmed by any means)

Meet the Author: Gena Showalter
Book: The Darkest Secret
Venue: Apple Store, SoHo, 6:30pm
Location: 103 Prince Street, NYC

NYC TEEN AUTHOR CARNIVAL:
May 23 Time: 4-7pm
Mulberry Street Library
10 Jersey Street NYC
24 Authors Reading and Signing, including Andrea Cremer, Gayle Forman, Kody Keplinger, David Levithan, and more! More info here.

TUESDAY MAY 24:

Speculating on Fiction at the NYPL:
Tuesday May 24th 5:30pm
Lev Grossman – The Magicians
John Scalzi – Fuzzy Nation
Cat Valente – Deathless
Scott Westerfeld – Behemoth
Info, and registration here.

WEDNESDAY MAY 25:

Word for Word: Charlaine Harris, Dead Reckoning. Moderated by Melissa Marr
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 from 12:30 pm to 1:45 pm
The New York Times bestselling author visits the Bryant Park outdoor reading series to discuss the latest installment in the hugely popular Sookie Stackhouse novels. This event is a part of the “Word for Word” is an outdoor reading series that features bestselling authors, celebrity writers, and expert-panelists sharing anecdotes, answering questions from the audience, and signing copies of their latest books.
The event is FREE and open to the public. For updates and additional information, please visit the website at http://www.bryantpark.org. The Bryant Park Reading Room is located on the 42nd Street side of the park – under the trees – between the back of the NYPL & 6th Avenue. Look for the burgundy and white umbrellas. Rain Venue: Library of the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen 20 West 44th Street (between 5th & 6th Avenue).

Writing for Teens Today : Authors Speak
Wednesday May 25th: 5:30 PM
Join some of today’s hottest YA authors as they discuss writing for teens in today’s market. From developing authentic voices to keeping the reader hooked, from plot twists and turns to keeping the slang right, find out their tips and tricks to staying in style. For ages 12 and up.
Featuring:
Ally Condie – Matched
James Dashner – The Scorch Trials
Ellen Hopkins – Fallout
Maureen Johnson – The Last Little Blue Envelope
Lauren Kate – Torment
Scott Westerfeld – Behemoth
Bring your copy from home or buy a fresh edition on site and collect autographs!
For ages 13 to 18 years
Venue: Mulberry Street Library
Location: 10 Jersey St.

THE CLASS OF 2K11:
Wednesday May 25th 6 pm – 8 pm
JULIA KARR – XVI
BETTINA RESTREPO – Illegal
AMY HOLDER – The Lipstick Laws
ANGIE SMIBERT – Memento Nora
CAROLE ESTBY DAGG – The Year We Were Famous
GAE POLISNER – The Pull Of Gravity
CHRISTINA MANDELSKI – The Sweetest Thing
SHEILA O’CONNOR – Sparrow Road
ALISSA GROSSO – Popular
GEOFF HERBACH – Stupid Fast
CARRIE HARRIS – Bad Taste In Boys
KIKI HAMILTON – The Faerie Ring
TRINITY FAEGAN – The Mephisto Covenant
Books of Wonder: 18 W. 18th St, NYC
More info.

Meet the Author: Christopher Paolini
Book: Inheritance, coming this Fall
Venue: Apple Store, SoHo, 5pm
Location: 103 Prince Street

Meet the Authors: Ally Carter and Melissa De La Cruz
Book: Uncommon Criminals (Carter) and Blue Bloods: Lost in Time (De La Cruz)
Venue: Apple Store, SoHo, 6:30pm
Location: 103 Prince Street, NYC.

7:00 – 8:30 PM Paperback Launch party for Emma Donoghue’s ROOM
Emma Donoghue reads and signs from her acclaimed novel ROOM, just out in paperback. Drinks will be served.
The PowerHouse Arena, 37 Main St, Brooklyn NY

THURSDAY MAY 26:

Scholastic “This is Teen” Book Signings:
Libba Bray, Meg Cabot, Maggie Stiefvater
May 26, 2011, The Scholastic Store in New York, NY
More info here.

SATURDAY MAY 28:

FANTASTIC FICTION!
DANIEL KIRK – Elf Realm: The Road’s End
BIANCA TURETSKY – The Time-Traveling Fashionista
GAIL CARSON LEVINE – A Tale of Two Castles
MAURISSA GUIBORD – Warped
SARAH REES BRENNAN – The Demon’s Covenant
Books of Wonder: 18 W. 18th St, NYC.

OTHER:

Ultimate BEA Party Guide

Book Expo’s List of Concurrent Events

My Regular NYC Book Signings List

11 Must Reads of 2011, Part Five: Beauty Queens

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

“From bestselling, Printz Award-winning author Libba Bray, the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island.
Teen beauty queens. A “Lost”-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to emall. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.” Via Goodreads

Not much is known about this novel, other than it’s brief description, and a few snippets Libba has posted on her livejournal:

“I’m writing a book about a bunch of teen beauty queens whose plane crashes on a deserted island. It’s Lord of the Flies meets Lost but with a bitchin’ talent portion and lots of sequins. Stay tuned.”

In the hands of some writers, this could be a total disaster. But I’m confident if anyone can pull this Lord of the Flies/LOST/Miss America mashup, it’s the talented and hilarious Libba Bray. It sounds unlike anything else I’ve ever read.

Beauty Queens will be released May 24th 2011, by Scholastic.