Effortlessly Reading

A BEA Recap, Things That REALLY Happened + Some More BEA Advice!

As most of you book lovers and twitter people know, May 29 to May 30 was BEA or Book Expo America. Although I only went for two days out of three days and came home really early on the second day, I had tons of fun, experienced things that (gasp!) I never thought would really happen, and learned a lot more tips to share with you future BEA go-ers! Yes guys, you are getting a detailed recap!

And just a quick note, I also have some different tips from my experience at BEA last year!

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1. BOOKS. ALL THE BOOKS. BOOKS EVERYWHERE. Anyone interested in seeing what I got from BEA can check out my Instagram BEA haul.

2. I got to meet TONS of my blogger friends! And some insisted on pictures…

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From left to right: Anya from On Startships and Dragonwings, Jenni from Live to Read Love to Read, me, and Nikki from There Were Books Involved. Picture credit goes to Octavia from Read Sleep Repeat.

 
3. People actually knew me and my blog! Like, I can’t get over how incredible that is. There were these moments when I was in line and people told me, “hey, I read your blog!” or “Are you Kelly?” I’ll admit it, I still fangirl and grin like a foooool when I think about it. -runs off to be a fool by myself-

4. Having a “personal assistant!” Let me explain: Cee from The Novel Hermit couldn’t attend BEA (we better meet each other one year Cee, this MUST happen), so she was helping me stalk twitter, texting me galley drops we might be interested in, signings happening, etc. She also entertained me when I was on line waiting. Thank you Cee. <3 5. I accomplished my BEA '14 goal - MEETING SARAH J. MAAS AND GETTING HEIR OF FIRE. AHHHHHH.

sarahmaas heiroffire
Hello, gorgeous.

 
6. This picture. Yes, it’s a total Simba moment.

 
really
1. I lost my schedule the first day, 10 minutes into BEA. I probably lost it when I picked up the publishers’ galley drop schedules. Losing my schedule that early was such an EPIC FAIL, especially since I bought only one copy, thinking I would never lose it. Boy, was I wrong. -facepalm- (Next year, I swear, I will write down my schedule in a secret code on my hand.) I had to make up my schedule then, but luckily, the galley drop and signing sheets helped me figure things out. I also met up with Jessica from Lovin’ Los Libros and Tabitha from Tabitha’s Book Blog who were nice enough to share their schedules with me! So guys, bring like three copies of your schedule when you’re coming to BEA. You don’t want to end up being like me.

2. Jon from Scott Reads It and I were stalking the Scholastic booth (the lovely people at the booth can attest to that). We were at least an hour early to the Sinner galley drop and The Iron Trial galley drop. During the wait for the The Iron Trial galley drop, Jon and I were reading. He was holding some books that he obtained while I was protecting my friend Octavia’s galley of I’ll Give You the Sun that we got for her since Octavia was away visiting another booth. It should be fairly obvious to other people passing by that the book was in my possession since it was right in front of me and I was looking down at it, touching the cover. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I saw a hand reach for the book and I quickly swat-like grabbed the book off the booth and glared at the lady reaching for it. It turns out that before the lady tried to snag Octavia’s book from under my hands, the same exact lady had reached for Jon’s books, trying to grab them out of his hands while he was holding them and reading them. She never learned when he grabbed them back from her. Yes, this really happened. Who knew?

3. This nice woman working at the Scholastic booth decided to drop the The Iron Trial ARCs early and I quickly got a copy since I was the first one in line. I then turned around to leave and before I took a single step forward, I saw people’s eyes get wide as they registered what was going on and a stampede happened right in front of my eyes. We had to scream THERE’S A LINEEEEE. GET IN THE LINEEE. I barely got out of there alive.

theirontrialposter theirontrial
Warning: The books that started a stampede.

 
4. R.L. STINE WAS STANDING NEXT TO ME WHILE I WAS WAITING AT THE SCHOLASTIC BOOTH. AHHHHH. (Cee can attest to this happening because I texted her about this. I was also a huge Goosebumps fan when I was younger.) I didn’t want to interrupt his conversation with some other people because hello, that’s rude (okay, fine, I was also scared to talk to him because he is my childhood idol), but I didn’t expect to see him at all!

 
advice
1. This year, Google Maps was WAY better in telling you which direction you have to walk to get to Javits. If you don’t know what I’m referring to, this post explains it all.

2. Bring three copies of your schedule. Why? Read the first bullet point in the above section.

3. Bring your own lanyard. Last year, BEA gave out free lanyard that we can tie around our neck for our badges. This year, no lanyard, just pins. I had to use last year’s lanyard (yes, I still have my badge from last year!) because I refuse to put a pin in my favorite sweater. Nope, not happening.

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My badge + the lanyard from last year that I reused.

 
4. Use your badge holder! It can keep your business cards and even your luggage ticket. It can save you a lot of time and panic moments.

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This is what I’m talking about.

 
5. Bring a suitcase. Trust me. You need one. If Jon wasn’t sharing his with me (my parents refused to let me bring one for myself), my arms would be broken and I would have gotten a lot less books. Books are heavy and should be used for weight training when we’re not reading them.

6. Talk to publishers! Yes, some of them might be rude, but hint: they switch shifts. Just visit the same publisher later.

 
And that’s it! I hope I did a good job recapping all things BEA! Now to fall onto my bed and sleeeeep because boy, do I need it.

-Kelly

Speak Your Mind

  6. holy crap that woman is unbelievable.. so rude. I can’t get over her just grabbing the books when it is obvious they’re yours. Seems like you had a ton of fun and yikes about the schedule problem.

    great recap!
    Juhina recently posted…MASSIVE CUMULATIVE BOOK HAUL!My Profile

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  9. That sounds amazing! I was only able to get to BookCon this year, but one thing I did with my schedule was take pictures of it so I’d have it on hand because I’m less likely to lose my phone. That way if I needed to check something fast or if my schedule disappeared I’d still have a copy somewhere!
    Kayla recently posted…Going Over by Beth KephartMy Profile

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  13. Could I ask for advice about business cards? I really hope to start going to book conventions, and I have read a lot of blogs where bloggers have mentioned taking their business cards with them. I did not even think about doing that before! Is there a specific website you use to make them ?
    Tiffany recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [12]My Profile

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    • Definitely! (:
      There are many websites to make business cards – many use Vistaprint like I did when I started blogging because the first 250 business cards you make with them are FREE (not counting shipping).
      Now, I use moo.com for my business cards. I use the Luxe one and the cards are REALLY nice and high quality, but it is kind of expensive. If we ever do a trade or meet up, I can give you one to show you how they are!
      I hope this helped! :D
      Kelly recently posted…A BEA Recap, Things That REALLY Happened + Some More BEA Advice!My Profile

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  17. LOLLLLL. I was happy to help! I was all sorts of antsy the first day. I WANTED YOU TO GET ALLLLL THE BOOOOOKS. (I kind of wish I did more. :P) I’m pretty excited about your haul.

    YEESSS. PROTECT ALL THE BOOOOKS. (I can’t believe that woman did that. I’m not surprised, but damn. That’s fucking rude. I hope you memorized that lady’s face. ;D) I’m glad you survived throughout everything! :D
    Cee recently posted…MONTHLY RECAP | May 2014My Profile

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  19. Hi! I don’t know if this is going to sound weird, but I think I kind of met you at BEA? We were in the Heir of Fire line together — your pic of Sarah J. Maas = me in the purple shirt. I saw your badge and was totally going to be one of the people who mentioned reading & loving your blog (I link to it when I can for my bookish rounds recaps), but I think I got caught up in the conversation with Jon and forgot. Also Heir of Fire enthusiasm lol. Anyway, I’m glad we kinda sorta met? Ha, and also wowwwww. Can’t believe someone tried to steal your book. And Jon’s. I know a few people who tried to take books ahead of time despite the lines for the galley drops, but not someone so intense that she’d steal someone else’s book. Also yes. Your lanyard. You were one of the first people I’d seen with one and I was like: such a smart idea! Another time then. I kept wondering whether I’d accidentally knock my business cards out of my badge with the pin the way it was. Anyway, I’m glad you had fun!
    Christina @ Christina Reads YA recently posted…Review: Guy in Real Life – Steve BrezenoffMy Profile

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    • Hi Christina! :D
      Yes, I definitely remember you! I saw your badge and was thinking hey, her blog sounds familiar, but then I didn’t want to ask because I’m the master of being awkward. :P
      Aww, thank you! And YES, Jon is the master at making people talk and forget things.
      I’m glad we sorta met too! Next time, we should definitely talk! :D
      Apparently one of my friends told me that in one of the past years, someone bit someone else’s hand for a book?! Madness! I definitely need to bring mace and a fly swatter next year.
      Ha ha, I was like I am NOT putting that pin through my favorite sweater. No no NOOOOO. Even with the lanyard, I dropped my business cards out of my badge holder twice when I was leaning down – once on the subway (awkwardd!) and once when I was sitting down waiting on Sarah Maas’ line with you guys.
      Kelly recently posted…Let’s Speculate: Not Everything Comes EasilyMy Profile

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  20. That lady knew exactly what she was doing, trying to snatch books from you guys!

    BEA sounds so scary!!!! Omg! A Stampede!

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  21. Kelly!! I’m sad we didn’t get more time to chat and hang out! At least I met you briefly! Next year!! Also I was in that heir of fire line too! So crazy long but worth it! And, be glad you didn’t go on sat bc it was madness and sooo many people. We dubbed book con side the dark side and also left early.
    Wendy @ Book Scents recently posted…BEA Is Coming!!!My Profile

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  24. Some people have some real nerve. I’m glad you were able to get all the books back that she attempted to take. Also, great tips! I hope to attend BEA in the future.
    Meredith recently posted…Black Chalk ReviewMy Profile

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  26. Dang that woman who was trying to get yours (err Octavia’s) and Jon’s book are crazy! Also, I’ll def. keep in mind to bring extra copies of my schedule when I go to BEA probably in the next couple of years haha. And wow, some publishers are rude? I’m kind of intimidated to talk to them now… They’re just probably dizzy from all the stampede haha.
    Leigh @ Little Book Star recently posted…Review: 17 First Kisses by Rachael AllenMy Profile

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Effortlessly Reading sometimes receives ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) from publishers or authors in exchange for honest reviews. Please note that no compensation of any kind has been provided in exchange for a review. Any use and/or duplication of my material without any permission is strictly prohibited.