BGB @ BEA: Day 2

BGB’s man-in-the-field reports from Book Expo America, the book industry’s largest US convention, armed only with a venti mochachino and his wits. Missives from the field:

7:54 curious as to how it is that, despite last night being my birthday, all of my own drinks were bought on my own tab. That is, at least, until I ended up at the American Bookseller Association party, which had an open bar and which also offered some of the best conversation and friendliest folk I’d seen all day yesterday. Today is the first day the exhibit hall is open, meaning publishing houses and book technology companies shilling wares, also meaning…free books. FREE. BOOKS. I am imagining a scene akin to the film “Jingle All The Way”, but we will see. Recession and all that, y’all.
9:48 there are 2 kinds of publishers on the exhibit floor: those handing stuff out like my grandparents w candy, and those hiding them like they were parents of a virgin on prom night. More in a bit, must explore and have a meeting at firebrand booth in ten min.
9:55 Algonquin Books booth makes me feel overwhelmingly happy. Love them like a sister.
10:23 I just need to find a place to sit I just need to find a place to sit I just need…
10:47 Overwhelmed and inundated w/ books. Forced to grab shabby tote bag so as not to kill my back like a glue factory race horse. Jonathan Lethem is signing galleys at 1, may cry on him
11:12 dammit the new Dean Koontz is a book about his dog
11:23 lil brown is doing a crazysmart marketing campaign creating a sense of urgency for a surprise book tmrw. I need lunch
11:43 omg food today at Javits doesn’t suck
11:51 highly satisfying lunchymunchies. Girl at other table is reading new Kate DiCamillo and sniffling into it, makes me feel like high school
12:12 just accosted by author. Won’t say where. Feel gross. Trying to sweet talk book off of shelf, waiting for Jonathan the awesomesauce Lethem to show up
12:29 first in line for Jonathan Lethem. Need to pee rl bad tho.
1:05 where the f@ck is the coffee, bea
1:14 do I dare and do I dare keep walking? Almost fell over Richard Nash. I am the worst stalker ever. Also worst walker ever.
1:22 the randomhouse booth is a madhouse. Suffice to say the new lethem book is going to make mad noise
1:25 omg the empress of the atl book world, esther levine, is here. Tim find and link to that ajc article on her plssssss (Tim says: it’s the AJC we’re talking about – that link is long broken and good luck with the “archives” – but here is a link to BGB’s shout out to Esther)
1:30 neil gaiman is here. Whoopeedoo.
1:50 finally a coffee recharge. Carrying two bags of books, under the steamy press of underpaid publishing pros, I smell like woodpulp and desperation
1:55 f@ck it yall, sitting on the floor. You know how we do.
2:08 if signage is to be believed, the new Elizabeth Kostova (The Historian, great damn book) novel, in jan 2010, involves vampire swans. Sweeeet.
2:20 I just figured out blues clues. They say keep caffinating.
2:59 need hotel break. Taking one
358 wish i knew how to disconap like the old folks do. as it is, i need a diet mountain dew, some shoe insoles and a bagel sandwich. going to recoup before heading to the Adaptive Blue panel, and then to the bea tweetup.
SHAMELESS BEATWEETUP PLUG!
4:11 oh damn. Back to javits for the only panel w an open bar
4:34 late for 430 open bar. Worried all booze in the world is gone
4:52 the line for this open bar is longer than the line for neil gaiman
4:59 ready for a drink. Then going to have to go back to hotel
5:17 reflecting on what inspires me in publishing on walk back
6pm signing off dear readers. Parties to prep for. Recaps in the am.

Books, Happenings | Tim | May 29, 2009 8:42 am

4 Comments

By Jen, May 29, 2009 @ 2:27 pm

aaaaachhhh – get me Neil Gaiman. No. Wait. Some super fun YA fantasy stuff. No. Wait. Kate DiCamillo is ok too. NO. You’re in the wrong place go that way…!
By Rich, May 29, 2009 @ 4:45 pm

Jen — I told you The Historian is good!