BEA Spotlight: The People

I was very happy to get the chance to go to BEA this year. I went way back in 2010 - aka Pre-Kid Years - when I was in full blogging mode, and I fully intended on making it a yearly trip. Then the hubby and I decided to have some babies and that sort of took over my life between two miscarriages and then two pregnancies resulting in two small, needy children. Now the youngest is one and I'm ready to get back into the swing of things, and lucky me, BEA was in Chicago, a mere one hour drive (assuming no traffic) from where I live.

And even luckier me, I was finally going to meet some of my long-time blogging buddies: the awesome Jill of Rhapsody in Books and the equally awesome Sandy of (the blog formerly known as) You've Gotta Read This. Both of these women rock my world, and I was so happy to finally meet them after years of online stalking blogging romance friendship.

I also was lucky enough to meet up with Candace of Beth Fish Reads and Sheila of Book Journey, and I briefly saw Kim of Sophisticated Dorkiness, Florinda of 3R's Blog, and a handful of other bloggers that I'm not going to name because I just know I'm forgetting people.

For the first time, my real life people and my online people met. A fellow English teacher from my college, Jenny, came with me to BEA and meshed perfectly with the bloggers. Jenny and I also attended BookCon on Saturday. After three days of BEA and one day of BookCon, the two of us have reading material for the next five years. Posts on the books forthcoming.

I, sadly, took no pictures of this inspiring meeting of the minds. One picture I did get, however, is the following:

Believe it or not, that is my freshman year roommate Ann, a person I have not seen or had any contact with since 1998 when I left Illinois Wesleyan University to attend DePaul University after only a semester. That's right people NINETEEN NINETY EIGHT. Otherwise known as the last century. I remember quite a bit about our time together - she was (and is) a kind and interesting person - but what I remember the most is her passion for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and her creativity, both of which I very much appreciated then and now.

Our BEA meeting was quite random: I was coming back to the floor after my second book drop in the car, happily eating a banana, when the lovely woman holding open the door for me suddenly said, "Trisha?!?". Strange coincidence I tell you.

Speaking of bananas, I had an incident with a banana on Friday. I always carry one in my purse - I'm a mom - and it accidentally fell on the bathroom floor. The peeling was still perfectly in tact but I just couldn't bring myself to keep and eat the in-my-mind-disgustingly-tainted banana, so I threw it away. Many people I have told this story to said they would have peeled and eaten it. You?

Now I've told you a bit about the people I was privileged enough to spend some time with at BEA, so over the next week or so, I'll regale you with the books!

BEA Books 5: Fiction

Time for the fourth set of wonderful books I picked up while in NYC for BEA and BBC. The first pile I offered up for your viewing pleasure included all of the signed copies; the second set was non-fiction; the third contemporary adult fiction.  Here we have the second half of fiction I picked up.  For the most part, these are contemporary YAL novels.

The (rather giant) list:

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler Birth of a Killer by Darren Shan The Gift by James Patterson Nomansland by Lesley Hauge Adios, Nirvana by Conrad Wesselhoeft Tyger, Tyger by Kersten Hamilton Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey Jekel loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey How to Grow Up and Rule the World by Vordak T. Incomprehensible The Boneshaker by Kate Milford Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti The Queen of Everything by Deb Caletti Home is with Our Family by Joyce Hansen Annexed by Sharon Doggar Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

The Book of Nonsense by David Michael Slater Matched by Ally Condie The Outside Boy by Jeanine Cummins Danger in the Dark by L. Ron Hubbard If I Were You by L. Ron Hubbard Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles I'll Get There. It Better Be Worth the Trip. by John Donovan Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles Salvation City by Sigrid Nunez Trance by Linda Gerber Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore Marvin Invents Music by Monte and Claire Montgomery Nightshade by Andrea Cremer Dust by Joan Frances Turner Petrodor by Joel Shepherd Hero by Mike Lupica

Once again, I'd like to ask you guys if there are any on this list that stand out as must-reads?

BEA Books 4: Fiction

Time for the third set of wonderful books I picked up while in NYC for BEA and BBC. The first pile I offered up for your viewing pleasure included all of the signed copies; the second set was non-fiction.  Here we have about half of the fiction I picked up.  For the most part, these are contemporary adult fiction novels.

The Great Lover by Jill Dawson (not pictured) Nemesis by Philip Roth How the Hula Girl Sings by Joe Meno Sima's Undergarments for Women by Ilana Stanger-Ross The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas Mr. Toppit by Charles Elton Panopticon by David Bajo Obabakoak by Bernardo Atxaga The Accordionist's Son by Bernardo Atxaga The Memory Closet by Ninie Hammon Karma by Nancy Deville The Monkey Bible by Mark Laxer Think of a Number by John Verdon

Unformed Landscape by Peter Stamm Up from the Blue by Susan Henderson Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart The Report by Jessica Francis Kane Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives by Josie Brown How to Escape from a Leper Colony by Tiphanie Yanique The Gendarme by Mark T. Mustian The Wake of Forgiveness by Bruce Machart Our Tragic Universe by Scarlett Thomas The Sherlockian by Graham Moore Last Night in Montreal by Emily St. John Mandel Satori by Don Winslow The King's Mistress by Emma Campion

Instead of telling you what I'm looking forward to, I thought I would ask you guys your opinion. Any of these books really stand out as something I should read?

BEA Books 3: Nonfiction

Time for the second pile of wonderful books I picked up while in NYC for BEA and BBC. The first pile I offered up for your viewing pleasure included all of the signed copies.  These are the non-fiction books I walked away with.

I used to Know That by Caroline Taggart

Secrets of the Lost Symbol by John Greer

Farm City by Novella Carpenter

Hello Sunshine by Ryan Adams

Resitution by Kathy Kacer

The Adderall Diaries by Stephen Elliott

God's Guest List  by Debbie Macomber

Letter to the West by Saudi Scholars

Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon

The Witness House by Christiane Kohl

The Right to Be Out by Stuart Biegel

The Burden of Guilt by Daniel Allen Butler

England's Dreaming Tapes by Jon Savage

Bronx Biannual

Poltergeist by Colin Wilson

Tattooed Love Dogs by Daniel Hallford

Sudan by Art Ayris and Ninie Hammon

Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff

Ebert's Yearbook!!!

The Wave by Susan Casey

Along with Roger Ebert's Yearbook, I'm probably most excited about Sudan, Poltergeist and The Witness House. Based on a true story, Sudan follows one father as he attempts to find his daughter after she is taken by Bedayene guerrillas. Poltergeist examines the history of destructive hauntings - namely poltergeists - and collects the numerous recorded infestations from ancient Greece to modern times. And now for something completely different... The Witness House brings readers to a 1945 villa where both the Nuremberg prosecution and defense housed their witnesses. Perpetrators and victims, together in one house.

Are there any non-fiction books you are excited about currently?

BEA Books 2: Specially Signed

Time for some more of the many wonderful books I picked up while in NYC for BEA and BBC. I've already discussed one very special book I received, but now we are moving on to the piles...

The first pile includes all of the signed copies.  Some of these books I actively pursued, some were more or less thrust upon me, and some had short lines so I jumped in. In order, bottom to top, right to left (because I can) they are as follows.

Pope Annalisa by Peter Canova

The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

Aberrations by Penelope Przekop

Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz

Vampires by Konstantinos

Werewolves by Konstantinos

Blue Skies, Red Soil by David T. Mudra

Countdown to Lockdown by Mick Foley

NERDS: M is for Mama's Boy by Michael Buckley

A Spark of Blue Flame by Sandra Stanley-Stone

Call from Jersey by P.F. Kluge

ghostgirl: Lovesick by Tonya Hurley

Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink

Split by Swati Avasthi

Kicking In by Richard Wirick

Mistwood by Leah Cypess

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Empire of Illusion by Chris Hedges

Shift by Rachel Vincent

Into the Dark by Gena Showalter

Trickster by Matt Dembicki (not pictured)

Normally, I would give you a nice synopsis of each book to whet your appetite, but to do that for 21 books would be a bit time consuming ridiculous.  The pile has fiction and non-fiction, adult and YA, chunksters and short stories, romance and murder, girly girls, gothy dark guys, and um...Mick Foley!  There are female popes, narcoleptic girls, talking animals, paranormals, and immigrants.  A lovely collection that illustrates my eclectic reading.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go read.

BEA Books 1: My Special Score

Time to start revealing to you the many wonderful books I picked up while in NYC for BEA and BBC. As I managed to come away with 103 lovely books, I thought I'd divvy them up into more bite-sized portions.  In other words, expect a series of posts that are only interesting if you enjoy looking at piles of books.  Then again, who doesn't enjoy that?

My first post is only about one book.  Many of you who read my blog know I like movies and that I am lucky enough to teach Introduction to Film.  Well, when I saw Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2010, I drooled.  But it was a display copy.  I knew it was not a freebie. But I wanted it.  I craved it. My fingers got itchy.

Now don't get your panties in a bunch; I didn't steal it.  Instead, I threw pride out the door and begged.  I was all "I'm a book blogger and I'd love to review this on my site.  Is there anyway I could snag a copy? And it's the last day, and you don't really want to have to pack up that big ol' book and cart it back to your offices."  At first it was a no-go.  The two gentlemen behind the counter were staring at me with amused-but-could-turn-to-annoyance-at-any-time expressions.  Then a beautiful thing happened. They took pity on me.  One of them jokingly said I should put in a good word for their publishing company.

Good word?  Are you kidding?  I love them.  I want to serve them pancakes in bed for letting me run off with that book.  Andrews McMeel Publishing is like Santa.  Not only will I put in a good word, I will highlight some of their new titles that I find intriguing. Clicking on the cover will take you to the product description for that book.

Now tell me you don't want to read these books?  I wonder what Andrews McMeel would do if I once again swallowed my pride and begged for review copies?

A Picturiffic BEA

Many BEA and Blogger Con attendees have posted recaps of their time in New York.  I, unfortunately, am too lazy right now to write up a recap of my week. Primarily because so much happened I'm thinking multiple posts would be required to detail all of the amazing things I saw and all of the wonderful people I met.  So...my week in pictures (some I took and others are totally stolen from the bloggers I was with).

This does not begin to show you everyone I met or everything I did, but again...lazy right now. Er, actually it's more like I'm preoccupied with the 100+ books I got from BEA and Blogger Con. I can't stop reading! I keep touching them and moving them around and organizing them and reading the back and then reorganizing them and...it's pitifully geeky and obsessive.

A big hello to everyone I met at BEA and Blogger Con! I'm already looking forward to next year.

BEA Plans!!!

Monday

• I arrive in NYC, hopefully at the hotel by 1pm. 
• The Strand at 3pm with a gaggle of bloggers.  Is gaggle insulting?
• Teen Author Carnival at Jefferson Market Branch Library from 5-8pm

Tuesday

• Ellis Island in the morning with Jenny and Amanda! I am really geeking out over this.
• 2k10 (Debut YAL authors) 6-8 at Books of Wonder

Wednesday
Breakfast with Nat and Amanda and then heading to the Brunonia Barry signing!  I also want to pick up tickets for Rick Riordan, but so far I have no clue how to do that.  I'm such a procrastinator spontaneous person.

The rest of the schedule:  (and yeah, yeah, yeah, there's overlap)

• Brunonia Barry at 9:30
• James Dashner at 11
• YA/Adult Crossover 10-11 in Room 1E16
• Dystopian Fiction Panel 10:30-11:30 at the Uptown Stage
• YA Crossover 11-11:50 at the Midtown Stage
• Paranormal YAL 11-11:50 at the Downtown Stage
• Lunch with a gaggle of bloggers ( I just like the word gaggle ) at noon
• Steam Punk 3-3:50 at the Midtown Stage
• Rick Riordan 3-4
• Melissa Marr 4-5
• Algonquin Hotel for the Celebration of Book Bloggers from 7-9

Thursday

• Big Name Authors with Graphic Novels 9:30-10:30 in Room 1E14
• Lunch and the High Line with Jill
• Hot Fall Graphic Novels 2:30-3:30 in Room 1E14
• Book Blogger Conference Reception 4-6 
• Dinner with Megan

Friday
Book Blogger Conference!!!

Saturday
Breakfast, like a big one! Then unfortunately, I have to go home... : (

So you know who to look for....

In case I'm too lazy to do my hair that day...

If you want to meet up for BEA or non-BEA fun, email me at eclectic.eccentric[at]hotmail.com. I'd love to exchange contact information and/or set up a specific meeting time and place.

And everyone should go get pictures up on your blogs so I'm not walking past you obliviously!

BEA Fuzzy Plans

The BEA and Blogger Con are fast approaching, and I find myself getting more and more anxious. What it really comes down to is this:  I would love to meet up with you guys, and currently I have very fuzzy plans.  If any of you out there are also wondering what you'll be doing at the BEA, I would love to hear from you.

Here is my first run-through on events. Totally a draft, these are just some possibilities for me, hence the overlap. I haven't even come close to reading all the authors who will be there for signings.

Monday
I arrive in NYC, hopefully at the hotel by 1pm. Heading to the Javitz to get the lay of the land and then something touristy!  Maybe The Strand?  Ellis Island?  Then some dinner of course.
Author Panel at Borders at 7pm
Teen Author Carnival at Jefferson Market Branch Library from 5-8pm (most likely choice)

Tuesday
10:15-11:45 Online Website Promotion
4:30-5:30  Editor's Buzz
6 Barbara Streisand Keynote

I am pretty sure I'm going to forget all about Tuesday BEA stuff and just spend the entire day doing touristy things.  If anyone is interested, let me know!

Wednesday
10-11  YA/Adult Crossover
11-11:50 YA Crossover
10:30-11:30  Dystopian Fiction Panel
11-11:50 Paranormal YAL
2-3:15 Editor's Buzz (YA Authors)
3-3:50  Steam Punk

Author signings including Brunonia Barry, James Dashner, Rick Riordan, Melissa Marr....

7-9 Celebration of Book Bloggers at The Algonquin Hotel
I've heard something about a Tweet-Up but I don't know what that is??

Thursday
9:30-10:30  Big Name Authors with Graphic Novels
2:30-3:30 Hot Fall Graphic Novels
2-3 YA Authors of the Editor's Buzz

8-9 Adult Author Breakfast (not going, but hovering around looking for Mary Roach)
12-2 Adult Author Lunch (not going, but hovering around looking for Sara Gruen)


Lit Pub Crawl?  I know I heard this somewhere, but I have no idea what it is.

4-6 Book Blogger Conference Reception


Friday
Book Blogger Conference!!!

Saturday
I don't have to leave for the airport until early afternoon, so I'm up for breakfast!

So you know who to look for....

In case I'm too lazy to do my hair that day...

If you want to meet up for BEA or non-BEA fun, email me at eclectic.eccentric[at]hotmail.com. I'd love to exchange contact information and/or set up a specific meeting time and place.

And everyone should go get pictures up on your blogs so I'm not walking past you obliviously!