BEA recap and SWAGTASTIC Contest!
Ah, it was bliss, people. This was my first time at Book Expo America (BEA), held this year at the Javits Center in NYC. It’s a big industry conference, geared to the publishers, booksellers, rights agents, and press — the authors are like the books at BEA, part of the product everyone is selling. But is it so exciting, to see the commerce of the publishing industry churning.
My impressions? I have no frame of reference, since I’ve never been to one of these before. A number of folks have mentioned the more frantic pace on the main floor as a result of the three day expo getting reduced to two days this year. It did get pretty hectic out there — those of you who have attended the Romantic Times book signing can just extrapolate out, the energy of a RT signing spread over the gigantic Javits conference center. :-)
But what struck me the most about this conference was that raw sense of heading into the unknown, of people grappling with change, and the opportunities hidden within that tremendous change. I started out in the e-pub romance world, and this week in NYC, I encountered a similar, improvisational sense of adventure.
I suppose many people in the industry are worried about the dislocations and the shifts. But I got a sense, from both the authors and the booksellers, that they are meeting the challenges with a joyful ferocity. And I really kinda loved that.
Thank you to everyone at Tor for making BEA such a fantastic experience for me. Thank you to everyone who came to get an ARC (we ran out in a half an hour — wow!) and who shared my excitement and joy. It was a pleasure to meet you all, and I hope you enjoy LADY LAZARUS!
I got a chance to snag some pretty sweet swag, and to celebrate BEA I want to mail some of it to you! I have three prizes’ worth — two boxes of fabulous books (I’ll update with a list, but they are mostly urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and mainstream) AND a lonely, last ARC of LADY LAZARUS!
You want to get this LADY LAZARUS ARC, people — it has the original cover on it, so it is already a collector’s item :) To win, simply leave a comment here, RT/follow me on Twitter, or leave a comment on Facebook/be a FB friend. I will pick three winners at random on Tuesday June 1st!
EDITED TO ADD PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF SWAG GOODNESS (fabulous oversized totes are included):
Jess Tudor says:
Since I’m commenting here AND I follow you on twitter does this mean I’m entered twice? JK! :)
Glad you had a good time… part of me envies everyone and their monstrous stack of free books, and part of me is like, where would I put them? (At least, I tell myself that so I don’t feel bad LOL)
admin says:
Actually, you are :) BEA was great, and it was wonderful to catch that excitement. But it is also great to be home, and writing again. Thanks for stopping by!
Emily Cardinal says:
Oh, I’m looking forward to Lady Lazarus!
admin says:
Thanks so much Emily — one of the wonderful things about BEA, as I mentioned, was meeting people in person and getting to thank them for sharing my excitement about LADY LAZARUS :) Thanks again!
Carrie says:
I’m glad you had a great time at BEA. I plan on going next year:)
I am really looking forward to Lady Lazarus and would love to get my hands on an arc.
admin says:
Great — hopefully we’ll be there together :) Good luck w/the contest!
Sabrina says:
Sounds like u had a great time! I’ve always wanted to go to bea.
admin says:
I did, thanks Sabrina — BEA is a blast. I met a bunch of bloggers there — they were loading up on swag too :)
Elle Robb says:
Thanks so much for sharing your SWAG! I’m so jealous & wish I could have been there, too! (BTW – beautiful site!)
elle@ellerobb.com
admin says:
Thanks so much Elle — swag was made to be shared :) Hope you can make it next year — it is quite a mind-blowing experience. Thanks again!
Josin says:
I am totally jealous of everyone who got to go to BEA. It sounds like everyone had a great (if frantic) time from what I’ve read.
admin says:
Hope you can make it next year, Josin. I heard they were talking about opening at least one day of BEA up to the public, which I think is a terrific idea. The concept of who is the “public” vs the “industry” is shifting anyway…
Thanks for your comment!
Tez Miller says:
It may not have golems, but nevertheless, I’d love to have a copy of Lady Lazarus, please ;-)
admin says:
Thanks, Tez :) I would be happy to mail this stuff Down Under, as well!
Karen Mahoney says:
Is this open to other countries? I want to read this sooo much but am in the UK. :)
Anyway, I’m glad you had an awesome time at your first BEA. I am seriously considering flying over next year – I’ve never been to NYC so I could combine it with a vacation, maybe. And my book comes out in 2011… it might work out well.
Cheers,
Kaz
p.s. I already follow you on Twitter.
admin says:
Oh, that would be excellent! If you could stay on in the States for a ridiculous amount of time, you could also catch RWA Nationals — in NYC next year as well :) I would be happy to mail these prizes anywhere in the world, so you are indeed officially entered two times over :)
Thanks for coming by, Kaz!
Marlene Breakfield says:
What a great giveaway! Please enter me in the contest.
admin says:
You are officially entered Marlene :) Thanks for stopping by!
Spav says:
I wish I coud have gone, but it’s so far away from here! Seems like everyone had a great time!
I’m following you on twitter, BTW.
admin says:
Winning a giant bag o swag is the next best thing to being there, I’d say — and some would say it’s even better :) Thanks for the follow, Spav — see you in the twitterverse!
Fedora says:
Thanks for the update and contest, Michele! Sounds like BEA was a great one!
admin says:
You are very welcome, Fedora. I totally imprinted on this BEA…any and all future BEAs I attend will be measured against this one :)
Quinn says:
So awesome! :) *Follows.*
hotcha1 says:
OH I WISH I COULD GO BUT I’M AFRAID I’D HAVE EVERY AND NO WAY TO GET HOME!!
catslady says:
I keep hoping that I get to go to one of these someday. Thanks for a chance at a great prize!!
admin says:
You are welcome! Now I’m thinking I need a prize for folks who did not win the giant bags of swag…hmmm…
hotcha1 says:
HOW DO I WIN ONE? HECK I’LL TAKE ANY AS I MARRIED SCROOGE~
Mel K. says:
LOL! hotcha1
Hi Michele,
WOW. I’m drooling over the ARC. I collect and read them. I’d love to add yours to my collection. The swag is fab and I’d love to win that as well. Please send me some goodies! :-)
Meljprincess AT aol DOT com
Valere says:
Hi,
Wow, what a great blog post, looks like you had lots of fun. Those swag photos are drool worthy…lol!!!
I’m over the pond, but for a prize like that, I’d send you the postage!!!! Hehe!!!!
Valerie
in Germany
admin says:
Hey Valerie! I will collect swag on my travels throughout the year and have contests like these again. I announce them on Twitter and Facebook, and here too — please friend/follow me and you will get a heads up. I will also make sure to let people know more in advance of the deadline of the contest :)
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Valere says:
I shall have to hang out here more often….:)))
I don’t do Facebook or Twitter….:((
admin says:
Argh — your comment got caught in the spam filter for some reason, Val! Sorry to miss your comment…there will be a new contest up shortly :)