BEA Blitz: Lindsi @ Books, Sweets, & Other Treats

You all know Lindsi, the genius behind Books, Sweets & Other Treats. You might not know that you know her, but you do. Lindsi is somewhat infamous in the blogging world, especially when it comes to BEA. See, she's the girl that actually got bit over a book at BEA. She's here to recount her story one more time as well as answer a few other questions!

1. How many years have you attended BEA? 

I have attended BEA the last two years.

2. Tell us about your now infamous biting incident: 

Hah! Well, that made my first BEA experience very interesting. I didn’t really know what I was doing, so I was a little shocked when people started stampeding after they opened the doors. I tried to get out of the way, but it’s really hard not to get bumped and hit. You just have to go with the flow.

People, not nice people, will push and shove to get what they want. It doesn’t matter that publishers are nice enough to give away free copies of upcoming books. Greedy people will always be greedy. I looked up a lot at the convention center, so I could follow the signs and not get lost. That didn’t help me avoid running into people, lol. You’d have to be a demigod to dash in and out unseen, and still come out with what you wanted.

When I saw Carrie Jones’ book After Obsession I got excited. (I love her books!) I waited in something that resembled a line, and seemed to be moving in a somewhat forward direction. When I got to the front, I reached out to grab a copy and felt pressure on my arm. At first I thought someone had grabbed me to hold him or herself up, but the pressure turned into pain. There were little sharp pricks on my skin. When I turned to look, I saw that someone’s mouth was attached to my arm. Obviously, I freaked out and tried to jerk my arm away. Even more shocking was who it was. She looked like an innocent old lady. I, however, know the truth. She’s not a nice old lady that bakes cookies.

After biting me, the old woman proceeded to grab a handful of copies from the stack and then went on her merry way. I think I was in shock for a few minutes, because I couldn’t believe someone would actually do that.

All throughout the week I heard crazy stories of the girl who had been bitten. A lot of people saw it happen, but I didn’t think anything of it. There were rumors that I’d had to go to the hospital, and that she’d given me rabies. Zombie theories were also tossed around. I would be standing in line and hear someone start talking about it. Sometimes I corrected people, and sometimes I didn’t. It definitely made the trip more interesting and memorable.

My friend, Kate (Verb Vixen) made shirts that said “Bitten at BEA” that we wore the following year. She’s the best.

3. Do you make a schedule for BEA? If so, how tightly do you stick to it?  

Yes! I’m a little OCD, so I make super organized and detailed schedules. I start by writing down all of the events, panels, signings, etc., that I want to go to, and then I fill them in according to the day/time on the spreadsheet. I don’t use anything fancy, just Excel, and it works wonderfully! I also use various colors to code the different events. There may be something that occurs on more than one day, so if I can’t make it the first time, there’s still hope! I also mark the ones that I HAVE to go to no matter what.

4. What's your favorite BEA memory? 

Oh dear... This is such a difficult question! I have so many fond memories from my two BEA experiences. Last year Erica (The Book Cellar) and I stayed with Kate (Verb Vixen), and had a blast! I can’t even begin to count the memories we made just at her apartment. “YOLO!”  Those are two friendships I will treasure for the rest of my life. I also have amazing memories with a few of my favorite authors, but most of those contain secrets that I’ve promised not to share. ;)

Getting to meet different authors, publishers, and fellow book lovers is one of the best things about BEA. I get to be around the people who get me. They understand the consuming need to constantly read books and talk about them.

One of my favorite memories if from my first year at BEA, when I made stick figures out of a few of my friends that couldn’t go. Capillya (That Cover Girl), Jen (Makeshift Bookmark), and Ginger (G-Reads). I took pictures of the stick figures around New York and BEA so it was like they were there when they couldn’t be. That’s how Jen met Jeri Smith-Ready for the first time! I

I also enjoyed spending a day to myself. I toured New York (on my second visit, so I had an idea what I was doing, lol) and visited different museums across the city. It was amazing.

I tried octopus, bought a wig and went dancing, took a nap in central park, saw Shakespeare in the Park (AMAZING), hugged and flirted with half-naked angels, met Chris Colfer from GLEE, had coffee and lunch with authors, went to different publishing houses, saw the Harry Potter exhibit, laughed, made friends...the list is endless. I have done so many things at BEA in such a short amount of time. I would suggest packing comfortable clothes and shoes, because you’ll be going nonstop!

5. What advice would you give to people going to BEA for the first time?  

I know I just said I make a crazy organized schedule, but try not to live by the schedule. You should be adventurous, try new things, and definitely meet people you never thought possible. I always find it a little exhilarating to meet the authors that write the books that I love. There’s no better person to talk about that book with. Sometimes they even share a little extra information. Try not to have any regrets. Have fun, do what you want to do most, and everything else will fall into place. 

Blog Tour: Belonging by Karen Ann Hopkins

Today I have the chance to welcome Karen Hopkins to the blog. Karen is the author of Temptation and Belonging - the tale of two teens who fall in love. But things get a little complicated when one Amish and the other ... isn't. 

1. How far after Temptation does Belonging take place?

Belonging immediately follows the ending of Temptation.

2. Why did you decide to write about the Amish?

Shortly after moving to the northern Kentucky Amish community, Amish teens began arriving at my horse farm to participate in horseback riding activities.  As I watched the interactions between the Amish kids and the non-Amish ones, I noticed some flirtatious behavior going on, which grew the seed of Rose and Noah’s forbidden love affair in my mind.

3. Noah and Rose have a somewhat forbidden love. What are some of your favorite tales of forbidden love?

Obviously, Romeo and Juliet, comes to mind immediately, but a more current story I enjoyed about problematic romance was Twilight.  I think whenever you have two people who are crazy about each other, but are unable to be together easily, it makes an interesting story.

4. Who is your favorite character to write?

I spent a lot of time observing and interacting with the teenage boys in my community before I felt comfortable writing Noah’s POV.  I enjoyed writing his POV, because of the challenge of it.  Sam was also fun to write.  His voice just popped easily onto the pages. 

5. How many books will be in the Temptation series?

There will be three books in the series.  The third book is called FOREVER and will be released in 2014.  There may be more books in the future focusing on other teens living in the Meadowview Community.

6. What are some YA books that you’re excited about in 2013?

I’m looking forward to reading Mind Games by Kiersten White and A.G. Howard’s Splintered.

7. What sets the Temptation series apart from other young adult series’?

It’s set in the real world, yet still has the feel of fantasy about it.  The Amish lifestyle is fascinating and also strange to outsiders, but it really exists in a large portion of the United States.  The Temptation series gives the reader  information about a culture that they probably don’t know much about, while enthralling them in the Rose and Noah’s story at the same time.

About Karen Ann Hopkins - Facebook, Goodreads, Blog

A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration for the story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tending to a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.

About Temptation - Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Indiebound, Facebook

Your heart misleads you.

That's what my friends and family say.

But I love Noah.

And he loves me.

We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other's arms.

It should be

ROSE & NOAH

forever, easy.

But it won't be.

Because he's Amish.

And I'm not.

Giveaway:

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Tour Schedule:
Monday, April 22th - Ashley loves books
Tuesday, April 23th -  A Little Shelf of Heaven
Wednesday, April 24th - One Day YA
Thursday, April 25h - Fic Talk
Friday, April 26th - Bittersweet Enchantment 

Monday, April 29th - Reader Girls
Tuesday, April 30th - Bumbles and Fairy Tales
Wednesday, May 1sh - The YA Bookworm
Thursday, May 2nd - The Book Heist 
Friday, May 3rd -  Page Turners

Monday, May 6th -  Books Complete Me 
Tuesday, May 7th -  Bookish Escape
Wednesday, May 8th - Book Sp(l)ot Reviews
Thursday, May 9th - Irish Banana
Friday, May 10th - The Cozy Reader

Blog Tour: How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler

Today I have Janet Gurtler on the blog. I had the opportunity to interview her about her upcoming novel, How I Lost You. My review will be up later this month, but I cannot remember the last time a book emotionally wrecked me so much. Janet may quickly be one of my new contemporary author faves. 

1. What inspired you to write How I Lost You?

It’s kind of silly, but I had a “tiff” with one of my best friends.  We were both upset and ended up in tears and I thought our friendship was over. It brought back some memories of losing a best friend when I was younger.  And that of course, brought on the idea of incorporating those feelings into a book.  Oh, and luckily that friend and I made up. J

2. After writing several very successful YA books, is there more of less pressure to keep writing amazing books that people love?

Wow. Thanks for the compliment!! Seriously! I think the pressure I feel is to keep trying to write better books and to keep improving with every new book. I am lucky in that I have a contract with Sourcebooks, so there are two more books coming out. The next is called Sixteen Things I Thought Were True, and it will be out in March. I am starting to plot the next one after that.  I think the thing for me is to try to write books that are different from each other but still share the same overall flavor, and that is I guess, part of building an author brand. I think when people pick up a Janet Gurtler book; they know they are going to get an emotional, honest story that is relatable. The key is to keep the stories fresh and interesting.

3. How I Lost You is about two best friends in high school, Grace and Kya. Did you have a best friend in high school that stuck with you through thick and thin?

Well, I moved around when I was a kid.  I moved in my last year of high school and that was pretty awful. Right before high school started, I had gone through a best friend break up but had a group of girls from middle school that were always kind of around. I did meet

a great best friend who was my thick and thin partner until I moved away. Her name was Rosalyn and we were super close.   

4. Are there any YA books you’re super excited for this year?

Oh, of course there are! I love reading and YA is pretty much all I read.  Like many, I am super excited about the last book in the Divergent series. I am also REALLY excited about A. S. King’s next book which comes out in October called Reality Boy. I will read ANYTHING A.S. King writes. She’s amazing.

5. What are you currently working on now?

Well, I finished Sixteen Things I Thought Were True, but I’m waiting for my revision notes from my editor. While I wait for those, I’ve slowly started writing my next book. It’s a book I’ve been thinking about writing for a couple years and it’s super important to me. About a stunning fearless girl who looks like she has absolutely everything going for her.  But she has struggles that people don’t see, unless they look past her stunning face.  It’s inspired by a friend of mine’s daughter who has this amazing story that is both heart breaking and inspiring. We’ll see if I can make it work! 

About Janet Gurtler:

Janet lives near the Canadian Rockies with her husband and son and a little dog named Bruce. She does not live in an Igloo or play hockey, but she does love maple syrup and says “eh” a lot. Her previous books include I’m Not Her, If I Tell, and Who I Kissed.

BEA Blitz: Spencer Hill Press

One of the big perks of BEA are the publisher booths! They have books, authors milling around, and editors and publicists that are always willing to gush about upcoming books. Today I have Kate, editor extraordinairre, from Spencer Hill Press, talking about how her team preps for BEA and what you can expect from them this year!

1. How many years have you attended BEA?
This will be my third year.

2. How would you compare BEA to other book conferences/events?
Hands down, this is this is the most amazing, awe-inspiring, intimidating, overwhelming, exhilarating publishing trade show in North America. 

3. Any suggestions for how bloggers/librarians should approach publishers at BEA? (I will admit I just stood around staring at booths until someone approached me because I was shy about it.)

Bloggers should bring a LOT of business cards. Go up and ask publishers about any title that catches your eye--even something as simple as "What's this one about?" is a fine ice-breaker. Publisher WANT to talk to you about their books.

 4. How much planning goes into an event like this for you and your staff?
We start planning before the previous BEA is over--we check out booth locations and start brainstorming about what we can do the next year. In the months leading up to BEA, we book hotels, schedule signings, figure out the booth design and layout, and order ARCs and SWAG.

 5. Are there any titles from Spencer Hill Press you're excited will be at BEA this year?
So many! We're planning to have a limited number of ARCs of Frigid from #1 New York Times Bestselling author J. Lynn--BEA will be one of the only places to get one. And check out Reclaimed, PODs, Triangles, Whisper Falls, Breaking Glass, and many more! We have more than a dozen authors scheduled to sign. 

Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Title: Dare You To

Author: Katie McGarry

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Publication Date: 5.28.2013

Pages: 462

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Series: Pushing the Limits #2

Source: eARC from publisher

Rating: A+

Summary (from Goodreads):

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

Review:

There aren’t enough synonyms for love to adequately convey my utter adoration of Dare You To. In this stunning follow up to last year’s debut novel, Katie McGarry again blew me away. In fact, possibly more so than she did with Pushing the Limits. In Dare You To she did the impossible—she made me like Beth.

Beth is a broken, tortured girl and I get that now. When I was reading about Beth in Pushing the Limits, she irritated me to no end. I thought Noah and Isaiah—especially Isaiah—deserved so much better. And the way she treated Echo infuriated me. I wanted to slap Beth repeatedly and that caused me to hesitated over reading this (mind you I only hesitated for 1.5 seconds because I realized Katie McGarry was writing it and I trust Katie’s writing skills implicitly).

Getting into Beth’s head in this book was equal parts horrifying and amazing. McGarry writes stunning, compelling characters and Beth is no exception. She shines in this book, and now I get it. I get all the hatred and the bitterness and the desolation. I can’t imagine living in the gray world Beth did where hope was a cruel thing quickly snatched away. This girl has serious issues.

Enter Ryan. OK, no one hurt me, but I think I may love Ryan more than Noah. The way Ryan treated Beth and respected her (and all women) made me melt. I know a lot of people are up in arms because “Beth is supposed to be with Isaiah!” but trust me—Ryan is so much better for her. He balances her darkness with his light. He is the epitome of the knight in shining armor. Watching him fight for Beth was magical.

In case you can’t tell, I love this book. I love these books. McGarry is a force to be reckoned with in the YA world, and this incredible follow up proves she isn’t a one-hit-wonder in the book world. I can’t wait to read Isaiah’s story in a few months, and I can’t wait to read whatever she throws my way in the future.

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

BEA Blitz: Cara Lynn Shultz

New York native Cara Lynn Shultz is here talking about her experiences at BEA (she signed in 2011 and 2012) as well as some great things to know about her hometown. While she won't be at BEA this year (a fact that deeply saddens me as her two novels Spellbound and Spellcaster are two of my all time favorites), that didn't stop her from taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer some of my questions.

1.) How many years have you attended BEA?

I attended BEA twice—the first time to sign copies of Spellbound ARCs, and the second time to sign copies of Spellcaster.

2.) What did you do when you weren't signing books?

The first time I attended BEA, I didn’t really know many people in the book world—BEA was one of my first “official” events as an author, so when I was done with the signing, I walked around and checked out the displays. It can be a little overwhelming at first, I won’t lie. The second year, I made plans to meet up with people that I had gotten to know through Twitter, so it felt like much more of a social event.

3.) What's your favorite BEA memory?

All of my favorite BEA memories involve meeting people, so it’s hard to pick one specific moment out. Getting to spend time with people I previously only knew from their Twitter names was awesome. (*cough* like you *cough*)

4.) What's the craziest thing you've heard happened at BEA?

I haven’t heard of anything particularly crazy happening. No one went streaking through the quad or anything like that.

5.) As a native New Yorker, what are some experiences people must have when visiting NYC?

There’s the usual touristy stuff people should do if they’ve never been to NYC before: See a Broadway show, have a proper slice of pizza (NOT at Sbarro, you’re better off putting ketchup on cardboard), visit the Met/MOMA, see the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building all lit up, etc.

If you get a chance, head over to Central Park to see Belvedere Castle, which is my absolute favorite part of the park. I actually used to hang out there in high school, which is why I wrote it into Spellbound.

BEA is in a pretty isolated area, so I’d say head north a few blocks into Hell’s Kitchen, which is where I grew up. There are a lot of great restaurants on Ninth Avenue. Avoid eating at any of the chains in Times Square. You’re in New York—don’t eat at Applebee’s.

Not too far from Javits is the High Line, which is fun for an afternoon stroll. Also near BEA is Sleep No More, which is an interactive performance that reinterprets Macbeth with a Hitchcock angle, if that makes any sense. It’s pretty amazing.

If you’re in the mood for something strange in the neighborhood, head to 14 N. Moore St. and take a photo in front of the Ghostbusters fire house.

If you feel like leaving the island of Manhattan, consider seeing a Yankees game (yay!) or a Mets game (ew!), or heading out to Coney Island. But bring aspirin—the Cyclone will give you a headache.

One of my favorite things to do with people (who are of age) is take them for a drink at Campbell Apartment in Grand Central Station. It’s an old-timey cocktail bar in what was once the private office of an old ‘20s tycoon. It’s beautiful. Once you step inside, you feel like you’ve gone back in time to an age where men wore hats that didn’t have sports logos on them. And it’s not too far from the NY Public Library—if you’re attending BEA, I don’t need to explain why that’s an attractive place to visit! 

Review: Screwed by Laurie Plissner

Title: Screwed

Author: Laurie Plissner

Publisher: Merit Press

Publication Date: 5.18,2013

Pages: 304

Genre: Contemporary

Series: No

Source: eARC from publisher

Rating: D

Summary (from Goodreads):

Grace was the girl who always did everything right, until the night she fell for a boy's sleazy line and became pregnant. Nick couldn't care less about pretty math-geek Grace or the baby he fathered. He's had a dozen girls like her, and he'll have a dozen more. When Grace confesses to her super-religious, strait-laced parents, they deliver a shocker: They've scheduled an abortion. All they want is to pretend this never happened.

When Grace balks, they literally throw her out in the street. A rich, elderly neighbor takes her in, and, with the help of the friendship she needs in Charlie, the old woman's great-nephew, she must make the toughest choice of her young life. The people she believed in were only playing a role, while others, in an unlikely way, are true heroes.

Grace can never have the life she planned, but she has one chance to be the person she will have to live with for the rest of her life. Her choice will cost her, big time, either way--and no one can make it except her.

Review:

It’s hard to say exactly where Screwed by Laurie Plissner went wrong. The idea is a solid one and had the potential to be an emotionally wrought story of a girl who struggled to make it on her own after being deserted by her family and how she finds her inner strength and overcomes. And Grace did suffer …

For about 5 minutes until her rich neighbor from across the street offered to take her in and care for her.

This book started off rough. The dialogue was forced and the characters were watered down. It seemed cliché from the jump and just never got any better.

I think what officially turned me off from this book were Grace’s parents. They were over the top hateful and unbelievable. They present this holier-than-thou Christian picture of people who go to church, engage in Bible studies and preach abstinence in to youth, but when their daughter finds herself pregnant they drive her across multiple state lines for a hush-hush abortion they order her to have? And then kick her out on her butt when she says no?

From there it got progressively worse. This story had the potential to be a lesson teaching type of novel, but instead of Grace learning to overcome adversity, she was handed a golden life on a silver platter when the rich neighbor across the street happens upon her and offers her a fairytale life, complete with a hot grandson.

Seriously?

This book was just all wrong in so many ways. Nice idea, not so nice execution.

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Reviewer: Hannah

Blog Tour: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

About DARE YOU TO Goodreads |  Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | BookDepository

Release: June 7th 2013 by Harlequin Teen

An emotionally-charged roller coaster ride that will keep you turning the pages well into the night, DARE YOU TO tells the story of seventeen-year-old Beth Risk, who finds her life turned upside down at the beginning of her senior year. Forced to leave the mother she’s always protected and the only friends she’s ever known, Beth must start over at a new school, in a new town, with an uncle she hasn’t seen in years.

The last thing she wants is to catch the eye of the town’s golden boy, popular jock Ryan Stone, who seems determined to win her over for all the wrong reasons. But when she discovers that Ryan has secrets of his own, Beth is drawn to him despite herself. Soon she’ll have to make a choice—between the past that beckons her back, and the life she never dreamed possible.

With PUSHING THE LIMITS, Harlequin TEEN introduced a singular new voice that continues to resonate with teens and adults alike. With DARE YOU TO, Katie McGarry cements her place as a master of contemporary young adult fiction.

And now, a special quote from Dare You To:

About Katie McGarry - Goodreads | website | Facebook | Twitter

Katie was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie is the author of the full-length Young Adult novels PUSHING THE LIMITS and DARE YOU TO, and the e-novella CROSSING THE LINE. Her debut novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS, is a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and an RT Book Reviews 2012 Reviewer’s Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel.

Writing has given Katie an excuse to pursue her passions. Research for her books has provided her with the amazing opportunity to train with baseball players, ride along in a drag car at ninety-six miles per hour and experience boxing and mixed martial arts. The most memorable moments for Katie are when she speaks to groups of teenagers about her research, writing and the truth that no dream is out of reach. Katie would love to hear from her readers.

Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, at Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

Novels by Katie McGarry

• Pushing the Limits (available now)
• Crossing the Line (e-novella, available now)
• Dare You To (available June 2013)
• Crash Into You  coming soon...
  
  
  

  Giveaways:
  
  

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Monday, April 29th – Bewitched Bookworms
Tuesday, April 30th - Harlequin Blog
Wednesday, May 1sh – The Irish Banana 
Thursday, May 2nd – Review - Tyngas Reviews
Friday, May 3rd – Evie Bookish

Monday, May 6th - YA - Bibliophile
Tuesday, May 7th – Review - Real of Fiction
Wednesday, May 8th – Book Swarm
Thursday, May 9th – Review - Book Nook
Friday, May 10th – Alice Marvels 

Monday, May 13th - Xpresso Reads
Tuesday, May 14th – Review - Chapter by Chapter
Wednesday, May 15th – Book and A Latte
Thursday, May 16th – Review - Blog Girl
Friday, May 17th – Supernatural Snark

BEA Blitz: Jenny @ Supernatural Snark

Welcome to the first day of BEA Blitz! Up first is Jenny from Supernatural Snark (one of my favorite blogs). Jenny is a perfect example of the awesome things that can happen at BEA - before BEA last year I had no idea who she was. We met at a signing for Jennifer Armentrout, and I swear I can't believe we've only been friends now for less than a year. I can't imagine life without this girl in it. I apologize in advance for the ear-piercing shrieks we will surely be emitting once reunited at BEA. She's awesome and she's agreed to share her BEA experiences with all of you!

1. How many years have you attended BEA?

BEA this year will be my third year. I started my blog in June of 2010 so I sort of celebrate my blogoversary each year with a trip to BEA because once you get past the initial shock, it’s a book lover’s heaven.

2. What was your first impression of BEA?

Oh god, what have I gotten myself into? ;-)

I talked to a lot of bloggers before my first BEA and read their posts about what to expect and how things were set up, but honestly, nothing can really prepare you for the reality of it. It’s enormous and vibrant and alive and the most fun I have each year, but it’s also absolutely exhausting and overwhelming at the same time. My second year was much better simply due to the fact that I knew what to expect going in and I had a plan of attack.

3. What's the craziest thing you've seen happen?

There was much talk my first year about someone being bitten in the madness that surrounds the in-booth book drops, but I can neither confirm nor deny that information since I received it second-hand. I’ve read many a post from bloggers despairing of poor behavior and rudeness as a whole at BEA, but that really hasn’t been my experience at all. Is it overly crowded and do you get jostled constantly wandering through the booths? Absolutely. Are there people who get a little intense in line if you step out, have someone hold your spot while you run an errand, and then get back in? Yes again. Overall though, I’ve met some amazing people waiting in line after line to get books signed, and it’s always a blast for me to talk to other people who are as enthusiastic about books as I am.

4. What's your favorite BEA memory?

I have so many!!! Meeting favorite authors and getting to chat with the publishers and publicists I’ve been talking to via email for months are right up at the top of my list of epic memories, but meeting other bloggers will always be my favorite part. Okay, and also getting my hands on lots of much-anticipated books. Books + bloggers = WIN!

My first year, Danny from Bewitched Bookworms emailed me a couple weeks before BEA and asked if I’d like to meet up since we were both getting there a day before the event officially started. I was so nervous that first year since I had no clue what was waiting for me and I’m not a huge fan of large crowds in general. I also tend to be awkward in social situations, so meeting people I’d only spoken to online was a source of concern for me as well. As soon as I met Danny and Pushy though, I was immediately put at ease. They were both adorable and funny and had absolutely no idea what they were doing either, so we all just agreed to try and tackle the BEA monster together, divide and conquer style. I’ll love them forever for that.

5. What's your best advice for someone going for the first time?

BEA is a different experience for everyone, and I think it’s definitely one of those things you just have to learn about by actually going through it. Have fun. Be polite. Make friends.

From a practical standpoint though, there are definitely a couple of things I’ve learned the past two years:

-Wear comfortable shoes – BEA is all walking and standing in line. Literally. If you get there when the doors open at 9 and stay until close, you will have stood in line for 8 hours straight. Hello blisters, welcome to my feet.

-Don’t eat at the Javits Center if you can help it. It’s absurdly overpriced. I paid $12 for the driest turkey sandwich in the history of turkey sandwiches and $6 for a coke the first day of my first year. I didn’t even get chips with it. ROBBERY! Now, this was just my experience, so other people may have had awesome food there, but I’m guessing they all paid a small fortune as well. There’s not a lot in the area immediately surrounding the Javits Center, but if you walk up a couple blocks, you will likely find something much, much better.

-Make a plan for yourself. BEA has a great website in which they post all the authors and the times at which they will be signing so you can go through and either type up your own list, or use their schedule feature to help you make a plan. When you check in and get your badge, you can pick up a printed booklet that has all this information as well, but I like to make my schedule well in advance. I’m obsessively organized like that. You will want to compare the schedule you’ve made to the booklet though, as sometimes there are discrepancies – changes in times or cancellations – so you’ll just want to double check. Many signings take place at the exact same time, and given the length of the lines, there’s often not time to make it out of one line and into another, so it really helps to prioritize your day.

There are several more things I could add to this list, but Hannah has been doing an awesome BEA tips & tricks feature these past several weeks, so she’s got you all basically covered. I hope to see lots of new faces there this year!

Thanks so much for having me on your blog Hannah!