MY BEA 2014 Experience!

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to attend Book Expo America in New York City for my sixth year in a row.  It is an amazing experience for any book nerd.  Truly!  This year, my friend Kim and I booked a fancy schmancy hotel room at the Kitano New York so we got into the city on Thursday night and were able to sleep in (well for an extra hour and a half, at least) and go straight to the Javits via taxi.

...well after some shocked exploration of our hotel bathroom's bidet, that is... I'd never actually seen one in real life and found it quite...terrifying intimidating. I finally gave in and tried it on our second night in the room...and I'm still not sold on the idea.

MOVING ON, LOL.

This year, I FINALLY got to go to BEA for more than one day.  It was phenomenal because it relieved some of the frantic pressure of trying to fit everything (ALL the books, ALL the authors) into one day.   It was, however, also terrifyingly packed on Saturday because of BookCon.  Don't believe me?  Check out these crowds! We actually left early on Saturday because we just couldn't take it any more.  I'm so glad it was day two so I felt like I'd already done and seen enough that I COULD leave early...

So, what did we do and see during those two days?

Well... I met, I mingled, I schmoozed, and I schlepped.  I came out with 53 books, 1 audio book, 3 chapter samplers, 7 tote bags and various swag.  I got my photo taken in the most awesome "Photo Booth" at the Open Road Media booth... because I absolutely believe that BOOKWORMS RULE!! I met some amazing authors, including Scott Westerfeld, Julie Kagawa, Jackie Morse Kessler, Kiera Cass, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, A.G. Howard, S.S. Taylor, and Elizabeth Kelly Gillihan.  I got a little crazy in the crowds, but I survived to tell the tale!

All in all, it was AMAZING and exhausting, as it is every year and I may or may not have been both manic and half-asleep on the train rides both there and back...

So...that's the quickie version of my experience this year.  I'm planning to start reviewing the picture books that I received this year tomorrow...and I hope to progress to the longer YA and adult books within the next few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for some reviews of great upcoming books!!

And, just because I want to share some of the other photos I took at BEA...here you go!

Meeting A.G.Howard, author of Splintered!

Meeting Jackie Morse Kessler, another favorite author!

Meeting Kiera Cass, author of The Selection!

Meeting authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke with their upcoming debut, Your Perfect Life. 

Meeting S.S. Taylor and Katherine Roy, the author and illustrator of the fabulous
middlegrade steampunk "Expeditioners" series!

As I said, I'll be posting reviews and recaps of the books that I got in the next few weeks, so keep checking back!  

My Top 5 (All Right, Really it's Six...) Books to Hunt Down at BEA 2014

So....at BEA there are a TON of books every year.  It can be amazing and totally overwhelming.  For the last two years, I finally figured out the system that works the best for me in wading through the sheer number of books readily available... I make a list of books I'm dying to pick up and then I color code that to narrow it down even further to five or maybe ten books MAX that I will desperately hunt for while in the Javitz.  The rest I leave pretty much to chance.

So what are this year's top choices, you ask?

Martyr by A.R. Kahler

 I LOVED A.R. Kahler's Immortal Circus series, so I'm dying to read this new one. 

Talon by Julie Kagawa

 I love Julie Kagawa's writing and storylines, so I'm anxious to see how she tackles dragons! 

The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale

The Ever After High series is TOO cute and come on, Shannon Hale! Love her books.  

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly 

I love Donnelly's other books and I cannot wait to see her tackle a fantasy... I hadn't thought this one was going to be at BEA, but I think it just might be!!  

The Expeditioners and the Secret of King Triton's Lair by S.S. Taylor

I LOVED the first book in this steampunk middle grade adventure series. I can't tell you how excited I was when I saw the sequel coming out! 

...AND of course, I've read this one already, but if I could get a signed, finished copy??? *swoon*

The One by Kiera Cass

A Second 2013 BEA Giveaway!!

First off, CONGRATULATIONS to Ashly from Lost in the Stacks who won the first 2013 BEA giveaway! Now that I've mailed her books off, I decided to host another giveaway to help share the book love. This contest, sadly, will have to be limited to the US so I don't go broke shipping books out.  Sorry!

Here is the entry form:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

...AND... here are the books you can choose from:

Winner gets to choose three of these books: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud, Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, United We Spy by Ally Carter (chapter sampler), (signed) MP3 audio book of Sylvia Day's Entwined with You (adult), The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry, Skin by Donna Jo Napoli, and (signed) Stalked by Death by Kelly Hashway. 

GOOD LUCK!!! 

My BEA 2013 Experience and a GIVEAWAY!!

This past Friday, May 31st, I went into New York City to attend Book Expo America...my favorite day of the entire year. I seriously love the experience every time I go.

This year, my friend, Kim, and I stayed at a hotel right near the train station in New Haven the night before, so I only had to get up at 4:30 a.m. to get ready (got to sleep for a whole extra hour this year! :D). We took an early train into the city so that we could go to the Children's Author Breakfast (I covered this event for Yalsa's The Hub, so if you want to see a full write up, check it out here).  We got there with enough time to check our roll-y bags, try to get tickets to the Rick Riordan signing later in the day (they were gone by 6:45!!) and to find seats at one of the breakfast tables. This year's awesome speakers included Octavia Spencer, Mary Pope Osborne, Rick Riordan and Veronica Roth.

In addition to hearing them talk about literacy, books, and writing, we each got a Camp Half-Blood t-shirt, a Magic Tree House mug, a paperback copy of Divergent, and a copy of The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit, the first book in the new Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective series. They also revealed the cover for Rick Riordan's upcoming, The House of Hades, book four in the Heroes of Olympus series while we were there, which was really cool!

After the breakfast began the madness of trying to find the ARCs that I'd really hoped to snag, trying to get books signed by the authors I love and admire, and trying to see my Librarian friends that I knew were there... I literally spent the majority of the day moving from one part of the floor to another like a shark that can't seem to ever stop in one spot for fear of dying... LOL.  In fact, I was moving so much that I never even saw one of my friends, Heather, though I *know* she was there!

Here in brief are some of my experiences during the whirlwind of the day:

*Giraffe stalking - throughout the day I spotted and took pictures of probably about six different instances of adorable giraffes on the floor because...well, I just can't help it. I'm obsessed!

*Getting Alethea Kontis to autograph an ARC of Hero for me. Had to snap her
pic because she was dressed in such a pretty Princess outfit! Sparkles!

*Hanging out with Evie from Bookish! It was so cool to meet her in real life and to hang out at the expo.  We took turns standing in lines together so that we could still sneak off and grab other things...everything was happening at once!...and I wish I'd remembered to snap a picture, but I'm terrible at that. Oh well.

*Getting to talk to both Diana Peterfreund and Shannon Hale (both of whom I adore) informally on the floor!  I literally just stalker bombed them both and started gushing, LOL. Glad they didn't just run from me. I also ended up talking to Suzanne Young, Cat Patrick, David Levithan, Leanna Renee Hieber, and Amy Tintera (So cool! I love getting to speak to authors) out on the floor.  That's not even counting the authors I spoke to while getting books signed!

*Giant lego sculptures.  (This is my friend, Kim, who runs a lego club at her library so we had to take pictures she could show to the kids!)

*Whiskey tasting, champagne and cake at the Abrams booth...need I say more?

*A close encounter with a real scallywag of a pirate! LOL, he was kind of scary,
actually...

*Having a picture book signed and then stamped by the dog that it's about to my little doggie, Noel! So

sweet and Kushka was really adorable in real life.

*Getting to grab eight books that I'm especially looking forward to reading JUST
FOR FUN!!!! (The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider, The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer, How to Love by Katie Cotugno, Teardrop by Lauren Kate, The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle, Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund [which I'm reading right now...], The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black, and Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas)

*Standing in line with other crazy librarians all trying to get Diary of a Wimpy Kid umbrellas for ourselves summer reading prizes...

As I said, those were just some of the highlights of what I did during my crazy day at BEA this year.

Now...on to the super fun (for you!) part... First, here is a quick video showing the booty I brought home from BEA:

This haul actually managed to fit into one LARGE roll-y suitcase and my little library bag that I carried around the floor with me.  Thankfully this year because I stopped back to my big bag about four times throughout the day, I wasn't nearly as sore the next day as I was last year! I was still tired, but my shoulders and neck and feet were all much, much happier.

Aside from my favorite ARCs and some stuff that I picked up for work, I came out with a few ARCs that are either duplicates of books that I got signed or are ones that I probably won't have time to enjoy.  SO...I thought that I would have a couple of giveaways to let YOU all enjoy my bounty. Giveaway Number 1: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner gets to choose three of these books: Rose Under Fire by Elixabeth Wein, The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider, Left Drowning by Jessica Park,  a chapter sampler of United We Spy by Ally Carter, All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry, Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles, Stalked by Death by Kelly Hashway, Skin by Donna Jo Napoli, and an MP3 audio book of Sylvia Day's Entwined with You (adult).  

After the winner of this giveaway has been announced next week, I will have a second giveaway where the winner will get to choose from those titles left after this winner chooses their bounty.

Good luck!!

Counting down to BEA 2013!!!

I'm sure most of you already know, but Book Expo America is in New York City next week (Thurs. May 30 - Sat. June 1)!! I will be attending on Fri. (the only day I could go this year), so right now I'm contemplating what authors to try and meet, what galleys to try and pick up, what shoes to wear... LOL, all very important decisions.

It's so much fun to go to, I can't even stand it! This year, I'm attending and then hopefully blogging (over on YALSA's the HUB) about the Children's Author Breakfast...with Octavia Spencer, Mary Pope Osborne, Rick Riordan (*squee!) and VERONICA ROTH *jumps up and down flailing* I am beyond excited to see two of my favorite authors speak.  There are a bunch of other authors doing great signings when I'll be there and I love to just stop by the different booths to check out what's what. 

This past year or so I've been totally wrapped up in a lot of professional reading and unfortunately, that's left me a little burnt out. So, my goal this year at BEA is just to get happily wrapped up in the swell of reading joy.  To rediscover my love of all things bookish... and to let the stress fade away.  I want to pick up books based solely on my gut reaction, not "needing" to read it because it's the next up and coming thing. I want to be swayed by a cover, an author's enthusiasm, my friends' gushing...everything.

I want to remember my annual "Book Christmas" love. 

I hope to see as many of my blogger, librarian, and author friends as possible.  It's one day to cram in a ton of chatting, gushing, and book swapping, but I can't wait to do it all! In case we haven't met in real life yet, here's a small pic of me.  

Hopefully we can bump into each other and say "hi!" See you next week! 

Winner - Laini Taylor preview pack!!

I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Laini Taylor BEA preview pack giveaway (via random drawing at random.org) is...

Angie!!

Angie, check your email...and get me your mailing address before the end of the day on Wed, July 18th so that I can get the preview pack out to you ASAP! Congratulations again!

Legend

Legend
by Marie Lu

Publication date: Nov 29, 2011

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. (description from Amazon.com)

This book got a lot of buzz even before I went to BEA this year. I was stoked to pick up a copy and am so glad I finally got to fit it into my reading schedule! In the sea of dystopias that are now flooding the YA market, Legend is a very strong contender.

While I wasn't sold on the alternating viewpoint chapters at first, after about five I was hooked. Not only are both June and Day fascinating characters, but through their eyes you get to see both sides of a very distrustful and controlling government. The Republic is mostly made up of California and the western coast area of the United States. It is at war with the "Colonies," which seems to be the eastern part of the US. Those who pass the test that all ten year olds have to take, are given an education, training, and good jobs. Those that fail...while they are sent off to "work camps."

Day was one such test failure. Born to a slum, he failed his test, was experimented on, then he escapes to become a master "Robin Hood" style criminal. He scrounges and helps where he can becoming a local hero. When his path crosses with the prodigy and darling of the Republic, June, life gets a whole lot more dangerous...and interesting.

Their characters not only fascinate readers, but seem to enthrall each other. It's not one of those mushy love-at-first sight things though, but an acknowledgment of how much they challenge each other. Each discovers totally new things about themselves and their lives through their experiences with the other. I, for one, am very excited to see what happens in their future fight against the corrupt government!

Full disclosure: ARC from BEA 2011

Winner #2 - BEA ARC Giveaway!

I am pleased to announce that the SECOND winner of the BEA ARC giveaway (via random drawing at random.org) is...

Zareen!!

Zareen, check your email...you have until Friday, June 17th to contact me with your mailing address and the ARC title that you want (your choices are shown below). Congratulations again!

Winner #1 in the BEA ARC Giveaway!!

I am pleased to announce that the FIRST winner of the BEA ARC giveaway (via random drawing at random.org) is...

Ashly at Lost in the Stacks!!

Ashly, check your email...you have until Monday, June 13th to contact me with your mailing address and the two ARC titles that you want. Congratulations again!

Don't forget, I'll be choosing the second ARC winner on Wed, June 15th! Good luck. :)

BEA wrap-up and Giveaway

Hmmm...how to summarize Book Expo?

I got up at 4:40 a.m. to get ready and leave by 5:15 a.m. to drive the hour to the train station. Got Dunkin Donuts breakfast after my ticket and panicked while waiting for my friend and co-worker, Miss Kim, to arrive...just before the train!

Train ride full of "Oh, we have to do this...and oh.my.god. I have to get this book signed, and do you think we could hit this one and this one before the time's up???"

Arrival at NYC Grand Central Station...asking which exit to find taxi stand...worst taxi ride of my life (serious fears of dying, people!!)

Arrival at Javitz Center...WOOT!! BEA. AWESOMESAUCE.

We tag teamed the booths first, then hit some signings...more booths, more signings...and REST. Sort of...Poor Miss Kim went off to buy lunch while I powered through with a PB&J and some yogurt covered raisins in line.

We hit the YA Book Buzz which was great...until they had no one handing out the ARCs at the end. Talk about a mad crush! Some brave souls finally ripped open the tops of the boxes stacked at the edge of the room and a huge crowd gathered to grab...people were nice, though, and were passing back to others. (Psst...I also saw Laini Taylor in the back of the room...ie. She was within 10 feet of me...Oh.My.God!! That made my day, right there...)

Other highlights...
*Popped by Harlequin after their teen signing and talked to Cara Lynn Shultz (who rememebered me from our CLA annual conference panel!)
*Bumped into Violet Haberdasher and snagged a totally unexpected ARC of The Secret Prince
*Managed to snag the one ARC Miss Kim was absolutely desperate for, even though they weren't technically handing them out
*Ran into a ton of my fave Library people!! (Jen, Bailey, Karen, Heather, and Andrea!!)
*Got to meet Michael Scott and get a totally unexpected signed copy of Warlock
*Snagged a signed copy of Trial by Fire from Jennifer Lynn Barnes, who also remembered me from our CLA event!
*I met some awesome bloggers in real life standing in line!
*Five bloggers actually recognized my blog...doesn't sound like a lot, but to me that meant the world!!

There were so many other awesome moments, I can't even get them all down. I really, really love BEA. To help share the BEA love, I'm doing a GIVEAWAY!!

Here's how it will work:
I have six extra ARCs from BEA...


Signed ARC - Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
ARC - Down the Mysterly River by Bill Willingham


ARC - Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber
ARC - The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

ARC - The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer Smith
ARC - Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment with your name and email address before Friday, June 10th. On Saturday, June 11th, I will randomly choose our FIRST WINNER.

The first winner has to get back to me by Monday, June 13th with their mailing address (US only this time...sorry!) and their choice of TWO of the ARCs below.

Then on Wed., June 15th, I will choose a SECOND WINNER. This person will have their choice of one ARC from the remaining titles. The second winner will have to get back to me by Fri., June 17th with their mailing address and the ARC they want.

So...even if you couldn't make BEA this year...you can still read like you did! Good luck!!

In My Mailbox - May 29, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

From The Library:

A Gaggle of Goblins by Suzanne Harper
Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz
Sidekicks by Jack Ferraiolo


Steel by Carrie Vaughn
Divergent by Veronica Roth


For Review:

Everfound by Neal Shusterman


From BEA:
I'm just going to highlight my favorites for the moment...


Signed: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter and Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.


Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Legend by Marie Lu, The Bridge to Never Land by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, The Secret Prince by Violet Haberdasher, and Floors by Patrick Carman.