Cat Johnson Braves Doll Lil’s Word Association Challenge!

BEA has been over for over a week and I’m still reeling from the event. When people ask me how was it? I still find it hard to give a coherent answer. The words ‘awesome’ ‘overwhelming’ ‘incredible’ and ‘books!!!!’ keep coming up, but really, how to summarize four days that rushed by in a crazy whirlwind?

Before going to BEA I did get some idea of what to expect from others who had already taken part in the past, I even got the most important bit of info – comfortable shoes and made sure to get just the right pair (now known as the BEA winners) for the occasion. Yet honestly, it was beyond anything I expected and I must state that without the help of other bloggers and most especially For What It’s Worth’s very own and her rockin’ husband, I wouldn’t have made it through Day 1.

I have already discussed Monday – the ‘pre’ BEA day, when I had the pleasure of heading downtown for a special YA/Teen authors carnival at the Mulberry Street library (amazing event thanks to !), I also used Monday to pick up my BEA pass,ensuring that I escaped the long lines on Tuesday.

Still, my first “official” BEA day started at 5:30 am sharp – I needed to be at the Javitz Center by no later than 7am to get in line for a ticket to one of the many ticketed signings – ticketed meaning ‘this signing will have the longest line you have ever seen,but you are at least sure to get a signed copy’. The ticket was free, it was just first come first serve. With my golden (yellow) ticket in hand I then rushed to get my caffeine fix – only to find that the local Starbucks was:

1. Not open yet
2. Already had a line of twenty people
3. Would cost 1$ more than the usual exorbitant Starbucks prices.

Not cool Javitz Center, not cool at all!

Still, even the lack of caffeine in my system couldn’t dim my excitement as I finally got to meet and her DH (Dear Husband)! They were so wonderfully warm and welcoming – not only letting me join them in the line, but also letting me tag along with them – experienced BEA attendees that they were. And thank goodness they did otherwise I would be like a kid in a candy shop walking around aimlessly oohing and aahing at everything I saw.

This would not have been acceptable, for you see, BEA is most definitely a marathon not a sprint, and those that loose their footing have little chance of success – my body has now been conditioned to not go to the restroom or eat for 10 hours at a time and to carry the weight of at least 30 hardcovers without flinching.

The events area is HUGE and with favorite publishers and the autographing area at opposite ends of the hall Day 1 really was just about getting from one place to the next in time.

With a bit of coordination and thanks to some lovely bloggers and new friends- from Babbling about Books, from Book Faery and Pam from …and many others – I got to make almost all the signings and meet all the fantastic authors I was hoping to meet, including – Jana Oliver, Jeri Smith-Ready, Sophie Littlefield, Rachel Vincent, Andrea Kane, Gena Showalter, Jennifer Lynn Barnes Sarah Wendall and Richelle Mead to name a few…

I also got to chat with author extraordinaire and honorary Paperback Action Figure Anton Strout! He is so much fun to hang out with and as a fellow book nerd I truly believe that us nerds will one day take over the world! *Insert evil laugh here*

One of the loveliest things about BEA was that in addition to finally meeting the authors whose books we *squee* over, I got to get their feedback – to hear them say ‘we love your site’ or ‘Hey! The Paperback Dolls! I know you!’ It really made me feel all our hard work was worth it. Because the Dolls really are passionate about what we do and we hope you enjoy the results :D

The minuses? Well, in addition to the fact that it was all just so exhausting, I do think the BEA organizers have yet to realize that the event has evolved and needs to undergo some changes. From what I understand, Book Expo America was until a couple of years ago, an event organized primarily for publishers to meet booksellers, librarians and other industry folk. Then the bloggers started attending and well, we ain’t no librarians!

This created a situation where book signings have become manic and apparently in one case, led to someone being bitten (I wasn’t there, but this is what I have been told…talk about vampire fiction going a bite too far…) the organizers also failed to realize just which authors needed to have signings in the autograph area rather than in-booth (not much room in the booths) so the lines for some signings (Richelle Mead’s Bloodlines) were so long they just went on and on among the booths.

To sum up, Day 1 of BEA was incredible. I have never been to anything like it. The books, the swag, the authors, the bloggers…. a book lover’s cornucopia of fun!

So, stick around – the next installments will discuss days 2-3 and the Book Bloggers’ Convention!

Happy Readings!

Noa first fell in love with books when she discovered 100 acre wood and its inhabitants. To this day, the last pages of “The House at Pooh Corner” make her cry. In a good way. From“Calvin and Hobbes” to “The Iliad and the Odyssey” and lets not forget “Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes”. Biographies, mysteries, history books and romances all have a place on her bookshelves. Who needs furniture? This 29 year old singleton’s dream is to invent the zero-calorie chocolate. But until that day arrives, she tries to create sweet confections with whatever chocolate she can find. An MA in conflict studies (need a mediator?) means Noa loves a good debate, especially when she wins. If she were in charge, books would be free for everyone.

Doll Noa

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