BEA Recap!

I'm back! And let me tell you, my entire body feels like it took a beating. Especially my poor feet. BEA is like going to war. Except a fun war. Where nobody dies (someone occasionally gets bitten) and everyone wins. And the prize...is BOOKS!

Also, I know I was at BEA for only three days but it all seriously feels like a month. And a month is a very long time to account for in a post. Also waaaay too many awesome things happened, and awesome people were seen.

So I'll show you pictures! And give you a taste of my experience.

DAY 1

Sara McClung and agent Diana Fox go over the floor plan and route we'll take once the doors open. This was seriously like planning for battle.

A ton of us waiting for BEA to start: (L-R) Lindsey Culli, Sara McClung, Cristin Terrill, Claire Legrand, Diana Fox, Donna Gambale, Rachael Stein, ME, Kelsey, Jessica BS 

Also you should note that Claire Legrand had little cockroach pins and barrettes to hand out as swag for her upcoming middle grade debut THE CAVENDISH HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, and I have a serious dislike of all bugs and lizard type things and won't even touch toy versions of spiders. So I nearly had an anxiety attack when Rachael Stein attached a cockroach to my jacket. But I wore it like a big girl.

For 2 days.

And then I was done.

Moving on...

I forgot to take pictures most of the time I was on the floor. But I did slow down long enough to snap one of  Donna from the First Novels Club (my critique partner, writing wifey, and roommate that week) along with my fabulous agent-mate Tessa Gratton while we were in line for another agent-mate, Maggie Stiefvater's new book RAVEN BOYS which might be my favorite thing I got at BEA.

So after lugging our books back to our apartment, Donna and I got ready to go to dinner and the Teen Author Carnival. And when we left...let me just say that everything I've ever heard about cab drivers in NYC is false!

A) They NEVER know where anything is or how to get there. For example, my cab driver on Monday night who took me to my apartment from Pennstation drove past it and tried to take me to 23rd when I said 43rd and I was like DUDE--we're there. Stop! But no.

B) They will say no to you. For example, when Donna and I told 2 different drivers where we were going (which really wasnt' that far away) they said no and sped off.

C) They will complain to you. For example, the guy who finally picked us up for dinner heard the address we wanted and sighed, "Oh maaaaan." But then took us where we wanted to go.

D) They will ignore you. Which we discovered Wednesday when we trekked all the way from our apartment by Javits to Pennstation. With luggage.

Moving on....

Pizza dinner with bloggers  just before the Teen Author Carnival. (Gabby, Britney,  Bethany, Kelsey)

The other side of the table, ME, Donna, Lindsi, Farrah, and Liz. Claire  and Charlie also joined us but after I took pictures.

We got to meet up with our friend Jordan Turgeon and listen to the panels at the Teen Author Carnival.

Our fabulous friend Lenore Appelhans with the arc of her debut LEVEL 2.

We were all ridiculously well coordinated with stripes, belts and yellow. Me, Jackson Pearce, and Donna Gambale.

After the Teen Author Carnival we went out for drinks where I learned something very important. I am terrible at hangman when I'm going on only a little bit of sleep.

DAY 2 (I didn't take as many pictures, but here are a few)

Up bright and early for the Children's Breakfast which was AMAZING! We got to hear Walter Dean Myers, Chris Colfer (from GLEE), JOHN GREEN, Lois Lowry and Kadir Nelson speak. And they were ALL amazing. In this picture we have (L-R): Liz, Claire, Britney, Donna, Natalia and Me!

HELLO! That's me and Shit Girls Say. We both wore matching yellow belts. Also when he signed my swag, he said he loved my name. So fun!

With my buddy Julie Kagawa, hanging out at the Harlequin booth.

After all the signings, I headed over to Books of Wonder for a panel/signing with Holly Black, and the YA Rebels which was very fun, followed by a loong night at Kid Lit Drink Night (a traditional event for me at this point). And it was awesome! So awesome...I didn't take a single picture.

DAY 3

I totally fan-girled meeting Brent from Naughty Book Kitties.

Got to spend some more time with my agent Laura Rennert. And this was extra special because I finally got to meet Lara Perkins, her assistant who is amazing and funny and insightful (like Laura) and I can't even tell you how happy I am to know both of these women and to know they are on my side.

And after a few more signings, panels, hanging out with friends in line and lunch with Maggie from Not Your Mother's Book Club it was time to bust out of the Javits Center and head home.

But not before I took this picture with my other roommate and critique partner, Jeri Smith-Ready.

This happened.

Soooooo there you have it. My BEA 2012 experience (more or less...mostly less, A LOT of things happen in 3 days).

I had such a wonderful time this year and loved getting to see so many familiar faces and so many new ones. Hope you all enjoyed. And now I need to go bribe someone to rub my feet.

Because waiting in line hurts.

No, really.

FIN!

Just kidding! Here are links to some other posts of BEA recaps by friends of mine where I make an appearance.

Fabulous blogger and writer Rachel Simon who was very fun to meet.

And my awesome friend (and fellow book club host) K.M. Walton who I found over and over again at BEA. Here's her Day 1 Recap, and Day 2 Recap.