I went to BEA and survived (AKA My Top Seven BEA Moments)

I spent most of last week in New York at BEA (Book Expo America). BEA is this huge trade show for the book industry that draws publishers, agents, marketing people, bloggers and book reviewers, authors, and librarians.

Here are my top moments from the event and New York, in no particular order:

The Books!

1) The ARCs. Holy wow. I brought home 51 books, and there were still some I wish I'd gotten my hands on! A group of us made the smart decision to bring a rolling suitcase to the Javits Center. For $3, we checked it downstairs, and then we all filled it with books during the day.

2) I learned how to hail a cab! (Thanks to Jen Malone!) I feel all officially New York-ish now.

Me, outside the
Simon & Schuster offices.

3) Meetings. I had a coffee date with my editor and a lunch date with my former editor. I loved finally talking to them in person, and seeing their offices.

Friday night dinner.

4) All the people! Okay, not actually all the people at BEA, because that was overwhelming sometimes, but meeting people I'd only talked to only on the internet was so much fun. I learned that no one looks like their Twitter avatar. No one.

5) The pizza. YUM. So yummy, in fact, that I ate pizza twice on Friday.

6) Dinner with the Fearless Fifteeners! We had a great turnout for dinner, and it was great to meet these people I've been chatting with online for months. What a great group of talented people!

7) Aladdin/Simon Pulse cocktail party. I was super nervous about this, but everyone was so friendly! The party was at this nautical-themed dive bar, and was full of editors, publicists, marketing people, and authors. Everyone from the imprints was so much fun to talk to. I also met Rachel Renee Russell (of Dork Diaries fame) and almost spilled water on Scott Westerfeld. I so totally belong. ;)