Book Expo America (BEA) - Heaven for Book Lovers

My name is Sheila and I blog at Book Journey since June of 2009. When I started my blog, I barely knew it was a blog (I thought I was just putting my reviews on line like a journal) so as you can imagine, I certainly did not have a clue about the Book Expo.

It was not until the following February of 2010 that I first heard of BEA. It was someone on Twitter, mentioning they would be attending and I quickly Googled the Expo to see what it was all about. Good Lord….. How had I never heard of this before? At this point in my life I had never traveled alone on a plane or traveled out of state on my own, but I knew one thing for sure… I was going to go to this thing called Book Expo of America and I would do whatever it took to make it happen. June 2010 was my first year attending the Expo and I have attended every year since.

If you are attending I am giving you this link (a key really… a shiny shiny key) to this post I wrote last year called The Unauthorized Guide to BEA.  This is what I have learned in my years of attending and I am more than happy to help out those who are new. If I had only known then what I know now….

Here are a few highlights of that post that may assist you in your AMAZING BEA ADVENTURE (insert echo here) J

Dress – you are representing your blog, your little online corner of the world. Look the part. I suggest business casual – girl’s nice Capri’s and shirt, skirts, or pants. Guys, nice jeans or Dockers style pants and a nice shirt. Comfy shoes are a must. You will walk a zillion miles a day. Well…. It will feel like a zillion.

Food – while at the expo, a few food items are offered there but choices are limited and expensive. Do yourself a favor and walk outside to one of the nearby café’s or restaurants. The fresh air will do you good. 

Channel the greed – first timers…. Oh wow…. Even for me it is still crazy that you are at this amazing place where the books are free and it is easy to get carried away and grab and grab and grab…. STOP! Follow a few rules of thumb for your own reputation, your own sanity, and your pocket book as you do need to ship your books home.

1. Is this a book that you plan to review? 
2. Are you excited or curious to read this book? 
3. Do you have the ability to read this book in a reasonable time frame? 

If the answer to any of these questions is a toe shuffling and a mumbled “no,” then maybe you should pass on the book. Book Bloggers (and I have seen some live up to this) can easily have a reputation of being “book grabbers and rude” and I cringe at the thought. Help give us a good name. Be selective and say “thank you.”

Please read my post for information on shipping (I have great tips on this), saving money on food, and other extras of the expo. Oh and if you are going, be sure and say hi…. One awesome thing I have discovered about Book Bloggers, we are just as we are on line….. real and fun!

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Be sure to check out the official website for Book Expo America here!  And, for those unable to attend, you can always try out the Armchair BEA version, which parallels the NYC event.

Featuring Wendy (Literary Feline) of Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Today please welcome 

Wendy (Literary Feline), 

who blogs at 

Musings of a Bookish Kitty.

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What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?

I have always been a dog person. I grew up with dogs. I knew when I got my first house, I would get a dog. And I did. His name was Riley and he was my best friend. I loved him dearly. Then I took in my very first cat (because my husband is a cat person and I thought it only fair he have a cat if I had my dog). His name is Parker. Parker taught me to love cats too. Now I consider myself a cat and dog person. Don't ask me to choose because I do not think I can.

For years any e-mail address I signed up for in some way reflected my dog Riley. Riley's Lemming. Dash of Basenji. When coming up with the name for my book blog, I decided it was time to show my cat some love. Besides, Musings of a Bookish Canine just didn't have the same ring to it that Musings of a Bookish Kitty did.

I actually struggled with the "Kitty" part for a long time. I thought it was too cutesy. Sometimes I still feel that way, but after nearly eight years of blogging, I have grown used to it and wouldn't change it for anything.

How long have you been blogging?

I began blogging in July of 2006, with a big nudge from my husband who thought I might enjoy it. Little did he know how obsessed I would become. 

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?

Musings of a Bookish Kitty is simply a place where I share my thoughts about the books I read and also a little about my life in the process. My reviews reflect how a book impacts me and how it makes me feel. I read through the lens of my own life and experiences. Reading, to me, is a very personal endeavor. How I perceive a book may not be the same way someone else reading the same book will see it. I am not overly critical and probably am more positive than some might like, but that's okay with me. Since I prefer to read books I think I will like and choose the books I read accordingly. That isn't to say I will not review books I end up not liking. I value honesty.

When I first began blogging, I wrote strictly about books and bookish topics. After having a child three years ago, the tone of my blog changed and I began inserting more personal posts as well. I blog a lot less now, maybe two times a week on average, but it works for me. I work full-time outside the home (in a non-book related field); so, with my career and my family, blogging is not as much a priority for me as it once was. I still love to blog and talk about books. I am just not as obsessed as I once was.

I guess the best way to describe my blog is that I see it as a kitchen table, where I invite friends to visit and enjoy a bit of chit chat about books, life, and family.

What genres do you write about most, and why?

Oh goodness! I review just about everything I read, and I read a variety of genres. I suppose I most read and write about crime fiction or mystery novels, with urban fantasy coming in second. I read and talk a lot about general fiction as well. I am partial to stories with historical threads and those about other cultures.

I also read and review literary fiction, high fantasy, Young Adult fiction, nonfiction, and more recently romance.

My reading is often driven by my mood and the fact that I like variety. I do not like to read too much of one genre at a time for fear of burn out.  

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

It depends. My father instilled in me a love for inscriptions. He insisted that any book he received as a gift, had to be inscribed. As a result, I am quite fond of them too. I have several books in which I have had the author autograph. But that's not what you mean, is it?

In general, I tend not to write in books, although when desperate and have no other option, I will sometimes make a light pencil mark next to a section I want to highlight.

That said, I have a book that used to belong to my grandfather and it has his notes all along the margins. I love that he wrote in his book, and that I am able to read his thoughts as he read. It's like following his footprints even though he is no longer alive.

So, I suppose I am not as hard core against writing in books as many others may be.

Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...

A little--no, a lot--untidy right now. When we first moved into our house three years ago, I spent quite a bit of time organizing the books perfectly on the shelves. Divided by genre, each book was placed in alphabetical order by the author's last name. Then my daughter began crawling, standing and eventually walking. Books would inevitably be pulled off the shelves and put back in all the wrong places, sometimes not at all. I did not mind. That is what young children do. I have yet to go back and re-organize. Some day I will. Not today though.

(We won't even talk about what my daughter's shelves look like right now . . .)

My TBR pile is...

Not just a pile. The analogy comparing my TBR pile to a mountain is not too far from reality. I am sure most of you can relate.

One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. I know there are those who loved it, but most people I talk to didn't take to it quite as much as I did. I loved every word. I walked around in the fog of the book for days after finishing it. Beautiful.

A book I did not care for as much as others would be Gabriel García Márquez 's One Hundred Years of Solitude. It almost scared me off of magical realism for all time.

J.D. Robb's In Death series is another everyone raves about but I never could get into.

To DNF or not to DNF?

I am a reluctant DNFer. I hate to give up on a book, but I will if a book is really not working for me.

What's one book that intimidates you?

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I loved Anna Karenina when I read it and really want to read War and Peace. I have tried three times now to start it and get bogged down by the size every time. I'm not willing to give up yet. I will conquer War and Peace.  

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

I am afraid I do not have a lot of hobbies outside of reading. I enjoy movies almost as much as I love reading books. I am one of those people who prefers to read the book before seeing the movie more often than not. There are times when I have no interest in reading the book a movie is based on though. And sometimes a movie piques my interest in reading the book. I am also not a reader who screams and cries and gets upset when a movie doesn't match the book entirely. I can appreciate a movie for the movie's sake independent of the book--on the condition the movie is well made. If it's not, well, then every little change grates on my nerves.

Something else I like to do outside of reading is going on outings with my family, be in to the park, library, the botanical garden, book fair, zoo or Disneyland. Spending time with my family is one of my most favorite ways to spend my time.

What is your reading personality? (via quiz at http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/)

I am an Eclectic Reader, which, from the following description, I would say is true.

"You read for entertainment but also to expand your mind. You're open to new ideas and new writers, and are not wedded to a particular genre or limited range of authors."

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Thank you for joining us today, Wendy! 

Remember to check out Wendy's blog, Musings of a Bookish Kitty, 

and leave a comment or question.

Featuring Allison of The Book Wheel

Today please welcome Allison, 

who blogs at The Book Wheel.

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What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?

I named my blog The Book Wheel for so many reasons! Wheels never end and revolve. My love for books is constant, never ending, and my entire world revolves around books. Or, you could say that books make the world go ’round. Or, that books make MY world go ’round. Or, that the wheel of invention is dependent on books. Or, that books propel us forward. Or, that knowledge depends on a never ending supply of information. Or, that books provide never ending knowledge. Or, that the supply of books is never ending. Like I said, there are a lot of reasons! 

How long have you been blogging?

Officially? Since July 2012.

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?

The Book Wheel is an independent review site for the everyday reader. I focus primarily on literary fiction and political non-fiction. What makes it unique is that I have a weekly news roundup and a live chat bar that users can use to connect with each other.

What genres do you write about most, and why?

Mostly literary fiction and political non-fiction. Literary fiction because I love the genre and can easily fall in love with a book that fits within it, and political non-fiction because I'm in grad school for public policy and love politics!

What's your earliest memory of reading?

According to my parents, I've been reading since I was three. I was Mother Goose at my preschool graduation because I was the only one who could read the script. My first memory that's my own, however, is reading Charlotte's Web in one sitting when I was six. I will never forget how accomplished I felt! 

What was the first book you read over and over, or the book you've reread the most?

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. I read it for the first time when I was 10 and reread it every summer. I cry every time and I'm pretty sure it's the reason I have two dogs.

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

No! Unless, of course, it's an overpriced textbook. I'm okay with writing notes in the front if you're giving it as a gift, but definitely not within the story itself. Although, I used to circle the spelling errors and send them to the publisher, so I suppose that's okay.

What's your favorite place to read?

I have this fantastic, 4-feet wide round chair that I call my reading chair. It's in my library, right by the fireplace, and it's the perfect place to cozy up with a book.

Update: Awesome Reading Chair Alison Has! 

Do you have any reading accessories you can't do without?

Other than my Kindle? I have this awesome lap pillow that folds out three different ways and is perfect for holding my book, no matter what position I'm in. 

Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...

All over the house.

My TBR pile is...

Entirely too long.

What's a book that's changed your life?

Other than Where the Red Fern Grows? Probably Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe by Greg Epstein. I read it a while ago and a lot of what he said has stuck with me. It's a great book for those who aren't religious, but it doesn't have any of the anti-religion aspects that a lot of those types of books have.

One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?

I really enjoyed Atlas Shrugged. I think it's a great story and one that everyone should read, regardless of whether they agree with Ayn Rand or not! As for what book everyone else likes..... I have so many. I couldn't get into Tenth of December, The Luminaries, The Help, The Book Thief, or Room.

To DNF or not to DNF?

DNF! There are too many great books out there to waste time reading ones you don't like. If I'm not hooked by 75 pages, I put it down.

What's one book that intimidates you?

Anna Karenina is one. Come to think of it, anything by Tolstoy intimidates me! 

If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?

Definitely F. Scott Fitzgerald’s birthplace in St. Paul, MN.

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

There are other hobbies? I'm currently in grad school, so free time is pretty precious. I'm hooked on Law & Order: SVU and drink enough coffee to call it a hobby. If I make it out of the house, it's to wander aimlessly through the Rockies.

What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?

Honestly, I stay away from adaptations. I saw the Harry Potter movies years after they came out and enjoyed them, but chances are if I loved a book I won't see the movie.

What are 3 of your must-read blogs?

Love At First Book
Bookalicious Mama
Books Speak Volumes

What is your reading personality? (via quiz at http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/)

The Eclectic Reader

You read for entertainment but also to expand your mind. You're open to new ideas and new writers, and are not wedded to a particular genre or limited range of authors.

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Thank you for joining us today, Allison! 

Remember to check out Allison's blog, The Book Wheel, 

and leave a comment or question.

Mark Your Calendars: Armchair BEA

What is Armchair BEA?

Armchair BEA is the online event that runs parallel to Book Expo America and the BEA Bloggers Conference located in New York City.  It began in 2010 on the spur of the moment when a number of bloggers were envious of not being able to attend the largest book event in the United States.  It has grown and expanded over the years, and will be celebrating its fifth year of existence later this month!

To be more specific, here is our full mission statement . . . Armchair BEA is the experience for book bloggers to participate in Book Expo America (BEA) from the comfort of their homes. This experience is created lovingly by book bloggers specifically for our peers who for whatever reason are not able to participate in the main conference in New York each year. We bring publishers, authors, and bloggers together in celebrating our love for all things literary by hosting celebrations such as sneak peeks, daily discussion topics, and sponsored giveaways.

When is Armchair BEA?

The dates for 2014 are May 26-31.

Who is behind Armchair BEA?

Armchair BEA is run on a volunteer basis, with the team expanding each year.  You can view the current team in full on the Armchair BEA Contact Page.

Where do I find Armchair BEA?

Website:  http://www.armchairbea.com/ 
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/armchairbea?bookmark_t=page
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/armchairbea
Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/116272531770106740848
Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/armchairbea/
Instagram:  http://instagram.com/armchairbea
Email:  armchairbea (at) gmail (dot) com

Why would I want to participate in Armchair BEA?

Because it is a blast!!  If you are looking for more specifics, I can give you a number of them . . .

1)  It's a great way to network with fellow bloggers!  With one of our daily discussion topics centered around genres and formats, you can easily find other bloggers out there that have similar interests and tastes as you.  It also helps that we have hundreds of participants.  In 2013, we had 500+ bloggers alone chatting blogging and books throughout the week!

2)  In past years, we have had hundreds of giveaways of both new releases featured at BEA as well as past titles.  It's a great way to get in on a little of the book action that is taking place in NYC.

3)  It's a place to hear what other bloggers are doing both in the blogosphere as well as outside, thanks to blogging and their love for reading.  It's an opportune time to expand your own blog and get those creative juices flowing.

I could go on, but I won't!  The point is that Armchair BEA is a great event to chat about books and blogging, become informed and motivated, connect with bloggers, authors, and publishers, and simply have fun!

How can I get involved?

There are so many ways to get involved in Armchair BEA, it can often feel overwhelming.  The key to remember in making the week successful for you is to participate as little or as much as you have time for.  It really is what you make of it!  

Here is a little peek at the important links to take note of . . .

Registration:  Registration is open, so be sure to click on over and get your name on our list!  As a registered participant, you will appear on our full list of participants as well as become eligible for our giveaways that are offered throughout the week.

Giveaways:  We have already received a number of sponsored giveaways that will be available throughout the week via linking up to our daily discussion topics, participating in our twitter parties, joining our commenting team, and sharing photos through our Instagram Challenge.  We will even have some special featured giveaways announced during the week of the event.  (If you are author, publicist, or publisher, I encourage you to consider becoming a sponsor as well!)

Cheerleader Volunteer:  We are still in the midst of recruiting cheerleading volunteers to ensure that all participants receive a little commenting love on discussion topics.  The more help we have, the merrier!  

2014 Agenda:  The agenda was recently announced and I am personally very excited about our daily topics this year.  There is so much awesome potential and I cannot wait to read what everyone has to say about the topics!

This is just a snippet!  Be watching the website for more information to come soon, including the announcement of the Twitter parties, our introduction questions, and the Instagram Challenge!

I look forward to armchairing with you in 2014!

Featuring Margaret of BleachHouseLibrary

Today please welcome Margaret, who blogs at Bleach House Library.

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HOW BOOK BLOGGING HAS CHANGED MY LIFE 

In July 2013, a friend of mine asked me would I like to guest review a book for her blog as she was swamped with titles and knew I loved to read. I agreed and took a couple of titles home with me. I had them done in two days and was delighted to see my review live on her page a few days later. 

Little did she know, but she had created a monster! I decided to start my own blog, not in competition, as I wanted to just share the books that myself and my family ( seven of us ) had read and enjoyed. I have always enjoyed reading reviews in the newspapers and magazines, but they tended to be limited in their genre and seemed to be written by people who were showing off their own writing abilities rather than getting to the point. I wanted to have a blog that was simple in it’s layout, honest with reviews (without harshness) and included kids books too. That’s how BleachHouseLibrary.Blogspot.ie came about..... 

The blog name comes from our house. Bleach House is a 18thC period house which we bought to renovate almost 10 years ago. I always wanted a library at home, and while I didn’t quite get the one like in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, I got a lovely ground floor room, with double doors to the garden, a working fireplace and white bookshelves from floor to ceiling. I have approx. 3000 books and most are in the library, in alphabetical order! I am a Mum of four myself and we also foster kids and have our current placement two years now. We also take in emergency cases and a while back there were 11 of us in the house along with our four dogs..... Maybe this will give you an idea of how I love to escape into the world of books.  

Anyway, the blog took off at an alarming rate, considering I live in Ireland and it’s such a small island. Publishers got wind of it and I was invited to join panels like LoveReading.co.uk and Writing.ie as well as some posts for Novelicious.com. I go to as many book launches as possible and especially love promoting Irish authors ( biased methinks). I have met the most wonderful people through Twitter and Facebook and my phone beeps all day with messages and requests from the book blogging community. I re-discovered my love of writing through the blog, and have returned to education after 24 years! I hope to one day write my own books, but for now, I am just delighted to see the blog received so well and that I have been given the chance to be part of the world of books! 

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Thank you for joining us today, Margaret! It was so awesome getting to know you! Remember to check out Margaret's blog, BleachHouseLibrary, and leave a comment or question!  You can also find Margaret on Twitter at @margaretbmadden.https://twitter.com/margaretbmadden

Mark Your Calendars: Bout of Books

What is Bout of Books? 

Bout of Books is week-long read-a-thon, which means everyone spends an entire week reading as much as they can. With friends. Because the only thing better than reading is reading with friends. 

When is Bout of Books? 

The next Bout of Books is May 12-18. (Next week!) 

We have three Bout of Books every year: the first full week in January, the second full week in May, and the third full week in August. You can find the specific dates on our about page. 

Occasionally, we have Twitter chats between each read-a-thon, but those dates aren’t set. We always announce the dates on the blog, though, so if you want to join us for those, make sure you’re subscribed. 

Who is the Bout of Books team? 

The Bout of Books team consists of me (Amanda @ On a Book Bender) and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. I created Bout of Books in August 2011, and when it grew so large it was too much for me to handle, I dragged Kelly into the process. She has yet to thank me. 

We also have challenge hosts and Bout of Books experts (kind of like cheerleaders who can also assist you with questions), but they change from read-a-thon to read-a-thon. We like having new faces and blogs. 

Where do I find Bout of Books? 

Website: http://boutofbooks.blogspot.com/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/boutofbooks 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bout-of-Books/556162917743173 
Email: boutofbooks (at) gmail (dot) com 

If you have questions, we highly suggest emailing us. Tweet (not DM) us if you can fit your question into 140 characters. Those are the best ways to contact us! 

Why would I want to participate? 

We have FUN, you get to read books, and you meet new people. The last read-a-thon had more than 700 people, so you’re bound to find a new friend or ten. 

But don’t just take it from me… here’s what other #boutofbooks-ers have said about why YOU should participate in Bout of Books:

A8; If you want a true sense of community, a large bout of support and just oodles of fun, then you should do #boutofbooks !
— Faye (@daydreamin_star) November 2, 2013

https://twitter.com/daydreamin_star/status/396663563554549760

A8 - Because you will meet SO MANY PEOPLE who are amazing and love BOOKS! And people who love books should stick together. #boutofbooks
— Lindsay Church (@lindsaychurch) May 16, 2013

https://twitter.com/lindsaychurch/status/334849643462660097

A8. Because it is so dang fun and you'll meet some awesome bookish friends! #boutofbooks
— Dana Catherine (@littlelovelybks) May 16, 2013

https://twitter.com/littlelovelybks/status/334849676744470528 

How can I get involved? 

Join the read-a-thon:

It’s super easy! 

1. Blog, tweet, booktube, Facebook, Google Plus -- whatever you want to use to update -- your intentions to join us. This helps us spread the word. 
2. Grab the link to your update and add it to our linky. 
3. Read! 

Join our Twitter chats: 

We host three parties during each read-a-thon and usually one in between. You’re always welcome to join! Here’s what you can expect next week: 

Monday the 12th: 1:00pm CDT 
Wednesday the 14th: 8:00pm CDT 
Saturday the 17th: 10:00am CDT 

Be a challenge host: 

We post a form on our blog a month in advance of the read-a-thon to ask for challenge hosts. It’s too late to sign up for the May read-a-thon, but the August one is all YOU. You get to host a challenge for 24 hours and we send approximately 700 readers to your blog for fun and games.  
Be a Bout of Books expert: 

Once you’ve participated in three (or more) Bout of Books read-a-thons, you can be an expert. Which basically just means you’re our official Bout of Books love spreaderers. You also help us answer questions on Twitter. 

Like the challenge hosts, we put out a call for experts about a month before the read-a-thon. Watch our blog in July for more information. 

Kelly and I look forward to seeing you there!

May is a Month of Events!

One of the things that is constant in the book blogging world is the prevalence of amazing bookish events!  I'm talking online events and those IRL (in real life).  This month, scattered amongst our usual interviews of book bloggers, we will be featuring a few of the favorite events of the book blogging world.  Get your calendars ready because you will be wanting to take notes and schedule the upcoming dates of fun!

In the meantime, we still have openings for upcoming blogger interviews as well as guest articles.  If you are a book blogger and are interested in being featured, fill out our form here.

And, if you want to see your own blogging event featured this month, we do still have a few openings left.  Email us at bookbloggersintl (at) gmail (dot) com.