BEA/NY 2012 Part 2
This is part 2 of the highlights of my trip to Book Expo America and New York. You can see Part 1 here.
Wednesday
Wednesday was a busy day starting with a wonderful “Power Reader” breakfast at Random House. It’s always a pleasure to visit their beautiful office and this year’s visit was especially fun. They put out a beautiful breakfast spread and we were lucky enough to hear Nate Berkus (The Things That Matter) and Charles Duhigg (The Power of Habit) speak.
From there, we (Julie/Booking Mama and I) headed to the Javits for the Book Group Speed Dating Session hosted by Reading Group Guides. We were a little late so I didn’t get to hear everyone but these books stood out for me:
- Love Anthony by Lisa Genova – this book is about the friendship between two women, one of whom has an autistic son
- Y: A Novel by Marjorie Celona – Y is a young baby abandoned on the steps of the YMCA
You can see the complete list of books highlighted at the session here.
After that fun session, we wandered around the show floor for a while before heading to the Audiobook Tea. The tea was hosted by actor and audiobook narrator, Dion Graham and featured authors Lee Child (The Affair), Debbie Macomber (The Inn at Rose Harbor), and Daniel Handler (Why We Broke Up). We laughed our way through the tea, because every one of the speakers was hilarious! I’m excited about all of the authors’ books and can’t wait to read them.
We had several parties to go to after the tea and planned to take a cab to the first one. There were no cabs to be found at the Javits, though, so we made the long trek to a subway stop, lugging tote bags of books but we got where we needed to be.
The first party of the evening was the launch party for The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. Even with a last minute venue change, the party was fun and I was thrilled to meet Laura since I’ve read, and enjoyed, three of her four books.
Our next stop was the Workman Open House. It was my first year going to Workman and, believe me when I say, they sure do know how to throw an open house. The refreshments were from some of their fabulous cookbooks and everything was delicious. We were lucky enough to meet Caroline Leavitt and Katie Workman (The Mom 100 Cookbook). Caroline made my night when she recognized my blog name!
Our last party of the night was Penguin‘s Bird Bash and, oh, what fun it was! The refreshments were great and the people were great! Lots of people had their picture taken in the photo booth and there were great door prizes. I was thrilled to meet Amy Einhorn, Emma Straub (Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures), Lyndsay Faye (The Gods of Gotham), Julie Klam (Friendkeeping), David Gilham (City of Women), plus more!
We were pooped after that and ready to head back to our room.
Thursday
We started Thursday with breakfast at the Tick Tock Diner with Jillian Medoff (I Couldn’t Love You More) and Jennifer/Literate Housewife. It was such a pleasure to sit and chat with everyone, even though I didn’t get the waffle I wanted – our waiter informed me that I did not want a waffle since they only had one waffle iron.
Julie and I headed to the Javits and spent a little time on the show floor before she had to leave to catch her train. I wandered around a little longer before heading back to the hotel to freshen up a little.
I met Candace and Dawn at the Waldorf Astoria for a break and a few quiet moments. If you’ve never been there, you need to stop and check out their restroom – I wish I’d taken pictures. From there Dawn headed to her room to relax and Candace and I headed to the Algonquin to meet Jenn, Lenore, Michelle and Trish for drinks. Dawn was able to join us later and it was fun to talk about the week and compare notes with everyone.
Dawn, Candace, and I closed out the day with a fabulous dinner at Becco. They’d been there before and I was lucky enough to join them this year. We had a great meal and celebrated Dawn’s birthday a few days early.
Friday
I slept in a little bit before meeting Cindy of Cindy’s Love of Books at Amy’s Bread for breakfast. We’d crossed paths a few times during the week but had never really had the chance to chat, so it was nice to catch up. We walked around a little bit and then it was time for me to check-out of the hotel and head to the airport.
As usual, there was a little hiccup getting home, but this year’s wasn’t too bad. About the time I arrived at my gate, I got an email saying my flight would be late and they were working on re-routing me. I went to a Delta agent and found that they were re-routing me a crazy way and I told the agent I thought we could come up with a better alternative. About that time I heard an announcement for another flight that was boarding and I managed to get on it. I arrived home safe and sound but tired! I’m already looking forward to next year.
I think Wednesday alone would have put me right over the edge. I would have been tempting to just drop to the ground and kiss Amy Einhorn’s feet. Just saying.
Hope you’ve gotten your waffle since getting home! What a whirl of activity! Sounds like a blast. Thanks for posting about it!
I love reading all the BEA wrap-ups. Sounds like another wonderful event. I’ll be sure to check out the WA’s restroom if I’m ever there
Your flights home are always crazy in some way. I’ve been getting a lot of mileage out of our adventures on the Sax shoe floor. Wish I could have bought some of those pretty shoes.
I didn’t know Lisa Genova has a new book out. Can’t wait to read it. Cindy is a lovely person. Glad you met her.
I think I need to save your post here to remind myself next year how to do BEA…. I should have done the authors tea, I should have got in on the breakfasts….LOL, and you have given me a couple “must see” ideas, including the Waldorf Astoria bathroom
Wednesday just about did me in – that was a loooooonnnggg day. As you know, Alison and I got lost on our way to The Chaperone Reception – and yes, after the Bird Bash I called it a night as well. I had two more invites that night that I just could not get to.
Oh and I forgot to mention the waffle denial story…. oh wow. LOL
This sounds wonderful if not exhausting. I’d be trying to take photos of the fabulous restroom at the Waldorf!
This week it was announced that BEA would be in Chicago for 2016. Yaaaay for us in the Midwest! I know it’s a few years away, but if I don’t get to NY, I know I can make Chicago.
Man, I hope I can make it next year!!!
I’m so impressed with how you handled the airline situation! I wish you had been along on some of my problem flights!
Sounds like you really made the most of your BEA experience! How fun that you got to meet up with so many blogger friends and attend some wonderful events. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us!
I always love reading your BEA posts! It is the next best thing to being there. Thanks for sharing!
Oh my goodness that is a lot of stuff to do! You must have been exhausted! I’m reading The Chaperone right now and enjoying it quite a bit – jealous that you got to meet the author!
Wow, party girl. You sound like you had a great time. I missed hanging out with you guys this month.
You WERE a party girl! So sad we didn’t get to meet up, but you were SO busy! Jealous that you got to meet so many authors – Lyndsay Faye and Julie Klam especially. Loved narrating the latter’s first memoir. Hope you got some much needed rest when you got home!
Sounds like you really had a busy and fun BEA! I’m glad I got to see you during the hectic crazy time that it was
I’m tired just reading about all of that again!
wow, you hit all my favorite haunts–becco is so yummy and i love eataly, too.
it seems like you guys didn’t spend as much time at the con as other bloggers–was it better your way? it sure sounds like you had a great time.
I have fond memories of Becco’s…yum!
What a great opportunity to meet up with so many great bloggers, authors, and publishers! Sounds like a good time.
Someday I want to go to the NY BEA…I enjoyed the one in LA in 2008, but NY! Who can resist?
I haven’t read Genova’s other books yet (I have Left Neglected on Sparky), but now I have to find out more about her new one.
I’ve also loved several Laura Moriarty books, including The Chaperone; and I’m behind in Debbie Macomber’s books, but saw her in LA at BEA.
I’m so glad you had fun!
Of all the excitement in this post, I’m most excited to hear about Lisa Genova’s new book. I’m definitely going to read that!
I love to your recap of the week…. I am saving my money for next year. (fingers crossed)
An audio tea? SOOOOOOOOOOOOO envious. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO envious. And with Debbie? I adore her. Met her once and she is just too sweet and cool.
Wow! Your time there was so fantastic!!
I’m tires just reading about all of your fun! We stayed at the Waldorf one year and attended a private party and it was awesome.