In the beginning of June, I will be attending Book Expo America and BEA Bloggers Conference (formerly Book Blogger Con)! I am SUPER pumped and cannot wait to meet authors, publishers and other bloggers!

Because this is my first time attending this event, I have no idea what to expect. As the time gets closer, I know my nerves will kick and and I’ll be super anxious about it (such is my personality), BUT I’m really looking forward to putting myself out there and learning more about this exciting industry.

I will definitely read up more about Book Expo America before I go in a few weeks, but right now I have the basic plans (plane, hotel, schedule) set and have no idea where to go from there.

I figured I would share my journey with you and any other beginners out there in the hopes that others can learn from my mistakes or successes. I am definitely open to suggestions, so if you have any advice to give me about Book Expo America or BEA Bloggers Conference, please feel free to share it!

My Plan for Book Expo America

The Deets

I’m planning on staying at the Travel Inn Hotel In New York City, which is approximately .7 miles from the Javits Center (where BEA is being held). It’s about an 11 minute walk, and I think there may be shuttles available as well to the Javits Center.

I picked the hotel because of its proximity to the conference and because it was fairly good deal. Easier is better in situations that I know will be managed chaos at best.

I’m also flying in a day early (Sunday, June 3) to get some down time and maybe meet up with a few friends. I’m attending the BEA Bloggers conference Monday, June 4 and staying an additional day and a half to attend Book Expo America and other events.

I hope to also attend a few publisher events, and have confirmed a Random House Power Reader Breakfast. I am BEYOND excited about getting a behind-the-scenes tour of this major publishers headquarters. I promise to take as many photos/videos as they’ll let me before booting me off the premises.

Tips & Tricks

A few BEA tips that I’ve heard are:

• Mail your books home (this will save on tons on bag checking costs)
• Get to the Javits Center early every day
• Dress comfortably but professionally (ballet flats it is)
• Bring your business cards (I’m making mine now – hurry shipping, hurry!)
• Network like a fiend

Like I said, I will be blogging like a crazy during and after the event and will share if the advice I’d found was helpful. Plus, I’ll share my own insights too.

Meeting with people who are as insanely obsessed about books as I am is GOING to be a good time, I can tell.

What should first-timers to Book Expo America know before they go?

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