IT’S THAT TIME, MY FRIENDS!!! I will be leaving for BEA in just a couple days. MERE DAYS. I cannot express how excited I am — bookish fun, meeting authors, traveling, and most importantly, seeing all of my blogger friends (and just plain friends because you guys are just a part of my LIFE now (sorry, you’re stuck with me)) again!
I felt like a pre-BEA post was necessary this year. With one year under my belt, I’m excited in a totally new way because I feel more prepared with what to expect and what kinds of things there are for me to flail about.
Not sure what you can expect from your first time at BEA? You can check out my recap of BEA 2013 or my post with tips & tricks for BEA first timers!
So let’s get down to it! What will I be doing this year? Here’s a rough outline of where you can find me at BEA 2014!
Important thing #1: WHAT I LOOK LIKE.
I thought about doing a vlog but *shudders* too scary. I chickened out again, so you just get pictures instead! There have been a few pictures that I’ve posted of myself on the blog, but here are the many faces of me all in one spot! If you see this face — either excited or bored or reading in an autographing line — tap me on the shoulder and say HELLO! Yes, even interrupt me when I’m reading! (I said it.) Half of the reason I’m so excited for BEA it to meet all the bloggers and see blogger friends that I’ve met before. YOU GUYS. You make this event what it is!
(all of my recent pictures are with authors, sorry not sorry)
BEA last year with Sandie from Teen Lit Rocks!
Apparently I bought more dresses than I need to I will be wearing some sort of maxi dress or this cute blue dress that I found which is shorter than I normally wear (aka, not a maxi dress) that I’m kind of excited for. But who knows what I’ll feel like wearing which day because somehow I went from being a person who owned zero dresses to a person who owns a ton. ANYWAY. I’m usually found in shades of blue (although I have a couple dresses that actually DON’T have blue on them. Weird.) and not like many people will be in heels at BEA but you will never, ever see me in tall shoes because I’m already 5’8″. Hopefully my hair will not be a mess, but if it gets humid……. I make you no promises.
Important thing #2: SOCIAL MEDIA.
I apologize in advance for blowing up social media with BEA things, but chances are… I will. Most important things? Twitter (@bookaddictguide) and Instagram (@bookaddictsguide). I’m sure I’ll be posting updates during the day, where I’ll be, pictures of things I’ve seen — so if you’re interested in keeping up, you can follow me there! Chances are I’ll be with Alyssa (@withthebanned) and Amy (@trippingbooks) at least 90% of the time so if you see either of them, look for me too! We’ll also probably update On the Same Page (@galsonthesamepg) a few times too since our entire BEA trip will be spent together!
Important thing #3: WHERE I’LL BE.
The only real answer to this is ALL OVER THE PLACE. Wednesday we’ll be arriving so I won’t be at Blogger Con, but we’ll have a relaxing day in the city and hopefully grab some dinner with blogger buds!
At the conference, you can probably find me in lines for:
- RAINBOW ROWELL
- REBECCA SERLE
- SARAH J. MAAS
- AMY ZHANG
- COREY ANN HAYDU
After the conference, I’ll be all over the place with a busy but exciting schedule! If you’re going to any of these events, you MUST let me know so we can hang out!
- Macmillan Blogger Happy Hour*
- YA Rooftop Party*
- Book Blogger Picnic
- Seeing Maleficent
- Kids Author Carnival (which I will be working as a volunteer and you should totally attend. It’s their first ever event!)
- Visiting The Strand and Books of Wonder (at some point in time)
- Finding the best places to eat
(Invite only events, but let me know if you will be there!)
Important thing #4: WHAT TO TALK ABOUT.
It’s hard to talk to new people, but hopefully you’ve already been talking to me on Twitter (if you haven’t, seriously. Let’s chat.) so we have a little basis of conversation but if not, here are things I will always be up for talking about:
- Books (duh)
- Blogging (duh)
- Traveling
- Wedding things (since I’m mid-planning!)
- Barbecue
- The color blue
- Beer
- Coffee
- Books and coffee and/or beer (*ahemmmm* Book and a Beverage)
- Any of my favorite authors: Marissa Meyer, Leigh Bardugo, Gayle Forman, Leila Howland, Robin LaFevers, Rainbow Rowell
I think that about covers it for my BEA itinerary! I was too shy to talk to many people last year (like, actually pretended I didn’t see people because I was too scared to say hello — how stupid is that) so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE if you see me, do come say hello! I am making it a point to break out of my shell and talk to people. If you’re not sure if it’s me, tap me on the shoulder or just stare awkwardly at my badge for a few minutes. (It’s okay – I’ll be doing that too.) I WANT to talk to people this year.
Last year was a kind of hectic BEA in which I had sooooo many authors I wanted to see and books I wanted to grab. I think this year will be much more relaxed and I won’t be running around as much and I want to spend that time talking to friends!!
If you’re going LET ME KNOW. Will we be at any of the same events? Can we travel to any of them together? Will you please of the love of all that is BEA stop and say hello to me!? Hope to see you there!!!
Crazy news, you guys. I DID IT. I made a vlog. Crazy self-conscious, of course, so don’t hate on me too hard 😉 Pardon my messy hair (I filmed it when I had time before going out this morning) and if for some reason the sound is off… I’m a total vlog and YouTube newbie so my apologies! But you can see me and hear me and let’s be friends at BEA!!
25 thoughts on “I’m Ready for #BEA14!”
Let me get this out of the way first — YAY I AM SEEING YOU AGAIN IN LESS THAN A WEEK! (Sorry for the excited all caps yelling!) I feel like it was so awesome that I got to say hi to you last year, but I’m definitely hoping we can hang out a little more this time around. Since we’ll be at most of the same events AND lines, there’s a very good chance of that happening. YAY for your vlog too — you are so adorable!
I WILL BE LOOKING FOR YOUR FACE/LISTENING FOR YOUR VOICE! At the very least, we will both be fangirling over Heir of Fire and Sarah J. Maas around the same time. CAN’T WAIT TO MEET YOU!!!
I’m so freaking excited/nervous!!! First year jitters I guess. But I’m definitely more excited. And I will definitely find you and say hi! I will be in line for most of those authors too. Especially Sarah J. Maas because HEIR OF FIRE!!!!! See you soon!
I’ll be at the blogger picnic! Can’t wait to meet you! I’m so excited for BEA but SO unprepared bc I just moved from vegas back to WA and graduated and… yeah, I am so not ready! aaahhh!! but excited nonetheless. 🙂
I’ll be at the two invite-only things as well blogger picnic I hope and as well as Kid Book Carnival. We shall see.
Also great job on a first vlog!
Thanks, April! Thanks for all the vlog encouragement 🙂 Looking forward to seeing you there!!
I am so excited about going to BEA and it is right around the corner. I know I will be so overwhelmed as it will be my first time there. I have tried to make a list of all the things I want to see and do, but know mind will be blown once I walk through the doors.
Any advice on what to put on business cards?
Awww it definitely is overwhelming before you get there, no matter how much you prepare for your first BEA!!
I just put my blog header on the front and a little tagline and then on the back, I put my URL, twitter handle, and email address with my full name 🙂 Hope that helps!
Yes that definitely helps. Thank you.
I hope I see you there. I even bought a pretty dress for the occasion. *high five*
Have fun! It sounds like a blast. Maybe I will get to go someday.
I hope you get to go someday! It really is a blast 🙂
I cannot wait to meet you this year! We WILL def meet, too, you can count on that! We’re both going to the Macmillan Happy Hour and the Rooftop Party! Woo hoo!!!
This is my first year, so I’m totally nervicited. 😉
YAY so excited to meet you in person! Can’t wait to see you there! 🙂
Aww, I am so sad I can’t make it this year! 🙁 Sounds like it’ll be a blast!
I hope you get to make it someday too!!! 🙂 🙂
I’m going to the Picnic!! Hopefully we’ll get to meet?
And I had no idea there was a rooftop party or this MacMillan Happy Hour!! Is it invite only?
YAY I hope so!!
Ahh yes, those are invite only. I guess I should put that on the post! 🙁
I will be at the blogger picnic and will definitely fangirl over Shadow and Bone with you. And I’m always up for coffee. 🙂
Yayyy sounds great! Excited to see you at the picnic!
Can’t wait to hanggggg!
Yayyyyyy me too! 🙂 🙂
This is going to be my first BEA ever and I’m already reminding myself that I have to get over my timidity and approach people. Glad to hear I’m not the only one with this problem! I will definitely be at the blogger picnic and I need to go see if I can find the info about a few of those other things (are some of them invitation only events? I haven’t heard of them!).
Very excited! I promise if I see you to come and say hello (after staring at your badge awkwardly for way too long).
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
YAYYYY first BEA! I’m so excited for you!!
I think that is the hardest thing – or was the hardest, hopefully I won’t be as timid as last year! I felt like such a newbie and I was too shy to say hi to the “big” bloggers haha. I feel a bit more confident this year and I’m trying to step out of my comfort zone too!
Yes, the Macmillan party & rooftop party are actually invite only. Most of the “parties” are, which is why the blogger organized events and things like the Teen Author Carnival & Kids Author Carnival are so great! 🙂
This will be my 3rd BEA, and I’m still all excited fangirl about it (I will never, ever not be all excited fangirl about it, because that would mean I no longer had a soul).
I will definitely be at the Blogger Picnic since my friend Andrea is one of the organizers, and I’ll probably go to the Meet and Drink too, because hello, bloggers and alcohol? Sounds like a winning combination! 😉
I’m sure we’ll cross paths!!!
YAY hope to see you there! I’m definitely planning on meeting some new people at the picnic. I missed it last year so I need to make up for that! 🙂