BEA 2013 Re-Cap (Part 2)

Hello again lovely readers! I wanted to tell you about the awesomeness that was BEA this year...

I had a wonderful time in NYC with my husband attending BEA for the first time this year, all thanks to my marvelous family who all chipped in to help me go: Meghan, Dad, Carol, Howie and Auntie! I love you all and thank you!

So I know that many people do their tips list before BEA but this was my first time so here are my thoughts about all of it and pics of the goodies and fun!

Some things about NYC and BEA:
1. If you get into the city early, do not spend a day walking around the city then going to BEA, make plans for another trip -- Andy and I walked Central Park and the MET on Wednesday before the exhibitors opened on Thursday and so by the time we got to the show we were exhausted and sore :( 

2. Comfy shoes are a must! I was so glad I thought about this, I work my flats and they were great the whole time, until they started falling apart due to all the walking, but they were old...so my bad.

3. You would be surprised to know that people, bloggers, librarians, exhibitors all dressed very well for the event. On Thursday I wore a nice colorful shirt and comfy skirt and on Friday I wore long shorts with a frilly tank and was a little under dressed I felt like. Most people there are there to work so dress accordingly if you do...casual work is what it seemed to be. 

Friday BEA2013

R.L. Stine :)

4. If you are planning to eat, plan out your day. The food at the expo center was great, but super expensive. You could easily leave the expo and walk a few blocks over for restaurants that are better priced. While reading the internet before I left I thought around Jarvis was going to be empty of food, I think it is just because people didn't want to walk ... If you don't mind the adventure walk a few blocks out, there is a bunch there.

5. There is so much to say for shipping books. I wasn't going to cave and ship anything, but a 20lb backpack and still a day to go through the fun was killing me, so I shipped things back home. It was costly but worth the lack of pain on the way home...and the room left for more goodies before we left (Andy thought I was crazy).

The Cute!

6. Cabs! So I live near Washington DC and in DC it is pain to get a cab, you have to call the dispatch and pay crazy amounts, in NYC they are everywhere all the time and about $1 rate :) utilize these if you don't wanna walk/ shuttles are full. They drive like maniacs but it is part of the NYC experience!

7. Rolly Suitcase and a backpack! I brought a backpack and a duffel on the trip and my shoulders were killing me when I got home. What I found at the show was that few people actually brought a backpack...and it is brilliant for this kind of thing. Think about it, even weight on your shoulders and load so room for goodies...run outta space? then you grab a free bag and fill it too....As for my duffel, not such a hot idea. Bring a rolly suitcase for clothes and books it is easier when leaving after walking.carrying things for 2-3 days.

@EpicReads #TeaTime Ladies!

 8. Have fun! Yes there are lots of people and lines that are super long, but have fun with it all, you have the chance to meet awesome authors, publishers, editors, other bloggers! Live it up.

Favorite moments: 

Meeting the @EpicReads ladies...they knew me by my twitter handle and that rocked my socks.

Getting RL Stine's and Chuck Palahniuk's autographs, OMG I love these writers:)

 All the goodies...can't leave that out. Thank you to all the publishers for everything you do for bloggers, we truly appreciate it!

 

Have questions about BEA or the Experience? Let me know! Comment below!

Armchair BEA: Day 3 -- Giveaway!

Nina of Nina Read

Giveaway Day!!!! Whoot! 

This giveaway is for a Mystery Prize Pack!

The pack will include: Bookmarks, other swag, maybe a book or two ;)

To Enter: Use the Rafflecopter Widget below
Rules: Winners must be 13 (with permission) or older
If chosen you will have 48 hours to respond to the email or you forfeit your prize (and that would be sad)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Armchair BEA: Day 2 -- Blogging!

Nina of Nina Read

Day 2 topic is blogs and development:

Day 2 we talk about how we develop ourselves as bloggers.  Have you branched out into your community? Do you partner with other bloggers?  Have you gone "pro" or begun supplementing your income through your blog?  Are you a long-term blogger, and how has your online personality developed over the years?  These are simply ideas.  Think development and tell us what comes to mind. From the Armchair Agenda

 I do not see myself and my blog as a source of revenue or a means to make money, I don't think I will ever "go pro" or anything like that. When I began blogging, the goal was just to have a hobby that I enjoyed and I would stick with.

I tried crocheting... too many knots and too much counting. I tried jewelry making... too many beads for my cat to go after. I have always been a reader. I was the kid with the flashlight under the covers and a teen with a book in her bag/purse/hand...where ever it needed to be. I met Andy and he thought it was interesting that I was a reader and would get enthralled in worlds far far away or not really there, he recommended the blog, he said 'hey you already read all the time, why not blog about it'...so I did and I love it. 

Yea, it has its perks...books! All the Books, E-galleys, Swag... It is pretty great, but I blog for the books, to share them with others, many may not even agree with my reviews but It is fun regardless.

As a blogger I have evolved a little since beginning. For example now I have something on the blog almost daily whereas before it was just reviews whenever I could. Now I partaking in Blog Tours, Blitzes, Reveals as well.

I also was just recruited by a friend to write book reviews for The Nerd Cave. It is a website full of all nerdy things: books, movies, shows, comics, tech, games, toys... all the fun stuff. I have a post every Friday and I think it is great for me to have multiple outlets.

Visit The Nerd Cave

Overall, like I mentioned I do it for the reading... I do love the community and how tight we all are too, but I love to read and venture to far off places and live other lives through characters...it is always something new and exciting. 

<3 Gorelenore aka Steph

Armchair BEA: Day 1 -- Introductions!

Nina of Nina Read

Hello All! Welcome to another year of Armchair BEA, I am happy to say that I will be attending BEA and am looking forward to sharing all my experiences but I also wanted to participate in Armchair again because it is sooooooo good!

 

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? 

Hi! I am Stephanie; I have been blogging for a little over a year at Cover2CoverBlog and recently starting posting at The Nerd Cave too. I started blogging because I read…a lot… and my husband said I needed a hobby, so blogging about the books I read became my hobby and outlet. I love it… although Andy is not as thrilled about his suggestion since my house is now overflowing with books.

Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. Feel free to share pictures. 

I blog from McLean, Virginia in the United States, and am about 30 minutes away from Washington DC or as most know it…where the President lives. 

Have you previously participated in Armchair BEA? What brought you back for another year? If you have not previously participated, what drew you to the event? 

Last year, I was still new to blogging, so BEA was not an option but I was super jealous of those who did go. I participated in Armchair BEA and LOVED it, I had not felt tied to the blogging community so much as I did with Armchair BEA and I am excited to join again. 

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you. 

Hm… that is a difficult one. I have a lot of jobs… I blog obviously, but I also work at George Mason University in Virginia as a Program Manager for the School of Education, I also teach at the Northern Virginia Community College, and on occasion I help in my step-mothers office with filing and scanning…because she hates that stuff and it is cash in my pocket J I love to keep busy so it I am not over scheduled I am bored and want to nap.

What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? 

I love that while many of us have never met and rarely interact with one another, we are all such a close-knit community. Book bloggers are awesome and I can Tweet at people and they reply even if they don’t know me, and I can comment on posts and visit blogs to see into other reader’s lives, I really like that (not in a creepy way!)

<3 Gorelenore aka Steph