Book Expo America & Writer's Conference (L.A. in May)

I went to it last year in New York. It's crazy big, very cool, and there are tons of free ARCs and books. Didn't really go to any events though. Have fun!

Isn't Book Expo mostly for publishers, booksellers, and librarians? I guess if one went, it would be a chance to hob-nob with movers and shakers, but it's not the same as a writer's conference. What I was told by a librarian friend anyway.

I couldn't go last year and I can't go this year. But my publisher will be there, I'm sure. They've been there every year and this year's right on their turf. Check them out and get some free books (*hint* mine!).

a_sharp said:

Isn't Book Expo mostly for publishers, booksellers, and librarians? I guess if one went, it would be a chance to hob-nob with movers and shakers, but it's not the same as a writer's conference. What I was told by a librarian friend anyway.

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They do have a writers' conference at the same time.

The writers' conference is the first day, then the booksellers' events take up the rest of the event. I've been to the last two they held in NYC, and it was cool. I didn't have anything to pitch at the pitchslam, but the seminars were informative, and Jodie Picoult spoke at the last one, which was very nice.

The conference is one thing, BEA another. No one will prevent you from going, and no one will tell you to go away, but I have to tell you that unless you are brought along by your publisher, writers aren't terribly welcome at BEA itself. (I've been there once in a non-writer capacity.) It's for agents and publishers and booksellers, and the last thing they want are writers "getting to know them," or, god forbid, pitching them.

So, go check it out if you like. It's fascinating. But don't go with the idea of finding an agent or making a publishing deal. You will become unpopular very quickly, and will be made to feel like a student in the Faculty Lounge.

It's very much an industry thing, and while your publisher will likely welcome you as a writer, this is mostly all about selling books to the public, via distributors and book stores.

So it's for the ancilliary trades--printers, box-makers, shelf-makers, etc. it's mostly a way for publishers to get their books into the hands of people who have purchasing power.

You're right, it is for the industry. I'm a writer, but my sister owns a children's bookstore in So Cal, so she goes every year. She's taking me this year. She said they get so many books she couldn't carry them all.

The expo actually offers some classes that would be interesting to authors as well as the industry. I'm going to check out these:
-Authors and Their Online Communities: The Perils, The Opportunities, and What's Next

-The Gen Z Reader: Understanding the New Reader of the Post-Electronic Age

-The Author-preneur: Balancing Authorship and the New Business of Brand-building

-Book Trip 08-Join acclaimed author Jack O'Connell as he discusses his new book, The Resurrectionist. O'Connell will be joined by his agent Nat Sobel and Algonquin heavy weights Chuck Adams and Michael Taeckens. Together they will discuss how a book comes into being; starting with the creative process, continuing with the process of finding the right publisher, working with an editor, and promoting the completed work.

I'm not going with the idea of promoting myself in any way, but I think there are some things an author can learn from these workshops.

And free books! Squee!