BookExpo America 2015

OK, I'll admit it - I didn't know what to expect when I registered to attend the 2015 BookExpo America (BEA) Conference in NYC.  An amazing YA author named Heather Terrell (who writes both YA and historical suspense novels) told me about BEA and encouraged me to go as a teen book blogger.  I signed up, received my cool looking pass and promptly put it out of my head.  When I got to the Javits Center this morning, I was blown away.  The conference was HUGE and there were authors and publishers everywhere!  I heard amazing panels talking about book blogging & social media, met new and established authors and got psyched for new releases I didn't even know were coming out!  Hint: Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase and The Gods of Asgard comes out on October 6th and John Grisham's Rogue Lawyer comes out on October 20th!  Of course, Harper Lee's To Set a Watchman comes out on July 14th...but we knew that.  The best part about BEA was the sheer scope of the conference: every publisher I had ever heard of was there, along with so many new e-publishers and digital publishing companies.  The authors were totally great - signing books and taking pictures.  One even offered to answer questions for our Raiareads program if we come up with some author questions next fall!  Overall, an amazing day and I will definitely sign up for all three days next year.  Very cool to tell people in the literary world about this program and have them be so enthusiastic - seriously a fantastic experience.