Chronicles of a Non-BEA New Yorker

Posted by Jen on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 @ 1:09 pm

I didn’t get to go to BEA this year, but that didn’t stop me from getting out and going to some great events this weekend in the city! I had a great time and met a lot of awesome writers, bloggers and book people.

First up was the Teen Author Carnival at the NYPL Jefferson Market Branch where I met up with internet friends, Shana Silver and Dan Faust. The line-up was crazy! So many authors were there. I met and chatted with Sarah Cross, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Jessica Burkhart and Libba Bray. All so nice and friendly.

I got several books while I was there. I’m so excited about reading this:

Then, Friday night was Tiger Beat band at Books of Wonder! Tiger Beat is Libba Bray, Barnabas Miller, Daniel Ehrenhaft, and Natalie Standiford. We also got to hear a dramatic reading of the Spice Girls by authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. David also sang a highly entertaining song titled, “Oh Libba Bray.” Great stuff.

After that, Shana, Michael Northrop and I headed over to a party. There, I met a lot of awesome writers, editors, bloggers, and librarians, as well as a random guy who claimed he was one of the filmmakers of Slumdog Millionaire. Yeah, I didn’t believe him for a second.

It was a really great time. I had so much fun meeting everyone and chatting about books and the industry. The one thing absolutely everyone was talking about was CATCHING FIRE. A couple of people I met had snagged an ARC earlier that day. Me = jealous.

Also, I collected bookmarks for some upcoming novels I’m very excited about reading.