While I've been away.....

I figured I'd share a few photos of what I've been up to the last few months, while I work on new content. As most of you know I've been working closely with Mitali Dave and several publishing houses to put together the Teen Author Carnival! The event turned out great--considering a year of planning were changed last minute to fit a new building. Next year everything should be back to normal though (with tables & air conditioning too!) ;)

Here's a snapshot of a few authors at the event, I swiped the photo from Courtney Allison Moulton!

And can we just take a moment to talk about the MASSIVE amount of people that showed up this year? We were blown away! 

Below's a photo from FLUX, this is just ONE ROOM of our event!!

When I wasn't busy with BEA or TAC I was busy enjoying New York and New Jersey with some of my closest friends! I think that's the most important thing about BEA--you should go to CONNECT and talk books. If you talk about how chaotic BEA is all of the time, you're clearly doing something wrong. It means so much more than just BOOKS! :D

That's the main excuse for being away--planning an event like TAC and trying to have a social life is something that causes a challenge at times. However I balanced out TAC, living my life and traveling pretty well. I wouldn't give it up for anything--even if I abandon the blog for spurts at a time know I'm always working on something BIGGER and BETTER. :) 

On a side and final note, last week a few friends and I went to the zoo to see the three week old baby elephant, he's pretty adorable--He's still unnamed. I'm calling him Magnus. ;)

XO

Devyn

Everything you need to know about BEA - PART ONE

Last year I had the pleasure of attending Book Expo America, which is the largest annual book trade fair in the United States. Nearly all significant book publishers in the United States, and many from abroad, have booths and exhibits at BEA, and use the fair as an opportunity to showcase upcoming titles, sell current books, socialize with colleagues from other publishing houses, and sell and buy subsidiary rights and international rights (although not on the scale of the rights negotiation that occurs at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October). Authors, librarians, and buyers for book retailers also attend the event.[1]

New to the addition of attendees are Bloggers, luckily for you I attended BEA last year and have collected some questions from those of you attending this year or in the future!

1) What to wear?

You want to wear something that is comfortable. You can dress nice, feel comfortable and not look like your ready to attend a funeral or wedding. I personally throw on a pair of cargo jeans and a t-shirt--I'm a laid back type of person and do not feel the need to 'sell' myself to anyone attending BEA.

2) Do we get a BEA guide thing at BEA?

Yes! You may want to check into BEA a day before BEA actually starts--you will be given a badge and a guide to BEA. It's about 300 pages. DO NOT lose your badge or guide, they will help you navigate around the convention center.

Be sure to bring a backpack to hold books and comfortable shoes!

3) At what point -if ever- is it polite to talk about your own writing? I assume you wait until other person ASKS you about it especially if that person happens to be an author or agent, etc.

You will not have much one on one time with authors, they are there usually to sign books and move on to whatever it is they have to do in the city next. Some authors do attend BEA, however I do not suggesting talking to an author about your work as there is nothing they can do to help you be published.

As for agents, all agents have submission guidelines on their website for a reason. ;)

If you casually mention in conversation that you're working on a book and someone asks more feel free to share--but don't expect anything to come of it. This is an event to sell books to people not buy your idea!

4) Is it ok to chat with author and take pics when they're autographing and such?

It's up to the author. Ask and if they have enough time they usually will take a picture with you, have your camera ready!

5) What time should we get to BEA?

I suggest an hour early, this may mean you need to leave your hotel even earlier. This allows you to grab a copy of Publishers Weekly and to look through your guide for the day! Do not expect to get much sleep while you're in the Big Apple--you can do that on the flight home!

6) What events should I attend?

The TAC of course!

Please forgive me if I misspelled anything, it's 6AM and I've yet to get any rest. If you have any questions post them in the comments--if I get enough I'll make a PART TWO!

[1] - Wikipedia.com

NYC/BEA Post #2 - 2009

Gather children, gather around uncle Devyn for the next entry of the GRAND NEW YORK ADVENTURE!

Once I got through the security check point I walked for what seemed like hours. It seemed the airport thought it would be hilarious to have my gate be at the opposite end of security check. I thought they did this so I had no choice but to see all of the cool stores and stop in and look around--which I did.

I arrived at my gate a full two hours early.

I did what any teen in an airport would do... uh, sleep.

I didn't get much sleep because someone crashed into me.

I jerked awake pissed off at the world--to see a crazy old lady running away from me. I tightened my hold on City of Glass and tried to brace myself for another attack. After ten minutes of watching the frail woman run around like a chicken with it's head cut off I decided she meant no harm.

My phone rang.

KORIANNE HAD ARRIVED.

"Devyn... I'm in a creepy tunnel.... creepy music..." --That is just one line of the hilarious phone call.

Upon meeting up with Kori at the airport I decided I needed to use the RESTROOM.

It was a restroom, just like any other--or so I thought.
I took care of my 'business' and unlocked the bathroom door.

I went to push the door open--nothing.

I pulled the door towards me--nothing.

I relocked the door and tried to push on it--nothing.

I pulled the locked door towards me--nothing.

I start to freak out and text twitter "I'M LOCKED IN THE BATHROOM!"--Not sure what I was thinking at the time. I start frantically banging on the door "I CAN'T GET THE DOOR OPEN, HELLO!?"

A cleaner walks up to the door and simply says "Uhh, Sir, The door is locked."

"I know its locked, But it won't open unlocked either--watch, I unlock the door and push out." The door magically opened and the man just carried on changing the trash can.

I washed my hands and scurried out the door.

I told Kori about my misfortune and her reply was along the lines of
"You... got locked... In a bathroom?" *Outburst of Laughter*

--And that concludes this post. I have more crazy stories but SO LITTLE TIME!

NYC/BEA Post #1 - 2009

BEA was an amazing experience and with the way the publishing world is forming today Bloggers are totally welcome to join in on the action. If someone told me three months ago that I would be on a plane to New York to attended one of the largest book conventions in the United States I would laugh at them.

But some how everything came together and I remember siting in the airport on Wednesday (May 26th) waiting for Korianne and thinking “What the hell have I gotten myself into?” With that being said I believe that Wednesday will be the first of a series of blogs about BEA.

Wednesday morning I awoke to rain and a missed phone call from Gen—her and her boyfriend Adam were also going to attend BEA however they were flying in from California. I was all packed and ready to embark on the journey to New York. I was sure of two thinks 1) My plane would crash and 2) I was going to pepper spray someone. (Sadly neither thing happened.)

I have never flown alone. With that being said planes do not scare me, I believe everything happens for a reason and if my plane crashed, oh well—either I would survive or I wouldn't. People get in car accidents everyday and I don't go around town tripping out about dying in a car.

I was a nerve ball though—you see, I am terrified of security check. I have no idea why. The only thing I can think of is arriving to the airport and getting pulled aside for some crazy reason causing me to lose my fight.

So I arrived at the airport—thank god I have a credit card because to check in luggage that is apparently what you need. I waited in line for a sold fifteen minutes to have a woman walk up to me and scream “ARE YOU HERE WITH A FAMILY?” I looked around as to say “Uh.. I'm alone. Do ya think I have the seven dwarfs packed away in my pocket?”

I was in the wrong lane. I had been pushed to the 'FAMILY LANE', which apparently all hell will break lose if one person goes through the checkpoint alone. I mumbled something under my breath and carried on to the 'SINGLE LANE'--which let me tell you being single (literally) in a SINGLE lane did not help my morning.

--Check back tomorrow for the next installment of my New York trip. If you read it please do leave a comment so I don't feel like I am wasting my time! xoxo