Wrapping it up part I

I fully intended to wrap this up yesterday, but the full force of my NYC jaunt seemed to hit me on the backslide.  I was so exhausted yesterday, going to the grocery store nearly knocked me out.  I fell asleep before Mary Rachel or Mena.  Yikes!

Anyway, checked some of the blogs from the panel discussion I went to on Friday.  One of them has a good summary of the session:

http://www.fernham.blogspot.com/

It’s today’s entry.  So I am not the only one lagging on my blog entries.

Also, and I have not checked this one yet, but I have every intention to,

www.publishinginsider.net

Carl Lennertz’s page.  He’s at HarperCollins and is a guru for all things independent marketing.  He spoke at the day of Dialog and was really interesting.  Seems like a nice, “normal” guy, too.

Here’s another good one, if you’re into the lit-blog thing.  It seems to be much more of a debate on the East coast, or in the world of the true writer, than it does here, or in the library world – or at least that’s my take on it.  Of course, I tend to be a “hit me in the face with a frying pan and I’ll notice you” kind of girl. 

http://lbc.typepad.com/blog/

When I get back home to my notes (yes, I left them at home, by my computer! Who would expect anything less of me…) I will collect them all into some kind of substantive summary of the events.  I really enjoyed going, although it was really tiring, it was well worth it.

June 2

Today was much more productive for me than yesterday.  I attended the book and author breakfast, and got to see Stephen Colbert, Ken Burns, Lisa See (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan) and Khaled Hosseini -we even got copies of 1,000 Splendid Suns ,his new book.  I had theatre seating, which was fine – I just brough my own breakfast – and it was wonderful.  Colbert was hysterical, Ken Burns was so fantastic – and Lisa See and Khaled Hosseini were wonderful, as I expected they would be.  It was a real treat to discover, upon reading the show daily that Lisa See was going to be in the Random House booth signing her new book Peony in Love (out in a few weeks) – so I got a signed copy, and I get to read it before anyone else!  It’s sillt, but that was a real triumph.  I also met Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins, who wrote the Silver Palate Cookbook – it’s having it’s 25th anniversary so I got a new, signed copy of it.  I also got a lot more good galleys than yesterday, talked to some people, and got Dog the Bounty Hunter’s autograph – he’s written a new memoir (although there were no books yet, so he signed posters) for my friend Doyle.  (Dog’s wife was there with him, and she’s quite – er – well, she’s rough.  And a little scary.  Scarier than him, I thought.)

Went to the Nancy Pearl session with library marketing reps from four publishers, and together with the list that I got from the day of dialog, I really feel like I have a good feel for what’s coming up.  Lots of good stuff!

Went to the audiobook and author tea, got to hear Roy Blount, Jr., John Lithgow and Tom Perrotta.  I finally got an advance copy of The Abstinence Teacher.  Tom Perrotta looks like alot of the guys I went to college with.  As a matter of fact, he may be one of those guys.  Just kidding.

Went to Recorded Books reception at the New York Historical Society, which is on the west side of Central Park.  Wonderful program by Pulitzer Prize winners Michael Dirda and Jane Smiley and more free books!

I am exhausted, and will write more tomorrow and finish this on Monday. 

June 1, I

Took the shuttle this morning to javits, got badge, walked the show floor until the 10AM session on blogging.  INteresting stuff, will write more about it later.  Plan to visit some booths and get some autographs – specifically Jennifer Weiner, before I go to the Graphic Novel Buzz session this afternoon.  I am sure I will have more to write later. 

May 30

Well, we’re here.  We arrived in our hotel room at about 7:30 New York time.  I am so tired.  I think Mollie is, too.  I know I should eat but I feel a little”funky” from all the traveling.  We took a cab into the city and it was pretty cool.

I obviously haven’t seen a whole lot yet, but I have noticed two things – 1) it smells like garbage and 2) the people seem friendlier than I expected them to be.  I don’t know what I expected, but people aren’t looking at me like i have a neon sign over my head that says “from Indiana”.

Tomorrow is the Librarians Day of Dialog.  The Book Expo starts Friday.  I have not seen anyone famous yet, but I thought I saw Sean Hayes on the street, then I figured he looked more like Simon Rex (anyone remember him?  He was on MTV for like, a minute 15 years ago.) But it was obviously just some random guy.

I plan to have a lot more to report tomorrow, with photos -my main goal is to see the Chrysler Building.  And the Empire State building. 

7 days and counting…

This time next week I will be on my way to NYC.  I’m making lists of things to take and getting excited, in general.  Although I am nervous about flying (I have not flown since 1996!), I’m really excited about the trip.  It should be really cool.

I’m going to Book Expo in NYC!

…which is extremely cool because I’ve never been to New York or Book Expo.  So here’s where I will record my journey of new and exciting discoveries!  I’m leaving May 30, to return June 3.  Check back for witty banter, cool photos, and exciting updates!