Welcome to the 2017 Epic BookExpo Recap episode. If you don’t already what BookExpo is, it’s the big industry trade show that takes place in the United States every year. This year, things at BookExpo were a little bit new and different so I wanted to give you a rundown of what’s new, what’s still the same, and what I think all these things say about the book industry as a whole.

In this episode, I give you an inside look at:

• The new vibe at BookExpo, and why I’m really digging the new, smaller, industry focus.
• What really happens at BookExpo and what this trade show is all about.
• Why I attend BookExpo, and what I look for as I walk the show.

Plus a teaser about the types of books I was most excited to check out, and why.

There’s a new vibe BookExpo…

…and I LOVE it!

In general, the publisher booths were smaller, and overall the show felt less crowded. There were wider aisles and more open space, plus, it seemed like there were fewer book bloggers and general fans, and there was a stronger industry focus overall. I think BookExpo organizers may have been more selective in terms of which press passes they approved. Also, blogger passes were priced at a much higher premium this year, which I think cut down on the number of people attending the show just to get a lot of “free books.” (For the record, ARCs—or advance reader copies—are not “free books” but that’s a topic or another episode.)

Overall, this tighter industry focus made for a much less crowded and hectic show, and made it a much more pleasant and productive experience.

What happens at BookExpo, exactly?

BookExpo is an industry trade show where the focus is for publishers to connect with booksellers and librarians. Basically it’s about getting books into the hands of the readers, but this year the focus has shifted to emphasize more the industry avenues for how that happens, rather than having it be a more direct channel to the readers themselves (as with BookCon). At BookExpo, publishes showcase the books on their fall and winter lists, and connect with booksellers and librarians who might champion those books.

There were still plenty of signings and author events at the show this year, but again, it felt more contained and less sprawling and chaotic than years past. There were still ticketed author signings, though I noticed that several didn’t get “sold out” very early in the day.

Plus there seemed to be fewer signings going on overall. My guess is that with the author badge being the highest priced category, publishers may have been more selective about which authors to have at the show. I also didn’t see some of the familiar author faces I usually see just walking the show, again most likely because of this shift to more of an industry focus.

Finally, there were still many book reviewers and members of the press and I certainly saw reporters with video cameras filming some of the celebrity authors. I did notice, though, that many of these celebrities were on panels on the various stages, and I didn’t notice quite as many long lines for celebrity book signings. I did spot James Patterson signing books side-by-side with his wife, and got a signed copy of Princesses Wear Pants and a quick photo op with Today Show host Savannah Guthrie and her co-author Allison Oppenheim.

Why I Attend BookExpo

There are four main reasons why I try to attend BookExpo each year, but really they all have to do with this podcast. I attend BookExpo to…

1. Discover new authors to feature on this show. At DIY MFA Radio, we try not to feature the same authors over and over because we want to showcase as many different voices as possible. This means I’m on a constant hunt for great interviews. With so many publishers all in one place at the same time, BookExpo allows me to connect with potential interview subjects (or their publicists) in a compressed amount of time.
2. Reconnect with publicists whom I’ve worked with in the past. Like any business, publishing is all about building relationships, and from my perspective building relationships with publicists can be very important. I’m lucky to have some great contacts whose taste and insight I’ve grown to trust over the years, so now when they send me a pitch for an author (even an unknown debut) I know they’ve taken the time to vet that interview and make sure it’s a fit for my show. While I love scouting out new connections, it’s as important (if not more so) to nurture those existing relationships.
3. Check out the trends and see which books publishers are really getting behind. This was perhaps the most difficult thing for me to do this year because of the compressed timeline. When I walk a show and do trendspotting, I like to take my time and let the overall vibe sink into my bones. Because this year’s show was shorter and I had limited time, I didn’t get to do my whole “trendspotting ritual” that I do each year. If I go back next year, my hope is to attend both BookExpo and BookCon.
4. Collect nifty swag and other bits of marketing inspiration. I could do an entire podcast episode on swag. (Maybe I will for Patreon fans!) Overall, though, I like to see what other types of swag booths are handing out aside from ARCs, buttons, bookmarks, and all the things we would expect to see at a book industry trade show. You can also draw a lot of inferences from swag and freebies, like how much thought, energy, and money a marketing department has invested for promoting a particular book. The subtext of the swag is almost more interesting than the things themselves.

Links and Resources

Learn more about BookExpo and BookCon by visiting the websites. Next year’s dates will be May 31 & June 1 for BookExpo (with the conference portion opening on May 30) and June 2 & 3 for BookCon.

Also, you can check out videos from some of the BookCon panels via the links below.

• The Handmaid’s Tale: Margaret Atwood and showrunner Bruce Miller (full panel) | BookCon 2017
• Girling Up: Mayim Bialik spotlight (full panel) | BookCon 2017
• Krysten Ritter spotlight (full panel) | BookCon 2017
• The Book to Film Experience (R.J. Palacio, Nicola Yoon, Stephen Chbosky, Lauren Oliver) | BookCon 2017

Link to Episode 150

(Right-click to download.)

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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 150: Epic BookExpo Recap — 2017 Edition appeared first on DIY MFA.

Summer is over, and I’m not mourning. I’m a little too busy anticipating the first Chai Tea Latte of the season, sweaters, and cozy writing days. But boy, was this a busy and wonderful few months! Summer is high conference season, and as we prepared for our own writing conference this October, the DIY MFA team was out and about attending and speaking at some of the biggest conferences of the year. Here are five highlights from a summer to remember.

#1) Book Expo America

Gabriela and Bess were both at BEA this year, grabbing all kinds of swag and free books and networking our little hearts out! BEA is a fantastic conference for writers, book bloggers and librarians as well as publishing professionals. It’s also several frenzied days at the massive Javitz Center, and can be a little overwhelming. Luckily, Gabriela is a pro at navigating BEA, and on DIY MFA Radio, she shared her tips to make the most of BEA! She also recapped her 2015 experience. Check it out!

#2) Thrillerfest

This is one of Gabriela’s favorite conferences, and she outlined her reasons for that right here. This was also Emily Wenstrom’s first year attending Thrillerfest. She gave some fantastic recaps, including quotes from industry greats, an in-depth discussion of the industry experts’ opinions on author platforming, and a recap of what several famous authors, including Nelson Demille and Charlaine Harris had to say about the writer’s life.

#3) Romance Writers of America Conference

Robin Lovett attended the Romance Writers of America Conference here in New York City. It was her first major conference, and she was psyched about it! Using the advice of other attendees, she documented how she prepped to get the most out of the conference. She had a fantastic three days of networking and learning, and brought the scoop back to us. Check it out!

#4) Writers Digest

Sara Letourneau and Leanne Sowul both attended the Writers Digest Conference, and Gabriela and I both spoke at it. In fact, Gabriela gave three talks! This was Sara’s first major conference, and she loved it. Lucky for us, she also took good notes. Check out her list of quotes from the fantastic authors in attendance, including Jonathan Maberry and Jacqueline Woodson, and her wrap up of recurring themes that industry experts and writers touched on at the conference.

#5) Writer Igniter Con 2015

Okay, so, this conference hasn’t actually happened yet, but here at DIY MFA we’re already stoked about it! Emily Wenstrom will be teaching a class on social media, and she’s teased what’s in store right here. I’ll be teaching a workshop on one of my favorite topics–the first five pages of your manuscript. Read all about it right here. And look out in the next few weeks for some more info about all the great classes in store, and be sure to secure your spot!

Bess Cozby writes epic stories in expansive worlds from her tiny apartment in New York City. By day, she’s an Editor at Tor Books, and Web Editor for DIY MFA. Her work is represented by Brooks Sherman of the Bent Agency. Tweet her at @besscozby, contact her at bess@diymfa.com, or visit her website at www.besscozby.com.

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But aside from seeking out favorite authors and series, it’s also fun to find new books and authors you haven’t heard of. BEA is a place for publishers to show off their newest discoveries. I walked home with a giant tote bag full of books. Here are my top five finds.

My Top Five BEA Finds

Illuminae

By: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I hate to pick favorites, but in this case there wasn’t much of a question. I came into BEA wanting the ARC of Illuminae, and not expecting to get it. Most ARCs are paperback but this one is hardcover. It’s huge. And the design is unreal. It’s a scifi story told in letters, dispatches, emails and more. And what’s on the page is as important as what’s not–what’s been crossed out, censored, and what the teenage characters have written in about these messages. It’s such a creative form for a book, and the publisher clearly saw the benefit of putting out a fully designed, nearly final product to show readers just how unique this reading experience is going to be. I happened to walk by the Knopf booth when they’d set some out. Of course I grabbed one!

The Witch Hunter

By: Virginia Boecker

The Witch Hunter is a book I’ve been hearing all kinds of buzz about. In this case, Little, Brown had left signs in the bathroom (yes, the bathroom!) advertising that their booth would be handing out copies at 1:00 on Friday. It was 1:05 when I saw the signs, so I decided to give it a try, and sure enough, there were a few left! I grabbed one and am excited to dive in to this historical fantasy with witches, wizards, pirates and more!

Everything, Everything

By: Nicola Yoon

Another way to find books at BEA is to attend panels. There are several listed throughout the day, and after getting to hear the authors talk about their books, you get to grab them! At the Buzz Books panel, you also get to hear editors discuss the books, which is always interesting. This is a great place to discover new books and authors. At the YA Buzz books panel, I grabbed an ARC of the gorgeous “Everything, Everything.” It’s a contemporary YA I’m so excited to read.

Truthwitch

By: Susan Dennard

Full disclosure: I work for Tor, and would have felt guilty actually grabbing one of these. But what happened with the Truthwitch signing is a great BEA story. These galleys weren’t just set out. Instead, there was a ticketed signing. The tickets were free, but you had to line up to nab one, since there are only so many ARCs. This fantasy YA had so much buzz that people started lining up at 6:30, for a ticket line that didn’t open until 1:00! Needless to say, those who did manage to nan a truthwitch galley went home yappy.

Girl Waits With Gun

I’m a YA writer, so my tastes skew heavily in that direction, but one of the books I was most excited to discover is called “Girl Waits With Gun.” It’s a novel based on the life of Constance Knopf, one of America’s first female sheriffs. The cover was enough to sell me, but the story sounds riveting. One of the best parts of BEA is you’ll just be walking around, and see a line forming. You hop in, discover a great new book, get to meet the author all in one go. Yes, please!

The post #5OnFri: Fun Finds at Book Expo America appeared first on DIY MFA.

This year I spent a lot more time than any other year at the actual conference portion of the event instead of on the show floor. Don’t get me wrong, my feet were still killing me by the end of BEA from all the walking and visiting booths I did. But I spent more time listening in on the panels this year, learning about where the publishing industry is going, and then connecting with the people that I wanted to meet.

Overall, two main themes stood out to me at BEA this year: Identity and Community.

During a panel on big data and the publishing industry, Scott Galloway, founder and chair of L2, talked about the four big industries in our culture: Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Apple. His prediction was that Amazon and Google will lose relevance while Facebook and Apple will gain relevance in the future.

When I stepped back and tried to think through why this might be the case, it occurred to me that both Facebook and Apple put community and identity front and center, while Amazon and Google don’t. It’s just not in their business model. If all the data is pointing for Facebook and Apple to continue to dominate, while Amazon and Google lose relevance, it seems to me that identity and community may be the key reasons why.

What else did I learn?

Brick and mortar bookstores are coming back!

This prediction came up on several panels and I see it happening all around. Indie bookstores are springing up everywhere again. Why? For one thing, we are what we read; books speak to a deep part of our identity. And as we share those parts of our identity, books become a center of community, a common topic to discuss and share our feelings about. It makes sense that indie bookstores would start popping up again, but with a new focus on creating individualized experiences for the customers, and serving as a center where the community can gather.

Print is not dead!

When Kindle came on the scene, a lot of people began to predict the death of the print book. People have been bemoaning the eBook revolution and dreading the day that printed books will go the way of the dodo bird. Yet a decade later, print is still alive and well.

The fact reminds that digital publishing hasn’t quite figured out how to give its customers the same experience they get from print. Physical books allow for a physical exchange of ideas, which again strengthens community. It’s so much easier to hand someone a book and say “Read this!” than it is to tell someone to click a link and download an eBook. Seriously, have you ever tried to share a book with one of your friends via Kindle? It’s a HUGE pain in the you-know-what.

Having a lot of information is not always useful.

You might think that information is power, but the truth is that having tons data is useless unless you know how to interpret it. The publishing industry is sitting on a mountain of unanalyzed data, and there aren’t common industry-wide standards for collecting, organizing and interpreting this data, so much of this information just sits there. Any stats geeks and analysts out there? This is an untapped career niche that I think will be in much demand over the next few years.

The other problem with having a lot of information is that you may get some valuable nuggets, but you also get a lot of noise, and it’s often hard to parse these out. Numerical data can only give you part of the picture. Without digging into the details you might miss valuable insights about who your customers are. Understanding your readers and how they integrate with the larger community is crucial and the numbers don’t always tell the whole story.

We Need Diverse Books

After realizing the panels at last year’s BEA were sorely lacking in diversity, a new movement was born: #WeNeedDiverseBooks. This movement held its first panel exactly one year ago at BEA 2014. Now, a year later, WNDB is still going strong. I enjoyed their panel discussion, and especially love their idea that diversity equals inclusiveness. There are many diversities and they all deserve to have a share of the spotlight. Again, individuality and community go hand in hand.

Multimedia in Publishing

I was really excited to check out new developments in multimedia and while there are some interesting things happening, we still have a long way to go. Most of the multimedia still seems focused around educational resources. I was excited to see multimedia being implemented in education because it allows for different learning styles, but would love to see broader applications in the future.

Where Do Writers Fit In?

Nothing happens in the publishing industry without writers. If community and identity are the main themes for publishing, that means that as writers we need to embrace these themes as well.

This means we need to let readers into our world. We must use social media, our blogs, YouTube channels, podcasts, etc., to let our readers understand who we are and bring them into our world. Multimedia isn’t an end in and of itself. It’s one piece of a larger picture. It’s our job to think of new and creative ways for our readers to experience our stories

In the process, though, we also need to honor the ecosystem, the medium, where our story lives. We shouldn’t just copy and paste across platforms and expect our ideas to translate smoothly. Instead, we need to focus on the delivery system and target our content to how it’s delivered and who we’re delivering it to. The medium should serve the message, and not the other way around.

Finally, I always love looking forward at storytelling trends that I see on the horizon. I’ll focus on YA here, because it’s my favorite thing to read and it’s the area I know best. As far as trends go, things always seem to move in cycles. What’s important is to recognize why people are interested in certain trends at certain points in history.

From fantasy (Harry Potter) to paranormal (Twilight) to dystopian (The Hunger Games) to contemporary (The Fault In Our Stars), the last two decades have exemplified this cycle. We’ve seen a strong movement from fantastical and speculative stories to those that are grounded in the hear and now. I have a hunch that that the next step will be historical fiction because as we become grounded in the present, we start becoming interested in where we’ve come from. And of course, from historical fiction, it’s not a huge leap to to high fantasy where the whole cycle will start over again.

Through these shifts in genre popularity, I still think the themes of community and identity will crop up again and again. Look for a lot of underdog narratives and fish-out-of-water stories.

I know this is all really theoretical, not the usual nuts-and-bolts kind of predictions you might expect. But I find that those kind of predictions often really only reflect the surface of the industry. What I want is to challenge you to think about what the next big trend is going to be and–more importantly–why that will be the case and what implications it has for us as writers.

As always, I love hearing from you! Please join me in the comments section and share your insights on the future of the publishing industry with me.

Link to Episode 46

(Right-click to download.)

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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.

The post Episode 46: BEA Recap and Publishing Industry Trends appeared first on DIY MFA.

There’s so much to look forward to at this event, it’s hard to choose just five things to list here. But since this is #5onFri here’s my list of five things I am MOST excited about at Book Expo this year.

1) Discovering Hidden Gems

Every year, I always happen upon one or two hidden gems at BEA. These are often moments of serendipity when I hop in line for a book signing on a lark, or I pick up a random ARC (Advance Reader Copy) because I thought it “looked cool.” A few literary diamonds I’ve discovered this way include Mike Curato’s Little Elliot, Big City, and Andrea Seigel’s The Kid Table.

Little Elliot, Big City

by Mike Curato

This book is beautiful in its simplicity. It captures a toddler’s perspective with compassion and respect. Every time I read it, I’m amazed at how an author can show such complex emotions with so few words. Also, this story always (ALWAYS) makes me tear up when I get to the part where Elliot meets the mouse.

The Kid Table

by Andrea Seigel

This book is now my go-to text example of a book that uses timelines in an interesting way. This story is told as a series of family reunions and holiday gatherings, one per chapter. With each celebration, Seigel places the reader smack in the middle of a scene, but builds it out in such a way that we can infer what has happened in the months that have elapsed since the last chapter. This is a fabulous example of a book that “skips time” in the story without missing a beat.

2) Fun Photo Ops

Where else but Book Expo could I get a photo of myself next to R2D2? And what about these Star Wars themed Lego statues? Um, kinda awesome.
      

More importantly, though, Book Expo is a great place to reconnect with author friends and celebrate their writing wins. One of my favorite things to do at the show is go to a friend’s book signing. Not only is it fun to get a signed copy of my friend’s book for my very own, but it also helps me remember that good things can happen in this business. If I work hard and I’m persistent, who knows, someday that could be me.

3) Cool SWAG

Not all SWAG is noteworthy. In fact, at an event like Book Expo where it feels like bookmarks and buttons are being foisted on me from all directions, it’s rare for something to catch my attention.

Every so often, though, some bit of SWAG will make me stop and do a double-take. It doesn’t have to be something flashy or even all that expensive. What makes something fall into my category of “cool swag” is how well it ties together with the book being promoted.

One year I picked up a cool journal that was a promotion for a new edition of The Hobbit. It immediately caught my attention because it was pretty, useful and totally fit the book it was promoting. Just as Bilbo recounts his adventures in The Hobbit,  I might record my “there and back again” story in this notebook.

Another interesting piece of swag was a measuring tape promoting a YA book about a fashionista. What a cool idea! Intended readers for this book are probably craftsy and could use a measuring tape. Useful, and fits the theme for the book it promotes. Another example of successful SWAG.

Of course, part of the reason I like to collect cool SWAG is because it will give me ideas of what to do when my own book comes out next year. As I walk the show, I pick up any promotional materials that speak to me and store them away. In a few months, I’ll need to start planning my own SWAG strategy and I’ll be ready for some hard-core brainstorming.

4) Meeting My Literary Heroes

OK, I’ll admit it. There are moments at Book Expo when my inner fangirl comes out. Like the time I saw Billy Collins and we chatted briefly about one of his poems. Cue fangirl moment in 3… 2… 1… *OMGyou’reBillyCollins!squee!*

You have to understand, as a New Yorker born and raised, I’m used to seeing celebrities everywhere. Heck, I went to school with kids of celebrities. It’s really no big deal. There are so many famous people swarming around the streets of Manhattan that I don’t even notice them most of the time. In fact, as a true New Yorker, I don’t usually look up when I’m walking around the city (partly because New Yorkers don’t do eye contact, but mostly because I’m busy scanning the sidewalk to make sure I don’t step on something gross).

Put me in a room with authors, on the other hand, I just might start squealing like a tween girl at a One Direction concert. For me, there’s something remarkable about meeting an author whose books/stories/poems influenced my life. Books have had a far more powerful impact on me than any movie, show, or music group. To me, authors are the mega-stars.

5) Fine, I Confess: I’m at BEA For The Books Too

Over the years I’ve trained myself to withstand the Literary Super-Dazzle (or LSD), but let’s face it BEA wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for all the books. I’ve learned from carrying heavy bags around the show that it’s smarter not to take ARCs unless I really want to read them.

Still even when I reel myself in and limit which books I take, I usually end up acquiring enough reading material to keep me busy for a year. Every day I come home from BEA with a carry-on suitcase full of books and lawyer-hubby shakes his head. I insist that I only took the books I absolutely *needed* but he doesn’t believe me.

The truth is, books are my lifeline and are essential to my very survival as a human. Books and literature got me through some of my toughest times in my life. As a shy, nerdy kid, reading introduced me to new friends and magical worlds, places where I could be myself and not worry if I “fit in.” As an angst-ridden teenager, poetry helped me feel less awkward and alone. And as an adult, books have not only continued to entrance and entertain me, but they have allowed me to discover a career that I love.

Book Expo is a celebration of books, literature, and the people who bring these to life. By the end of that week, my feet will ache, my back will hurt, I’ll be dehydrated, hungry and exhausted. But for the love of all things literary, it will be worth it.

The post #5onFri: Five Things I’m Looking Forward to at BEA2015 appeared first on DIY MFA.

BEA is the Big Kahuna of trade shows in the US. If you’re in the book business, this is where you want to be. This event is centered on BOOKS, but writers can get a lot out of the expo as well. Because there’s so much going on, though, it can be a little overwhelming. Fear not! This Book Expo survival guide episode will give you all the inside details on how to make the most of this event.

The best thing you can do before you go to BEA is define your goals and map out your strategy. At DIY MFA, my big goal is to connect with book publicists so I can set up more great podcast interviews with amazing authors. In addition, I keep my eyes open for overall book trends and themes to feature on our Five on Friday column (#5onFri). Plus, I’m always up for making new friends and meeting fellow book lovers.

BEA is a industry only event which means that as an unpublished author, you would have a hard time getting a badge. But, if you review books on your blog, you could get a blogger pass and go to BEA with the goal of discovering new books to review. For a book blogger, BEA is a great place to find content, whether that be about specific books or authors, about industry trends, or about other facets of publishing.

Even if you know what your goals are for BEA, these are a few survival tips you should keep in mind. Listen in to get all the details.

Book Expo America Survival Guide 2015

1) Focus on what you can offer.

It’s easy to go nuts over all the galleys and swag, but don’t get caught up in the “mine, mine, mine” mentality. Focus on offering value, not taking it. Remember not to offer what you can’t deliver. This means, if you say you’re going to review a book for someone, you’d better review it. If you only review books you liked (so you refrain from reviewing arcs you did not like) be up front about that.

Keep in mind that as an author, you’re not there to foist your wares. BEA exhibitors are selling their books to buyers and librarians. Chances are you’ll be interacting with marketing and publicity people (editors and agents are more likely to float around the show or be in private meeting rooms). This means the people you run into on the show floor aren’t the ones who could make a decision about buying your book, anyhow. Be professional and be courteous.

Most importantly, have a real conversation with the people you meet. Make friends. Book Expo is how I’ve met a number of wonderful authors and industry professionals whom I’ve had the pleasure staying friends with over the years. These connections are worth more than any marketing pitch.

2) Develop your PITA (Pain In The @$$) radar.

Make sure that you aren’t being a PITA! Think about the needs of the person you are talking to and respect others’ time. One way that I make sure not to be a PITA is by using the 3 minute rule. After 3 minutes of conversation, I thank the person for their time and ask if I can follow-up via email. At this point they either hand me a business card, or say “it’s OK, I can keep talking.” Either way, it’s a win.

If you’re shy like me, here are a few other networking tips:

1. Say something nice.
   Never underestimate the power of a kind word. When in doubt, a compliment is a great ice-breaker. But remember to be authentic. Don’t say something just to say it. Make sure you actually mean it.
2. Act professional.
   It’s easy to get caught up in the Literary Super-Dazzle (LSD as I like to call it). Galleys, book signings and celebrity authors… it’s enough to make even the best of us lose our cool. Just make sure to respect the rules and the people around you. Don’t lose your head and start snatching up books, cutting people in line, and causing a scene. Honestly, that just makes you look like an amateur. As long as you keep your wits about you and behave like a grown-up you’ll be just fine.

3) Plan in advance.

I spend about a week before Book Expo just planning out my itinerary and scheduling meetings. This is a big event and it goes by fast so make sure you plan in advance. Follow #BEA15 on Twitter to see who else is going, find out schedule updates, and plan what you don’t want to miss. Also, check out the following links for updates on can’t-miss galleys and events.

• Publisher’s Weekly: Children’s Galleys
• Publisher’s Weekly: Adult Galleys
• Kirkus BEA 2015 Guide
• School Library Journal Guide to ARCs and Signings

4) There’s more to BEA than what is on the show floor.

Check out panels and other talks going on in the basement of the Javits Center. Also check out the BEA Bloggers Conference, uPublishU, and several other conferences going on at the same time. (Some of these require an additional ticket.) I’ve attended the blogging conference in the past, and definitely found it valuable when I was starting DIY MFA. In addition, if you’re an author looking to connect with bloggers, the Blogger Directory for that conference is an invaluable resource!

I myself am always excited to check out the book buzz panels (where editors talk about the book on their list with the most buzz). This year the tech-geek in me can’t wait to check out some of the talks on multimedia, too.

5) Bonus logistical tips.

The Javits Center is basically in no-man’s land on the West Side. There will eventually be a subway stop there (who knows when that will ever happen) but for now, you might as well be in Siberia, you’re so dang far from the rest of the city. Whether you attend BEA for one day or for the entire conference, make sure to keep these basic things in mind:

• Be prepared to eat your meals at the food court, because there aren’t any restaurants nearby. If you decide to grab lunch, go before or after peak lunchtime.
• Bring a water bottle and a snack. Food at the Javits is expensive, plus it’s a mob scene. If you can survive on snacks for a day or two, go for it.
• Wear comfortable shoes. Seriously the Javits is HUGE and you’ll be doing laps from one end to the other. Comfy shoes are a must.
• Rolling suitcases are not allowed on the show floor. To avoid hauling around a heavy pile of swag and books, you can check a rolling case in coat/bag check, and then drop off some of the stuff you acquire at regular intervals. Keep in mind that you’ll need to bring cash for the coat/bag check.
• If you can, make arrangements for a ride after the event because it’s nearly impossible to get a cab after the show floor closes. (Did I mention it was crazy far from everything?)

There is so much cool stuff happening in and around BEA. I want to make sure you don’t miss a thing! Also, I love meeting my fellow Word Nerds face-to-face. If you’re going to be at BEA, tweet or email me, so we can connect.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for updates and pics during the show.

Link to Episode 43

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.

The post Episode 43: Book Expo America Survival Guide 2015 appeared first on DIY MFA.

Whether you’ve been every year or haven’t ever gone before, here are a few things to keep in mind to make your BEA experience a huge success.

1) Make a Plan

There are hundreds of events, author signings, giveaways and interviews. There are so many people to meet and things to see. When you walk in, you’ll see publisher booths and huge lines, and might not even be able to tell what the lines are for! Thankfully, BEA has an awesome app that you can download with a map and schedule, but it’s still best to plan ahead, so you can make sure you’re not stuck in a line for two hours, or miss what you want to see most.

2) Bring a Bag

Or don’t. Seriously. If you plan on getting lots of free books, be sure to bring a tote bag, or even a rolling suitcase. You can check the suitcase when you walk in, and it will make lugging your books back to your hotel or apartment a heck of a lot easier. If, on the other hand, you’re like me, and tend to grab any free book in sight, whether or not you actually think you’ll read it, it might be safer to not bring a bag at all. Then you won’t be tempted to grab books just because they’re there, and other readers who really want them will have the chance. You can get what you really want, and not overstuff your bookshelves in the process.

3) Arrange Transportation

The Javitz center is nice and huge, but it’s also nice and far from the nearest subway. Somehow, even though it occurs in May, BEA ends up falling on some of the hottest days of early summer. Once you arrive, the Javits center has excellent air conditioning, but if you’ve been walking in the hot sun for four avenues, that won’t be much help. Take advantage of the shuttle services and bus routes to get to BEA without the walk, or wear breezy clothes if you plan to make the trek. And remember, you can always just take a cab, but be prepared to wait awhile in traffic.

4) Dress Appropriately

My caveat to the previous point—if you’re anything like me, you’re always freezing, and the Javits center is very air conditioned. I usually wear a light dress (for the walk over) but I always pack a sweater, too! I also always pack a snack and a bottle of water, because the food inside the Javits center is pretty pricey and the lines can get long. The last thing you want to be is hangry, not when there are so many books to see and people to meet!

5) Be Spontaneous!

Yes, it was free, and of course I wear it!

As much as it helps to have a plan, some of my best experiences at BEA have been surprises. I saw a MG book that looked kind of interesting, and the line was short so I jumped in, and discovered a wonderful new writer and series. One of the best parts of BEA is discovery, so be open to finding new things, and seeing what else is out there. You might find a new book or writer! Or, in my case, a mortal instruments hoodie (because everyone needs one, obviously).

Have you been to BEA? What’s your best piece of advice? Share it in the comments below, or on Twitter, using the hashtag #5OnFri!

Bess Cozby writes epic stories in expansive worlds from her tiny apartment in New York City. By day, she’s an Editor at Tor Books, and Web Editor for DIY MFA. Her work is represented by Brooks Sherman of the Bent Agency. Tweet her at @besscozby, contact her at bess@diymfa.com, or visit her website at www.besscozby.com.

The post #5OnFri: Five Tips for a Fantastic Trip to BEA appeared first on DIY MFA.

If you noticed something wrong with that list, you aren’t the only one. Despite the diverse range of authors currently producing work and being read, the list, especially for young adult authors, was decidedly whitewashed, heteronormative, and male.  While all of these authors are fantastic, a panel should feature a diverse array of voices and opinions.  This announcement followed a series of small strikes back and forth. Walter Dean Myers wrote an exceptional article calling attention to a lack of diversity in children’s books, an article that called attention to some of the truths everyone who has been in a bookstore knows.

An Obvious Problem

Just to put some numbers to the lack of diversity in children’s books: In 2013, out of the young adult books published, 21.9 percent featured characters of color.  4.9 percent featured characters that identified as LGBTQ. It’s worth noting that both of those numbers have improved substantially since 2011. Only 2.9 percent had disabilities, including learning disabilities.  This is not representative of the world that we live in, and erases the existence of many families.

Presented with this information and the panel at BookCon, Ellen Oh created the #WeNeedDiverseBooks hashtag, a place to discuss the need for a greater variety of texts. Over the course of several days, readers, authors, educators and librarians tweeted about the reasons why diverse books needed to be on shelves. This push prompted the creation of an additional panel in BookCon lineup, featuring a panel of authors from a variety of backgrounds discussing the need for diversity and what readers can do to make this goal a reality. We Need Diverse Books blew up quickly, and now is a large team.

A Unique Solution

The We Need Diverse Books panel was by far one of my favorites.  With amazing authors, passionate speakers, and an audience on the edge of its seat, the panel was in turns lighthearted and heavy hitting. Despite the continued insistence by many in the industry that there is no ‘push’ for diverse books and that they ‘don’t sell well,’ the room was standing room only, with some being turned away at the door.

The speakers emphasized that this isn’t an either-or debate, but rather an ‘and’ debate. There’s room at the table for every voice, and advocating for diversity doesn’t need to come at the expense of other great titles. Likewise, the speakers reminded the audience that multicultural isn’t actually a genre, and books with diverse casts held appeal for all audiences. Indeed, Matt de la Pena discussed the joy of hearing from readers who connected with his protagonist through a mutually shared love of basketball. Grace Lin shared the joy of seeing a character like yourself in a book, a joy many readers are currently missing. The power of the speakers truly can’t be summarized easily, instead here is a link to the unedited audio from the panel. https://tmblr.co/ZWNYhn1HaZzne . Thanks to the We Need Diverse Books team,  an important conversation has been started, one that we’ve been dancing around for entirely too long.

Looking to the Future

If 50% of children are non-white, if 10% will identify as LGBTQ, and if one in three will experience a mental illness, why are these realities being erased? Less than ten percent of books featured diverse main characters, and this harms everyone. Every reader needs two things from books. They need a window into the lives of people who are not like themselves, and they need a mirror that lets them see themselves in a book and know they’re not alone.

So, what’s next? The first ever Diversity Festival will be held in Washington D.C. in 2016.  You can follow the We Need Diverse Books campaign on Twitter and on Tumblr for up to date information, and some truly inspiring personal stories.

……………..

Meghan Drummond graduated from Virginia Tech, and is currently an MFA student at The New School, the curriculum coordinator for DIY MFA, and a young adult writer.

The post We Need Diverse Books: The Book Con-troversy appeared first on DIY MFA.

Books that are more than books.

I’m referring to books that are more than just text on a page. These books use illustration, design or some interactive component in a creative way that makes the “book-ness” of it essential. I’ve said it before many times, but I don’t think digital will kill the printed word. But that doesn’t mean that printed books won’t have to “up the ante” in some way. For books to justify their printed existence, they’ll have to raise the bar in some way and these books definitely do that.

Books on my to-read list in this category include The Resurectionist by E.B. Hudspeth (Quirk Books), which depicts anatomically accurate pictures of fantastical creatures.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (Quirk Books) which weaves a story based around peculiar vintage photographs, has been out since 2011. A graphic novel version is slated to be released in October 2013 (Hachette), taking this concept of a book that’s more than a book even further.

Often when we think of books that are “more than books” picture books immediately come to mind. This year, the ones I saw at BEA did not disappoint, with several raising the bar on this concept of “more than a book.”

Other picture books, like Giving Thanks by Katherine Paterson (Illustrated by Pamela Dalton) and Inside Outside by Lizi Boyd (both from Chronicle) use cutouts in unique ways to illustrate and add to the story. The former features intricate paper cutout designs while the latter uses die-cut pages to create the contrast between inside and outside.

And finally, Danse Macabre by Anna Harwell Celenza (Charlesbridge) includes a CD featuring the Saint-Saens piece by the same name and applies the same concept of last year’s Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to one of my favorite pieces of music. The music-lover in me can’t wait to check out this book.

This is just a small selection of the books I saw at BEA that fit this topic of “books that are more than books.” Another theme I noticed was the retelling of classic stories in new ways.

 New Spin on Classic Stories

There was definitely a Shakespeare trend going on. I saw a Romeo & Juliet graphic novel by Gareth Hinds (Candlewick) and a retelling of Hamlet set in a prep school (A Wounded Name by Dot Hutchison, Carolrhoda Books). Not to menion, Quirk Books’ Shakespearean retelling of the Star Wars story.

In addition to bard-inspired tales, there are other classic stories being retold in unique ways. In Rags & Bones Edited by Melissa Marr and Time Pratt (LB Teen), classic fairy tales and fables get a facelift from YA heavy-hitters like Neil Gaiman, Holly Black and others.

Show Highlights

Aside from trend-spotting, this was one of the best BEA’s I’ve attended. For starters, it seemed less hectic than years past, and the ARC giveaways and signings were far more civilized. (I only got nearly-trampled once!) Joking aside, there were definitely some major highlights for me this year at BEA.

For the first time ever, I actually knew one of the people signing at BEA! It was so exciting and fun to see Betsy Bird signing her adorable picture book Giant Dance Party. I got a signed copy to bring home to my little man.

Major geek-out moment! I got my picture taken next to a life-size version of R2D2 at the Abrams booth.

Could Book Expo get any better than this?

Actually, yes.

OMG, I met Billy Collins!

I got to meet Billy Collins, one of my personal writing heroes and get an autographed copy of his new book. If you don’t know who Billy Collins is, please read this poem: Introduction to Poetry. Seriously, it’s not long. Go read it right now. I’ll wait.

And while you’re at it, if you’ve ever participated in a writing workshop of some sort, then you must read this poem. Or listen to the recording of Mr. Collins reading it. Or both.

It was so inspiring to meet Billy Collins, even if it was only for the 2 minutes it took for him to sign his new book. I told him that I loved his poem “Workshop” and that I read it to students in my writing workshops. He chuckled and advised that I wait to share that poem at the end of the semester and I concurred.

Why was meeting Billy Collins such a highlight?

(You mean, aside from the fact that he’s a former Poet Laureate, that his poetry 180 program has helped high school students across America grow to love and understand modern poetry, and that his poems are just plain awesome?)

Let me explain. For a long time, I had a visceral distaste for poetry. I felt like the emotions were too angst-y the language was too flowery, that poets were trying to be too fancy-schmancy with their words because they didn’t know what they wanted to say. I felt like the purpose of poetry was to make people who didn’t “get” poetry (i.e. me) feel stupid. Needless to say, most poetry I read or heard at readings tended to make me quite angry.

Then I read “Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins and in that moment my whole perspective shifted. Suddenly I realized that poetry could be enjoyed just for what it is. That I don’t have to flog the meaning out of a poem and that it’s OK if I don’t really understand what the poet is trying to say. Most importantly, I realized that poetry can be smart and funny and complex without being complicated.

The post Book Expo 2013: Trends and Highlights appeared first on DIY MFA.

Okay. There weren’t actually any blue books. Not that I saw, anyway.

But I did get an old book—The Hunger Games. Yeah. Scholastic was just giving them away. I read The Hunger Games two years ago, but I borrowed the copy. So now I have my own. That was the first book I found. And I thought, Well, today is already shaping up to be a great day.

I had barely even started.

BEA is huge. The Javitz Center, located far west on 11^th Avenue, is huge. From my apartment, it was a thirty minute walk in direct sunlight. In New York, this is not a good thing. By the end of my walk I was starting to feel like I was on a pilgrimage. The Javitz Center—all metal lines and shining windows—literally sparkled in the distance.

And thus I learned . . .

BEA LESSON 1: Arrange Transportation

For the love of books, get a shuttle. They go to the hotels. You can look them up online. Or, if not, take the cross town bus. Pony up for a cab. Then you will not arrive like I did: melting, literally, slouching into the Javitz Center looking like I really had just gone on a pilgrimage, then spending the next ten minutes just standing there relishing the gift of air conditioning.

Which brings me to . . .

BEA LESSON 2: Bring a Sweater

The Javitz Center is FREEZING.  There are about a thousand people, so the air conditioner is blasting. It pays to think ahead and bring something warm. Also, it’s also a good idea to bring a snack. There is food available in the Javitz Center, but you’re at BEA to hear about books, not waste time and money in lines. So chuck away an apple and a water bottle along with that sweater. This will be simple to do if you follow  . . .

BEA LESSON 3: BABOB – Which Stands for “Bring a Big OI’ Bag”

I did not do this the first time around. Thankfully, they had some Hobbit bags available. So I snagged one. This was a good thing, because by the time I left it was filled up with books. Gabi was a genius and brought a rolling suitcase. This might sound crazy, but trust me, it’s worth it, especially if you, like me, did not heed:

BEA Lesson 4: Don’t Grab Everything

There are speeches and keynotes and author signings at BEA, but the biggest part of the event is the floor—where each publisher has set up a huge booth showcasing their upcoming titles. In these booths are publicists, editors and marketing people who are there to talk about the books and—glory be!—pass them out. For free.

The first day, I thought I’d do a once-over of the whole place before diving in. You know, to peruse. Get my bearings. I was going to observe, and pick things up later.

This did not last long.

What happens instead is that you’ll be walking along, admiring a poster of a middle grade series with spirit animals that you’re thinking is pretty awesome, and you’ll see a twenty-something girl in trendy clothing emerge from behind a table with a stack of books.

Free. Books.

It’s like someone puts a freezing charm on the people in the vicinity. It does not matter what the book is. There are twenty of them. There are thirty people. And he who hesitates is lost.

Yielding to this herd mentality, I ended up with several books that I probably won’t read, and I took them from people who probably would have. Don’t mistake me—they are there for the taking. But next year, I think I will be more selective, ignoring that little voice in my head screaming, Grab all the things! And just picking up the Arcs I really want.

How do you discern this? Well, that brings me to:

BEA Lesson 5: For the Love of BOOKS Make a Plan

This year, I mostly just collected books and talked to people. BEA is a great place to make connections at all the different publishing houses. The publishing industry is small and friendly; almost anyone was willing and eager to talk about writers and what’s next. But, as I said before, when you’re on the floor itself, and there are hundreds of people all rushing past, swarming tables, exchanging business cards, and you look up and Veronica Roth is standing three feet from you in the coolest pair of boots you have ever seen, you can easily become overwhelmed.

I started thinking of BEA the way I think of a first draft. Sure, I can just start writing. I can finish an entire book that way. But I’ll save myself a lot of heartache, accomplish more quicker, and keep myself from being overwhelmed if I approach the task with a game plan.

BEA has excellent resources to help you do just that. There is an App that shows you where the booths, signings and speeches are. It’s worth your time to peruse the list, see what’s available, and decide what you really want.

If you follow all these rules, like I’m planning to next time, you’ll probably find yourself walking away from the Javitz center vaguely believing you were just a part of something so wonderful Dr. Suess could have made it up.

You’ll have a massive bag of books and swag.

Tired feet skipping up the city street

Still with time to roam before you head home

And, even for all the miles, a big ol’ smile. 

Actually, that’s pretty much how I left this year, anyway.

The post Lessons From My First BEA appeared first on DIY MFA.