It’s finally the week of BEA and after watching everyone who is going get themselves pumped up for the last month or so I am now watching while they are all on their way to New York. I know my co-blogger, Giselle, left just yesterday morning and made the long drive down. As someone who is deathly afraid of flying and doesn’t enjoy travelling I am so thankful for social media so that I can live vicariously through all of my friends. Also, it’s great that Giselle is going because she has strict orders to grab a few of my must-haves for me.
The one thing that no one can grab for you from an event like this though is the experience. I have “met” so many fantastic people that I consider close friends through blogging and the thought of having the opportunity to actually meet everyone is the one thing that has me so jealous of everyone heading to BEA. Sure, we have Twitter, Facebook and even text but meeting these great friends in the flesh is something that I would love to one day be able to do (which sounds weird because I am not a big fan of human interaction at all LOL.) I did tell myself after last year that I would put on my big girl panties and make the trek this year but when it really came down to it my fear and intense home-body personality won out.
What’s different this year from last is that I am now here on Xpresso Reads. I have been left alone with the blog for an ENTIRE WEEK! I really wish I could say that I have some very exciting things planned to shake it up but it’s really just the same as always but with much more scheduled posts set to go up. I am a little nervous about screwing something up and not having the mastermind behind the blog here to fix it but I will just keep my fingers crossed that it doesn’t happen. As for how I am going to keep myself busy and keep myself from wallowing in the jealousy I feel on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook, well I am going to read! Here is an update on what is going on in my TBR life:
Also, if you’re someone who isn’t making their way to BEA let me know how you are feeling this week and how you plan to drown your sorrow for missing the exciting event! We can talk through our feelings with each other *sniffle*
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Sadly,
I am not going to BEA this year. (in fact, I haven’t ever gone yet.) I still have student loans from law school and I wasn’t able to make it work with my job. I get a little bummed when I see all of these off to BEA posts, bc I know everyone is going to have an awesome time and I really want to meet other bloggers in person, but I can’t wait for them to get back so I can start seeing all the awesome pictures and posts about their trips. That is always fun.
Jenni
Yeah, I love seeing the recap posts afterward. I haven’t ever gone either (and I probably never will) so I am pretty happy bloggers are so good with the constant updates.
Pili
I wish I were going to BEA but I have another huge event this weekend, one of my best friend’s wedding!!! I’m also gonna be baking 200 mini cupcakes for the candy bar, so I’m gonna be pretty busy till Saturday, so no Armchair BEA for me either!
I hope to live BEA vicariously a bit through social media, of course!!
Jenni
Oh wow! I went to a wedding last year with a candy bar and it was AWESOME! I hope you tweet a picture of your delicious cupcakes and good luck on your big project! Oh, and HAVE FUN!
Pili
Thank you, Jenni! I plan to takes pics and maybe show some off at the blog!
Bieke @ Istyria book blog
I can’t go to BEA because it would cost way to much since I’m coming from Belgium. Sucks, but I hope to get the chance one day!
Oh and I just finished My Last Kiss yesterday and I loved it, so I do recommend it!
Jenni
Oof that would cost a pretty penny. Do they have any bookish events like this over there? I hope they have one in Canada one day (very close to me) but I don’t think there is a very good chance of that ever actually happening.
So happy to hear that you loved My Last Kiss. Thanks for the rec!
Bieke @ Istyria book blog
Nope, the only bookish event is mostly non-fiction or baby/small kids books. Nothing YA or NA or any other genre I read. So that doesn’t count. Plus you still have to buy the books. And books here cost a lot. Most of the time more than 20 dollars. It’s insane. Which is why I’m so happy that I read English books and can order via Bookdepository! 🙂
Jenni
We had one big signing here a few years ago, but that’s all for bookish events where I live. Unless we are talking about local authors but unfortunately none of the local authors have caught my interest (yet.) TBD is so great, I order from there too because regular priced hardcovers cost so much!
Lisa @ Lost in Literature
Ugh, I’m so sad. So, so sad. I live in CT, literally less than 2 hours away, and still I’m not going to BEA this year. I had planned on it, but then after getting so sick earlier this year (and using all of my sick time from work) I’m now stuck wishing I could be there, but unable to get the time off from work. 🙁 My co-blogger/sister-in-law plans to go with me. So since we can’t go this year, we have promised ourselves we will make it next year. I’ll just be sitting here in misery, curled up in a ball for the next several days until it’s over… :'(
Jenni
Awwwww that does suck, it would be the worst to have been planning to go and then not be able to do so in the end. That’s awesome that you have someone you are planning to go with. Maybe one day in the future I will head out with Giselle but I just can’t see it happening. *curls up in misery ball with you*
Maddy @Symphony of Words
I so badly gantry g to BEA too, but there are so many things standing between us! (logical things, i.e., a visa, time, a plane ticket, etcetera) which I have to somehow get over and just come to America already!
Jenni
It’s quite the process to head there overseas, so I totally see where you’re coming from. I hope you get it all together and make the trek one day!
Amanda @ Book Badger
Everyone going to BEA is both exciting and and upsetting. I live in the UK, but a lot of the bloggers I like and follow are from America/Canada and lots of them are leaving and it’s wonderful that they get this experience and enjoyment, but it’s sad because I lose content from these people and I also don’t get to experience what they do, but I’m really glad they get to, because it’s so worth it. I trust you not to blow up Xpresso Reads though Jenni, I really do 🙂
Jenni
Thank you for having so much faith in me, Amanda! It’s true that the bookish blogosphere is pretty dead during BEA week but it’s so exciting/a bit bittersweet once everyone is back at it and posting their recaps. We can list after all of their experience & goodies together!
Carrie
Well… I never even heard of BEA until this year. (Maybe I shouldn’t say that too loudly since I’ve been book blogging for years.) Now that I hear what it’s all about it sounds like so much fun! I’ll probably never get there either, but maybe some day.
Jenni
Oh wow, I’m surprised that you’d never heard of it prior to this year. It seems that’s all I hear about in May/June. It is quite the event, a bloggers dream I would say. I’ll probably never go either.
Jenea @ Books Live Forever
I would love to go BEA, but with the two kids out of school for the summer and living in Tennesse, it would be a big trip for us. We don’t have family that lives here, so there isn’t anyone to stay with the kids and with the husband working 10 to 12 hours a day, I won’t leave them like that. I will live it all vicariously through all the updates on Twitter and FB. 🙂 I am going to drown my sorrows making rainbow loom bracelets with my daughter. Maybe I’ll go on a book buying binge too. lol..
Jenni
Oh wow you’re kids are out for summer already? Mine don’t finish up for the year until late June. OMG we are addicted to the Rainbow Loom here too! I need to get better at it so maybe I’ll do some of that too!
Steph
I went to BEA last year and loved it so this year (not going) hurts so much more than if I had never been 🙁
Jenni
Oh man, yeah I think it would be hard to go and then know exactly what you are missing out on. 🙁
Mel@thedailyprophecy
I really wish I could go, but it’s not possible at the moment. Debby showed me that it’s at least a possibility for the future, because I first thought it was never going to happen. But it can happen some day. For now, I will live through everyone’s pictures, recaps and tweets 😀
Jenni
That’s great that you at least know now that you CAN go one day. I’m having so much fun watching everyone meet up on Twitter!
Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
I definitely know how lucky I am to live close to NYC so I can commute in and not have to spend a fortune…I’ll miss it when it moves to Chicago!
Jenni
That is a dream, Melissa! I would love to have it be somewhere that I could just hop in the car and get to. Hope you have fun!
Danielle P
All I know is in 2016 BEA will be in Chicago and I will be ALL over it. I can’t wait! FINALLY!
Megan @ Adrift on Vulcan
Argh, I so totally know what it feels like, Jenni! I’ve been in the blogosphere for nearly three years now and every year it’s still painful watching everyone rave and prepare and get excited about going to BEA… and for me, it’s not even a possibility because I live in Asia. And I’m still a high school student! But at least you’ve got someone you know going who can also bring back some books for you, right? 🙂
You’re right — it’d be so cool to go to the hall and meet other bloggers and authors and fangirl over everything. I know it’d be super tiring as well, but that’s probably not a lot to pay for the experiences we get. Anyway, here’s hoping that the both of us (and all those who haven’t been able to make it to BEA) will get the chance to go soon!
Eh, I’m going to be reading BODY IN THE WOODS soon and now I’m a little frightened. The reviews are pretty mixed so far. :/ I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on THE THINGS YOU KISS GOODBYE, though. Love the cover for that one, even though it isn’t anything new.
Sophia @ Bookwyrming Thoughts
I have finals! >_< It doesn't get any worse than that!
But I did enjoy The Body in the Woods… 😀
fishgirl182
I, too, am living vicariously though my friends as well as social media this weekend. I would love to go to BRA someday but NYC is very far from me and expensive. I think my friends and I will work up to it one day but not this year. I am consoled though by the fact that I will be going to ALA in Las Vegas in about a month.
I understand your anxiety about going to these kinds of events. It’s not always easy for me to meet new people either. But I would definitely recommend going one year. Maybe start off small and go to a smaller conference or book fair near you first. I go to Comic Con every year so I am OK in a crowded convention hall but it can be overwhelming the first time. So I’d practice with a smaller venue and work up to it.
Have fun reading this weekend. Looks like you have lots to keep you busy.