BEA Recap (Day 1) and a Maria V. Snyder GIVEAWAY!!

Definition of BEA: Pure insanity. An exhausting yet thrilling whirlwind that every book lover should experience. Event that requires patience and more importantly acceptance at not being able to be everywhere and accomplish everything.

I’ll admit that seeing everyone’s amazing BEA posts last year made the green eyed monster rear its ugly head but now that I’ve been there I definitely take back any jealousy I may have felt. Why? Because you really WORK for all of those pretty books! It’s exhausting…totally worth every second…but exhausting!

So I’ll apologize in advance if my post has that effect on you! That’s definitely not my intent; I only want to talk about what was a very exciting event in my life.

Day Before BEA

We registered...



We explored...






We ate cupcakes.



BEA Day 1:

Krista from Krista’s Dust Jacket and I arrived at the Javit’s Center pretty early and waited in what turned out to be a very long line. Luckily we were close to the front. As the minutes ticked closer we were getting antsier and antsier until it was time…time to enter into the unknown. No amount of preparation can fully prepare you for the insanity that lies beyond those doors! It’s a mad rush for those first galley drops and those early morning author signings! And that mad rush continues pretty much the entire three days.

Some highlights from my Day 1...

Meeting some wonderful bloggers
DJ @ DJ's Life in Fiction…well technically it was his mom I kept seeing in lines, shout out to DJ’s mom :)
Chaz & Tashima @ The Bloody Bookaholic

Seeing some great authors

Amie Kauffman & Meagan Spooner signing These Broken Stars

Sarah J. Maas signing Crown of Midnight


R.L. Stine signing A Midsummer Night's Scream.
R.L. Freaking Stine people!!
If that’s not his middle name then it surely should be! Haha! 


And last but certainly not least…Maria V. Snyder was signing her not yet released book, Storm Watcher. I, unfortunately, didn’t take a picture :(
Keep reading for a chance to win a copy of Storm Watcher!!
 


Getting some amazing books



And after fighting NJ rush hour traffic, getting gussied up with Krista to make an appearance at a Kensington gathering.

AGH, Why is blogger distorting the pic?! Sorry I guess I'm not posting a pic afterall.




After all that we were left with blisters, absolutely no energy, sore shoulders, some fantastic books, and great memories…




Now on to the giveaway...

Being the awesome person that she is, Maria V. Snyder has offered up a copy of Storm Watcher to one lucky person!


Luke Riley is lost. His mother's recent death has set Luke and his family adrift. Even though his father, twin brothers, and their three Bloodhounds are search and rescue volunteers, they have been unable to rescue themselves and become a family again. The summer after sixth grade looms in Luke's mind as long, lonely three months where the only thing he can look forward to is watching The Weather Channel. Luke is fascinated with the weather, but since his mother's death in a storm, he is also terrified. Even the promised 13th birthday present of a Bloodhound puppy fails to lift Luke's spirits. He would rather have a different breed - a Papillon, but his father insists he get a Bloodhound.

When Luke decides to get the Bloodhound from Willajean, a dog breeder who owns Storm Watcher Kennel, he works out a deal to help at her kennel in exchange for the expensive dog. Thrilled to have a summer with a purpose, Luke befriends Willajean's daughter, Megan and together they plan how Luke can get a Papillon puppy instead of a Bloodhound.


-Fill out the below form to enter
-Entries must be received by 11:59 pm (EST) on June 15th

21 comments

  1. Holla to my BEA buddy! Ready to do it all again next year? ;)

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    1. Lol. It hasn't been two weeks yet! But yes, I'm ready to go again :-P

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  2. Ohh Jen! R.L. FREAKING Stine! I think middle school me just threw a huge hissy fit! I <3 Goosebumps!

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  3. SO GREAT MEETING YOU!!! I love this recap! Sounds like you did and saw a lot. My greatest regret is not getting a cupcake in NYC. What was I thinking?!

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    1. Thank! It was great meeting you too! :)

      I wouldn't worry too much about the cupcakes, they didn't make my top 5 best cupcakes ever list.

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  4. Whew! wow sounds like a crazy exciting time! Very cool!

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  5. oh man this seems equal amount of fun and tiredness!! I can't wait to go next year since I backed out last minute this time

    - Juhina @ Maji Bookshelf

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    1. Oh no! It's too bad you couldn't go but hopefully you'll make it next year! Maybe we'll run into each other :)

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  6. i'm dreaming to attend such an event becaus ethere is nothing comparable in my country

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  7. I've attended writers' conferences, but never a BEA. I always leave conferences, brain dead and beat. Sounds like BEA is even more controlled mayhem.

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  8. Thanks for the post and giveaway! :)
    Someday I really, really hope I could be a part of BEA. Uhm, by the way, is this giveaway international?
    Thank you!

    - Diana @amalia_chartres
    chaoticreader.blogspot.com

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  9. BEA sounds so awesome! I wish we had something like it over here.

    Please let this giveaway be international?

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  10. Awesome haul! I just got a copy of R. L. Stine's book in the mail yesterday! It looks good! I haven't read his stuff! Looks like you had a blast at BEA. I know I did!

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    1. I grew up reading RL's Goosebumps books so I had to go see him for the experience if nothing else :)

      So glad you enjoyed BEA as much as I did! Then again, how can you not enjoy it!! ;)

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  11. So many great comments :)

    I hope you're all able to go to something like BEA at some point!

    Yes, the giveaway is open internationally!

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  12. It is SO much work! lol I need at least a week to recover each year.

    You took great pics too! I'm always so bad about that and they didn't have as many fun posters and stuff this year. They usually decorate the stairs going up from the badge area.

    I'm glad you had a great time and that we got stuck in several lines together :-) I loved how many bloggers I got to meet this year.

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    1. Yeah a week is about how long it took me to recover too! It really is exhausting.

      I agree, I'm glad we were in lines together :)

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  13. It was so awesome meeting you! I hope I get to visit Canada someday. You are so awesome that you took pictures I really didn't take enough!

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    1. It was great meeting you too! I've been to the Niagara part of Canada a couple of times but that's it.

      I wish I would have taken more pics but I'm glad I have some. There's always next year...

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