Post-BEA Post

My friend Kevin Smokler, whose Brat Pack America is forthcoming from Rare Bird Books in October, said to reserve Monday for catching up with people and sending follow-ups.

That’s the kind of important advice that I picked up as a first-timer at Book Expo America, in Chicago this year for the first time in twelve years. I walked the floors as a  publisher, collected business cards, and chatted about the industry with booksellers, publishers, media, bloggers, and sales reps. Some of us were talking about how the non-booth conversations can be among the most valuable, and that was true to my experience. As a result many of the most important connections I made happened without documentation, but here are a few pictures to give you an idea of the scope and size.

Gina Frangello with her new book from Counterpoint.

The founders of Litsy, a new book-loving app.

The line at Sourcebooks.

Tracy Manaster greets booksellers and librarians; her second novel, THE DONE THING, is forthcoming from Tyrus Books in November.

Me (center) with my friends from Rare Bird and Ulysses.

Kent Watson of PubWest, Tegan Tigani of Queen Anne Books, and Brian Juenemann of PNBA.

Toni Nealie, author of THE MILES BETWEEN ME (Curbside Splendor), and author Avia Kushner, who is yet another one of Kevin Smokler’s wonderful friends.

Ingram recently purchased the Perseus distribution companies; the banners reflect the changing times.

Richard Russo signing EVERYBODY’S FOOL.