Archive for June 15th, 2009

My Experience at the Book Expo America

“A true friend doesn’t sympathize with your weakness; instead they help summon your strength.”

- Anonymous, excerpt from Quotations for Successful Living

In the past two weeks I attended the Book Expo America (BEA) and appeared at the Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, Kentucky. Both events were filled with surprises.

The annual BEA is the biggest book show in North America. In 2008 the traveling event took place with much fanfare in Los Angeles. In an attempt to save the industry’s largest players some money, the BEA is growing roots at the Javits Center in New York City for the next four years. For publishers NYC is the literary publishing capital of America.

Due to the recession this year’s BEA was smaller and toned down. There were fewer exhibitors’ and aisles didn’t seem to be as crowded. The first day, Friday, was the busiest. While it is always fun to peruse the aisles looking for new and interesting titles there seemed to be less actual selling going on. Although within five minutes of my new book, A History of Horses Told by Horses, being displayed on my publisher’s shelf (Morgan James Publishing) I had direct requests from interested parties.