Book Expo America happens each year. It is is the largest annual book trade fair in the United States. BEA is almost always held in a major city over four days in late May and/or early June. Nearly all significant book publishers in the United States, and many from abroad, have booths and exhibits at BEA, and use the fair as an opportunity to showcase upcoming titles, sell current books, socialize with colleagues from other publishing houses, and sell and buy subsidiary rights and international rights. Authors, librarians, and buyers for book retailers also attend the event.
BEA Book Blogger Conference runs concurrently.
Some tech savvy bloggers have created Armchair BEA for those of us that can’t attend in person.
Armchair BEA
“A Conference for Book Bloggers
in the comfort of our favorite chair”
ARMCHAIR BEA 2012 AGENDA
Monday, June 4th: Introductions First!
Tuesday, June 5th: Giveaways Everywhere!
Wednesday, June 6th: Networking … In Real Life?!
Thursday, June 7th: Beyond the Blog
Friday, June 8th: The Future of Book Blogging
The Interview
1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?
I started blogging December 31, 2009. That year was a rough one for me and I wanted a new start for 2010. A friend suggested blogging and I jumped in with both feet having no idea what I was really doing but quickly figured it out and I love it. Dollycas’s Thoughts became Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book in October 2011 when I moved to a self hosted WordPress format.
2. What is your favorite feature on your blog (i.e. author interviews, memes, something specific to your blog)?
My favorite feature is Cozy Wednesdays. My favorite genre is cozy mystery so each week I welcome cozy authors to guest post and I include a giveaway. The feature gives us a peek at the author behind the pages of the books we love. I was amazed by the use of pseudonyms and how many men are behind the woman’s names on the covers. The authors are sometimes as much of a mystery as their stories.
3. Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read?
My most favorite post first appeared on Dollycas’s Thoughts June 9, 2011 and I moved it to this blog on February 12, 2012. A BOOK COVER IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A COVER FOR A BOOK brought Artist Teresa Fasolino to my blog to explain how the beautiful book covers of today are created. She takes us step by step through the process. Since then if I give credit the cover illustrator and cover designer as often as I can. Some of these covers are true works of art.
4. What is your favorite part about the book blogging community?
The best part of the blogging community is “meeting” each other, forming friendships, being able to reach out and find help if you need it, and finding other people have your back on your blog and in real life. I am blessed to have made some wonderful friends that I probably will never meet face to face. With my health issues I face some unusual problems but this community rallies to help anytime I ask. When I decided to move my blog to WordPress I had friends to answer my questions, some pretty stupid, without complaint. Blogging is like therapy some days and a kind word from a fellow blogger or follower can turn my whole day around. Book Bloggers Rock!!
5. Where do you see your blog in five years?
There are many factors that could effect my blog five years down the road. The first is that after my accident in 2001, that left my right side paralyzed, I was given an iffy prognosis for my life. Then about 5 years ago a cyst was found on/near my spinal cord causing a great deal of pain in my arms that has been remedied by medication so far. The doctor at that time told me to live like each day may be my last because a simple fall could cause the cyst to break and any outcome then was not positive. Yet I am still here and kicking at least with one leg. So I treat each day as a gift.
The changes in the publishing world could change the book blogging world entirely as well. I love receiving books and sharing my thoughts and the books with others. I hope I am able to continue blogging the next five years and beyond. I will strive to add new things and keep my thoughts fresh and relevant.
If the Armchair BEA has brought you here for the first time I hope you find something you like and come back often!
If you are already a follower I hope you will tell your friends and help me grow! I love helping people “Escape Into A Good Book”!
