Armchair BEA: Novel Destinations Give-away!

As many have already discussed on "real" BEA posts as well as these "virtual" posts --- meeting the authors and having them sign their newest books is always a highlight of the Expo Experience.  Now, I am a rather shy person, so it was a big deal for me just to stand in line - try think of something to say to the author that didn't sound like a bumbling idiot - and then not trip over myself as I walked away.  But last year I attempted something even more daring:  I asked a couple of the authors if they wouldn't mind signing two books -- one for me and one for a giveaway on my blog.  And do you know what I discovered?!  They are only more than happy to do so!  In fact, many of them talked about how much they enjoy book blogs, how integral book bloggers are to the success of authors, and they requested that I send them a link to my review.  I was in awe and learned that the truth of the old adage, "The worst that can happen is that they can say no."

Well, once I returned from BEA 2009 life happened and as a result, I still have a couple of those books that I received last year sitting on my shelves.  So, I plan to give away one here in honor of BEA 2010 -- and then I plan to give away the other this fall during Carl's RIP challenge (which I will assume that he will host again!)

The autographed book that I am giving away today is Novel Destinations:  Literary Landmarks from Jane Austen's Bath to Ernest Hemingway's Key West by Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni Rendon.  I have read this book - twice - from the local library and I was thrilled to finally receive my own copy.

I love to travel - and I love to read - so this book is like paradise to me.  In fact last year I hosted my first reading challenge, the Summer Vacation Reading Challenge, where I encouraged participants to take a literary vacation to any destination of choice.  While there are several "novel destinations" detailed in this book that I would love to visit someday (Jane Austen's cottage in Chatsworth, the Brontes house is Haworth, Thoreau's Walden Pond and Alcott's Orchard House, both in Concord, MA -- just to name a few), I am content with reading about them in detail and daydreaming about the tours that I would take, the bed-and-breakfast where I would sleep, and the meals that I would eat.  There are even suggestions for other sites of interest in the area.  To read a more detailed description of my experience with these two lovely authors, please visit my summary post here.

If you love reading - and armchair traveling as much as I do - then I encourage you to enter this modest give away.  In the comments section, please tell me which "novel destination" you would most like to visit and why.  Be sure to leave a valid email address so that I contact the winner.

This contest will be open for one week (just in case any "real" BEA attendees would like to enter) and I will select the winner using random.org on Friday, June 4, 2010.  Good luck to all - and I look forward to hearing your literary vacation dreams!

Armchair BEA: Blogger Interviews

One of the wonderful planned activities of Armchair BEA was to schedule blogger interviews.  Each of us willing participants was paired to interview one other blogger --- and then a separate blogger was paired to interview us.  Rachelle at Bibliobabe interviewed me  and I, in turn, had the pleasure of interviewing  Sarah of Green Bean Teen Queen.  This was a double-barrel opportunity for me, as I did not know either of these women prior to Armchair BEA -- and now I have two more book blogs to follow!

Well, call it fate - kismet - or just plain coincidence - but one of the first things I noticed when I visited Sarah's website for the first time was that she lives in Missouri.  I thought that it was interesting that the interview arrangers paired two bloggers from neighboring states (I live in Kansas).  So I opened my interview by voicing our close proximity.  Come to find out.....Sarah's mother teaches in my town!!  We do not live in her particular district, but I thought it was just amazing that Sarah and I already started off on common ground.

Anyway...on with the interview:

I noticed on your website that you are "teen and tween librarian"  How did you decide to major in library sciences?  

I have an undergrad degree in Communication/Radio. After college I had a random thought that I wanted to be a librarian and it just seemed to make sense.  I'm not sure how I came up with it, but I love to read and talking about books and helping people, so it was the perfect job! Now I'm finishing up my Master's in Library Science.  I've worked in the library for almost four years and I'm still in the first library system I started in, although I've worked in children's and teen/adult reference and at two branches.

With the advent of all the eReaders lately - and technology in general, what do you see as the future of library sciences? 

People always seem to say the library is going to fade away, but I just tell those critics to visit the library.  Every day our computers are full, our circulation is up, and the library is not just for books. We have downloadable e-books and e-audiobooks (and they're free!), music, DVDs, and lots of free programs.  Google doesn't have every answer and as technology adapts, the library adapts too.  Just like not everyone has a computer, I don't think everyone will have an e-reader, at least not for a very long time.  Plus, the library has free resources and if e-readers take over, then you'll see e-readers in the library as well as books. 

Would you mind sharing what is involved in being a tween/teen librarian? 

 I plan programs for teens, run events, make booklists and book displays, I'm the branch reader's advisory person for teen books, and I answer teen's reference questions.  I give school tours of the library, help with research, and do school visits to promote the library.  My job is ever changing!  I don't do the book ordering, but I assist with it and make suggestions to our collection department.  Since I work in a public library setting, we can order more than a school library would and don't have to worry about age guidelines because the teen department covers all teens.  As for what teens are reading, I think the books themselves have changed, not the teens.  When I was a teen, it was a lot of TV tie-in novels, Sweet Valley High and Fear Street.  YA today doesn't talk down to it's readers and I think the books are more real and relateable-from drama to humor-and there's more to pick from.  As for library service, I think it's grown for teens. I never had a dedicated teen librarian, and the teens at my library do. They have someone to ask for help with homework, talk books, or just hang out at the library with.  I think it's the best job-and important because these teens have a love for the library.  

How long have you kept this blog?  How did you come upon the name Green Bean Teen Queen?

I've had my blog for two years.  I came up with name because my maiden name is "Bean" and it was funny that I worked with teens and it all rhymed.  Plus green bean just sounds fun!

What would be some top recommendations that you would have my readers (who more likely have children in the tween/teen category)?  What do you see as this year's popular pick?

The final book in the Hunger Games trilogy is out in August and that seems to be the top of everyone's wish list.  Paranormal is still really big and my teens are loving it.  I've been doing school visits and they've been telling me that they love series-no matter the length! I've seen lots of readers with copies of The Red Pyramid on their desk this year too. 

What other genres of books do you enjoy reading?

When I do read adult books, it's most likely chick-lit. I love a fun fluffy romantic read! 

Have you always been an avid reader?  What do you think sparked that interest?  What advice would you give parents today whose children seem to balk at reading?

I've always loved reading!  I grew up going to the library every week-sometimes daily.  My parents read to me and I saw them reading when I was growing up.  They're both big book lovers as well, so they shared that with me.  I tell my teens there's no such thing as a non-reader, they just haven't met the right book yet!  For parents, I would tell them don't force a book on your child, don't force reading levels, let them read what they enjoy-even if that means manga, comics, graphic novels, or audiobooks! We all have different learning styles and reading styles.  If they don't like a book, don't finish it-life's too short to waste your time on bad books!  If you don't like one, try another one.  Ask a librarian for suggestions-that's our job!  And most importantly, model reading-read at home by yourself in front of your children and read with your children.  That's the biggest part of growing a reader!

I so enjoyed this opportunity to meet Sarah and I thank armchair BEA for pairing us up.  

I encourage all of you to visit Sarah's blog soon - and check out her new "pink hair"  I am sure it is a hit with the Teen/Tween crowd.

Armchair BEA: 1st Post

Last year I was privileged to attend BEA 2009 at the Jacob Javitz Center in NYC.  It was a fabulous experience on many fronts.  First of all, my husband and I stayed at the apartment of great friends and were able to rest, relax, and reconnect after nearly a decade.  Each morning I would catch the cross town bus to BEA and spend the day, and then each night we would go out for dinner and visit old stomping grounds (I actually lived in Greenwich Village from 1984-1988 and it is always fun to revisit the old neighborhood to see how much has changed....and how much has stayed the same).

The highlights of last year's BEA for me included:

• meeting fellow book bloggers.  It was truly amazing to me how their blogs are such an extension of who they are in person.  I easily recognized each and every blogger - and their personality is just as warm and genuine in person as it is on the page.
• being a part of the Netgalley booth to answer any questions about book blogging
• attending autograph sessions --- which included Novel Destinations by Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni  Rendon,  The Physick of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, and Zig-Zagging:  Loving Madly, Losing Badly, How Ziggy Changed My Life by Tom Wilson (he hand drew a Ziggy cartoon in each book he autographed!).
• collecting countless free books and ARCs of every genre imaginable (unfortunately I did not accurately calculate the shipping charges for all those "free" books)
• attending the break out session about book bloggers and watching the panel of my peers do such an awesome job representing us to the trade.

I would not give up that experience for the world - and I am very grateful to have had that opportunity.  But I must say....I am looking forward to this Armchair BEA event just as much.  I tend to communicate better in a writing format rather than an in-person situation (I do not think well on my feet and I tend to be shy and tongue-tied), so I expect to have great fun visiting all your blog sites and learning bookish things from the comfort of my own home.

I did create a "virtual" BEA schedule, though, that I am more than happy to share with you.  I managed to glean most of this information off the BEA website, but also from Jen's wonderful post.

On Wednesday I would arrive at the convention around 8:30 and register early as I would like to attend a couple of morning autograph signings:

• 9:30 - 10:30 --- Barry Brunonia will be signing her newest book, The Map of True Places (I just loved the Lace Reader and look forward to reading this newest book)
• 10:00 - 11:00 --- Louis Gosset Jr., will be signing his newest book, An Actor and a Gentleman (I love him as an actor and a food connoisseur.  His roles in An Officer and a Gentleman and The Shawshank Redemption are stellar)
• 11:00 - 12:00 ---- Nancy Pearl will be signing a galley of Book Lust to Go
• I am sure I would be ready for a hot pretzel and coke from a local street vendor by this time.  I would hope that I could meet up with some of the same gang as last year:  Kathy, Candace, Amy, Julie, Dawn, and Stephanie.  I would also hope to see Nicole and Lenore again.  And I would love if Wendy and Carey could join us so that I could finally meet them in person!
• 1:00 - 3:00 -- I would spend the time perusing the floor. I would look at all the new releases being advertised for fall, and pick up a few brochures of selected publishing houses (I particularly enjoy Sourcebooks, Hachette, Penguin Classics, Harper Collins, Random House Algonquin, and Chronicle Books).  I imagine that there would be one or two book giveaways that I could not resist.
• 3:00 - 4:00 --- attend the champagne toast for the 50th Anniversary celebration of Harper Lee's classic, To Kill a Mockingbird (I teach this book and look forward to re-reading it every year with my 9th grade class).
• Since this is a fairly early day - I would spend the rest of the afternoon browsing the wonderful bookstores of NYC.  Most notably I would want to revisit one of my old favorites, Kitchen Arts and Letters on the Upper East Side, Partners and Crime in the Village, and the quintessential.....Strand Bookstore.
• At this point I would probably be dog tired and would like nothing more than a slice or two of great New York Pizza, perhaps a glass of chianti, and call it a night.

Thursday's Schedule would look something like this:

• arrive around 9:30 or 10:00 and read Publisher's Weekly morning edition
• 11:30 - 12:30 --- Laurie Halse Anderson will be signing copies of Forge (I absolutely loved Speak and am anxiously waiting to read Wintergirls.  I know that my own teenage daughter would love an autographed copy of one of this talented author's works).
• 1:00 - 2:00 --- Rick Sammon will be signing copies of Confessions of a Compact Camera Shooter (for those of you who are regular readers of my blog, you know that I am developing a newfound passion for photography and I have borrowed several books from the library by this talented author and photographer)
• Lunch would be in order right about now....
• 3:00 - 4:00 --- do a final tour of the floor before calling it a day.
• 4:00 - 7:00 --- visit the New York Public Library (the Ottendorfer Library on 2nd Avenue) where Melissa Sue Anderson will be giving a talk and then signing copies of her newest book, The Way I See It (I loved watching Little House on the Prairie in re-runs with my son.  Last year I purchased Melissa Gilbert's book, Prairie Tale, and this would make a nice companion novel).  
• Since I would already be half way there, I think that dinner would probably be an Italian Feast in Little Italy or great Asian cuisine in Chinatown.

At this point in the trip my head would be swimming with new books I want to read, new authors I want to investigate, and new blog posts I want to write.

How about you?  Where have you traveled in your virtual BEA journey?

Preparing for BEA?

This time last year I was twittering madly every night - finding out who was going to be where at the BEA in NYC.  I had the opportunity to go and it was such an amazing experience.  Geoff and I stayed with long-time friends in their apartment on 1st Avenue and I rode the cross-town bus to the Jacob Javitz center where I met Stephanie and we learned the lay of the land together.  I fondly remember our impromptu lunch outside at the nearest hot dog vendor with Amy, Dawn, Julie, Kathy, and Candace.  I was so amazed at the elaborate booths, the fantastic book give-aways, and the terrific opportunity to meet so many authors!  I had high hopes of attending again this year and even pre-registered; but alas, plans fell through.

However....what is a book blogger to do when she can't attend the event in person?  Well, attend the virtual event of course!  I am super excited to be a part of the Armchair BEA festivities.  If you haven't signed up for this online spectacular, there is still time to do so.  While I am not sure who all is behind the scenes of this unique event, I know that I am grateful to each and every one of them for putting in the hours for us to have a great "at home" BEA experience.

I still have a couple of autographed ARCs that I received last year that I hope to give away during the armchair BEA 2010 celebration, so be sure to check back next week for the particulars.

And for those who are attending the real deal, know that I will be there in spirit.  Please have a "dirty water dawg" for me :)

Top Ten List for NYC

Jill at Fizzy Thoughts has embarked on a wonderful challenge idea! In honor of BEA 2010 (Book Expo of America) and the Book Bloggers Convention, she has challenged us to read ONE book about or set in New York City between now and May 15. This sounds doable, doesn't it? I do not have my book selected, but I definitely plan to participate.

In addition to the book challenge, Jill will also host monthly mini-challenges along the way. February's mini-challenge is to make a top 10 list of anything having to do with New York - this could be a book list, a song list, an activity list...well, you get the idea.

I used to live in New York City - Greenwich Village, to be exact - from 1984-1988. It was the most unique, fantastic experience of my life! For the most part we were DINKS -- that is, Dual Income, No Kids -- and we tried to take advantage of that free lifestyle while living in the city that never sleeps. I had the opportunity to return to New York in 2006 and take my youngest daughter for her 13th birthday, and I made sure that I took her to most of my old stomping grounds. I was also fortunate to be able to attend BEA 2009 and had the opportunity to revisit some of my favorite spots. For a city that is always changing, it is amazing how much of it stays the same.

Here is my list of 10 spots I would like to go, if I have the opportunity to attend BEA 2010:

1. Take a horse carriage ride through Central Park - making sure that we ride past Tavern on the Green. The lighting outside is breath-taking: like a winter wonderland! As long as I am in Central Park, I will plan to awaken that inner child and take a ride on the old-fashioned Carousel. Of course, Sheep's Meadow is always a lovely place to relax in the city, and a walk through Strawberry Fields is not to be missed, especially for are a Beatles' Fan.
2. Visit Kitchen Arts and Letters - a bookstore devoted to cookbooks and kitchen paraphernalia. I lived in the city when the store opened, and that was one of my favorite Saturday jaunts. I feel certain that I could spend 2-3 hours in this one store.
3. Visit Macy's, Herald Square --- this was my other favorite Saturday jaunts. While we have a Macy's in Kansas City, it in no way compares to the original.
4. Eat a vendor pretzel --- my husband prefers the "dirty water dogs" but my street food of choice is a NY pretzel, with a little salt, and yellow mustard.
5. Go to an Italian street festival and have some Zepoles! OH...I love Zepoles. Hot fried pizza dough smothered in powdered sugar. An Italian donut, so to speak. Last year we were fortunate to visit Little Italy during one of these feasts (but I don't remember which feast - maybe St. Anthony?) and I was able to savor these tiny morsels once again.
6. Visit Partners in Crime - a great independent mystery/thriller bookshop located in the Village. I only spent about 30 minutes there last year, but could easily have spent two hours.
7. If money were no object - I would catch Broadway show, and I would still probably do it via the TKTS booth. There is something very spontaneous and exciting about purchasing tickets at half price and not really knowing which show I will see. The last time I was in New York we were able to score half price tickets to Beauty and the Beast with Donny Osmond starring as Gaston (some of you may only know him as the winner of Dancing with the Stars, but I was of the generation that swooned over his pictures in Tiger Beat magazine).
8. I can't go to New York without walking past our old apartment at 160 Bleecker Street in the Village. While this would not hold much charm for you - there are numerous sites to see and small eateries to explore in this neighborhood. The Arch in Washington Square Park, as well as the working fountains, are a site to behold for any movie buff; there are quaint sidewalk cafes that offer wonderful cappuccinos and plenty of people watching; and the small out of the way restaurants, like Panchitos Mexican Food and Ray's Pizza are quintessentially New York dining establishments for the common folk.
9. Visit the Strand Bookstore - again. Oh My -- this is the mecca of used books. I have been there numerous times and have never felt as though I have done more than just skimmed the surface. Allow plenty of time to snoop.
10. Visit Zabars on the Upper West Side. If you consider yourself a foodie - Zabars is the place to go. Downstairs is a food emporium with every imaginable cheese, bread, etc to choose from (not to mention the best bagel with a smear in the city). Upstairs is a culinary gadget heaven. I mean they have EVERYTHING - and I only wish I lived closer and didn't have to worry about shipping.

So there you have my top ten list of places to visit in May.

It is a true dream of mine, however, to someday return to New York for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I would want to rent a room that allows me to view the parade from inside the warm confines of a luxury building. However....I would gladly stand out in the cold for hours to attend the annual "blowing up of the balloon" at Central Park West the night before. I didn't hear about this event until it was too late, and I have always dreamed of being a part of this magical moment. I will make this happen - sometime before I die.

I hope many of you have the opportunity to visit this amazing city and realize that it is really many, many small, family-friendly neighborhoods in a very small space. You are in for a treat of a lifetime!

BEA Highlights #3: The Authors and the Books!!

Well, it took long enough - but at 4;57 pm on Thursday afternoon the UPS truck finally pulled up outside my house and delivered my long-awaited box of BEA goodies. Now, it is not like I have the time to immediately start reading these new additions to my personal library - but it is just the thought that these precious gems are now in my possession instead of wandering the streets of Kansas.

It was like Christmas at our house. The dogs were thrilled to have a box to chew; my daughter was thrilled with the newest YA books and couple of choice foodie books as well; my other daughter is quite anxious to read the Stephen Schwartz story (Wicked is her obsession); and my husband even received a couple of surprise gifts.

Now that I have attended my first BEA and I have "gotten my feet wet", I feel better prepared for next year. I now know to do thorough research prior to the event (discover which galleys are being given away at which booth and plot out the booth location; prioritize author signings to maximize time) and to be more selective in the books I choose to bring home (yes the galleys are free - but shipping must be paid). Also, I am still discovering my blog "voice" - so to speak - and want to try lots of genres before narrowing my focus. This year I chose a variety of books to ship home; next year I anticipate being more discerning in my selection. I am also hoping to persuade my 15 year old daughter to do some joint reviews of YA books with me. She loves to read (although she has rather discriminating tastes) and I think her Point of View will provide a unique perspective for the readers of this blog.

Well, enough of the background info - on with the loot. There are two authors that I wish to highlight right off the bat. The first is the duo authors of Novel Destinations, Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni Rendon. These are two of the nicest "strangers" I believe I have ever met. When I reached the front of the line I asked if they would mind if I took a picture for my blog. They immediately started asking ME questions - and requested that I send them a copy of the photo "if it wouldn't be too much trouble" - are you kidding?! Of course I would be happy to send them the photo. I then found enough courage to ask if they would mind autographing two copies of the book: one for me (I have read it twice from the library and definitely want my own edition) and one as a give away for my blog readers. They were more than happy to do so and even asked for my business card.


The second author I wish to highlight is Tom Wilson, the author (and cartoonist) of Zig-Zagging: a Memoir. Tom is the son of the originator of the Ziggy cartoons and he has now followed in his father's footsteps. Not only did he autograph each book - but he drew a personal ziggy in each and every book he signed --- the entire time he was drawing and writing he carried on a upbeat and humorous dialogue with his fans. As you can imagine, it took him quite a while to autograph each book so while I only able to have one copy signed (and he personalized it before I had the opportunity to request otherwise), he was kind enough to offer me a 2nd book as a giveaway for my faithful readers.

I was also fortunate enough to receive two autographed copies of The Physique of Deliverance Dane (sorry, no photos as the signing took place in the publisher's booth and it was very tight quarters). Again, the author and publicist were so accommodating of my request - and come to find out this was Katherine Howe's first autograph signing session ever!!

By now you certainly realize that I will have 3 different autographed books to give away. That is the good news. The bad news is that I leave for my summer school program in 10 days and will not have the opportunity to run effective giveaway campaigns in that amount of time (I would have a Post Office on campus - but the time commitment to this program is huge and I am afraid that I will not be able to maintain the blog activity as well as I should). I think instead I will run one giveaway later this week (my husband can mail the package while I am away); run one giveaway when I return; and then the final giveaway at the end of the summer. I hope that is satisfactory.

In the meantime, let me quickly show off the rest of my books.

This is the pile of books that I was able to have autographed while at BEA. Besides the 3 books spotlighted above, I was also able to secure autographed copies of:

The Memorist by MJ Rose (she LOVES bloggers and even requested my card)
The Overnight Socialite by Bridie Clark (a modern retelling of My Fair Lady)
Murder in the Latin Quarter by Cara Black (I now have the 1st and the last in this series)
Don't Know Much about Literature by Kenneth C and Jenny Davis
Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz by Carol de Giere
The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (authors of the Nanny Diaries)
The Mysterious Benedict Society (volumes 1 and 2) by Trenton Lee Stewart
Food Jobs by Irena Chalmers (she was delightful! She gave me her business card when she learned that my youngest is interest in culinary school and signed it "Come to the CIA")

This pile of books focuses on the YA genre. Some of the books I picked up because I thought my daughter might enjoy, and some I picked up because I thought I might enjoy and/or I might be able to recommend to my students as outside reading material for next year. And yes, I was fortunate enough to snag (without autograph) the amazingly popular, Catching Fire!


School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari
Murder at Midnight by Avi
Peter and the Sword of Mercy by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Once was Lost by Sara Zarr
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld




The final pile of books is a miscellaneous grouping of adult fiction books that I thought I might enjoy. Some will stretch me outside my comfort zone, and others I am very anxious to delve into immediately.

Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
Tell me Something True by Leila Cobo
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson (hard to believe I have not yet read this modern day classic)
A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz
The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte by Syrie James (I read her first book and LOVED it!!)
The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison
The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris
Loving Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan
A Separate Country by Robert Hicks
Roses by Leila Meacham
Alex Cross's Trial and I, Alex Cross (double volume) by James Patterson
The Taste of Home Cookbook (newly revised)

BEA Highlights #2: NYC Independent Bookstores

I had hoped to write about meeting the BEA authors today, but since my box of books is not scheduled to arrive until tomorrow or even Friday (and there is one book in particular that I MUST show you), I have chosen to postpone that entry for at least one more day.

I tried to do some preliminary research for indie bookstores in NYC before we left. While there are countless bookstores, some quite specialized, I knew I needed to be very selective in choosing the ones I visited during our very short stay. Fortunately the 3 bookstores at the top of my list were all located in the Village area - which was definitely a stop on our whirlwind tour. We used to live in the Village - on Bleecker between Sullivan and Thompson to be exact - and both my husband and I were very anxious to return to our old haunting grounds. We lived there from 1984 - 1988 and were absolutely amazed how much has changed in the past two decades, while at the same time, how much has remained the same.

Partners in Crime was the first store I visited and I could have stayed there for hours. As the name suggests, the store specializes in mysteries/thrillers and is stacked floor to ceiling with new releases, out-of-print, and used books. Their website describes the store as:

What We Do
We are an independent bookstore devoted entirely to mysteries, and the largest mystery bookstore in Manhattan. We feature a complete selection of new titles as well as a broad array of our recommendations, classics, and out-of-print books.

Recommendations
We are known for our ability to match people with books they'll enjoy; so if you are an experienced mystery reader or just starting out and love mysteries, Partners & Crime is the bookseller for you. Over 85% of our sales are to repeat and referral customers.

I spent about half an hour just perusing the titles on all the shelves (the store is well organized and it is very easy to browse at your leisure, although the staff would have been more than happy to help me). While I drooled over the selection, my husband immediately made friends with the owner. The shop was established 15 years ago - that is 5 years after we left the Village - and has been host to countless author signing sessions. There are two bookshelves filled with autographed editions. In the back of the store there is a table set up for upcoming autograph sessions - the next one happened to be Friday night when Michael Connelly and George Pelecanos were going to autograph their newest books. How I had wanted to return for that event - but alas, there was simply not enough time. I managed to limit my purchase to just one book: an autographed copy of Cara Black's first book in the Aimee Leduc investigation series, Murder in the Marais.

The next book stop was only a few blocks away. I had heard such praises for Three Lives and Company and knew that it was a "must-see" The write-up on the website is accurately descriptive:

THREE LIVES is an anachronism.

• It is the shop around the corner.
• A touchstone in a neighborhood.
• A place with a human face and a cast of characters.
• 84 Charing Cross Road colored by the time and place.
• A haven for people who read.

A knowledgeable staff that reads prodigiously has been a key to our success, as has a theatrical and artistic display of the books we carry. Special orders remain a significant area of service, and we are meticulous about our follow through. We thrive on discovering literary books that might otherwise be overlooked, and thrill to give them to our customers.

One of the greatest bookstores on the face of the Earth. Every single person who works there is incredibly knowledgeable and well read and full of soul. You can walk in and ask anybody, really, what they've read lately and they'll tell you something - very likely something you've never heard of. [But] it's always going to be something interesting and fabulous. I go there when I'm feeling depressed and discouraged, and I always feel rejuvenated.

- Michael Cunningham,
winner of the 1999
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

That is a lot of praise to live up to -- but I must confess that I found the store to be quite charming and while the space is small, it maintains a vast selection of books in many genres. I was only able to stay and browse about half an hour, but in that timeframe no fewer than 10 other people came to visit the store as well. It is not on the main drag, so to speak. It is definitely a destination location and there are many who are determined to find it. Again, I used great restraint when making a purchase (but I HAD to make a purchase, right?) so I chose a small book entitled, Poems of New York. I thought this would be a book that I would be hard-pressed to find in Kansas - it would make a great souvenir for my first BEA - and I might be able to use it for inspiration in the writing class I am taking this summer.

Any booklover's trip to NYC would not be complete without a visit to the iconic Strand Bookstore. I forced myself to wait until after BEA to visit this museum of a bookstore, as I knew I would be too tempted to buy far too many books otherwise. It is a good thing I waited. I shipped home many more books than I had anticipated, so I limited myself to only the purchase of a bookbag at the Strand. I must admit that the store is just as overwhelming now as when I lived here 20 years ago. They advertise 18 miles of books, and I am sure that is no exaggeration. I truly think I could spend half a day in this store and still not see all that there is to see. Sometimes large stores can be cumbersome to navigate, but the Strand is very well organized, with appropriate signage. I focused my attention on the outdoor carts of $1 books (there must have been at least 10-15 carts to choose from) and the basement, where reviewer copies are sold at half the retail price. Boy, if I lived in the city - I would spend my rent money on books at this store. Everything is a bargain - and book bargains are the best!

Just one short block from the Strand is the Forbidden Planet bookstore - which specializes in fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and graphic novels. While this is not my typical reading genre, it was fun to visit and browse all the titles, games, and paraphernalia. If this is of interest to you, then I would definitely plan to visit this shop the next time you are in NYC. It is definitely a unique treat.

The one bookstore that I had wanted to visit, but simply did not have time, was Kitchen Arts and Letters on the upper East side. This store opened when I was still living in the city, and it is still located in the same spot. Their website's description is as follows:

Kitchen Arts Letters is the country's largest store devoted completely to books on food and wine. With more than 11,000 cooking titles in English and foreign languages and access to thousands of out
-of-print titles.

We help food professionals, scholars, and the food publishing community, as well as the general public, to discover books older and recent that represent serious contributions to the world of food and wine.

I was curious to see what changes had been made over the past 20 years and if they had expanded the space. As I (not quite so vividly) recall, the store was small but jam-packed with any and every food-related book I could ever hope to read. I oftentimes would spend 2+ hours browsing - and salivating - over all the book titles. I would envision creating 5 course meals for friends, or vacationing in the Bordeaux region of France. While it was very disappointing not to visit this shop this trip - I know that I will be back in the city for another BEA and will make it a point to visit at that time. My youngest daughter (junior in high school) is hoping to accompany on my next BEA trip, and she has aspirations of becoming a pastry chef. She and I will have a grand time visiting this lovely shop at that time.

BEA Highlights #1: Meet the Bloggers

I realize it is has been quite some time since my last post - and while it would be easy for me to feel guilty for such a long delay, I know that it simply could not be helped. Last Thursday morning ( early morning - as in left the house at 5:30am) my husband and I left for a trip to New York City. The primary purpose of the trip was for me to attend my first ever Book Expo of America (BEA) - but we also combined business with pleasure (well.....ok....it was really combining pleasure with pleasure). We used this opportunity to visit old friends and belatedly celebrate Geoff's 50th birthday. It was a phenomenal trip on all accounts!

I normally post in chronological order (my highly organized, logical brain oftentimes does not see any other way), but this time I thought I would write 4 different posts about this amazing trip. The greatest highlight for me was to meet the bloggers whom I follow on a regular basis, so that will be the focus of today's post. I will also write entries on the wonderful authors I met, a few of the Village independent bookstores that I visited, and then finally a post on the NYC restaurants at which we ate in the off-hours.

I was filled with many pre-BEA jitters on Friday morning as I boarded the M34 crosstown bus. We stayed with family friends on 30th and 1st Avenue and the Expo was held at the Javits Center on 34th and 11th Avenue. It was a rather drizzly Friday morning and the bus was very crowded. The entire trip up 34th Street I allowed all my doubts and fears to surface: will they have my registration; will I get lost; will I be asked a lot of bookish questions that I will not know the answers; will be so overwhelmed that I will choose to leave rather than persevere. Fortunately the ride was only about 20 minutes, as who knows what other questions I would have developed.

Stephanie of Stephanie's Written Word

Come to find out - every single one of those questions was totally unfounded. I arrived at the Center, went straight to the Express Registration Booth, showed them my email with barcode, received my Registration Badge and was set to go in less than 5 minutes! Stephanie of Stephanie's Written Word called me to say that she was waiting in line to get into the exhibit hall, so I was able to meet up with her. What an absolute joy she is! We were able to get acquainted in line before entering the "bedlam" and she is such a delightful, upbeat woman of character. Come to find out she is a trained pastry chef - which is exactly what my daughter is interested in pursuing! We had lots to talk about.

Amy of My Friend Amy

The exhibit hall is a bit overwhelming at first. There are booths EVERYWHERE with thousands of people darting in and out. I am glad that I had a partner to navigate the aisles. We basically wandered around and "oohed" and "ahhed" over everything. We just tried to soak it all in and get the lay of the land. I must say that by the end of my two day stay, I had learned the setup of the exhibit hall, and I could easily navigate between the two floors. I had a blast looking at all the free ARCs and galleys and will know better how to pick and choose which ones to bring home (yes...I WILL return to BEA next year!) I did not do much networking, but hopefully, with another year of blogging experience I will feel more comfortable approaching the publicists in person.

The first day I was also able to meet Dawn of She is Too Fond of Books, Kathy of Bermuda Onion, Amy of My Friend Amy, and Julie of Booking Mama. We met outside the Convention Center (the rainy morning had transformed into an absolutely gorgeous sunny day) and ate "dirty water dogs" and pretzels in the sunshine. On Saturday I was also able to meet Candace of Beth Fish Reads, Nicole of Linus's Blanket, Trish of Hey Lady Whatcha Readin', Lenore of Presenting Lenore, and Steph of Reviewer X. How I wish I could have met all the bloggers in attendance, but with nearly 30,000 people at the Expo, it was near impossible.

Candace of Beth Fish Reads

Now my own children make fun of me because I can always find an educational experience in just about any activity, and the meeting of fellow bloggers is no exception. I teach high school English and I use the 6 Trait Writing curriculum. The one trait that is the most difficult to explain is Voice. I tell students that Voice is like personality. Each person has a unique personality and each writer has a unique style. That was clearly evident when meeting these wonderful bloggers! The personality of the blog is exactly the personality of the writer. I would recognize them ANYWHERE - and in many cases, we did not even have to be introduced. The blogs are genuine - they come from the heart - and that is what makes them so uniquely wonderful.

Jennifer of Book Club Girl

The Book Blogger Panel was quite simply - amazing! Jennifer of Book Club Girl was the organizer of this event and it was one of the most professional break out sessions I have attended. The questions were pertinent, the conversation lively and concise, and the Jennifer did a great job of keeping the discussion on track. The break out was nearly full - with not only fellow bloggers but also booksellers, book publicists and authors. The audience was riveted by what the bloggers had to say and asked very specific, detailed questions. In fact, the session could have easily lasted another hour based on the audience interest, and when the discussion ended the panelists were swarmed with book industry professionals asking questions and requesting business cards (I had hoped to take a great photo of everyone, but I did not want to interrupt the amazing networking opportunity, so these "candid" shots will have to suffice). ALL seemed to recognize the impact that book bloggers can have on the industry and they were receptive to learn how this can be a mutually beneficial relationship. I left the session so proud to be acquainted with the 6 who represented us, and also proud that I am a part of this wonderful, essential community.

If you are interested in reading more detail about this panel discussion, please visit Dawn's posting here or to hear the recorded session visit here.