Each year at this time I get a bit anxious about how I'll choose from all there is to do at the grand convocation of publishing and bookselling--Book Expo America, better known in the biz as BEA. I've been going over the seminar offerings and making appointments with vendors I really need to talk to and there just doesn't seem to be enough time on the calendar to do everything. People often ask what we do at our national convention and trade show and it's sometimes difficult to answer succinctly. We see displays of books that are being published this fall. We meet authors and hear some of them talk at breakfasts and lunches. We attend seminars on all aspects of the business and we do go to a few parties. But, perhaps more important and more satisfying than anything else, we see our friends and colleagues from all over the country and around the world. We get a chance to share ideas, commiserate about the state of the business and the world and just share each other's company. I often tell folks that a trip to BEA is much cheaper than therapy.
No matter what I do each year at BEA, I find that--though I may be tired when it's over--I'm mentally refreshed and invigorated and ready for yet another year in this wonderful, crazy business. Now, when am I going to pack?
Comments