BEA Day 1: Trotting around the BEA Floor

Welcome to BookExpo America 2006, everyone! Well, I know you all can't act'lly be here in Washington this weekend to go to the book industry's largest industry trade show. For those of you in the comics world who've never been to one, it's like Comic-Con without a dealer's room and with fewer Stormtrooper costumes. If you've ever attended or worked at one, you'll know it's a lot of hard work that'll leave your hooves sore and aching by the end of the day. You guys are the lucky ones: you can just read about it on the internet!

Let's walk around the convention floor and see what's goin' on this opening day, shall we?

Welcome to BEA 2006!


I find it best to have a nourishing beverage before braving the floor:


Book people from all over the world come to BEA: authors, publishers, bookstore owners, managers, buyers and employees, and lots of press folks. So it's often very busy at the show. Hey, watch where you step, everybody! I'm trying my best not to get underfoot but I am only a little stuffed bull!:


There's a lot of books on display. Please don't be grabby: Some of them are free for you to take but many are there for display purposes only and are not for giveaway. Free books are often piled in high stacks at the front of booths by the aisle, but if you're unsure, please ask!


If you pay attention to the schedules, you can get to meet some of your favorite authors and have a free book signed by them! Bring a notebook to mark down who you want to see and wear a watch, or you'll miss 'em! We'll see if we can catch up with Sebastian Junger later:


There's many displays, exhibitions, and events. You never know what's going to be there:


And there's plenty of free fun for all and lots of great photo opportunities. Arrrrr! I am a scurvy pirate in the Houghton Mifflin booth! Jim lad. Arrrrrr:


If you feel a bit peckish, there are often snacks in various booths. Many people have yummy yummy Fun-Size chocolate bars to give away. I also saw Cracker Jack, raisins, lollypops, and here's some cheese! Don't be greedy and eat them all!:


Testing out a prop for a new book about taxicabs. This would be useful for getting around the show floor!:


Caution: the BEA may contain peanuts. Charles Schulz's Peanuts, that is! Fantagraphics shows off their line of Complete Peanuts books (another one's coming out this October)...:


...and Sterling is reissuing those classic Peanuts gift books you may remember from your childhood:


You never know who you'll see on the show floor! Here's Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, promoting his upcoming autobiography:


And here's my favorite travel publisher, Kermit, sharing a laugh with me in the Countryman Press booth. Hi Kermit!:


Walking the floor can be tiring and thirsty work, so be sure to stop by the very, very crowded food court at the Washington Convention Center to wait in line for a tremendously long, long time to to get some lunch:


Fortified from your lengthy lunch, you'll then be ready to brave the crowds and trot your way up and down the aisles again:


The publishing world is abuzz about Google's plans to digitize books. That sort of sounds like something out of Tron doesn't it? Sadly, there were no cool lightcycles when I visited the massive Google World at BEA:


After a brief lull in the early afternoon, it often gets very crowded again in the aisles in mid-afternoon:


But it's always worth braving the masses for the chances to pick up some free promotional souvenirs. Hey, free rulers!:


You can always find some excellent sales reps to tell you about their books. These guys are among the best in the business:


Hey! Sebastian Junger is signing his new book! Thanks, Mister Junger. You are an excellent writer and a very, very handsome man:


Tomorrow: Free stuff? You bet! Plus, comics can be fun at the BEA!

Other BEA entries: Day 0 • Day 2 • Day 3