Blogger: Etta Wilson
Location: Books & Such office, Nashville
Weather: Almost hot and muggy
Another Memorial Day, which means the first-of-summer holidays and celebrations for most folks. For those of us in the book business, it usually means a trip to the major trade show, Book Expo America. I’m not sure how many Memorial Days I’ve spent either at BEA (formerly ABA) or preparing to go, but it’s a lot.
This year’s show is in New York City, heart of U.S. publishing, and a number of things make it interesting:
1) the ever-increasing impact of the Internet on all aspects of media.
2) the economic conditions which, while discouraging in some ways, always give rise to new formats and new ways of doing business.
3) from the children’s book perspective, the demand for fantasy titles for middle-graders and YAs. Will this trend hold for the next year???
4) the new break-out authors who usually come to our attention at this event.
5) the new publishers in the playing field. (I treasure my BEA official directory each year.)
In preparation for BEA, I’m listing terrific projects from super clients and trying to match them with just the right publishers, and I can’t help getting excited. I was thinking while watching the Preakness last weekend how much like a horse race publishing really is. We follow all the rules for good writing, good promotion, good sales techniques, making good matches, etc., but in the end we can never be sure who will place, who will show, or who will win. That makes it fun, at least for us gamblers.
Stay tuned for more BEA impressions and send your thoughts, especially if you’ve attended one of these. We were in LA last year.
I wish I could go to BEA. The kitlitosphere bloggers are all abuzz about the parties and everyone is wondering who will get a copy of Suzanne Collins’ CATCHING FIRE. (I’m willing to pay for a review copy if you happen to see one lying around. 🙂 )
I think MG and YA fantasy will be hot for years–it just changes its face all the time. Fairytale romances have been in demand and still seem to be selling (teen girls and romance–will that ever grow old?). Now the dystopian future novel is all the rage.
Dragons seem to have cooled, despite their fire-breathing capabilities. And the portal fantasy isn’t the popular destination it once was. I wish I could say the same about vampire and undead novels. Unfortunately, vampires and zombies may be proving themselves immortal, after all.
Sorry. You asked for comments from people who have been to BEA. I’ve never been. But when you say YA MG fantasy in my presence it’s like putting a quarter in and pressing play. 🙂
I was at BEA in New York several years ago and it reminded me of a type of livestock too – the book signing area was set up very much like a stock yard :). I certainly enjoyed meeting the people that came to have books signed and loved wandering the booths. The energy that fills BEA is absolutely electrifying.
Enjoy BEA, Etta, and I’d love to hear more of your perspective on it as it progresses.
I can’t wait to hear all the news from the Expo. As an emerging writer, to read such an enthusiastic piece when most of what we hear is negative, is very refreshing and encouraging.
Valerie,
A livestock show! I’d never thought of that and I grew up showing cattle here in Middle Tennessee. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for the champions.
etta
Etta,
I appreciated your comments about the children’s book market. I know you and all of the Books and Such agents will go to BEA well prepared. Your blog readers will be eager to hear about trends and other reports after you return from NY.