Whirlwind at the BEA
I’ve spent the past two days in New York at the Book Expo, meeting the booksellers and librarians who sell (and read) my books. The BEA is absolutely wild, filled with your favorite authors giving away signed copies of their books by the boxload. It’s a wonderful way to alert booksellers to the books that are coming to the market soon. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go to the ABA luncheon since The Lies We Told is an Indie Next Pick for June. 
Awards were given to those 2009 books voted the best by Independent Bookstores around the country, and I was excited to see my favorite, The Help, win for best debut book. Kathryn Stockett (at right) was there to accept her award. Then I was interviewed for Sirius Radio, which is what I’m doing in the pic above. Today was the big signing day at my publisher’s booth. I flew through a couple of boxes of books and met so many lovely people. (I’m the teeny person in coral in the center). I adore getting to give books away!
Now, John and I are back in New Jersey for a visit with my sister, and if I never have to take a cab anywhere again it will be too soon!
Sounds like you had a wonderful time. I so wanted to be at BEA, but personal circumstances intervened and I had to cancel my trip. Definitely next year, though!
Thanks for sharing your adventures! I kept hearing The Eagles song, “Life in the Fastlane” playing as I read this! Enjoy some family time now!
What a great experience!…the readers in line waiting to meet you and have an autograph are so lucky…I can imagine how excited they are to have your new book in their hands!
It will be so nice for you and John to spend some time with your sister now…have a wonderful weekend with her.
It looks like a lot of fun!
Diane, Thanks for sharing pics & news. Glad that you had a good time & hope you will enjoy family time vacation. Congratulations on new book.
Ah, the joys of fame and fortune!! Enjoy your family, Diane. Happy Memorial Day!!
Today is catch up day. So nice not to have to be anywhere at a certain time. Just enjoying this beautiful part of New Jersey.
Diane, I started THE LIES WE TOLD last nite and am completely glued to it…(-O:
Hope you stay good and glued, Margo! We just arrived home to two happy, cuddly pups and a bunch of catch-up tasks. It was a fabulous week, but I’m so glad to be home!!!!
My book did not arrive from Amazon, so I bought it at Border’s…where they were asking us to donate coffee to the troups. When I paid the bill, the coffee was l0.00…wow…for one bag-oh well…for a good cause. I don’t usually let ANYONE talk me into anything-but it is Memorial Day weekend…and I care about the troups and Vets. Diane, I read the book when I arrived home. You are the best at research and your craft of writing…I don’t know how you keep the facts together…remarkable…
Wonderful book/story just as your others are!!
Thanks, Ann and Brenda. And I think I’ll head to Border’s tomorrow and donate some coffee, Brenda!
The least we can do…of course, I am enthralled with my Vietnam Vets…long story…my “little” Roy Clark, sat by me in school…doe-eyed, quiet, sweet, gentle…we were in junior high together…sat alphabetically…he gave his life in Vietnam…a war that we “lost” supposedly…for some reason, he did not graduate with our class…maybe family matters…back then…he was with the class under us…but I will never forget that boy…I am doing an all-school reunion this fall (my class sponsors this)…and am working all year on it…however…we will remember those who did not return and those who did…one of my grad school projects a couple of years ago was on the VIETNAM VETS…I wept more than I typed…as you know, Diane, I still think there is a book there…Just recently purchased two books about Vietnam-novels…and donated them to history teachers…they were great…of course, one finds it difficult to find those books with appropriate language for students-but then who can blame the writers??? The stories they tell of Vietnam can’t be phrased with darn or drat…
I think the Vietnam book is yours to write, Brenda. It’s definitely where your heart is.
What a wonderful place to go if you’re a book junkie!! A blogger on another site tells of going, and shipping several boxes of books to her home, what bliss to come home to!!!