The Rookie BEA Post

Hey all! I feel like I'm the only book blogger who hasn't done a pre-BEA post... so here it goes.

Who am I?
Hi, I'm Meghann and I'm a bookaholic. A bit about me... I spent too much time in college. I really wanted to learn all the things. I did. I'm over it. As a side effect, I stopped reading for fun sometime in 2004, now 10 years later I'm a late twenty-something trying to catch up and get ahead of all the reads.

This is what I look like depending on my natural hairstyle of the day...

So please come say "Hi!"

Warning: I've been told I have a bitchy resting face. Nothing is wrong, I'm fine. I'll start smiling as soon as you come to talk to me. Smiling makes my cheeks hurt, seriously. :P

Other randomness about me:

• I will wear dresses the whole time. This is not a testament to my femininity but to my laziness to coordinate outfits with multiple pieces.
• I'm quiet at first but once I deem you safe I get loud, talk too much and will probably drive you away. 
• I don't care for being touched, but luckily I got plenty of feels training by joining a sorority. So I may flinch but I'll be okay with hugs... maybe. 

Why attend BEA?
About three months ago I decided I'd become a book blogger (gotta put that J-School degree to work... haha) and through my research I discovered BookExpo America and I knew this is where I needed to be. HAD. TO. BE.

I read all the BEA posts I could find, browsed photos and videos, and decided this was my book blogging destiny. So I began the planning...

But it's so expensive O_o
It really is! My budget goes something like this...

BEA Blogger Pass, includes BEA pass + BookCon = $145
BookCon Kick-Off Event = $10
Room for 4 nights w/3 roomies = $210 ea. (donated by mom, thanks mom!)
Bus from NC to NYC, round trip = $120
-----
$485 < Yes, all main logistics for under $500

I love NYC and I've gone to visit with literally $20 in the bank so I knew I could swing it. I thought about staying with friends but I felt it would be rude with all the coming and going so I opted for a 4 female room at a hostel nearby. Mom has decided she'll contribute to the cause and is comping my room, yay!

So with this in place, the only danger I have is starving... luckily I have my fancy state job *eye roll* so I'll be good.

Other Expenses...
Since I'm a baby blogger I decided I needed some swag and business cards to help promo Becoming Books! This ran me less than $150 for 500 buttons and business cards.

 

I've also budgeted for other expenses including a MetroCard (?), cab fare, dining, snacks, shipping and books! All-in-all I'm planning to do BEA for right around $1,000. Yay!

BEA Goals & Schedule!
Hand out all my buttons – This means I will have had to talk and mingle with people so double win! I am NOT a good conversationalist so I'm hoping this will help.

Take photos/video – Despite being a content creator in my 9-to-5 I suck at documenting events on my own. I'll be making an intentional effort to cover BEA like I have a press pass.... haha. So check back next week as I do nightly recaps of the day.

Books I must have:
Talon by Julie Kagawa
Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant
Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater

Major wish list:
See Stan Lee and Jason Bateman!

Honestly, if I can get all the buttons passed out and just one of my must have books then I'm golden. I hope, I will be shipping boxes of books home, but I don't want to stress over it.

Schedule

My schedule is pretty simple. Since I'm a newbie I don't have any fancy parties to worry about, maybe next year! Thanks to Jenna at Jenna Does Books for jump starting my planning with her awesome spreadsheet!!!! 

You can check out my spreadsheet here. I chose not to use colored highlighting because it's too much for my eyes. Instead I did priority rankings by numbering off the events that share a time block. 

That's it for now... check back next week for my adventures in packing, travel and all things BEA – rookie style!

If you're going: Will you be my friend?

If you're not going: If you could get any ARC/Autograph what would it be?