I went down to Book Expo last week. Actually, I went to Disneyland with the kids and the DH and snuck out Sunday morning to do Book Expo. Book Expo is the publishing trade show where publishers, book folks, booksellers, librarians and all sorts of book related industries co
me together to sell, showcase and buy the next big hottest books. I was signing at the RWA booth with my former Avon buddy, Christie Ridgway, who has a new book out this week: How to Knit a Wild Bikini. You know me. It has “knit” in the title. It goes to the top of the TBR pile, after JQ’s The Lost Duke of Wyndham.
Christie is a real great person, having navigated the conference floor of Book Expo like four times, she was my tour guide through the maze of publishing 
booths. Now if you didn’t know better, you would assume , based on the banners and big posters of covers, that there are like 6, maybe 7 authors in the United States, and most of them are celebrities whose books will be on the remainder table at B&N before Christmas. But there was a lot to see, and people to meet, and free books and bookbags and such to snag. According to an unnamed source, we’ll call her JQ’s sister, the books up for grabs on Friday and Saturday were way better than the pickings on Sunday when I got there.
But when Christie and I got back to the RWA booth for our signing, we were thrilled to find a whole line of people waiting to meet us. We had our celebrity moment, signed bunches and bunches of books as fast as we could and met some really wonderful folks. Ran into Diane Pershing, the President Elect of RWA, and it is always fun to see her. Always with a bright smile and a nice word. A truly lovely lady.
And if that isn’t enough for you, I have to confess, I am still seeing pirates everywhere I go.
Pirates of the Caribbean was on TV the other day and of course, I watched it. I went on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. I suppose that counts as an intentional pirate sighting, but when in Disneyland . . . (and if the line promises only a five minute wait.) And then there was this fellow that I happened into at Book Expo. I had Christie take his picture so I had proof this time.
Oh, and I saw the bald guy from Sex in the City. But he wasn’t looking very pirate-ish.
PS. If you are interested in how the folks from Waxcreative found Book Expo, check out their blog!
It sounds like you had a fabulous time! I use to live near Disneyland (umm, within 4 hours drive, if no traffic) and have never been. I’ve wanted to go, a lot! I enjoy theme parks.
Anyhow, I bet it was great letting the little heros have some fun time (umm the hubby is counted in that too).
The Book Expo sounds like a blast! And I really like that “JQ’s sister” woman. She is a very nice lady.
Oh and one last thing, you’re not the only one seeing pirates. It’s just mine aren’t in public. Every time I turn on the tv I see pirates. And then last night the hubby bought me some fruit snacks and they just happen to have Captain Jack on the box. Nothing like eating fruity sculls and treasure chest.
Elizabeth, that’s such a fab picture of you with Christie. Glad to know that your fanbase is thriving and growing. Hope you guys weren’t anywhere near Universal Studios and the fire.
JQ’s siter knows EVERYONE. If there’s anyone in the universe who she doesn’t know, that person’s not worth knowing (scurvy scum, too, I bet).