writerjenn

So I was gonna do this great long, detailed post about all the wonderful things I saw at the ALA exhibits today. And all the wonderful FREE things I lugged home. But sometimes, you just gotta be there. After a while, info overload kicks in. However, I can do highlights and tips--and maybe you'd prefer that after all.

ALA EXHIBIT-CRUISING HIGHLIGHTS AND TIPS

1. The secret to my success in remaining upright for several hours on the floor: cushioned hiking socks. (Comfortable walking shoes too, of course.)

2. Angel wings should be awarded to Ms. Kelly Fineman, with whom I not only lunched and visited several booths, but who generously drove me home so that I would not have to lug all those books and catalogs on the train. As a bonus, since Kelly has been researching Jane Austen for one of her projects, I got to hear some juicy details of Jane Austen's life, and we speculated on how those events may have influenced Austen's books. Just the kind of writerly talk I love.

3. Booths with nothing but computers were not visually exciting. I predict those kinds of booths will become increasingly flashy in coming years.

4. For book-related giveaways, I like bookmarks, magnets, pens, and other useful items. I already have more posters than I can use. Edible giveaways are good too. At one point I would've swarmed any booth that gave away bottled water. But advance reading copies are the best giveaway of all.

5. There was a "flash-teeth-whitening" booth, where you could apparently get your teeth whitened right there on the spot. Not sure what that has to do with libraries. No, I didn't do it!

6. I don't know that I could pick out any trends among YA books, but it does seem that the topic of war is starting to creep in to the market--small wonder. Overall, quality still seems to matter the most. If it's a good story, well told, it will find a home--though a great hook always helps.

7. In the area of continuing trends, verse novels are still in the mix, and the manga/graphic novel field seems to be getting bigger.  Vampires are still around.

8. A couple of publishers were handing out catalogs on CD as well as paper. I imagine the CDs would be easier to carry home, but more of a pain to scroll through on screen. I went with the paper. 

Now I'm going to revise my WIP a little, then collapse.

This afternoon, I was on the floor of the Exhibit Hall at the ALA conference. I was helping to set up Booth #1058, sponsored by the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Southeastern PA Chapter.  I made the brave sacrifice of two fingernails, but other than that, no writers were harmed. 

Here are some impressions:

We have a heckuva lot of talented writers in this part of the country.  Many of them will be in the booth this weekend, and we used their book covers as a backdrop, and the whole display is darn impressive.  

It is SO COOL to be at a place like this before the event officially starts.  Since I was early for my shift, I was able to walk through the empty aisles (taking care to avoid forklift drivers) and orient myself, and see where I want to go tomorrow.

Yes, I did get the shivers walking through that space, seeing all those publishers' names and all those books piled up.  And seeing exciting words like "Library of Congress."  Now I know how those kids felt walking into Willy Wonka's candy factory with their golden tickets.

It's heartening to see that while many booths feature videos, computers, and the electronic paraphernalia that is becoming increasingly part of our libraries, so much of the space is still given over to BOOKS.

Happy weekend, however you're spending it!