Blogads does BEA

BookExpo America (held in NYC this year) is the US’s largest trade show for the book and publishing industry. The good buzz this year was about ebooks and ebook readers. Hey, without printing costs, maybe there’s more upside? The bad buzz was about the lack of free wifi in the Javits Center, the dearth of a common hashtag, and the event’s shrinkage versus prior years. Barbra Streisand’s keynote was also less than riveting.

Our team reports from the trenches:

*We saw the cute 75th Anniversary Penguin car on its journey across the US.

*We walked 40 miles in 2.5 days over the NYC landscape and partook in only one subway ride.

*We enjoyed a lovely evening at Hudson Bar & Books with book industry insider and Blogads blogger Ron Hogan (Beatrice.com), watching a stream of people trip over the raised sidewalk in front of our table.

*Our t-shirts were declared the conference’s “coolest swag.”

*While waiting in line for Tony Hawk’s autograph session, Megan Mitzel was interviewed by CNN. So, if you catch a clip of BEA coverage, here’s a little insider info from the gal in the Blogads T: “childhood hero” means “I spent hours playing Pro Skater on N64.” (Hawk was signing “How Did I Get Here? The Ascent of an Unlikely CEO” in the Wiley Booth.)

Looking forward to going back next year!