Taking Time to Smell the Roses

Over the weekend I attended Publishing University in Chicago, which I have covered in my other blog Write Formation. The weather was wonderful in Chicago, with a warm sun and surprisingly calm winds. But I didn't get to enjoy any of that since I was inside the conference rooms. So when the weather here was so beautiful on Monday, cabin fever got the best of me. I packed up my water bottle and my camera and headed to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Being alone gave me a lot of time to think about all the things I had learned at the conference, and what items might be practical to put into use with my own company. So I wasn't totally goofing off. At least, that is my story and I'm sticking to it! Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day.

Sleepless in New York

I've been awake since 4:00 a.m., so I figured I might as well blog. I'm in New York for Publishing University, and I have been tossing and turning trying to figure out how to obtain my Book Expo America badge for tomorrow. BEA begins tomorrow and I have a ticket to the children authors roundtable breakfast which is being moderated by Sarah Ferguson. If she is not arrested for trying to sell out Prince Andrew. The problem is that I have PU sessions all day today with a closing reception at 5:00, and the BEA registration area is only open 8-5. How am I supposed to get my badge and breakfast ticket before 8 tomorrow? The exhibit hall is 17 blocks from my hotel. I don't even know yet how I am supposed to get there from here. Apparently it is located in an industrial area, so the trains don't go directly there. I've heard taking a cab during rush hour is iffy, too. I guess I will have to miss a couple sessions today and go to the Javits Center. Anyway, that is why I can't sleep.

The sessions for PU were really informative yesterday. My head is spinning with all the new information that was flying around. I've met some interesting people, and heard some truly inspiring success stories. If you are interested in more details, check out my Write Formation blog http://tinyurl.com/39vjao8 where I summarized yesterday's events.

No B.S.?

On Sunday I leave for New York to attend Publishing University, which is sponsored by the Independent Book Publishers of America (IBPA). PU takes place Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday. Following the two day PU is Book Expo America, the largest gathering of book stores in North America. Basically the authors and publishers are trying to entice the book stores to carry their books. The kick-off speaker Tuesday night is Barbra Streisand, of whom I have been a fan since 8th grade. Babs has a book coming out this fall, thus her willingness to make a public appearance despite her extreme shyness.

So here is how it works: anyone with a badge to book expo can get in to see Babs, though it is first come, first served and seating is limited. No problem with that as I have an author's badge (God that sounds good to say!) Yesterday I found out that you have to pick up your free ticket to get in, and here is how you do that. You go to the Javits Center (17 blocks away from the hotel where PU is being held) between 1-5 on Monday or 8-5 on Tuesday, and when the tickets are gone, they're gone. Okay, so basically anyone attending PU will not be able to get a ticket. But the absurdness gets worse. The line to see Babs can begin cuing at noon on Tuesday, and the doors won't open until 4. Any people not in their seats by 5:45 will lose their seats, and the talk begins at 6:00. So basically even if I managed to get a ticket to see her, I would have to miss all of PU's Tuesday afternoon sessions to stand in line. Not! Sounds like a lot of B.S. to me!