Sunday, May 10, 2009

Sunday Salon & Conference Wrap-Up

So I know how much you all have missed me over the past week, but rest assured- I'm back!

I was away at the Massachusetts Library Association's annual conference, three days of books, authors, and librarians. I go every year, because it helps keep me in touch with the wider library world and because, as a local event, it's great for networking. I'm also in the midst of helping to plan a conference as well- the New England chapter of the Association of Jewish Libraries is having an event in June- so it was a great time to chat with publishing folks and other vendors.

All in all it was a great success. Highlights included
  • getting a line on a potential speaker for the NEAJL conference,
  • meeting several publishing reps who will be assisting NEAJL with promotional materials,
  • seeing friends,
  • listening to a variety of authors from different genres, including the great Lynda Barry and several new-to-me folks like literary short-story writer Simon Van Booy, novelist Thrity Umrigar and urban-fantasy goddess Kim Harrison,
  • a fun presentation by author Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours,
  • picking up armloads of galleys and freebies, and
  • getting all the latest on what's going on in the Massachusetts library world.
It was a great three days. The bag pictured above was given out by library-services company and book jobber Baker & Taylor, an outfit many libraries (including my own) use for discounted ordering and other services. In addition to having cute pictures of cats, their bags are sturdy enough for a convention's worth of galleys and giveaways:
Those of you going to BEA or (ALA for that matter) will doubtless come back with more but I'm very pleased with my little haul. And with the whole event!
Today I'm looking forward to diving into my stash and figuring out what to read first!

14 comments:

Anna said...

I'm glad you had a good time. That's a lot of books! I hope to go to BEA, but I'm still not sure. I'm registered, though, just have to scrounge up enough money to travel. lol

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

Meghan said...

That is a truly excellent pile of books! Glad you had a good time. I would have loved to see Michael Cunningham - I adored The Hours!

- Meghan @ Medieval Bookworm

Ana S. said...

I'd love to see Michael Cunningham too! Sounds like you had a great time :)

Anonymous said...

Great haul! I didn't know Kenneth Davis had a new book out. I guess those piles will keep you busy for a while!

bermudaonion said...

We did miss you! I see several books in your stacks that I'd like to read.

Candy Schultz said...

One of the pleasures of life is coming home with piles of books.

I finished The Angel's Game. Have you read it yet?

Alyce said...

It looks like you got some great books! I got to go to the ALA summer conference in New Orleans a few years ago with my librarian husband and the exhibit hall was very cool. I wish I could do stuff like that more often.

Anonymous said...

Looks like you got some good ones (some I definitely want to read, at least!).

Holloway McCandless said...

Please share your reactions to the van Booy--curious about it.tx

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Lucky you; I love Baker & Taylor's "cat themed" bags every year!!!

Amy M. said...

Wow! You got some great freebies! I LOVE that B&T bag! The Umrigar book is on my TBR pile right now!

-Amy
(Life by Candlelight)

BurtonReview said...

Hello to Marie From Marie :) There are more Marie's on blogspot then we would think! Is Marie more of a Bookish name I wonder? LOL
I just wanted to stop by and finally say hello.. I don't remember commenting before but I have been peeking in a few times and now that I have a moment I am going to finally put your blog on my recommended blogs list at The Burton Review! (And I envy your haul there from the convention!) Have a great day!

Zibilee said...

Great pile! I am glad you had such an awesome time!

avisannschild said...

I'm commenting a bit late, but just wanted to say yay for the pile o' books! I'm not going to BEA this year either. :(