By the time you all read this, the red numbers that precede the words “until BEA” on the Bookexpo America website will show but a single digit in the “days” indicator, and we’ll all be either psyched to be going, anxious to see how our books and booths will do, excited to hear about what happened after the fact (if you’re not going) or just generally nervous over the whole idea of shipping, unpacking, displaying and meeting people at the largest domestic book show held in the City That Never Sleeps.  A combination of symptoms may occur. 

While attendees decide which are their most comfortable shoes, plug time windows into their PDAs and discuss with friends the benefits of a suitcase on wheels, we in the publishing community will press our suits and company-logo-embroidered shirts and put on our friendliest faces as we prepare for the business that’s about to be going down.

Bookexpo prides itself on being “Where the world gathers to get a great READ on the industry,” and in fulfilling this catchphrase, they offer a wealth of opportunity for attendees and exhibitors alike, from the international rights center to the conferences, discussions and panels, to the author signings and breakfasts.  BEA has a rich history of being a gathering locale for the literary community, dating back to 105 years ago when it was the ABA Convention and Mark Twain gave the keynote speech to the 60 people on hand. Since then it has grown to the largest book fair in North America, and the largest English language book fair in the world, attracting over 30 thousand people to its show floor.

By the time you reach this paragraph, a few minutes will have come off that “until BEA” clock, and the seconds will continue counting down in steady increments.  The only question remaining is if you will be one of the 30 thousand on the show floor, waiting in line for an author’s signature, showing off your company’s coming list or trying to get a seat at the keynote speech.  I say, why not? 

Go to www.bookexpoamerica.com for more details, and I’ll see you there! 

Originally, I was supposed to interview BEA director Lance Fensterman in person in Brooklyn, but with so little time before the show, schedule conflicts were imminent.  However, we were able to conduct a survey style interview via email, which, while it does lack some qualities, it does give us the advantage of having the interview in its entirety—which is included below.

Lance is the number one most insightful person for BEA and just a generally great person to know (and interview).  I hope this interview highlights a little about BEA that you don’t already know, and can add to the excitement you already have as Lance answers questions about BEA 2007, future BEAs, and himself.  Enjoy the insights and personality that is Lance Fensterman!

CBE:  What’s new for this year’s BEA?

Lance Fensterman:  I went out and bought a new tie, but I’m guessing that’s not what you mean!  The new events services and ideas that the BEA team has developed this year a too numerous to mention but I will give you an impartial list:

myBEA – Online show planning and social networking

Bookexpo Cast – Expanded pod casts before and after the show (over 150 in all)

Show Directors Blog – Nuggets of book industry observations and plenty of typos form yours truly

The Second Stage @ BEA – cookbook authors doing demos and independent publishers all live form the show floor

The BEA Story Project Booth – Your chance to share your favorite BEA story via an mp3 recording.  We will pod cast one story per week after the show

New Title Bookstore – Our famous New Title Showcase will now be housed in a bookstore we build on site at BEA.

Reminders Sneak Preview – The show floor will open from 12-5 on Thursday for remainders business.

That gives you an idea!

CBE:  What are you most excited about for this year’s show?

LF:  Wow, it’s hard to pick, but I gotta say, the Saturday morning breakfast is going to be amazing; Stephen Colbert, Jen Burns, Lisa See and Khaled Hosseini.  However I’m pretty excited to see the whole show.  I work all year to create the best event possible and there is nothing like walking into the building on Tuesday and Wednesday to see the vision all coming together.

CBE:  Was there anything from past BEAs that you decided to get rid of for this year’s show?

Since 2005, the New Title Showcase has been a staple for attendees and exhibitors alike at Bookexpo America.  Although it’s only the third year since its debut, the 2007 New Title Showcase has a record setting amount of titles on display (over 1400), and has received so much demand that, although registration was closed, Bookexpo decided to reopen registration to accommodate all of the demand for participation.

The New Title Showcase is a low cost way for publishers of all sizes to have a presence at Bookexpo America in a prime location.  The 2007 New Title Showcase will be held in the Crystal Palace of the Jacob Javits Center, which is located outside of the exhibit hall, making it the first and last stop for everyone attending BEA.  It will be held within the newly created New Title Bookstore, which will also house the new New Product Showcase.

Attendees to the New Title Showcase should expect to see a lot of new material from publishers large and small.  A special catalog will accompany the exhibit and include information on every title on display.  For those who wish to participate in future New Title Showcases at Bookexpo, information will be available at both www.bookexpoamerica.com and www.combinedbook.com soon after the conclusion for the 2007 Bookexpo America.