In the Internet era, BookExpo, which takes place May 29-31 at the Javits Center in New York City, aims to emphasize what makes it stand apart and what the Internet can't offer: the incredible value that comes with face-to-face connections. "What you can't get online is the buzz, excitement and passionate discussions about that which makes up the heart of our industry, books," BookExpo event director Jenny Martin says. "Our biggest focus for 2019 is to deliver an event that welcomes and fosters these connections."
That's led show organizers to offer more opportunities for BookExpo attendees to hear from and talk with authors, editors and publicists about their books and stories. And BookExpo is making it easier for many booksellers to attend the show (more on that below).
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The publicity speed dating event will be held again, and following on its popularity, an editors speed dating event has been added to the program. More author signings will be held in the ABA Member Lounge, which is also the site for a new Happy Hour Signing with Authors. Librarians will have special programming and interactions in the Librarian Lounge, and the LibraryReads Book Buzz and Author Lunches are returning. Both bookseller and librarian lounges continue to "offer intimate settings that foster peer-to-peer discussions and idea sharing," Jenny Martin adds.
BookExpo is also launching UnBound, a new area that features more than 100 companies that offer non-book products with excellent potential in bookstores (more on UnBound below).
Another new feature of BookExpo this year is a stage on the show floor dedicated to independent publishers' authors and editors, which "will be a great place to hang out and get an edge by discovering these great titles," Jenny Martin says. "We are also giving booksellers one-on-one time with many publishing houses to help them work more closely together, such as an open discussion around running successful author events with Macmillan."
She adds that bookseller and librarian attendees want to see independent publishers because of their "amazing and unique titles," so BookExpo has taken steps to make traveling to New York and exhibiting more affordable and valuable for independent publishers. Besides the Independent Publisher Stage, "we are working on developing new 'out of the booth' participation options to better suit them." BookExpo also will film events at the Stage and make them available after the show for publishers to use in promotional efforts.
Many favorite events are returning, including the buzz panels and the adult and children's author breakfasts. Among the many authors who will be appearing are Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who is the star of a special event Thursday evening at the convention center, when she will talk about her life and her new children's book, Just Ask: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You.
As always, the Book & Author breakfasts present an array of popular writers. Thursday's Adult Book & Author Breakfast, hosted by Rachel Maddow, features Malcolm Gladwell, Karin Slaughter, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Marjorie Liu, all of whom will discuss forthcoming books. Friday's Children's Book & Author Breakfast, hosted by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush, daughters of former President George W. Bush, features Lupita Nyong'o, Tomi Adeyemi, Eoin Colfer and Da Chen.