Monday, June 17, 2013

Book Blogger Confessions: BEA and ALA


"Book Blogger Confessions is a meme that posts the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, where book bloggers "confess" and vent about topics that are unique to us. Feel free to share, vent and offer solutions. Just keep it respectful - no bashing authors or other bloggers! If you want to participate just grab our button and include it in your post with a link to either Midnyte Reader or For What It's Worth."

BEA, ALA. Have you ever been before? If you've been before, share your experiences; both pro & con. If you haven't gone before, do you participate in online events like Armchair BEA? Do you hope to go one day? Do you feel too intimidated to go? Are you jealous of the big book hauls and tweets during the events?


ALA:

I am going to ALA this year and I cannot wait to go. I am going to be staying with a former coworker (former supervisor actually). I am sure I will be so nervous. I am starting already to get twinges of nerves as I am not sure what to expect but there is excitement too. Of course I have been researching about what to expect, helpful tips, etc. to hopefully help my time at ALA go smoothly. The one thing sad though is I hate to leave my family for the long weekend but they are super supportive of me and my career. 

BEA:

I would love to go BEA, hopefully next year. There is a great of blogger friends that I am hoping to go with, if everything works out. This year I also participated in Armchair BEA for the first time. I did not get as much time to participate as I liked since this is a hectic time of year, but whenever I could, I had a great fun. 

Jealousy over book hauls:

Sure there are twinges of jealousy when I see all the fantastic book hauls those who went to BEA got, especially if they are the titles I am looking forward to reading. LOL BUT, I think it is also very important for me to keep in mind that they are where they are because they have either paid to go to BEA or they have worked hard to be at a point in their blogging career to get invited to those events. If I started getting a little blue over it, I stop myself to remember I am doing this blog for myself first and foremost, not to get free book hauls. I am doing this because I want to connect with other readers and share my love of reading. If I get some free books out of the deal along the way, than that is the cherry on top. :)

What about you?

Do you feel jealous over others book hauls? If so, what do you do to combat it? Are you heading to ALA? Did you got to BEA?

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13 comments:

  1. Good point about the book hauls and paying to go. I try to just not look at any of the book haul posts myself, but it is true a ticket to BEA is a couple hundred dollars, isn't it? So I guess it all evens out in the end.

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    1. Yeah, those free books really are not so free after you add it all up together. :) I have not had much time to read about all the book hauls honestly this go around, so I am good to go too! :)

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  2. Have fun at ALA ..was going to go last year but something came up. I am not jealous at all of the book hauls

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    1. Thanks :) I'm really not all that jealous either this year. I read a few of the posts about it but I was like great for you! :)

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  3. I love your comment about jealousy. It's almost important to remember why we blog in the first place when the green eyed monster shows up lol

    Have fun at ALA! I went to the Mid-Winter one last year and it was a lot of fun but on a much smaller scale according to those who know. It's also supposed to be less chaotic than BEA.

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    1. Thanks! I am looking forward to it. I started to get a wee little nervous because I leave NEXT Thursday, which is just crazy to say. Of course I have so much to do at work and home before I go so I am sure time will fly. :)

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  4. "If I get some free books out of the deal along the way, than that is the cherry on top."

    Absolutely, I think going to the event itself would be its own reward.

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    1. Definitely is for ALA to me. I cannot wait to participate in the great conversations and come home with a wealth of knowledge. :)

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  5. I think it's great that you're able to go to ALA this year! I've been looking forward to it for months (and I'm really glad that I'm lucky enough to go). My experience has been good -- it's amazing to be surrounded by so many people talking about libraries, etc.

    See you in Chicago!!

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    1. I am really looking forward to it. This is my passion, so getting to share it and learn from so many others is going to be great! :)

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  6. Steph, I love how you realize it's not about the hauls! As I said (on my blog in response to your comment) join the non-jealous club! I'm not most of the time anyway... If a haul consisted of only books I'm dying to read but haven't yet got then I'd get a teensy green but not annoyed.
    I am not going, and haven't been, to either. Apparently ALA moves... You think it'll ever come to England? It should! I'm glad you participated in Armchair, I wish I had, lol. It seemed too time-consuming though!
    ~Amy Bookworm

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    1. :) I agree--maybe a bit green with envy but not annoyed--why would I be annoyed for someone else's good fortune? Doesn't make sense IMO.

      ALA does move--sorry England is not on the list. ;-) I only did Armchair a couple days--could not get much done that week as far as blogging goes with my work and family life so busy.

      Thanks for stopping by and Happy Reading Amy!

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  7. Exactly! I never knew about free books, etc. when I first started blogging. I just wanted a project! I still don't seek ARCs b/c I just have too many books as it is! I hope you have a great time at ALA and hope you get to go to BEA.

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