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While going to BBC is an awesome reason all by itself to visit New York, you should consider some sightseeing while you’re there. Please don’t spend ALL of your time at the Javits Center…go out and have fun! New York is a fabulous city to visit, and there is plenty of stuff to ogle and experience. Here is a list of ten things you might consider:

1. The subway: Don’t be afraid. Mass transit is a wonderful thing (especially if you’re from California, the anti-mass transit state), and riding the subway is convenient (there are subway stops every-freakin’-where), fairly cheap (get a MetroCard if you’re going to be there for a week), and entertaining (the people-watching cannot be beat). Plus, it’s a good place to read (and check out what other people are reading). And if you miss your stop, just calmly get off, and get back on a train going the other direction. No one will ever know.
2. Museums: Even if you don’t think you’re a museum person, there is bound to be something that interests you. MoMA and the Met are the usual suspects, but there are plenty of other options. The Cloisters, which is at the northern tip of the island (and a bit difficult to find if you get off at the wrong subway stop), houses the Met’s medieval collection. It is very atmospheric and beautiful…the building and gardens are works of art, too. If you go, be sure to say hello to the unicorns. One museum that I still want to visit someday is the Tenement Museum, which has restored apartments within the building to tell the tales of immigrant families who once lived there.
3. New York Public Library: Go hang out with the lions. And take a peak at the Reading Room. And then walk around to Bryant Park, which is behind the library, and cozy up to the outside bar. You can hang with friends and chat about books.
4. Bookstores! Because there’s always room for one more book in your life. The Strand is a must-see…they claim to have 18 miles of books. Kinda hard to go wrong in a place with that many books! If you like travel books and world literature, Idlewild Books should also be on your list. They arrange their books by country, so if you’re planning to visit Timbuktu anytime soon, just hunt down the Mali section and browse through both the guide books and fiction set in Timbuktu…all together on the same shelf. Idlewild is The Best Place Ever if you love books and travel.
5. The Brooklyn Bridge: Don’t just look at it…walk across it! Trust me on this, it’s totally worth it. And you can always take the subway back.
6. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: This can take up a good part of your day (the security screening can eat up a few hours all by itself), so go early. And while it might sound like such a touristy thing to do, it’s gotta be done (not because it’s the patriotic thing to do, but because you’ll be amazed by the size of Libby’s big toe). And bonus, you get a cool boat ride tossed into the deal.
7. A boat tour (it’s a three hour tour, but without the Skipper and Gilligan) around Manhattan: Seriously, you should think about it. It takes a couple of hours, and costs more than a couple of bucks ($36, I think), but you’ll gain an appreciation for where things are, and see a few things you never thought you might see (Grant’s Tomb! Yankee Stadium!).
8. Times Square: Be sure to stop by late, late at night on a Friday or Saturday. And be amazed by the number of people. And the neon. And if you need a chocolate fix, the M&M store is there.
9. Ride in a cab/van to or from the airport: If you’re looking for adventure, this is the way to go. Cabbies who talk on two cell phones at the same time! Cabbies that drive on the sidewalks! Cabbies that get so angry you can see the spit fly from their mouth! Hmmm, okay maybe this isn’t the best thing to do in New York, but it can certainly be entertaining. And increase your heart rate.
10. Central Park: Central Park is massive, and there’s plenty to see. Just don’t get lost (I won’t name names, but you know who you are).

There are oodles of other things to do and see…which just gives us all an excuse to return!

Shanyn Day writes the blog Chick Loves Lit and is here today with some tips you may not have thought of for getting the most out of BEA. Check out her blog and follow her on Twitter!

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There are many, many posts in existence outlining “Tips for Book Expo America.” Most have the same information: wear comfortable shoes, get there early, ask before taking (and if you haven’t read a post with these tips, I suggest you Google one to cover your bases). There are a few things that I learned last year as an attendee that I haven’t seen covered in blogs – and some of the suggestions I am about to discuss were my most valuable resources last year.

*There is a hot dog stand literally right out the door from the convention center that will sell you a hot dog and drink or chicken kabob and drink for around $5. There is food available inside Javits, but for the same $5 you will get a single bottle of water.

*You may have a nice business card case that you picked out especially for the event – but on the busy convention floor you won’t want to dig in your pockets. Keep a few of your business cards stuck in the back of your assigned BEA badge so you can grab and give instantly.

*There is a cost to the WiFi in Javits ($4/hour or $30/day). If you’re someone who wants to get on Twitter or your e-mail, you may want to look into getting an internet plan for your phone rather than pay the fees. Or you can wait until after the conference and find free WiFi in a Starbucks or at your hotel.

*You don’t have to carry all of the books you pick up on the floor all day – you have two options. There is a shipping level on the bottom floor that allows you to keep a box throughout the week to ship at the end (if you use this shipping service it is about $50/box). You also could check a bag at the luggage check for $3/day and make trips to drop books off there. You are given a ticket at the luggage check and must present it to the attendant each time you want to go in – the boxes are just in a large room on many tables (you’ll need to remember where you put your box).

*You should not be bringing any books with you to the BEA exhibition floor. All books for signings and other events are provided and unless you catch an author during a non-signing time, they likely will not sign your extra items anyway.

*If you’re someone that likes to have a good sit, plan on walking a ways in Javits for a chair. There are chairs available in the eating area, but on the exhibition floor there are none. If you walk downstairs away from the exhibition floor there is a larger area with chairs, but you have to decide if the walk is worth it or the steps outside will suffice.

*The number one thing attendees told me they brought too much of last year: clothes. Since you’ll be in the exhibition hall all day and likely will want to eat dinner directly afterwards, you don’t need two or three changes of clothes per day. Bring clothes that can be layered and plan on wearing them from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep.

*Another item people brought and wish they hadn’t: a book to read. Plan on chatting with other attendees – and if you’re really desperate to read while you’re waiting for something, you’ll be surrounded by books. No need to carry in the extra weight.

As you’ll find your first day at the convention, there are many little tips that can help your day run smoothly. Some you will discover on your own, and hopefully some that you read about prior to going will also be of assistance. Most attendees are willing to give you advice from their point of view, so if you have additional questions don’t be afraid to ask someone. I wish you the best at BEA – and I hope to meet some of you while I’m out getting my hot dog for lunch

Michael Kindness is a sales rep for Random House and a co-founder of Books on the Nightstand, a blog and weekly podcast with book recommendations and behind-the-scenes look at the world of books, bookstores and publishing.

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Ann Kingman and I started the Books on the Nightstand blog and podcast just over three years ago, but I can still remember the excitement we felt when we got our first comments from real readers (not just people related to us). We never could have imagined the group of readers that would spring up around Books on the Nightstand, but I do think we learned a lot about community-building, and I’d love to share some ideas here.

Spread Yourself Out, But Don’t Spread Yourself Thin.

Our first bits of feedback came via the comments section on our blog. It was wonderful to read those and to respond, but we quickly realized it wasn’t conducive to conversations. We made the decision to set up a BOTNS group on Goodreads, which has wonderful discussion boards. Over the last few years, our membership there has grown and there are now nearly 300 discussion threads. We resisted setting up a Facebook page, but it turned out to be the perfect place to connect with people who love books, but aren’t on Goodreads. In addition to auto-posting when we have a new blog post available, we use FB to announce bits of bookish news and share fun literary links. Ann and I each have our own Twitter feeds as well, though mine tends to be more personal, with occasional book stuff thrown in. There are obviously tons of places we could “be” online, but we’ve identified these four as our main ways of reaching our readers.

Encourage Feedback.

It’s probably obvious to you, but some readers might not be sure that you want feedback, so tell them. “Let me know what your opinion on this topic is.” “What’s the first book you remember buying for yourself?” or the ever popular and never boring, “What’s your favorite book of all time?” Create conversations. You’ll make new friends and you’ll also get many new ideas for blog posts, I guarantee it.

Get Out of the Way.

One of the most satisfying moments for Ann and me came when we realized that our listeners and readers weren’t just talking to us, they were talking to each other. We might have set up the online meeting place, but the conversations were happening whether we started them or not. Don’t feel like you have to take part in every exchange. Jump in where you feel you have something to contribute, but also let your new friends get to know each other.

Cultivate Your Voice.

Sure, we do a podcast, so we have the advantage of using our actual voices, but writing a blog post should be no different. Be sure your readers are getting the real you. Don’t worry that your voice is too quirky or too sarcastic or too serious or too anything. People will read and connect with you because of who you are, not who you’re trying to be.

Cut to last year. It was like that scene in You’ve Got Mail: “Do you think we should… meet?” We mentioned the idea of hosting a small gathering of BOTNS listeners and wondered if anyone would be interested. We were overwhelmed by the response. Nearly 100 book-lovers descended on a small town in Vermont last month, and mingled with 9 authors; some established bestsellers, some just publishing their first books. For me, the best part of the weekend was meeting so many amazing people in person. Some of them I felt like I already knew, but it was great to put faces to names and avatars. I also loved that we got to introduce these discerning readers to some truly wonderful authors. And this all started online.

I fully understand that not every book blogger will get the chance to meet so many of their readers, but one step at a time. Build the online community. Foster the book conversations. Maybe suggest a meetup/tweetup (blogup?) in your city. Get a group together to attend an author event. The possibilities are limitless, but they all start with your blog.

Lindsey Rudnickas is the Digital Concierge at NetGalley, an online service and connection point for book publishers, reviewers, media, librarians, booksellers, bloggers and educators.

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We could talk forever about the philosophy behind building book buzz and how that’s changed—and changing. Just as the entire news world is adapting in response to the popularity of online and social media, so is the job of the book publicist/marketer. The key, I think, is to be creative, open to new ideas, and willing to experiment.

So along those lines, I’ll keep from philosophizing and instead give some real-life examples of how we’ve seen NetGalley publishers being creative in their book buzz efforts.

Utilizing social influencers and Twitter:

We had a publisher partner with Klout to offer a digital preview copy of a highly anticipated title (via NetGalley) to 100 pre-selected key influencers on Twitter, in exchange for tweeting about the book to their followers. It was very cool for us to learn about what Klout does, and to see this publisher interacting with some of their biggest fans in a meaningful way. The concept of rewarding people who were both interested in that title and also influential in book circles is something more publishers could easily replicate in other ways (outside of Klout or Twitter).

Certainly, it pays to know your audience—and to use them to help spread buzz. And of course in your own Twitter efforts, it’s important to be focused in your messaging and tweet with relevance—we definitely try to! With a current Klout score of  57, @NetGalley is always looking to keep our audience engaged and extend our reach, and we appreciate your help! J

Connecting with bloggers:

The idea of a blog tour can be immediately exciting to many authors and publicists who run into logistical hurtles when planning a traditional book tour (high costs for travel, coordinating special shipments of books to arrive in time, scheduling events with various stores all with their own full calendars, and bringing in a big enough audience at each venue to make it all worthwhile). How enticing an idea—to stay home (in your PJs if you feel like it!) and follow a schedule of virtual Q&As/interviews/guest posts directly with bloggers. We’ve seen how fast buzz can build and spread across dedicated book blogs, and we love to see publishers taking advantage. One publisher used NetGalley to promote a special campaign to bloggers to help spread the word about authors who were touring (both physically and virtually). In exchange for a blog post about the author, book, and tour, the blogger would receive an exclusive sneak peek of another forthcoming title via NetGalley. Win-win!

Engaging with online reading communities:

Publishers don’t have to look far to find pre-existing communities of dedicated readers who can’t wait to talk about the books they’re reading. Sites like LibraryThing and Goodreads are an awesome resource and a way to connect directly with fans. LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program in particular is a great tool that awards advance copies of books to LibaryThing members in exchange for a review. LibraryThing uses their special algorithm to match the most deserving readers with the right titles, and publishers benefit from all that pre-publication buzz. We love when publishers use NetGalley to make the process even easier (and environmentally friendly) by fulfilling those Early Reviewer copies digitally. Not only does this allow the LibraryThing member to read the title on their favorite device, but also keeps the publisher from being restricted to only offering as many printed galleys as they have left in their office.

They can even have the best of both worlds—offer some print galleys and then fulfill the second-tier of requests with digital galleys. We saw another publisher do this with a trade advertising campaign: through a trade newsletter ad (like Shelf Awareness, PW Daily, etc), the publisher collected requests for a particular galley. When they ran out of printed galleys to send, they provided an auto-approved link to view that galley via NetGalley instead. We loved to see how many more readers were given access to the galley because the publisher utilized the digital option, too.

Plugging into the NetGalley community:

Here’s the shameless plug portion of this post! With the new “NetGalley Features” newsletters, publishers are promoting their forthcoming titles to professional readers (reviewers, bloggers, media, librarians, booksellers, and educators) who have expressed interest in that genre. NetGalley members who love Romance titles are excited to hear about the newest romance galleys that have just become available, and publishers benefit from tapping into their pre-existing reading preferences. Plus, we announce which galleys were the Most Requested from that each newsletter—just as you can sort our entire catalog of galleys by Most Requested.

Those are just a few recent examples that caught our eye and made us smile—but we’re always open to new ideas! We thrive on finding new ways to incorporate digital galleys into buzz campaigns and are continually inspired by publishers and bloggers alike.

Megan Snider is a journalist, a fiction writer, and the voice behind Write Meg! Say hi to her on Twitter.

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Finding book reviews online isn’t difficult. A little hop over to Google, a few quick tap-tap-taps on the keyboard and in a matter of seconds, hundreds of reviews for Kathryn Stockett’s The Help or Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants blossom before my eyes. Though most might rave about two of fiction’s darlings, each review is like one of the lopsided cupcakes I pull from my oven: never exactly alike.

When I visit a book blog—one of more than 1,400 registered in the Book Blogs Search Engine, for example—I might be checking out your take on a graphic novel or admiring the stack of books you received in your mailbox last week. Maybe I’m admiring your way with words as you describe your favorite literary heroine of all time or the “library loot” you brought home.

Either way, I’ve made it. I’ve arrived at your little bookish neck of the woods.

And you want to know what I’m wondering, always and constantly?

Who are you?

Checking out a blogger’s “about me” page is as important, to me, as their book reviews archive;  that’s how I put a face to the black-and-white words on my screen. If I’m seeking out your take on a new release, it’s because I want to know what you—and you alone—have to say. I’m building trust in you. I value you. And I’m trying to determine if my hard-earned cash should be blown on your recommendations.

Plenty of pressure, isn’t it?

No two people ever read a book the same way. We’re daughters and sons, parents, friends, significant others and workers. We’ve traveled, had our hearts broken, survived high school, been betrayed. We’ve loved and maybe lost, but kept moving forward.

This is what you bring to a review. This is what puts your own personal stamp on the books you’re discussing—and that, more than anything, is what appeals to my bookish heart.

What experiences in your life impacted the way you viewed a work? How did you relate to it—or how did you find it difficult to relate at all? Did this book reduce you to tears, keep you up at night, create a barrier between you and your family because you could not put it down?

That’s book blogging gold, friends. The personal touch. Knowing we’re not writing and reading in a vacuum, removed from the outside world. Talking to one another. Forming the community of which we’re all so proud—the same one communing at the Book Blogger Convention on May 27. Being honest and enthusiastic and real.

This is what allows me to squeal with delight when I put a face to a Twitter icon, or recognize a friend from their Gravatar. We spend countless hours discussing the books that have shaped us—defined us—but none of that would mean much without the human connection. That bond elevates us from reviewers and book lovers to friends.

Don’t be afraid to get emotional. Tell me about your kids, your pets, your dreams. Share your personal photos, and tell me—me, your friend—why a novel has altered your world.

I’ll believe you. I’m ready—and I’m listening.

See you all at the Book Blogger Convention!

Raych writes the blog books i done read. Check it out and find her on Twitter.

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The bookbloggonets has gotten very big.  And it seems like at least one out of every five bloggers is all, I should host a Thing.  Which, awesome.  The more Things the better.  For those who do not like Carnivals, there are Hops.  For those who do not like memes, there are challenges.  For those who do not like readathons…sit down, child, because there is clearly something wrong with you.

Variety is the spice of the intertubes.  However, you specifically *points* cannot do all the Things.  I know!  Disappointing.  Especially when you are a new blogger and are not sick to death of any of them yet.  But I promise, it will wear you out.  Even if you forgo reading and reviewing and give your blog entirely over to memes, the inherent contradiction in doing both Wondrous Words Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday will cause them to absorb each other and your blog will be sucked into the resulting black hole.

Bloggular black holes are no laughing matter.

Sometimes it feels like you have to do All The Things because they are there, or to build a network and grow your audience and jargony jargon.  And while Things are a great way to meet other bloggers, visiting blogs and commenting and conversating is still and always the most straightforward route.  (Doing something ‘because it’s there’ is for hiking enthusiasts.)

So pick your Things.  Snoop around other blogs and see what you like to see.  Think about what you like to do.  If you love reading about and highlighting upcoming releases, Waiting on Wednesday is probably your bag, baby (Wednesday has a lot of meme on its hands).  If you like tinkering with your html, join the bloggiesta.  If you find yourself skimming a Thing when it crops up on other blogs, dude you clearly hate that Thing, so do not do that Thing on your own blog.

Me, I like reviewing and I like yakking.  I like the latter about 1/4th as much as I like the former, so my blog ends up being three-parts reviews to one-part yak, with the odd readathon thrown in for leavening.  I prefer reading reviews INFINITELY MORE than reading memes or author interviews, although I’m surprisingly fond of hearing what people are up to of a Sunday, so that is how I pattern my blog.  I want it to be something I would enjoy reading if I were not me.

This is not to say that you get to tell other people they do too many Things.  They will burn they own selves out and learn their lesson in good time, and that is not your sandbox besides.  You only get to tailor your own sandbox and if you want to fill it with Friday Finds no one gets to tell you nay.  That is the triumph of the blogosphere.

So take your time and pick your toys.  Weigh what’s important to you and then go find a Thing that expresses that.  If none exists, join the mighty ranks and make up a Thing of your own.

See you all at that most glorious Thing, the Book Blogger Convention.

Kate Garrabrant runs the blog Babbling About Books and More and writes romance novels as KT Grant. Find her on Twitter @katiebabs.

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Finding Your Place in the World of Blogging and How It Builds Up Your Self-Esteem

Once upon a time there was a young girl who was afraid to speak up and share her opinions on anything. Many had told her no one cared to hear what she had to say, and because of that she grew silent and lost her voice. She slowly closed herself off from the world around her. Then years later she sat in front of a computer and was introduced to the internet. There she found a whole new world where she could s share her ideas and opinions. The message boards, on-line journals and something called blogs allowed her to find her voice again and her self-esteem. Her silence was a thing of the past all because of the on-line world of blogging…

That young girl was me. For years I closed myself off from the world, where I felt it was better if I didn’t have an opinion on anything. During this time I lost myself in the world of books, mainly romance, where I found acceptance. Books won’t turn their back on you and they don’t discriminate or judge. From my love of reading and the internet, I found a community where I could talk to others all over the world about books since no one I knew in my everyday life was interested in having this dialogue. From that I gained the courage to do something I never thought I would do. I created my own blog. 

Starting a blog can be a scary thing. For one, anyone can read what you post, unless you have it set on private. But there’s something empowering about having your own blog. All you need is an idea and run with it. That’s what I did. When I decided to start my blog (Babbling About Books, and More!) over three years ago, I had no plan. I was blogging someplace else for a year and felt it was my time to go off on my own. Whether anyone would read what I had to say was a different matter. But I didn’t care.

The big question I’m asked is how does one make their blog successful and not get lost among the more established blogs that already have a following. Honestly, there’s no set answer to this question. Most of the time it’s pure luck. A person’s success is what they make of it. No one should compare their level of success to another. Starting a blog is very much like an experiment. It’s a way of creating something new and different and most importantly allows your personality to shine through. There are no rules. It’s a go with the flow, choose your own adventure creation. Once you figure out what you have planned for your blog and unleash it out into the world, the rewards are endless.

I created my blog as an outlet, a platform to be heard, even if I was the only listener. Imagine if you’re standing on a stage and speaking to an empty auditorium. Each day you come back on that stage to the empty room, until one day, someone is sitting in the audience. Then that one person grows into two…ten… one hundred…thousands.  All those seats are soon filled with people waiting to hear what you have to say.

I blog because it gives me a sense of balance, a place I have made where I can proudly shout out my thoughts and not care if there are those who feel I shouldn’t. If you have your own blog, you know this feeling very well. For some a blog has become an extension of a person’s soul. Mine feels like that. Sounds silly, right? But so what?

Blogging opened a whole new world for me and for so many others. Acceptance is one of the key things when it comes to blogging. Building one’s self-esteem is also very important. Working on goals also comes to mind. Blogging can help you accomplish so many of your goals. And this is very much fact. How do I know? Not only has my blog helped me improve my personal relationships, but professional as well. Blogging has enabled me to work on my dream that has become a reality. And I’m not only talking about the amount of people who may stop by to read my posts, which to this day still astounds me.

Blogging allowed that scared, voiceless little girl to grow into a woman who knows she has so much to offer the universe. My offering is my words, my imagination and creation of characters and worlds I’ve put on paper. My blog helped me become an author, my biggest dream I had ever since I started reading books.

I found my own place among the millions of blogs out there and came to the conclusion I’m special in my own way. Blogging opened my eyes to this, and I can promise the same thing will happen to you. Show the world what you have to offer and proudly walk out on that stage, that platform that will welcome your voice, regardless if none, or millions hear you.

Jen Forbus writes Jen Book Thoughts and has made a name for herself in crime fiction reviewing circles. Find her on Twitter @jenforbus.

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As I sit down to write my post on “finding a blogging community” I have just completed my second annual crime fiction theme week. Each year I have done this, just before the theme week starts I ask myself, “why am I doing this again?” As I’m sure most bloggers experience just before a major project, things are crazy; you’re trying to tie up all the loose ends and make sure all the t’s are crossed and i’s dotted. Most bloggers are doing these tasks while they’re also working, managing a household, taking care of other obligations. Since this is only my second theme week, I’m still learning and making adjustments, hopefully improvements. So, I’m crossing my fingers and hoping everything turns out well.

This year, like last year, turned out fabulous. It turned out fabulous because I’m part of an amazing blogging community. 15 bloggers joined in the theme week with a handful of others who were unable to commit to the blog week activities but who made time to stop by the blogs and participate in the activities.
I started book blogging in January of 2008 and almost felt like I was in a bubble, putting posts out into the ether and not having any idea what would become of them. I started searching out other bloggers and met some people who became confidants, idea sounding boards, cheerleaders and ultimately good friends. As with any kind of relationships, building these connections took time and effort. They didn’t just fall in my lap.

I spend time reading blogs, communicating on Twitter, sharing on Facebook, meeting up in person, e-mailing and phoning and so much more. Do I do everything right? No, not even close. I’m an introvert and clumsy in social settings. But I am honest and sincere, and that has helped me to find the bloggers I fit well with. So if you’re looking for your blogging community, these are the tips I can recommend from my own experience:

• Be patient. Don’t expect everything overnight. That doesn’t, however, mean sit and wait.
• Remember community is a two-way street. Search others out and communicate with them through comments, emails, tweets, etc. Take part in events or challenges. Sometimes this means moving outside your comfort zone but you can take baby steps. Refer to tip #1. On that same note, remember you aren’t a super hero. If you try to do everything, you’ll burn out.
• Be honest. Be honest with others as well as yourself. There are many, many bloggers out there; you don’t have to be best friends with all of them; you won’t be. Find bloggers that share your same philosophies and interests.
• Be respectful. While you don’t need to be, nor should you be, best friends with everyone, you should respect other’s differences, their intellectual property, and their genuine efforts. Sadly, you’ll likely run into some people who are unethical or blogging for the wrong reasons, but they’re the exception not the rule.
• Find a mentor or trusted confidant. This one was huge for me. Having someone to ask questions of and consult helped my self-confidence. The two bloggers I consider my mentors didn’t always have the answers, but they were fantastic  for constant encouragement. And sometimes, that was really all I needed.
• Be the best blogger you can. I still feel as though I’m a newbie at this book blogging thing. I’m constantly learning new things everyday, asking questions and experimenting with new ideas. Everything doesn’t work, and that’s o.k. But I definitely take lessons away from everything I try. As with any kind of community, no one wants the member who mooches and never contributes.

I consider myself extremely fortunate that both the blogging community and the crime fiction community are welcoming groups of people. They’ve embraced me, foibles, crazy ideas and all. To me, blogging is a lot like life. If you’re authentic, treat others the way you want to be treated and do the best job you can, you’ll be great.

By the way, at the end of my theme weeks I’m reminded why I continue to host them. I love the chance to share a week with great bloggers, share crime fiction with fellow readers, and share the excitement of reading with everyone. I think that’s what community’s all about.

I’d love to hear others’ thoughts as well, what tips would you add, subtract, change?