Reflections of My First Bookcon

 

As you all know…I attended Bookcon 2019! I had such a fantastic time and I wanted to make a reflection post to tell you all about my trip. I had two days after but those were more personal. We went to Korea town and China town and I was in heaven!! Today I want to first look back on my packing list post and then I’ll talk more about the actual event.

 

 

 

Packing List Reflection

 

• Backpack: This was by far the most useful item I brought. I was able to unload totes of books and swag when they grew too heavy. It also held all of my other items. My husband filled his so heavy because every time we met up I unloaded books on him…by his request. If you can carry tote bags around then you don’t need this but I am telling you that this was amazing.

• Badge: I was a VIP member but regardless of that fact, I recommend buying your Bookcon ticket early enough that it is shipped to you. This means I can skip the line to get my pass. I was able to go right in and get in line, ready to get into the show floor for some amazing books.

• Schedule: We had some trouble our first day, just figuring out how things really worked. It didn’t take long to get it figured out though. A tentative schedule was amazing to have on hand but be sure to watch social media for secret ARC drops.

• Map: YES!! It was so important to be able to find certain booths. This way we can quickly make it to wherever we needed to be.

 

• Pen/Sharpie and Stickers: I only used these once but I would still bring them again. You never know who you might run into on the show floor. I did meet Natasha Ngan on the floor and she hugged me but I should have asked her to sign a bookplate. (p.s. she is so much taller than me but that isn’t hard to do…) I was too excited to talk to her and take a picture with her!! I kind of forgot about them. These were a fantastic idea though and I am glad I brought them.

• Portable Charger: Again…one of the best choices. It came in handy for me but also those I met. I let a few different people use my charger while we were waiting in various lines.

• Water: Stay hydrated! I decided against bringing the camelback that came in my rucksack, it made the bag too heavy and I hadn’t even put any books in it yet. I did bring a small water bottle though and made sure to refill it if needed.

• Snacks: I was actually really bad…I only ate one granola bar the first day and the second day I had a Starbucks drink. I just wasn’t hungry… I am happy that I brought them though. I would rather have them and not be hungry than be hungry and not have anything or have to go buy something.

• Cash: Some booths only take cash so having it on hand really came in handy. If you know that you will not be buying anything then…cash isn’t needed but I would recommend it.

• Deodorant: I actually didn’t use this…it was warm but I was not sweaty warm. I probably would just stick to a small bottle of body spray instead.

• Cardigan/Light Jacket: I did not bring this the second day because I never used it during the first. With a room so full of bodies, it was warm…I am warm normally so I was not cold at all and this was only something extra I ended up having to carry around.

 

• Business Cards: I did hand some of these out and I was really happy to get some in return. I should have handed out more but I was not as proactive as I could have been.

• Comfortable Shoes: I saw some people in heels and my feet hurt just looking at them running around the show floor while trying to make lines for ARCs.

• Books/Swag to be signed: I only brought one. I didn’t want to bring so many that I had to carry them around. I flew in any way and those would have made my bag sooo heavy.

• Hand Sanitizer: I never actually used this. The restrooms I used were clean and I never felt I needed this but it is always nice to have on hand.

 

 

• Hair Ties: It was so nice wearing my hair up the second day. It really helped me stay cool. We did get soaked on the way back to the hotel though…maybe next year an umbrella is in order or just wait until the rain stops.

 

 

My Overall Experience (Good and Bad)

 

 

I had an amazing time at my first Bookcon! There were some things that shocked me though, mostly the audacity of some people and the lengths they go to just for an ARC. My husband and I saw many things…fist fights, a girl curled on the floor avoiding being trampled, someone grabbing another person’s ARC ticket…

 

 

 

Let’s hear the bad first because we can recover with the good! So, yes there were a few nasty people. There was a lot of line cutting. I would be waiting in line and a group of people would just cut in the line above. I would notify security but they did nothing. The lines were also awful. We were told we could only line up 15 minutes before the drop…no sooner. Well…that did not happen. People would line up hours before and it would make the booths feel so unsafe because the people would push etc. Security deemed it a fire hazard and would make the booths drop the ARCs ahead of time. Then those of us who were following the rules walk-up only to find the line capped or gone, having the ARCs already distributed. People would push and yell at others…it was very sad. To know people would stoop so low. What made me even madder was seeing books put up for sale on eBay that evening or the day after…but I’ll stay off that soapbox for now. We can see enough of that on Twitter.

 

 

Alright, enough bad things…let’s talk about the best parts! My by far favorite part was meeting other people! I had a fabulous time but meeting other people really made my trip. We bonded over books, helped one another, even talked about our lives. I even met someone with the same first and middle name as mine!! I also met another witch…that made my day for sure. I vowed that we would be new besties. Which reminds me…I should text her today. There were some nasty people but the number of nice ones far outweighed that.

 

 

 

Free books were also a plus!! I missed out on a good handful of books I really wanted but I did get some really great ones. I have my pack-mule husband to thank for that. I sent him to the most difficult drops. As an active war vet…he can handle that better than I can and he did a fantastic job. It was not all about the free books though, I met many great authors as well! I met someone working in the Faecrate booth I might beta read for. An author asked me to stay in touch about my mermaid fantasy because “we need more mermaids.” Another author thinks I am “an interesting woman” and would love to keep in touch. I met Cassandra Clare and she held my Will Herondale plushie!!!!

I am already planning for next year and I am hoping to have a special friend with me. Those I met at Bookcon requested I make Will his own Instagram because I had been photographing him around the event. So…I did! Find him at @willhadventures and stay up to date on his adventures. He will also be following along for every Bookcon for now on! Hopefully, I will also be going to BookExpo as an author! I will keep you all posted about next year but until then, thank you to all of the amazing publishers, authors, and people. You’ve all made this past weekend one that I will never forget. I look forward to seeing you all again next year!