In My Mailbox - June 5, 2011 -- THREE WEEKS WORTH!

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren :)

Hi guys! No vlog this week because you do not want to look at my ugly mug today :) I'm exhausted! I'm a big wuss and I'm still recovering from my vacation in NY. Sure, BEA wore me out but dealing with my family REALLY wore me out! Hehehe

So! This haul is about 3 weeks worth of books that arrived before, during and after BEA. For books I got at BEA, clickity click HERE

All links are to Goodreads

Bought at 2K11 Event

All are signed! 

*Popular by Alissa Grosso

*Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

*OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy

*The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner

*Illegal by Bettina Restrepo

*The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski

It was such a pleasure meeting these great authors!!

Bought from Bookperk

*Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Flask reads "Three sips to mind the dead...Graveminder by Melissa Marr May 2011" -- how cool is that!

Bought from my local Indie Bookstore

*Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

I own this one already but my copy didn't match the others in the series I also own..and I'm OCD about my books matching :)

*Everlasting by Angie Frazier

She'll be signing at the store I bought this one from! So excited to meet an author in my home town :)

For Review:

*Soujon's Journey by Marlee Morgan

From the author - her first novel!

*Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

If you see this one in a store, pick it up - it's a beautiful book to hold - and then try not to take it home with you ;)

*Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

Second copy for me so look out for a giveaway soon!

You want to read this one - Geoff is such a great guy!

*ARC Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor (May 2011)

From the author - her first novel for Young Adults :)

*ARC The Dead by Charlie Higson (June 2011)

2nd book The Enemy series

*ARC Love Lies Bleeding by Jess McConkey (August 2011)

This one was a surprise. An adult mystery type with a dark twist - might give it a try but if anyone reading this really wants this one to review for yourself, please let me know!

*Insatiable by Meg Cabot

I NEED to read more Meg Cabot as I've heard she is fabulous!

Big Thanks go out to: Marlee Morgan, Quirk Books + Eric, Sourcebooks, Shelia O'Connor, Authors On The Web + Hyperion, and HarperCollins

Most favorite Mailbox Item!!

A wonderful Thank You card from Cialina from Muggle-Born.net

How sweet is she?!

I need to send out Thank you notes more :)

So, what's in your mailbox?

FREE e-Book Alert

Digital words aren't for everyone and I don't think they will EVER take the place of printed books but for those of you, like me, who have grown to love them here are my latest finds!

The links below are for complete books (not chapter samples or previews).  Some might be available for only a short time and some are only available on certain platforms so make sure to read all the fine print : )

Summer's Crossing by Julia Jagawa

An ebook exclusive novella from Julia's Iron Fey Series

Harlequin / Nook / Sony / Kobo

*currenlty avilable for Kindle for $2.39
*currently avilable in iBooks for $2.99

BEA - The Books

I debated posting my BEA book haul because I thought maybe everyone was tired of seeing everyone's piles by now :)

BUT then I remembered how much I enjoy looking at everyone's piles :)

SO! I present:

My Book Expo America Books!

I might be missing a few...and I think one walked into two different pictures...and I was really tired when I took these....and....I'm too tired now to link up each book....and....ok...that's it! Enjoy!

AUDIO BOOKS

*Kingdom Keepers IV: Power Play by Ridley Pearson, Disney Hyperion / Brilliance Audio (CD)
*Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly, Candlewick / Brilliance Audio (MP3)
*The Great Secret by L. Ron Hubbard, Galaxy Audio (CD)

ARCs

*Laddertop Volume 1 Graphic Novel by Orson Scott Card and Emily Janice Card - October 2011, Tor
*The 39 Clues Chills vs. Vespers Book One The Medusa Plot by Gordon Korman - August 2011, Scholastic
*Day of the Predator (Time Riders #2) by Alex Scarrow - October 2011, Bloomsbury
*Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan - September 2011, St. Martin's Griffin
*The Predicteds by Christine Seifert - September 2011, Sourcebooks
*Forever by Maggie Stiefvater - July 2011, Scholastic
*Fury by Elizabeth Miles - August 2011, Simon and Schuster
*The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen - September 2011, Egmont
*Mind Over Monsters by Jennifer Harlow - October 2011, Midnight Ink / Flux
*Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison - October 2011, Egmont
*How To Rock Braces and Glasses by Meg Haston - September 2011, Poppy / Little Brown
*The Shadowing: Hunted by Adam Slater - September 2011, Egmont
*Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Tylor - September 2011, Little Brown
*Super Diaper Baby 2 The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers (Book 3) by George Beard and Harold Hutchins - June 2011, Scholastic
*Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby - October 2011, Scholastic
*Shut Out by Kody Keplinger - September 2011, Poppy / Little Brown
*Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver - October 2011, Harper
*The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - October 2011, Scholastic
*Legend by Marie Lu - November 2011, Penguin
*Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey - September 2011, HarperCollins
*Eve by Anna Carey - October 2011, HarperCollins
*Captain Awesome To The Rescue No 1 by Stan Kirby - April 2012 BOUND WITH *Heidi Heckelbeck Has A Secret by Wanda Coven - March 2012, Simon and Schuster
*Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore - October 2011, Bloomsbury
*Between by Jessica Warman - August 2011, Bloomsbury
*Going Underground by Susan Vaught - September 2011, Bloomsbury
*WinterTown by Stephen Emond - December 2011, Little Brown
*Wildwood by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis - September 2011, Balzer and Bray
*The Traitor's Smile (The Pale Assassin #2) by Patricia Elliott - October 2011, Holiday House
*Shelter by Harlan Coben - September 2011, G. P. Putnam's Sons / Penguin
*The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch - September 2011, Scholastic
*Fracture by Megan Miranda - January 2012, Bloomsbury
*After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel - September 2011, Bloomsbury
*Variant by Robison Wells - October 2011, HaperCollins
*Dark Eden by Patrick Carman - November 2011, HarperCollins
*Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi - November 2011, Harper
*Bloodlines by Richelle Mead - August 2011, Razorbill / Penguin
*Floors by Patrick Carman - September 2011, Scholastic
*The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler - November 2011, Razorbill / Penguin
*Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout - September 2011, Spencer Hill Press
*Pure by Julianna Baggott - February 2012, Hachette

SIGNED ARCs

*Nightshade (The Poison Diaries #2) by Maryrose Wood - October 2011, Balzer and Bray / Harper
*Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber - November 2011, Sourcebooks
*Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey - September 2011, Flux
*Witches of East End by Melissa de la cruz - June 2011, Hyperion
*The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton - October 2011, Tor
*Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor - September 2011, Little Brown
*SkyShip Academy: The Pearl Wars by Nick James - September 2011, Flux
*Bunheads by Sophie Fleck - October 2011, Poppy / Little Brown
*The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon - October 2011, HarperCollins
*Entrhalled Edited by Melissa Marr & Kelly Armstrong - September 2011, HarperCollins
*Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters - September 2011, Quirk
*Frost by Wendy Delsol - October 2011, Candlewick
*Undercurrent (Siren #2) by Tricia Rayburn - July 2011, Egmont
*Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick - September 2011, Egmont
*Crossed (Matched #2) - November 2011, Dutton / Penguin

SIGNED FINISHED COPIES

*Bloody Valentine by Melissa De La Cruz- Hyperion
*Draw The Dark by Ilsa J. Bick - Carolrhoda Lab
*Original Sin (Personal Demons #2) by Lisa Desrochers - Tor
*Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton - HarperCollins
*Vampire Empire Book One: The Greyfriar by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith - Prometheus
*Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly - Candelwick
*Family by Micol Ostow, Egmont
*Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely #5) by Melissa Marr, HarperCollins
*Minder by Kate Kaynak - Spencer Hill Press

BEA recap and things I learned

First off - I love my friends! It was absolutely fabulous to reconnect with these awesome ladies!

I spent most of my time with Eleni (La Femme Readers), Lexie (Poisoned Rationality), Jenn (Reading with Tequila), Taschima (Bloody Bookaholic), Sherry (Flipping Pages for All Ages), Sandy (Pirate Penguin's Reads), Nikki (Wicked Awesome Books) and Danielle (Frenzy of Noise), Bri (B.A.M. Book Review) and Amelia (Imagination In Focus).

BEA itself was amazing! The amount of book love going on at the Javits Center was off the charts!

Last year was my first time attending and I did a lot of walking around not quite sure of what I was doing. This year, I took the slow and steady approach. I didn't rush to get to anything and if I showed up at a signing or publisher booth and there weren't any more books, or the line was way long and I didn't feel like waiting, I did something else :) And you know what? I'm not disappointed with anything!

Was there blogger drama? (I know you know what I'm talking about). Sure there was. Did I pay any attention to it - or more importantly, witness any of it myself? Nope. That's not to say there weren't rude people. But really? Rude people exist everywhere. Being a blogger (or author or publisher or librarian or teacher) doesn't mean you are a perfect person that never makes mistakes. My life is drama free and I think my attitude severs me and my lifestyle very well :)

Provided you are still reading, you might be asking yourself, but Emily, what did you learn this past week? So kind of you to ask :)

BEA 2011 -- WHAT I LEARNED

*My friends are awesome

*Publishers, for the most part, want to work with bloggers.

     Not saying they haven't wanted to in the past but it was a more prevalent theme this year. I was (a little) more outgoing as far as talking with people and handing out my card but I also felt like the reps I talked too were interested in talking to me. Very cool feeling

*DO NOT use the BEA Shipping area / box up your books room...thingy

     Ok, I have no idea what this is actually called, but this year I finally understand what it is. It's been said that people take things from your box if you check your books, or that the area isn't secure and I've been like - what are you talking about? Boxes? Not secure? Well people - you know what? THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PLACES TO LEAVE YOUR BOOKS! BEA itself has a shipping room. You can (buy?) a box and fill it up all week and then pay BEA way too much money to ship it for you. THIS ROOM IS SKETCHY! This is the room where people have had their boxes 'broken' into and books stolen.
     BUT! The Jacob Javits Center has a BAG CHECK station. They do this for all events they hold and it isn't actually affiliated with BEA. It's basically an area set aside on the lower level where you can check a bag. You can pay the $3, visit your bag all day, have the somewhat pleasant ladies watch it for you (every bag has a tag and you have to jump through major hoops to prove who you are if you loose that tag!). The check does have set hours and you can't leave your bag overnight but it's secure.

*Commuting sucks a little

     I grew up on Long Island and my family still lives there so I stayed with them and took the LIRR in everyday. It's cheap and trains run all day and it's a very quick ride for me. So, kinda awesome. BUT! I was so exhausted by the end of each day and I had books to carry that I wasn't up for after hours events. Next year, if we can all swing it, a bunch of us are renting an apartment or hotel in the city. More money, yes - but totally worth it! With NYC declaring Book Week during BEA week each year - there are tons of things going on in the city!

*My friends are awesome

     So awesome in fact that it needs to be said twice

So....did I take pictures? Um...really not as many as I wanted to! Even with Eleni saying "we should take pictures!" a dozen times (pretty sure she didn't take a lot either ;) But  here are a few of my favorites. (You all will NOT be seeing the 'hold camera at arms length and try to fit you and your friend in the frame' pics of Eleni and I b/c those are just sad)

Spent some time on Monday at the Harry Potter Exhibition - it was made of awesome!

That ===> slightly blurry picture is of Lexi, Taschima, Bri and Jen - some of the wonderful people I spent my Monday with.

Monday I also attended the Teen Author Carnival in the smallest, hottest, hardest to find library in NYC.

While there, I snapped this pic of Lexi and Karsten Knight, author of Wildfire due out in July. I'm reading it now and it is fabulous - you should go add it to your wishlists!

I had intentions of taking as many pictures as I could of the wonderful authors who were signing but alas, I only took one:

The beautiful Leigh Fallon, author of The Carrier of the Mark, due out in October.

I really do love NetGalley
And see that lovely lady on the right?
That is the amazing Lindsey Rudnickas, NetGalley's own Digital Concierge.
She was so supportive of my NetGalley April adventure and I can't wait for NetGalley July - we're cooking up some more fabulousness for all you NetGalley lovers out there!

So! There is so much more I can babble on about but I'm already tired of writing so I know you are tried of reading! If anyone has any questions about my BEA experience, email or tweet me and we can chat it up :)

Monthly Reads - May 2011

May was pretty amazing. With the start of Spring and BEA and visiting with my family in New York, I had a really great month. I didn't do so well in the reading department. I did however add 2 groupings to my totals. You'll probably see more children's book reviews on the blog because NetGalley + Picture Books + Daughter who loves books + iPad = very much awesomeness!
Need to get back into a regular reading program - like setting aside an hour every night just for reading (and no computer!). We'll see :)

Oh - and I'm so post dating this post back to June 1st...because I'm a little OCD and my Monthly Reads post needs to be the first one of every month :)

Ok - so on to the books!

Books read (number of pages):
Rage (The Horseman of the Apocalypse: The Rider's Quartet #2) by Jackie Kessler (213)
OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy (256)
Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson (304)
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick (608)

Short Stories (number of pages):
Turned at Dark (Shadow Hills #0.5) by C.C. Hunter (71)
Hare Moon (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #0.5) by Carrie Ryan (27)
Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray (from Enthralled anthology)  (26)
Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan (from Enthralled anthology) (28)

Graphic Novels:
Spirited Away Vol 1 by Hayao Miyazaki
Spirited Away Vol 2 by Hayao Miyazaki
Spirited Away Vol 3 by Hayao Miyazaki
Spirited Away Vol 4 by Hayao Miyazaki
Spirited Away Vol 5 by Hayao Miyazaki
The First Escape (The Dopple Ganger Chronicles #1) by G.P. Taylor
The Secret of Indigo Moon (The Dopple Ganger Chronicles #2) by G.P. Taylor

Children's Books:
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
A Pocket Full of Kisses by Audrey Penn
A Kiss Goodbye by Audrey Penn

Audio Books (length):
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff (10 hours)

Monthly Totals:
BOOKS READ: 4
SHORT STORIES: 4
PAGES: 1533
GRAPHIC NOVELS: 7
AUDIO BOOKS: 1
HOURS: 10

Challenge Updates
Yearly Totals