Last week New York hosted one of the biggest events in the publishing industry, Book Expo America. At BEA, all aspects of publishing come together for three days. Publishers spread the word about the exciting books they’ll be releasing this fall; retailers decide which books to stock in their stores; printing companies help you make books better and cheaper; and—most exciting of all—authors come to sign their newest books and meet their fans.
I was lucky enough to attend BEA this year, my first time at the show. It was like Christmas. All of the publishers were handing out free copies of their new books—and not just free copies, free advance copies! I have books on my shelf now that won’t go on sale until September or October. I got to meet two authors I greatly admire and spent a lot of time just walking the exhibition floor, looking at all the gorgeous and fascinating books being released this year by publishers big and small. For a book lover, BEA is like a carnival.
My favorite part of the show, though, was working in the Guideposts booth, where Guideposts Executive Editor Rick Hamlin signed his book 10 Prayers You Can’t Live Without for a long line of readers. In his usual friendly fashion, Rick engaged each person in conversation about their own prayer lives.
I love introducing people to the inspiration of Guideposts books and magazines, and I especially love connecting with readers who know and love us and who all had a story to tell about the way Guideposts has impacted their lives. One woman told me she had been reading Guideposts magazine since she was a child, and another said she felt our stories were so inspirational because they came from readers just like her.
It was so wonderful to meet people who not only love to read, but who love to read the same things I do—and for the same reasons. Books touch lives, and so does Guideposts.
