BookExpo America 2013 Livestream

The time has come. The big book party is here and just in case you can't make it out to the Jacob Javits Center on one or any of the days, we'll bring it to you. Watch the BEA Livestream to see the big author events and book reveals as they happen!

Wednesday (May 29, 2013) is just the BEA Bloggers Convention, so there won't be any new live materials until Thursday, but while you wait for that, check out the preloaded videos BEA has posted to get you ready for the main event!

I promise, if I see any of the cameras recording while I am there, I'll be sure to wave.

Buried in Books - My BEA2012 Reads

I was expecting it all week: a grandiose headline in the New York Post saying "Buried In Books!" over a picture of my body splayed on the pavement under four canvas bags spilling countless hardcovered and trade paperback novels over me with an article starting something like this:

NEW YORK, NY - A middle aged woman was found Thursday night on 42nd Avenue, buried and broken, underneath the weight of the Advanced Reader's Copies (ARCs) she gathered from her day at this year's Book Expo America. "I told her not to overdo it," her husband said to reporters as he came into Manhattan from their Staten Island home to gather the books, "This is ridiculous. She wants me to bring the books to the hospital!"[cont...]

It could go on from there. There could be added details about how my Intracranial Hypertension decided to attack with a whopping headache on Tuesday, how my Colitis gave me daily warnings about not leaving home, and how I had to take breaks more than the average person just to get through each day. However, the freak accident didn't occur, with all the breaks, and perhaps without as much flourish as a 100% healthy person: I made it.

And now that I am home, I have a lot to read. Don't believe me? Let me show you...

Four Days Worth of Book Blogger and Book Expo America 2012 Review Materials:

All of the books, bookmarks and info gathered from Book Expo America (BEA) 2012.

However, I realize that might be a little difficult to see, so here are some close-ups for you:

The Dog Lived and So Will I is actually autographed for me and Buffy (my beagle)!

SO many titles in this pile I am excited about... I don't know where to begin!

Burn for Burn  by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian  just happens to be the first book I started reading.

The 2012 Penguin Breathless Reads box set (which I WON on Thursday!).

The End of Men caught my eye, because the subtitle is "And The Rise Of Women" - Look Out Boys!

The non-fiction YA titles in this pile are books I can't wait to shout out about!

What's that on the bottom? A book from The Bloggess?! Oh yes it is, and she is AWESOME!

LOTS of bookmarks - many are autographed!

2013 calendar, my notebook full of even more info and goodies from my Meet & Greet with The Apocalypsies!

Comics!!

Information about some amazing books on Buffy, Star Trek's Federation, The Hobbit movie tie-in and a NEW C&H box set.

Aside from the bags I got from a number of exhibitors, that is everything gathered over the full four days. I am exhausted, my house is a mess and my dogs neglected - it's time to for me to play a bit of catch up with the life I put on hold for a week! In the meantime,

• you should go see some of the great BEA events via the Livestream I posted here on Tuesday (they are rerunning a number of recorded events), and
• in the comments below, let me know what book, bookmark, or other goodie from the pictures above you are looking forward to getting more info about most. 

Have a great weekend and get ready for lots of GIVEAWAYS coming from Rivera Runs Through It (this way I really don't end up getting buried in books)!

Book Expo America Live Streaming

I am super excited that this year I have the opportunity to take part in the Book Expo America (BEA) happening right here in New York City at the Jacob Javitz Center. Yesterday I was able to spend the entire day BEA Bloggers Conference and now I am spending the rest of the week touring the rest of the expo. If you are unable to attend the expo for yourself, I'd like to invite you to join in on some of the fun with me by taking advantage of the Live Streaming below. Keep an eye out for me - I promise to wave whenever I see the live stream cameras!

BEA Live Streaming begins Tuesday, June 5 at 8:30 am ET with BEA's Book and Author Breakfast and continues on two live channels through the end of BEA on Thursday, June 7.

Bring Back the Arcade!

Oh! How I do love this game!!!

Ms. Pacman, Galaga, Skee Ball and Air Hockey - these are the games I adore. Whether it is a reflection of my yesteryear or simply that ever-breathing competitive nature inside me, I really don't know, but this is what I automatically think of when I think of "the arcade."

I didn't really grow up in the arcade culture, although I was of age to do so. "My" arcade closed before I started to make any kind of money where that type of activity could be appreciated, and it is one thing I wished I always had.

I've been know to yell at the screen...

Meet Me at the Arcade 
 
It was for this reason that the panel at the New York Comic Con entitled "Meet Me At The Arcade" intrigued me so much.  There was a group of gamers discussing the closing of the last true Arcade in New York City, the culture of the arcade and what the future holds for this particular type of gamer.

Meet Me At The Arcade Panel at NYCC 2011

Every single one of these gentlemen had their own experience to share from the arcade as gamers, employees and even as a film maker. The perspectives drew not only from experiences shared in the famed "Chinatown Fair" arcade that was the last arcade in New York City, but also across the United States and even Japan.

I found every bit of the conversation engaging, enlightening and it just made me want to go grab a bunch of friends to go find an arcade!

Why the arcades were/are important even now.

One of the final days at Chinatown Fair.

As the panelists each shared their own experiences it became clear that a trip to the arcade was about so much more than just gaming. Lessons learned at the arcade were:

1. stretching the dollar - One panelist summed it up perfectly, "Every game was a money match." These guys went to the arcade with their lunch money for the day/week and had to use only that to entertain themselves for hours. How was this done? By becoming very good at the game and making each quarter last.
2. patience - Players have to wait their turn to play their game of choice. If they happen to be behind someone who is especially skilled, well, they might be there for awhile. This is far removed from so much of our current media which seems to center around instant gratification.
3. social skills - There was really only one way to get better at games in the arcade without going broke, you had to learn from fellow gamers. Many times this would mean having to approach gamers you may only know from the arcade and engaging in a conversation about strategy and tips. (It also involved spending lots and lots of time simply watching other gamers play the games!) In today's gaming world, where you are in your living room with an unlimited (free) amount of do-overs this type of strategic thinking about the game can often be lost. Fellow gamers have been replaced by strategy guides, YouTube videos and websites and face-to-face interaction has been replaced with voices coming out of the screen or into headsets. Other benefits of the social scene of the arcade mentioned by panelists were:

• finding like-minded people
• finding one's truth - the panelist seemed to agree that the idea that gaming is an "escape"  from reality is a major misconception held by society. They argued, rather, that games allowed them to become more themselves

What about Japan?

Image

You may or may not know this, but arcades are alive and well in Japanese society. This begs the question Why are arcades so popular in Japan when they can't seem to survive in the US? Four very compelling points were raised by the panel:

1. That's where the technology is. This makes the purchase of games and parts a lot more affordable in Japan than here in the US where they would have to be shipped overseas.
2. "No one wants to stay at home in Japan." I found this point particularly interesting. According to multiple panelists, the homes in Japan are so small that they really aren't conducive to "hanging out." They claim that while they lived there they witnessed the prevalence of eating out, going out and just plain being out of the house more in Japan due to limited space!
3. Customer service in Japanese arcades is second to none! Evidently if your button breaks in the middle of you playing a game, you stay where you are, raise your hand and an attendant comes to you with the parts in hand, ready to repair and replace. In contrast, the anecdotes from the US arcades demonstrate that machines could lay dormant for days.
4. Cultural scene vs. Cash Business. Guess which definition belongs to which country! The arcade business is a cash business and, therefore draws the interest of certain types of owners in the US who are less concerned with the scene and more concerned with the cash. In Japan, arcade gaming is part of the culture. You can walk into an arcade and find gaming kids, but you'll be just as likely to see a guy, in his suit, making a gaming stop on his way home from work. Arcade gaming simply means two different things in these two different countries.

What to Look for Next...

And just when the audience felt that there was nothing left for America in terms of the arcade, two exciting ventures were discussed:

1. Next Level Arcade in Brooklyn! Although the location may not be as central as the Chinatown Fair, Next Level was opened by one of the former employees and gamers of Chinatown Fair. He said that he was bored, looking to fill a void and simply did not want to see the community separate. He knows that having a crowd of predominantly 21 and over changes the dynamic of the crowd, but at least some of the players have found a new place to continue their shared gaming.
2. Arcade: The Last Night at Chinatown Fair This movie is a Kickstarter project that was filmed in the final days of the arcade's existence. Here's the trailer so you can get a sneak peek at some of the footage and some of the perspectives of the gamers who were there (I'm looking forward to this movie's release!):

Arcade: The Last Night at Chinatown Fair Trailer from Kurt Vincent on Vimeo.

Do you consider yourself a gamer?

What types of social gaming have you participated in?

From your perspective, what are some of the benefits and/or drawbacks of today's online gaming culture?

PARENTS: Would you prefer your kids playing games socially in an arcade, or at home with the family's console?

A Weekend Away...

This morning's view of the Javits Center.

No truer words have been written. Since it started here in New York City there has been nothing quite like the New York Comic Con. This is where I have been spending my weekend. One more day left. One more day of Rivera running through the Con. Then I can come home and run through it all for you right here on the Rivera Runs Through It blog! I can't wait to share it with you!

Why Everyone Should Check Out the New York Comic Con (NYCC)

It's coming back! I can't wait!! The New York Comic Con will be back at the Jacob Javits Center this October from the 13th through the 16th! It's getting so that I can't feel it coming nearer...

Are you wondering WHY all of these people are on line at NYCC?

Typically, when talking about comic book conventions, in my experience, I have been faced with two starkly different reactions from those I am conversing with:

• unbridled enthusiasm, or
• confusion, with a hint of fear that I am one of "those kinds of people"

Now, having selected Mathematics as a major in college and following that up by becoming a high school math teacher, luckily, these are reactions that I am all too used to in conversations. I am never offended, I merely see them as an amazing opportunity to let you in on the secret joys of my subcultures that have gone long unappreciated by the masses.

I don't dare to propose that ComicCons are for everyone, however, before you dismiss them entirely based on some preconceived notions of what they "must" entail, I would like to give you a brief list of some of my joys of NYCC:

1. It is just about THE best spot in all of NYC for people-watching.

I was raised a people-watcher. Mom and Dad would bring us to Central Park (another fabulous people-watching spot!) and after hours a having fun in the sun, we would park ourselves on a bench and watch the people go by. There were always so many different kinds of people doing so many different things! I'd think up stories about each person's day and life. The whole thing amazed me!

The Joes +1.

It still does, and ComicCon has INCREDIBLE people - authors, artists, fans of multiple subcultures (comics, specific movies, TV shows, games), people of the press, celebrities at multiple levels, and then (mostly on Sunday) lots of comic-loving families with their kids for family day.

The thing that makes this possibly the "BEST" spot for people-watching is that at the Con people show-off their uniqueness, their fandom and their super-fun inner child with unabashed pride! It is rare to see so many people, who lead otherwise very normal day-to-day lives, come together and just geek-out about whatever it is they love in such a mass effort.

2. Conventions Are A Great Place to Learn.

I think everyone knows this when it comes to conventions surrounding a particular profession or skill, but I feel like it is not something people think about in terms of the ComicCon. Ordinarily, when people think about the ComicCon, they think of crowds of people (they are there), many of which are dressed up in costume (this is very true) walking around an exhibit floor looking at and buying comic books, memorabilia, getting autographs and the such - this is all a part of the experience, however, it is not all of the experience.

One of last year's panels with a line of questions from the audience.

The first time I went to a Comic Con, I didn't realize this and I missed out on all of the PANELS and DISCUSSIONS. Once I discovered them, I never made that mistake again. The Panels are now how I design my entire experience. They vary from fan fun stuff like (thinking back to last year's event) James Marsters telling a packed room of fans what he's up to and answering all their questions (as wacky as they got!), to industry stuff like discussing how digital publishing will impact comics and what publishers, authors, artists and fans are saying about it, to how to bring Graphic Novels and Comic books into the classrooms as tools. There is so, so much going on in the panels and every year I fill a notebook with my nerdiness notes!

3. You get SO MUCH FREE STUFF.

The swag at NYCC can become overwhelming. I have almost excatly the same experience every single year. I walk in people are handing me cool pins, stickers, t-shirts and books and, in my glee I grab it all... hours later I am bogged down wondering, "What the heck am I carrying around?"

However, when night night falls and we get home, it is a combination of that post trick-or-treating and Christmas morning feeling all swirled into one! My husband and I spill out our bags and compare. "Ooo! Where did you get that? I didn't get that!" or "Cool! Look they gave me TWO!" Piles are made - mine, his, stuff to bring in to the students, and stuff to throw in with this year's candy for our trick or treaters!

In addition to the free stuff are TONS of coupons and discount codes for all types of convention deals on ALL TYPES of cool stuff.There are internet promo codes, pre-sales and exclusive offers (i.e. last year there was a special, and very competitive, ComicCon price for the SpiderMan Turn Off the Dark Broadway Show) slipped in among the swag. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for these this year, because I always end up looking at them last and end up missing out on some of the dated offers - such a bummer!

This was my favorite costume last year.
I thought he was a prop until he MOVED!
This is a costumed person!!

4. It's Just Plain Old-Fashioned Fun!

There is a happy excitement in the air at Comic Con. People don't take themselves as seriously when they are in that space - they're dressed up, perhaps painted blue, or walking on stilts, or sitting in a quiet corner dressed up like a bizarre space octopus scaring THE CRAP out of whoever walks by thinking you are a giant stuffed animal.

People are smiling.

You get to bear witness as fans meet their idols, shake their hands, take pictures with them and thank them for giving them joy.

People of all ages are playing - not just video games (although they are there, too), but jousting, having light saber battles and this year there will be wand duels and a Quidditch team is coming!

There is art everywhere - drawings, paintings, the written word, and now there's more video and graphics, too. Sunday is extra fun because it is family day and there are loads of family-friendly and kids' activities planned! It is just plain awesome.

After writing this post, it has come to my attention that I may be a biased in my perspective, however, let me tell you this: I only went to my first comic book convention out of love for a boy. I had no idea what I was getting into and thought this was going to be one of those things he was going "owe me" for. In other words, I was once the person who was confused by possible enjoyment "those people" had at comic book conventions. I didn't know. I hadn't tried it out. Now that I have, I love it. So maybe it's something you should check out - at least once - even if it's just to say that you have. I say put this on your bucket list and let me know when you're coming!

What are your thoughts about NYCC?

Have you been to any other comic book conventions?

What type of geek-out convention would you like to see and be a part of?

Write On Con

Many people wonder what the value of twitter is. They say things like, "I don't know... it just seems like a waste of time to me," and I understand the perspective. I felt the same way once upon a sometime. It is easy to see how all of the utterings of of the world wide web could seem irrelevant, annoying or even intrusive, but then, sometimes, a tweet intrigues and shows you something new. Such was the case last night, when one of the tweeps I follow (I wish I could remember who, so I could give full credit for this inspiration) asked, "Will anyone else be joining me tomorrow for the #WriteOnCon?" I had no idea what that was, but what a cool name... I had to investigate!

What is Write On Con?

From my one day brief exploration, I can best describe WriteOnCon as a Convention/Conference for writers that takes place virtually rather than physically. The website and conference seems to operate on donations and the participation of authors, literary agents and illustrators. WriteOnCon 2011 is their second annual conference taking place this week (August 15-18) and has a full schedule of "events" that vary from blog posts, vlogs, and even live Q&A sessions with a litany of literary professionals. The events are posted hourly from about 6AM through about 6:30PM (EDT) and then each day has some later scheduled events as well.

In addition to the annual huge events like the one going on now, WriteOnCon also hosts monthly events throughout the year and has a fairly active forum. The site itself seems like an excellent resource for anyone interested in the industry.

Who is Write On Con for?

Well, I'm sure this comes as no surprise, but writers are the audience in mind here. What might not be initially obvious, however, is that it seems to be open to writers/authors at multiple stages of their career. Among the attendees are debut publishing hopefuls, those who are in the midst of the query process, those who have been published and me (probably others in the same boat), a curious observer wondering if this is the next path for these feet to tread.

Where is the Value in Write On Con?

The short answer? Everywhere. First of all, WriteOnCon is a freely accessed website. It costs absolutely nothing to check out the event, although donations are appreciated, I'm sure. Once you read a couple of the posts from best-selling authors, or watch a couple of the vlogs from from a group you've respected from afar, I'm sure a donation will be the least you can do. Also, if you can catch one of the live Q&A sessions, you are free to submit your very own burning question to the professional on the hot seat! 

And if you miss it... If somehow you let this week pass you by and are unable to see each of the "events" as they are posted on the website, well then THAT'S NO BIG DEAL! WriteOnCon is a website, after all, and everything is still there waiting for you! Isn't that awesome? You can check out all of the wonderful content at your leisure!


So that's it. That's what I did with myself for a bunch of today. I imagine I'll be checking in tomorrow as well, but I wanted to let you know, too because good things are always much better when shared!

Enjoy!