It looks like the book bloggers got a little notice at the San Jose Book Group Expo – yesterday Garth Stein wrote a guest post on Book Club Girl and acknowledged Trish (Hey Lady, Whatcha Readin’?) and Jill (Fizzy Thoughts). And today Josh Henkin wrote a guest post on Book Club Girl and mentioned Trish, Jill and myself. He wrote (in part):

Book Bloggers: It was terrific to meet several of them—Trish from Hey Lady Whatcha Readin, Jill from Softdrink, and Wendy from Caribousmom. I only wish there had been more bloggers at Book Group Expo, and from looking at the comments on Trish, Jill, and Wendy’s blogs, I sense that a lot of book bloggers agree. So maybe we can start planning for next year. There’s a close connection between book bloggers and book groups. Almost every book blogger I know is a member of a book group, and book bloggers are great at spreading the word about and to book groups. Perhaps something can be arranged next year with Book Group Expo to make it easier for more bloggers to come. A giveaway/raffle of a bunch of free tickets to book bloggers? Discounted rates for the others? Press credentials? Any other ideas? Having more book bloggers at the conference would be great for book bloggers and great for Book Group Expo. It would help spread the word.

Wouldn’t it be great if the Expo expanded next year to offer something specifically for bloggers?

In the meantime, Trish at Hey Lady, Whatcha Readin’? is thinking ahead. She has posted a survey to see if there would be interest in a Book Blogger Retreat. I think this would be an amazing idea. Why don’t you drop over to her blog and answer the survey questions?

Finally, in case you haven’t read Trish’s post…she also was featured photographically at the Expo website (that is her in the first column, 3rd photo down). Trish had some great questions at the panel discussions, so it was nice to see her in the photos of the event!

October 25-26, 2008

I had intended to post this yesterday, but after a ten hour day of work I was just too exhausted! Day Two of the Expo was filled with great authors and fun panels. As with Day One, participants enjoyed an opening Salon, and then got to choose one of three panels in each hour. Here is what my day looked like:

10:00AM – 11:00AM

Opening Salon: Go Tell It on the Mountain: An Inspirational Celebration Sponsored by HarperOne with authors Kristin Billerbeck, Van Jones, Garth Stein, and Sam Barry

This Salon opened with the amazing Gospel music of Sharon D. Henderson and Friends. It was joyous and moving.

*click photo to enlarge

After this beautiful music, the panel came together and discussed their books. Van Jones has written a book about the connection between our economy and energy titled The Green Collar Economy. His comments were intelligent and interesting. I think Garth Stein was probably the most well-known author for this panel given the popularity of his book The Art of Racing In the Rain. He is quite a captivating speaker … and has a dry humor. I had never heard of author Kristin Billerbeck who writes Christian fiction – she told the audience that she strives to show her characters as real people struggling with life and issues…not perfect, sweet people who have no problems.

(left to right) Moderator Sam Barry and Van Jones; Garth Stein; me getting my book signed by Garth Stein; me getting my book signed by Van Jones

And here is one of Trish (Hey Lady Whatcha Readin?) talking to Garth Stein

*click on photos to enlarge

11:15AM – 12:15PM

The Liar’s Club: Let Me Tell You A Story with authors Rabih Alameddine, Selden Edwards, Michelle Richmond, and Julie Robinson

This panel was one of my favorites of the Expo. The writers talked a lot about the art of storytelling. I was thrilled to meet Michelle Richmond at the book signing and cannot wait to read her book The Year of Fog. I was also very excited to discover authors Selden Edwards and Rabih Alameddine. Edwards has just published his first book (which took him more than 30 years to complete! Talk about perseverence!!). I bought Alameddine’s latest novel: The Hakawati after listening to the author speak – he is clearly a brilliant man and very, very funny…I imagine his writing to be just as compelling!

(left to right) Michelle Richmond; me talking to Michelle Richmond; Rabih Alameddine (foreground) and Selden Edwards; author Susanne Pari (left) and Julie Robinson (right)

*click on photos to enlarge

1:45PM – 2:45PM

Makin’ Whoopee: Let Us Count the Ways with authors Karen Abbott, Douglas Abrams, Melanie Abrams, Mary Roach, and Ellen Sussman

This was a hilarious panel. And yes, there was sex talk! The authors were brilliant, funny and engaging. Unfortunately I have no photos of this panel as I ended up in a spot in the audience where I could not easily see or photograph the authors (it was a very crowded presentation!).

3:00PM – 4:00PM

Woman, Be Wise: Strong Writing, Strong Women with authors Terry McMillan, Toni Mirosevich, Kathi Kamen Goldmark and Susanne Pari (absent from this panel was Elizabeth Strout who unfortunately fractured her leg and was unable to attend. If you are reading this Elizabeth, I hope you will heal quickly!)

Another amazing group of writers and fun panel. This group tended to wander off into politics a few times – something I think was natural given the discussion about women. Terri McMillan was hysterically funny. I have never read one of her books, but now I want to. She talked about how she writes characters – focusing in on denying them what they want so they have to overcome challenges. She said: “If she wants a husband, well she’s not gonna get him!” Toni Mirosevich started out writing poetry, and now writes creative nonfiction. Susanne Pari’s book is about an Iranian woman and Pari notes that it is a myth that Iranian women are not strong. I should note, there was a competing panel titled All Abroad! Living and Writing Elsewhere which I would also have liked to participate…Zoe Ferraris spoke on that panel.

(left to right) Terri McMillan; Terri McMillan; Toni Mirosevich (left ) and Terri McMillan

Trish (Hey Lady! Watcha Readin’?) talking to Zoe Ferraris

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Books I bought on Day Two:

• Finding Nouf, by Zoe Ferraris
• The Green Collar Economy, by Van Jones
• The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein
• The Hakawati, by Rabih Alameddine

Previous posts about the Expo:

• Look Who I Found
• The San Jose Book Group Expo – Day One

October 25-26, 2008

My husband and I spent the weekend in San Jose at the third annual (Third Chapter) of the Book Group Expo and had a wonderful time. Not only were there some great booths in the marketplace, but the planners of this event brought in some big name authors and provided two days of author panels. For each hour (except the first one), attendees could choose between three different author panels (or salons). Here was what Day One was like for me:

10:00-11:00AM Opening Salon

Write or Wrong: The Unreliable Narrator Defines Virtue with authors Andre Dubus III, Diana Spechler, and Susanne Pari.

This was a fascinating panel. I especially enjoyed listening to Andre Dubus, who is darkly humorous. He talked about how he writes and thinks (he says he does NOT think when he writes, but is in a “dream state” of sorts).  When someone asked how he writes female characters he said “Basically I have to castrate myself…not literally of course!”

Diane Spechler and Andre Dubus III

Andre Dubus III; me getting my book signed by him

*Click on above photos to enlarge

11:15AM – 12:15PM

Come Together: Self-Discovery Through Friendship with authors Annie Barrows, Ron Carlson, Kate Jacobs, Deborah Copaken Kogan, and Frances Dinkelspiel

This was a really fun panel. I was looking forward to hearing Annie Barrows talk about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society … and she did not disappoint. She was interesting and sweet and told the audience that her aunt was a fabulous story-teller who never finished anything (sadly for us!). I also discovered a new author in Deborah Copaken Kogan who began her writing life as a journalist and has just written her first novel: Between Here and April…which I bought at the Expo.

Ron Carlson and Annie Barrows

Me getting my books signed by Annie Barrows (top) and Deborah Copaken Kogan (bottom)

*click on photos to enlarge

1:45PM – 2:45PM

Which Witch is Which: Covens and Other Cliques with authors Brunonia Barry, Kathleen Kent, Erika Mailman, and Michelle Gagnon

I loved this panel. Michelle Gagnon moderated and was engaging and kept things moving along (she is also a really fascinating person to talk to…she writes crime fiction and I am kicking myself that I did not buy one of her books there and get her to sign it!). Brunonia Barry is very talkative. She talked a lot about what Salem is like now-a-days. Kathleen Kent and Erika Mailman have both written historical fiction novels (Kent’s is set in New England, while Mailman’s is set in medieval Germany) and their research into the books was fascinating.

Michelle Gagnon, Erika Mailman, Kathleen Kent (top) AND Kathleen Kent and Brunonia Barry (bottom)

(far left) Me getting my book signed by Brunonia Barry

(middle) Kathleen Kent

(far right) Me getting my book signed by Kathleen Kent

*click on photos to enlarge

3:00PM – 4:00PM

Now That You’re  Gone: Grief Seeks Solace with authors Julia Glass, Ann Packer, Irvin Yalom and Lauren John

I enjoyed the deep, personal insights of Julia Glass and Ann Packer during this panel. I have not yet read a book by Julia Glass, but I immediately felt I somehow knew her. She was dressed in this fabulous, very colorful outfit and was just really dynamic. Side note: Although I did not attend the panel where Marisa de los Santos spoke, I was able to meet her during the book signings.

(left and center) Julia Glass; (far right) me having Marisa de los Santos sign my books…to her left is Ann Packer

*click on photos to enlarge

Books I bought on Day One:

House of Sand and Fog, by Andre Dubus III

Between Here and April, by Deborah Copaken Kogan

Tomorrow, I will post Day Two of the Expo!

…At the San Jose Book Group Expo

Trish from Hey Lady, Whatcha Readin’?, Jill (aka: Softdrink) from Fizzy Thoughts, author Michelle Gagnon, and Me

(Click on photo to enlarge)

I had no idea Trish and Jill were here…we were all talking to author Michelle Gagnon about (what else) books, when Trish asked if I was a blogger. “Yes,” I said. “I’m Caribousmom.” Screaming, jumping around and hugs ensued! How fun to put a face (and voice) to the blogs I love. I’m looking forward to tomorrow to spend more time with Trish and Jill.

I want to write more about the Expo, but the Hilton Hotel is charging me by the hour for my time on the Internet (no, I am not pleased!) so I will have to write more when I get home. In the meantime, here are just a few of the amazing writers I met and heard speak today:

*Click on photos to enlarge

Left to Right: Andre Dubus III, Annie Barrows, Marisa de Los Santos and Ann Packer, Kathleen Kent and Brunonia Barry