Authors Abound at BEA

Hundreds of authors are scheduled to appear at BookExpo America in an array of free and ticketed events. Here's a quick rundown, with links to complete details on the BEA website.

This year's Opening Night Keynote Reception, on Tuesday, May 25, features legendary actress, singer, and director Barbra Streisand discussing her upcoming title, My Passion for Design. The reception is free and open to all BEA registrants.

Sarah Ferguson, John Grisham, Sara Gruen, Christopher Hitchens, and Jon Stewart are among the authors headlining BEA's special breakfast and lunch events. The complete list of participating authors and ticket information is available on the BEA website.  Tickets are still available, but space is getting tight.

Some 400-plus authors will be autographing at tables in the BEA Autographing Area on Wednesday and Thursday, May 26 and 27. And more than 300 will be signing in booths on the trade show floor.

Among those scheduled to appear in the autographing area are Jan Brett, Justin Cronin, Nelson DeMille, Cory Doctorow, Tim Gunn, Michael Korda, Jon Scieszka, and Ridley Pearson. In-booth signings include Cornelia Funke, Jonathan Lethem, James Patterson, Mary Roach, and Scott Turow.

Tickets are required for some authors appearing in BEA's Autographing Area. A list of ticketed authors is on the BEA website. The free tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis on Wednesday and Thursday, beginning at 6:45 a.m. in the lobby of the Javits Convention Center. There is a limit of five tickets per person on Wednesday, and four per person on Thursday (one ticket per author).

The trade show floor will feature author interviews on three stages this year -- Uptown, Downtown, and the new Midtown Authors Stage. Discussion topics include YA Authors Crossing Over, Dystopian Fiction, Steam Punk, Suspense, Debut Fiction, Thrillers, and more. The BEA website includes a complete list of authors, topics, times, and stages.

Authors also headline special events exclusively for ABA member booksellers. This week, the American Booksellers Association unveiled its author autographing schedule for the ABA Lounge, and many indie favorites, including all of the 2010 Indies Choice Book Award winners, will be at the Celebration of Bookselling Luncheon on Wednesday, May 26.

For more on BEA programming and to register, visit BookExpoAmerica.com. For information about ABA's Day of Education and other events at BEA, visit BookWeb.org.