Take 700 authors; mix with 7,500 booksellers, librarians, agents, and journalists; stir in thousands of new books and a million hors d’oeuvres; plunk them down in in Manhattan and you have the annual convention called Book Expo America (BEA). It’s a giant schmooze-fest—and for half a week, it’s the white-hot center of the book-publishing universe. It’s also a preview of the hottest books and writers of the fall.
This year’s extravaganza—which runs Wednesday (5/29) through Saturday (5/30)—begins at New York City’s Javits Center and fans out to restaurants around town.
This year, Galley Girl (the nom du guerre of Andrea Sachs, TIME senior reporter and, since 1995, our chronicler of the publishing world) will be covering the scene, writing daily dispatches, and gathering book news, high and low. Watch this space as the crowds gather for the world’s largest convergence of English majors!