Metropolis Ink's Kurt Florman attended BEA (Book Expo America) 2003, which filled the Los Angeles convention center from May 30-June 1. He was nearly overwhelmed by 2,500 booths and 30,000 other visitors, but came home with invaluable information about sales, marketing, distribution -- and every other aspect of the publishing business. It was an amazing experience that he hopes to repeat at BEA 2004 in Chicago. Here is some of what Kurt saw there...

The convention entrance

FEATURED TITLE

CHALKING IT UP
Stephanie Bavaro

ISBN 0-9751264-3-1
208 pages
$14.95

Meet Heather Hall: a corporate rebel who finally meets her demise after committing infractions such as stealing bottled water from the company caterer, going to the movies during the workday with her best friend, and defying the company's open-toed shoe policy. The spunky Heather Hall sashays her way through unemployment -- and into several different job disasters -- until she finally finds what she was meant to do all along. From the unorganized chaos of a downsizing software company, to stay-at-home mommyville, Heather experiences it all in one very puzzling, bizarre year. Chalk it up to a bad attitude mixed with a crappy economy and a restless spirit!