This partial view of the floor at Book Expo provides an inkling of the vast territory we explored each day. 
While you’d think it’s all about the books, the reality is a conference of this size is also about all the many people, from the author to the publisher to the bookseller and reviewer who help bring it to life. Everyday there was an extensive agenda of presentations and a far larger lists of author signings. The publisher’s goal is to get their books into the hands of broadest range of consumers. My goal is to search out great titles I can share with readers, through book groups, topical presentations or book reviews on this blog. To do this, I hone in first on smaller publishers whose lists have proven to be well-written and thought-provoking.
The top two on my list are Algonquin Books and Other Press. Over the years I have come to cherish my walk around in the Algonquin booth. Ina Stern, Associate Publisher, has been generous in sharing her expertise with me and steered me to wonderful book group choices that I might not have found on my own. B.A. Shapiro’s 
The Muralist is one of several great choices for the fall. Ina introduced me to another attendee as a “book talker,” an appellation I’ll wear with pride. This year we spoke about why a publisher would change the title of a book after its release as was done with Krista Bremer’s My Tender Struggle, previously known as My Accidental Jihad. It’s a fine choice for discussion and the hope is a less politically tinged title will better reach its audience.
Other Press’ offerings have a rather international flavor. As a very small player at Book Expo, it is gratifying to be recognized each year as I return to the booth. The catalog consistently contains at least one or two shorter works, a real bonus in balancing reading plans over the course of the year. 
As a reader, I find many of the offerings challenging and well-edited, with many connections to the arts within the substance of the writings. The buzz around The Mersault Investigation, Kamel Daoud’s homage to Camus’ The Stranger, resulted in it being published earlier this week rather than several months from now as originally planned.
Much of Day 3 was spent standing in lengthy lines to catch a few seconds and a signed advance book from several favorite authors. Anthony Marra, author of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, is coming out with a new book of linked stories, 
The Tsar of Love and Techno. Scheduled for release in October, this was great catch. Marra is a local boy who now lives in California but he told me Politics & Prose remains his favorite bookstore!
There really are few authors over whom I am starstruck. I have been a fan of Geraldine Brooks since I discovered her memoir, Foreign Correspondence, almost fifteen years ago. I had occasion to write her several years ago about appearing at local event and received the most gracious response. So there was no question I’d wait an hour to meet her and get a copy of her upcoming book, 
The Secret Chord, about King David. She was very gracious and appreciative of all the interest shown her. The book is right up at the top of my to-be-read pile.
While all this waiting in line could be tedious, it was a great opportunity to learn about the roles other attendees play in the literary community. I met librarians, booksellers, fellow book group leaders and many, many bloggers. They were generous in sharing tips on what they do and how they do it – a great way to pass the time.
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