BEA = MIA

Hey All!

I know I've been super absent for the last few months, but I'm hoping that will all change over the summer, but first I have to pass a few big hurdles. The next few weeks are going to be super busy and hectic, so don't think that I forgot you guys! Today marks the beginning of BEA so I'm going to be missing again for a few days, and then as soon as that is over, I have to go to my boyfriends graduation and then its summer! I've got some exciting things coming for you in the comings months so be sure to keep an eye out! Amy will be joining me at BEA, so you're going to get some very exciting stories!

BEABlitz: Lisa from The Young Adult Connection

Today I have Lisa from The Young Adult Connection joining me for BEABlitz! She'll be attending BEA this year as well as having attended last year. Today she's got a few tips and tricks

1. How many times have you been to BEA before? When was the first time?

I went to BEA for the first time last year, and it was amazing!

2. What would you say has been the most memorable moment for you at BEA?

I think my most memorable moment at BEA was seeing Tim Gunn, from Project Runway. I didn't know he was going to be there and I saw him and just stood frozen  for a minute.

3. What are you looking forward to most while in NYC?

The lights! Times Square! The food! Everything! New York City is one of my favorite places ever.

4. What was your first impression when you got to BEA the first time?

I remember walking in to Javits Center and immediately feeling overwhelmed. But I was also incredibly excited. When I saw all the books I felt like a kid on Christmas morning and couldn't contain my happiness. Seriously. I was pretty giddy.

5. What keeps you coming back?

The books! :) And the people. And the entire experience of being in a city that I love because of books.

6. What is one thing you wish that someone had told you before your first time at BEA?

How terribly sore my shoulders would hurt after carrying a bunch of books in a tote bag all day. Seriously. Pay to check your bag, or take some back to your hotel/house. You'll thank me later.

I cannot wait to meet Lisa at BEA this year! Hopefully we'll cross paths when we're at BEA!

BEABlitz: Macmillan Kids

Today, I have another publisher that decided to come and give an interview about what to expect from  Macmillan Kids this year at BEA! Check out below to see what you have to look forward to!

1.) How many years have you attended BEA?

                This will be my fifth BEA. The first two times I went recreationally, but the last few years it’s been all about working it!

2.) How would you compare BEA to other book conferences/events?

            It is intense! But in a good way. In the end, it’s all about publishers, librarians, reviewers, media, and book bloggers coming together to talk about all sorts of books and to discover new authors! It’s also a great time to meet new people from the different parts of the industry.

3.) Any suggestions for how bloggers/librarians should approach publishers at BEA? (I will admit I just stood around staring at booths until someone approached me because I was shy about it.)

                Don’t be shy! See someone in the booth with a badge? Just come on over and say hello, introduce yourself, and we can start talking books! I’m a huge fan of talking one-on-one about our titles.

4.) How much planning goes into an event like this for you and your coworkers?

            Simply put: a lot! Right after BEA, we meet and discuss what worked and didn’t work. So in essence, we start thinking about BEA a year in advance.

I will be quite honest though, I personally have no real hand in planning it. I just get my marching orders from the lovely Kate, in terms of author signings, galley giveaways, booth duty, and other events. I’m there to work and help! When BEA is finally upon us, it’s all hands on deck! Marketing, publicity, sales, and editorial all work together to have the booth ready, organize author signings, and make sure books are where they’re supposed to be, and coordinate meetings and lunches.

5.) Are there any titles from Macmillan or events going on at the booth you're excited about this year?

                We just posted our schedule on our blog so you can see what we’ve got going on:http://mackidsbooks.com/visit-us-at-bea/

                I am definitely excited for the Paul Pope signing we’ll be having, mostly because I’m a huge fan of his comic book art and I want to tell everyone that they should be too! We’ve got lots of authors at BEA who will be promoting their Fall 2013 books. Oh, and did we mention Bad Kitty will be there on Saturday? You should come and say hello!

Mac Kids was a great booth to stop by and were great to talk with! So stop by and say hey! And now we're getting super close to BEA! 11 days to go friends! Only 11 days!

BEABlitz: Carmen Rodrigues

Today I have Carmen Rodrigues joining me on the blog. I met Carmen when I was visiting the Simon and Schuster booth asking if they had her book there with them. My answer was "No, but thats the author." From there we started talking about her book, and I told her I would be sure to stop by her signing the next day. Carmen was showcasing her book 34 Pieces of You, an edgy tale about the impact a girls death had on those that loved her most. It was a really great read and was full of surprising twists and turns. Sadly, she doesn't have any books for this year, but I'm hoping she'll be joining us next year!

1.) Was 2012 your first time attending BEA? If not, when was the first time?

Yes, it was! I had an incredible time, particularly meeting all the bloggers who are a spirited, passionate group. 

2.) What did you do when not signing books?

At BEA, I participated in a "speed-dating" event with booksellers, which was amazing. It was so much fun pitching them 34 PIECES OF YOU in three minutes or less. Outside of BEA, I had dinner and drinks with other writers, visited the Simon Pulse office, and caught up with a few of my local friends. I also attended a few parties. 

3.) What's your favorite BEA memory?

I saw John Green in the hallway and had a fan-girl moment. I didn't say anything to him, because I'm rather shy, but I think he could see everything I was feeling right there in my eyes. 

4.) What's one thing you wish you had done at BEA?

I wish there had been more time to meet with other Simon Pulse authors, independent booksellers, and YA bloggers. It all goes by so fast, and it's such a huge event. I'm just happy to have had a chance to experience it. 

5.) What was your favorite thing to do while in NYC?

What isn't? Mostly, I like to visit S'MAC in the East Village, which is only the best macaroni and cheese eat spot ever. I recommend the Alpine! Delicious.   http://smacnyc.com

6.) Would you go again if you had the option?

Of course! It's an amazing event. I'd go over and over and over again. 

7.) Would you go back to BEA without a title being showcased?

(See above.)

8.) Anything you wanted to add that I didn't ask about your experience as an author at BEA?

Nope!

A huge thank you to Carmen for agreeing to this interview! It was great getting to talk to her and hear about her experiences. I will be sure to visit S'MAC in the near future.

BEABlitz: HarperCollins

Today I have an extra special treat, and I am so sorry that it so late coming. With it being Mother's Day, the day sort of got away from me. (I also spent the week scrambling to get my mom a gift because HBO messed up her gift, so there was that too.) Either way, today I have an interview with one of the loveliest people I know at HarperCollins. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to name names, so to avoid that I'm just going to call her Ms. Wonderful from here on out. I actually met Ms. Wonderful at BEA last year, and we had a great conversation about the influence of mormonism on YA, and so many interesting conversations. So thank you to her for this interview!

1.) How many years have you attended BEA?

This will be my third BEA with HarperCollins Children’s Books / HarperTeen. And in case you’re wondering, even after three years of working for a publisher, the grabby hands impulse to collect as many ARCs as possible doesn’t go away.

2.) How would you compare BEA to other book conferences/events?

I actually haven’t attended a lot of book conferences, but I imagine BEA is any other book conference on steroids. It’s huge and fantastic.

3.) Any suggestions for how bloggers/librarians should approach publishers at BEA? 

Clear eyes, full hearts? Honestly, it all depends on what your goals are in approaching publishers. If you want galleys, then stick to the published times for giveaways or signings. If you’re looking for information, then ask away, but know the person you speak to might not be able to give you the perfect answer at that moment – be polite, leave a card (write your specific query on the back so we’re sure to remember), and almost assuredly that person will forward your question to someone who can answer you via email. If you’re just looking to make contacts, great! We’re often doing a lot when we’re in the booth, so if you just want to talk about exciting new books with us, try to find the times when we’re not running around for an in-booth event.  Obviously not every person working a publisher’s booth can get you galleys or author contacts, but it’s always good to present yourself as a smart, passionate book person. Again, leave your card, ask for the cards of those you speak to, and follow-up afterwards with a “great to meet you!” email. We definitely remember the people we meet and we’re always delighted to meet more book people.

4.) How much planning goes into an event like this for you and your staff?

Some groups start planning the next BEA before the current one has even begun. I work in the marketing department and we plan months in advance – publicity and marketing work very hard on cultivating a list of authors that will attend, creating materials we’ll need for distribution, printing galleys for signing and giveaways, determining if there will be other giveaways or in-booth moments, and creating booth schedules.

5.) Are there any titles from HarperTeen or imprints you're excited will be at BEA this year?

One of the best parts of working at a big publisher like HarperCollins is the sheer number of fantastic books we have in any given season. As far as debuts go, I am really excited for everyone to read FIND ME by Romily Bernard, and I’d say that even if I wasn’t working on it. The book is a great thriller and she’s a fabulous up-and-coming debut with a sharp sense of humor. Definitely make time to meet Romily, she’s signing. HE SAID, SHE SAID is from Kwame Alexander and it’s a great YA title that has a fantastic message of social responsibility and activism in today’s digital age set against a storyline of school funding budget cuts in a diverse school.  Kwame is also going to be signing.  THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING and HOW TO LOVE are sure to make fans of all who read them.  As far as middle grade goes, I’m a huge fan of THE VERY NEARLY HONORABLE LEAGUE OF PIRATES: MAGIC MARKS THE SPOT by Caroline Carlson. She has a wonderful new middle grade voice and I’m so delighted that this book is getting raves from everyone who reads it. Caroline is delightful. Sherry Thomas is breaking in to YA with THE BURNING SKY and I utterly loved it. It was one of those books that made me frustrated that I read it so far in advance of the pub date because I’ve got that much longer to wait for the next one! And you can never go wrong with Walter Dean Myers, whose latest book, DARIUS & TWIG, is just phenomenal.  I could keep going on and on.

6.) What is your favorite part about attending BEA?

Books. Books, books, books, book people, book conversations, book love, book signings, book parties, aching arms and shoulders from carrying too many books. Everyone complains about hauling themselves out to the Javitz and my feet might kill at the end of each day, but I really love BEA. This time, my birthday is that weekend (June 1^st) so it will feel doubly hectic, but I’m happy to share my birthday spotlight with great new books. 

BEA ARC Etiquette

So with the count down to BEA well on its way, it's time to talk about whats going to happen. When you go there are going to be so many books there, there are going to be BOOKS EVERYWHERE, its really hard to imagine if you haven't been there before. When considering that you're going to be getting all these books and things there are a lot of things that need to be considered.

1. Don’t be greedy  

You see all these fancy book and you think,”OMG FREE BOOKS I THINK THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING.” and then you take the shiny book sitting there on the counter thinking that you’ll read it. Along with the 50 others that you thought you might be interested in. Fast forward 6 months and you’re still drowning in books. I’ve read about 45 books out of my 200ish books that I grabbed. Currently, I still have a little less than 100 to read because a lot of them I realized I wasn’t interested in. I also went with my mom who saw free things and just grabbed them. I only just managed to get rid of a frisbee that she got...

Anyway, my point is that take it only if you’re really going to read it because if you aren’t I’m sure someone else that is there does want it, and does want to check it out. This event isn’t just for Bloggers, there are librarians who are going who are going to be making decisions about what books to buy. (also other people like booksellers and publicists and so many more people.

2. Don’t get nasty with others. 

Hannah pointed out in another post about a group of girls that divided and conquered and grabbed books for one another. I will admit that I was part of that group. We couldn’t all be in once place at the same time, and so rather than have to miss out on a book that we really wanted we made it work between all of us. Maybe I’m just oblivious, but I must have missed all the dirty looks that people gave us for doing that. You never know who is there grabbing books or why they are. Am I going to deny that there are people that grab books solely for their personal gain? No way. (Just see number 1 AND 3) But also realize, you're going to be getting so many more books! Don't get upset about the ones you missed, enjoy the ones you got!

3. No selling ARCS.  

If you’ve read any of Hannah’s posts you saw that it can be really frustrating to see books that wind up on Swap Group when you were there and it was a book you missed and then these people had multiples just for the swapability. That really sucks, but at the same time, its going to bloggers who are hopefully going to read and review the book and help promote it.

So after BEA last year, not sure why, but I check E-Bay. No clue why, women’s intuition maybe? But someone was selling all of their BEA ARCS saying “RIGHT FROM BEA!” In the title. Books by Deborah Harkness (which I was bummed that I missed) or The Diviners by Libba Bray. All hot titles, all on Ebay. That shit just ain’t right. Not only is it unfair to the people that paid to go to this and wanted those books, but its also against everything that ARCS are.

4. Pay it forward.

Its okay if you do wind up with an extra ARC, Its going to happen, and don’t fret. I had stopped by the HMH booth to see if they had any more copies of The Last Dragonslayer because I had missed it during the day, and it turned out that they didn’t. As I went to my mother to tell her this, a woman had overheard me and pulled the book out of her bag and told me she had an extra and that I could have her copy. I was so appreciative that I couldn’t find words.

At one point I grabbed an extra ARC for my friend who was in the hall because she really wanted it and I wanted to make sure that she got it. She wound up getting a copy of it for herself and so there I was with 2 extra’s (because another friend also had it who I had grabbed one for). So while waiting in line, I wound up chatting up a girl that was there as a Power Reader on the last day. She was telling me about how she missed getting Fathomless by Jackson Pearce because she didn’t know how Galley drops and things worked when she got there. So, I reached into my bag and said “I wound up with these extra’s, here you go.” I gave my two extra’s to her and her friend. Its going to happen, and the more nice things you see happen at BEA the better off everyone is going to be.

While this wasn't part of #BEABlitz, it has everything to do with BEA which is why you can see our fancy banner!

BEABlitz: Librarian Edition

I know, I know, I have two in a row, but thats because I switched days with Lexie because she had a blog tour and I did too, so thats where we're at. Today we have Audrey from Bibliosaurus Text, she is a librarian so she gets to offer another different view on BEA. Again, thank you to Hannah for helping me set this interview up. Don't know what I would do without her.

1.) How many years have you attended BEA?

I attended last year and the year before.


2.) What's your best advice for someone going for the first time?

Go with a list of things you want to see and do, but be flexible. I like to  have a plan, but that plan will inevitably change as I see other cool things or am just too tired to keep it up. Also, ship your books every day instead of saving it all for the final day, like I did the first year I went. I nearly died struggling with all those books up the stairs of the post office. Bring your own tape for shipping, too, because it tends to sell out.

3.) What's the craziest thing you've seen happen?

I haven't seen too much crazy at BEA, other than the mad rush people will sometimes get into. Seriously, I don't run on my own time, and I won't run for a book. When all's said and done, I can always buy it or check it out from the library later.


4.) What is your favorite BEA memory?

I have three favorite moments from last year. I got to meet R.L. Stine and tell him how much I loved his comedy books he wrote as Jovial Bob Stine. He seemed genuinely touched and surprised, and said that he wanted to write comedy, but nobody else wanted him to. I just wanted to hug the heck out of him. I also got to meet John Green *swoon*, and at one point found myself up against his back in a crowd. I didn't realize who he was until he turned around. I also got Libba Bray to give me a high five. Other than that, it's been amazing to finally meet bloggers (like Hannah) in person. I also really enjoyed being able to see Random House's office at their incredible Power Readers breakfast last year. I felt like a VIP.

5.) What are the benefits of a librarians attending an event like BEA?

I think librarians who can't afford to go to ALA are still able to get the exhibits experience and time with publishers and other members of the industry. BEA seems to be reaching out to librarians, so there's a lounge on the floor that's librarian only, and networking can take place there. I also think BEA is great for public and school librarians who have vastly limited budgets.

BEABlitz: Danny from Bewitching Bookworms

Now, I have to thank Hannah for this interview with Danny from Bewitching Bookworms. You may have noticed that I've been somewhat absent for the past few months. Sure! My blog keeps posting, but I've started a new job and so I've hardly had time to really focus on the blog, and Hannah helped me get this review because she has seen me go from being all there to hardly being there at all. She set up this interview with Danny, and man do I wish I had because she sounds like a really awesome chick.

1.) How many years have you attended BEA?

2011 was the first year I attended so this will be my third year. 

2.) You travel quite a ways to get to BEA each year! Why did you decide to make the trek?

Since I’m living in Germany, I do not have the chance to meet so many authors. I realized that I needed to be there too. When I started Book Blogging in 2010 I saw all these post from people who were going to BEA and I knew one day BEA would be a perfect opportunity to meet these amazing authors, get into contact with publishers and meet other Bloggers. I felt like at some point I need to see why everyone is so excitedly talking about this event. And then.. the following year, I decided to just go and see for myself. Needless to say I wasn’t disappointed as I am now going for the third time :) 

3.) How do you handle getting everything you get home without spending a fortune?

Unfortunately I cannot send a package full of books home as all the people from the US usually do. If I would send all the books home to Germany it would truly cost a fortune. Just calculate for yourself, sending one book is already $15, so sending 60 books?!?! So I bring a second suitcase. This serves also two purposes. First, I can take this second smaller bag and bring it every day to BEA so that I do not have to carry all the books the whole day (My back and neck thanks me!) and I fill up this suitcase and just check it in as an second bag. You just have to check first with your airline, because some do only allow one checked in bag. 

4.) What's your favorite BEA memory?

OoOooo I have so many! From first year BEA it was definitely meeting Jenny from Supernatural Snark. We were reading each others blog but when we met in person at BEA it was love at first sight. Then, the same

year we went to have coffee with Michelle Hodkins who was made of awesome! Also meeting Julie Kagawa was just amazing! I was such a big fan and I couldn’t believe it when she even remembered my name! Big Awesome Moment! 

Then last year, my favorite moment was meeting Katie McGarry! I just read an ARC from Pushing The Limits before flying to BEA. then the first night on twitter Julie Kagawa tweeted that they were at their hotel and whoever was nearby should just come by and have a drink with them. So, that’s what we did and then we had some wine with Julie and Katie and just chatted! This is an evening I will never forget! 

5.) What advice would you give to someone going to BEA for the first time from another country?

I think it doesn’t matter if you are from the US or from somewhere accross the world, my main advice is having fun. You should make a (preliminary) plan which authors you want to see, but don’t stress too much but instead go with the flow. I love most just wandering around at BEA, talking to Bloggers, Publishers and Authors. 

And… talk to the people around you especially when standing in line! Be social, and network! Often you might know the blogger, I mean in the end when they are standing in line they might love the same books! I just love these moments and meet tons of awesome people! 

So thank you to Hannah for setting this particular interview up and Danny for joining me today!

BEABlitz: Author Sarah J. Maas

I can't even tell you how excited I am about today's interview. I'm actually lucky because Lexie wanted to interview her as well and because I was dragging my feet to send out questions, she threatened to take her from me. There's actually more back story from last year, my first year at BEA, Lex and I were PUMPED to to meet Miss Sarah J. Maas. We actually harassed her so much on Twitter, but still was very excited to meet us when it came to BEA. She was gracious and wonderful, and there is no way that I'm not going to be one of the first on her line this year.

1.) Was 2012 your first time attending BEA? If not, when was the first time?

Yep! 2012 was my first time—and what a magical whirlwind it was!

2.) What did you do when not signing books?

I wandered the floor (so many books!), met up with a bunch of people, attended some panels featuring my friends (three of them were BEA Buzz Books!), and drank a LOT of coffee.

Sarah & I at BEA12

3.) What's your favorite BEA memory?

Ummm, probably walking into the green room on the way to my signing, seeing a huge line, and being told that all those people were there to get copies of Throne of Glass. I still get a bit teary-eyed whenever I think about it!

4.) What's one thing you wish you had done at BEA?

Attended more panels from authors/industry professionals. And I wish I’d had a chance to sit down and chat with some more lovely bloggers. <3

5.) What was your favorite thing to do while in NYC?

Well, I grew up in NYC and my parents still live in Manhattan, so I’d say my favorite thing to do while in NYC is to just go to all my favorite food places (Pizza! Bagels!). And if I have time, I always try to catch an ABT ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House.

6.) Would you go again if you had the option? 

YES! Absolutely. I met so many amazing people and had such a great time! 

7.) Would you go back to BEA without having a title showcased?

See above! (Answer: YESSSS!)

8.) Anything you wanted to add that I didn't ask about your experience as an author at BEA?

Ummm… Wear comfortable shoes! (Seriously). Bring band-aids (for either your feet or someone else’s mangled toes), and be sure to drink lots of water! Also—though it can be overwhelming (the size of the floor, the number of people), don’t be shy: BEA is a GREAT opportunity to meet people from every part of the industry, so don’t hesitate to strike up conversation (especially if you’re waiting in line)!

9.) Will you be coming again this year?

Yes! I don’t have details yet about what I’ll be doing (events/signings/etc.), but I will definitely be there!

Sarah is going to be coming again to BEA with the sequel to Throne of Glass. She will be signing Crown of Midnight on Thursday, May 30 at 1PM. You will also be able to find her floating around with her good friends Kat Zhang, Susan Dennard or Erin Bowman. (Or any number of people for that fact.) I can't even begin to tell you my excitement to see her again! A Big Thank you to Sarah for joining me on the #BEABlitz Journey!

BEA Blitz: Lili from Lili's Reflections

Joining me today is Lili from Lili's Reflections. Lil has been a dear friend of my for the past few months, and I've sort of taken her under my wing, and we're going to BEA together. I've wanted to include her in this even though she hasn't gone because there is nothing like the perspective of someone who is going for the first time.

When did you first find out about BEA?

So, I created my blog on May 17 and had no idea what BEA was, but shortly after creating my blog my newsfeed was swarmed with a ton of posts about BEA, about the books they got there, the people they met, the experience as a whole. In truth, I was green with envy because the event as a whole sounded so amazing. I dreamed of being able to attend this year and my parents decided to make it a reality by giving me the trip as my graduation gift. I'm so excited. I don't know if I'll ever be able to attend again in the future, but I certainly won't take this opportunity for granted.

What are you looking forward to most?

I'm looking forward to the event as a whole. I don't have many bookish friends in my area or in my life directly, so I'm excited to enter a world where everyone is the same as me. We're all nuts, we all love books, we all can't get enough. Sign me up! <3

What book are you looking forward to most?

Oh, gosh. This is honestly the hardest question you could ask of me ever. There are too many to name. I'm definitely looking forward to ANTIGODDESS by Kendare Blake. Just read the book's premise because I am so freaking excited for it. And then there's THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLD TOWN which is by Holly Black. I've read several of her books and loved them all, so I have really high expectations for this one. FRIGID by J. Lynn is a new adult written by Jennifer L. Armentrout who has never steered me wrong and SANCTUM #2 by Sarah Fine entitled FRACTURED. Sarah is not only one of my best author friends, but she's one of my favorites as well. SANCTUM completely blew me away and I've been awaiting the release of its sequel for over a year. If you haven't checked out SANCTUM, I highly recommend doing so.

What are you hoping to accomplish at BEA?

I'm really looking to network in all honesty. I want to meet other bloggers and make new friends. I want to meet my author friends that I have yet to meet and make new author friends. I want to look at the publishing booths and talk to the individuals there, especially since I am pursuing a dual degree to get a Masters of Science in Publishing in NYC beginning next year. And, of course, I'm sort of dying to get my hands on a few specific books haha There are always some bookish perks.

What are you going to be doing while not at BEA?

I'm going to be sleeping... lol Not really. While not at BEA I'm going to be spending time with the people I'm rooming with and sorting through the amazing pile of books I will hopefully accumulate. I may even be stupid enough to forget what little sleep I can get during the event in order to read one. (But I really hope I'm not that stupid).

How much planning are you putting into BEA?

I've been very lucky in the sense that my BEA big sister has been doing 90% of my planning for me haha I'm still trying ot understand the author signings chart and such, but I'm doing my best to create my own little schedule to adhere to while there. Either way, I still feel like I'll be extremely overwhelmed in the best possible way and go off on my own tangent.

Can't you just feel her excitement? Be sure to check out Hannah's post tomorrow!

BEA Blitz

Today is the day that I get real with you peeps. For months now, Hannah The Irish Banana, Lexie from Poisoned Rationality and myself have plotting and planning about how excited we are for BEA. We have been talking about it, texting about it, tweeting, and facebooking about it (often all at the same time) since they let you register in December.) Along the way we decided that to help people get as pumped as we have been since December, we should do a series of posts where we all talk about BEA and why its so great.

We have interviews with authors and publishers. We have posts about what to expect and what to do. Better yet, WE HAVE ANSWERS. I know that there are some burning questions that you have been dying to ask, well, this is your chance to ask them of us, so DO IT.

For me this is the first time that I have really had time to blog since I started my job back in January. Sadly, my job has been really time consuming (as the real world can be) so having the time to sit down and do this has been hard, but it is my hope that I will sit there and talk about BEA and then I will get sucked back into this world, and well...you know the rest.

The schedule is top secret, but you can look forward to interviews or BEA related posts for all of the month of May. If you want to ask us a question about BEA or just to share how excited you are about the event, Tweet at us, and be sure to use #BEABlitz and get excited, because we sure are!