Galleys to Grab at BEA

Every year I try to get to BookExpo America (except when it's in LA; I just have no desire to go there, really) to see the latest that the publishing industry has to offer. And every year, just before the show, Publishers Weekly has a lengthy preview article that lists, among other things, "galleys to grab." So the title of my post isn't just me being greedy, rude, or facetious. Although sometimes the rush to grab copies of extremely popular or well-publicized upcoming books can resemble a feeding frenzy...

Fortunately, some of the galley-grabbing is done in a more civilized manner - by having attendees wait in line. BEA posted their autographing schedule this week. This is the part of the program in which authors get the chance to buzz their current or upcoming books by signing copies and giving them away to attendees. (Everything is free, though for these special autographing sessions, BEA asks for a $1 donation that goes to a literary charity.) Here are some historical titles that I plan to pick up copies of at the show.

On the traditional autographing schedule:

Helen Rosburg, The Dream Thief (Dec 05) - Medallion Press. A paranormal historical thriller, from what I've read.
Hope Tarr, Vanquished (Jul 06) - also Medallion. The schedule doesn't give a description, but here's a summary. Quite the provocative cover.
Tom Franklin, Smonk (Aug 06) - Morrow. "A Quentin Tarantino-esque novel set in 1900s Alabama." Curious title.
Victoria Lustbader, Hidden (Jun 06) - Tor/Forge. Described as "an epic family saga of power and passion!" Why the exclamation point, I don't know. It would have been more helpful if they described it more like this, unless they're trying to promote it like a Dynasty of the 1920s.
Eleanor Herman, Sex with the Queen (Jun 06) - Morrow. Nonfiction title about royal sex scandals and habits. This was the most popular title on the latest HNR review book availability list.
Karleen Koen, Dark Angels (Sep 06) - Crown. Prequel to Through a Glass Darkly; a sweeping epic set in Restoration England.
Deanna Raybourn, Silent in the Grave (Jan 07) - Harlequin. "A wholly original mystery set in Victorian England."
David L. Robbins, The Assassins' Gallery (Aug 06) - Bantam. "Tale of suspense during WWII."
Jed Rubenfeld, The Interpretation of Murder (Sep 06) - Henry Holt. "Historical debut thriller featuring two murdered heiresses, Freud, and NYC in 1909."
Kathleen McGowan, The Expected One (Aug 06) - Touchstone. "Heroine searches for gospel written by her ancestor, Mary Magdalene."
Sena Jeter Naslund, Abundance (Oct 06) - Morrow. Novel of Marie Antoinette.
Laura Malone Elliott, Give Me Liberty (Sep 06) - HarperCollins. "Gripping historical about a young indentured servant in colonial Virginia."
Laura Esquivel, Malinche (May 06) - Atria. Cortes and Malinalli in 16th century Mexico.
Judith Geary, Getorix: The Eagle and the Bull (June 06) - Claystone. Judy had some very early galleys available of this at the HNS conference last April. Celtic adventure in ancient Rome.

Autographing at publishers' booths is listed separately, but this is plenty of typing for now.

p.s. As for LA - expensive and long flights from middle-of-nowhere central Illinois, plus I generally avoid flying anywhere south of here past May. But have a conference there in mid-winter, and I'll consider it.