We have a mystery blogger writing live from BEA. Here is his (or her) first post:

"NEW YORK CITY -Operating under the thunderheads of bad pub – the New York Times and the AP practically sitting shiva for traditional publishing  in recent days – Book Expo America is still a stunning display of supply and demand for the written word.  

The Javits Center on the Hudson waterfront is overrun by publishers and writers and distributors of books in the industry’s biggest annual show.  So what if they’re selling a few digits fewer than they were a year ago. 

This acreage of books is a constant reminder that the marketplace of ideas is the biggest of them all.

For example, last night, Wednesday, was an opening presentation by Clarence “The Big Man” Clemons for his forthcoming book,  eponymously titled, of his  experiences with Springsteen and the E Street Band.   He played his solo from “Thunder Road” and wore gold nail polish and handed out an excerpt from the book that reveals the origin of the E Street name.   Sorry, but a good entertainer leaves his audience wanting more.  

Then this morning, I’m checking out the vast array of publishers, the United Arab Emirates to the University of Nebraska,  winner, by the way, of ForeWord magazine’s award for the Independent Publisher of the Year.   Reading  the new titles alone can satisfy a reader’s jones for a while.   The Devil in the Holy Water, or the Art of Slander in France from Louis XIV to Napoleon,  University of Pennsylvania Press.     Redneck Haiku (Double-Wide Edition) from Santa Monica Press gives you this example:

First spring barbecue

Clyde thaws last winter’s road kill

From Rosie’s deep-freeze.

Best freebie of the day:   The World That Made New Orleans, From Spanish Silver to Congo Square, autographed by Ned Sublette, who’s related to, but not descended from, the great 19th Century mountain man. 

Reminds me of a quote from Ringo in A Hard Day’s Night: Books are good"

Who is our mystery guest blogger? Submit your guess as a comment,  and the first correct submission will win a copy of Lights on a Ground of Darkness by Ted Kooser. Good luck!

Thanks to Firebrand and NetGalley for the internet connection!