In the land of the line up...who draws the biggest crowd?

Posted by Marci Hotsenpiller May 31, 2008

Here at BookExpo there is action in the trade show aisles with book publishers, agents and authors working the floor and there are also a range of great education seminars. But the real excitement in the crowd is definitely focused on the celebrity writers who appear to promote their latest work. Heads turn and crowds form here during the signing sessions. Yesterday it was Brooke Shields signing her new baby book, and Slash from the Guns and Roses that drew crowds (along with Neil Gaiman, Joan Collins, Cheech Marin, Diahann Carroll, and Judy Blume).

Who has been the biggest draw? Salman Rushdie by far. Tickets for his autographing session this morning were all snatched up before 10amand the lineups for his table stretched to 200 metres long. Is it the chance for a brush with fame or simply the extra value that a signed copy can demand with book lovers and collectors? Either way it’s sweet way to build an interesting library with a twist.

-- Marci