New year, new chapter: I’ve thrown my hat back into the ring for Frankfurt Book Fair 2025, filed my press accreditation after many years away, and I’m buzzing with equal parts anticipation and nostalgia—plus a dash of “security brain” to keep this blog and my gear safe on the show floor.
Counting down to Frankfurt Book Fair 2025
October in Frankfurt has a particular hum to it—a blend of languages, trolley wheels over concrete, and the quiet electricity of people discovering their next favorite book. I’ve missed that feeling, the one you only get when you step into a hall crammed with stories and the people who make them. Booking travel and sketching out a light itinerary has already nudged my routine into “fair mode”: walkable shoes, spare batteries, and a mind open to serendipity.
This blog has always been a mix of general reflections, tech notes, and the occasional deep dive into security. Covering a book fair through that lens feels right. I’m keen to report on what’s new in publishing while also sharing the “how” of moving through a massive event safely and sanely—both for attendees and for the digital footprints we drag along behind us.
Part of the countdown is sorting out a fair-friendly workflow: camera on RAW+JPEG for quick uploads, notes app with offline fallback, and a tagging scheme that will make sense later when the adrenaline fades. I’m even dusting off a modest interview kit—tiny mic, backup SD cards, and a checklist that keeps the tech out of the way of the conversation.
And yes, the security checklist is taped to the inside of my bag: device updates before I travel, minimal permissions on apps, no auto-join Wi‑Fi, hardware keys for account logins, and a copy of the press docs that reveals as little personal info as possible if it goes missing. The plan is simple—tell good stories, keep the gear boring and secure, and leave with more insights than receipts.
First accreditation in years—so many good memories
The last time I was accredited feels like another era. I remember the long corridors, the Rights Centre buzz, and that moment you look down from a gallery and realize just how big the world of books really is. Somewhere in the crush of hallways and coffee lines, I caught the bug for this fair’s peculiar rhythm: brisk mornings, luminous afternoons, and a golden-hour calm when the booths exhale.
Some of my favorite memories are tiny ones: a spontaneous chat that turned into a year-long correspondence, a proof copy slipped across a counter with a conspiratorial wink, the map scribbles that led me to a debut I still recommend. Those little encounters stretched my reading life in directions I couldn’t have predicted—and that’s the magic I’m hoping to tap into again.
Back then, my blog was more raw notes than edited features, and my security habits were… let’s say less mature. Today, the editorial stance is clearer: accessible posts for readers who love books, offset by practical pieces about staying safe at events and online. I’ve learned that good coverage is as much about preparation and ethics as it is about being in the right aisle at the right time.
Accreditation itself has changed; the forms are crisper, the criteria more defined, and the verification steps feel more rigorous (which I appreciate). I’m careful about what ID copies I share, how I transmit them, and where they live afterward. The memory is warm; the approach is wiser. I want to honor the fair’s openness while modeling the kind of data hygiene I wish I’d practiced years ago.
Press-pass pending: hoping for Thu–Sat access
I’ve submitted the application and now I’m in that mildly suspenseful limbo where every inbox refresh feels like fortune-telling. I’ve made the case for coverage that blends book-world reporting with practical, people-first security guidance—short interviews, floor impressions, and a few behind-the-scenes notes on managing devices and data in busy spaces. If the pass comes through, I’ll hit the ground ready.
My ideal window is Thu–Sat: Thursday for trade conversations when the halls are still navigable; Friday for deeper follow-ups and photo work; Saturday to catch the public energy and see which titles are buzzing beyond the booths. It’s a sweet spot for both professional access and community vibe—enough time to listen, not so much that you become part of the background noise.
I’ve built two schedules: one if the press pass is approved and one if I need to pivot. Either way, I’ll keep the coverage practical and kind, focusing on people, books, and useful details that help readers plan their own visit. Even without a badge, there’s so much story in the in-between spaces—queue chats, pop-up readings, and the quiet corners where tired feet and fresh pages meet.
And yes, the “security stuff” threads through it all. If accredited, I’ll respect the fair’s media guidelines, confirm consent before photos or quotes, and store recordings in encrypted vaults. If not, the principle holds. Part of what I want this blog to do is model good behavior in public tech spaces: fewer shortcuts, more intention, and a record that respects the people who make these gatherings worth attending.
Whether the press-pass lands or not, I’m thrilled to be pointing my compass toward Frankfurt again—older, hopefully wiser, and still hungry for the spark that happens when a great book finds its reader; see you in October, badge or no badge, with a notebook in one hand and a sensible security plan in the other.