A bookish extravaganza hits LA this week, as the book industry attends Book Expo America at the Los Angeles Convention Center this Thursday through Sunday. While the expo is for publishers, booksellers, educators, librarians, agents and other industry professionals, (it's not a public event like the LA Times Festival of Books), LA booklovers will benefit from the hundreds of authors that are scheduled to sign their books this week in venues all over town.

From romance writers and famous chefs to literary novelists and political insiders, this conference brings together authors of all types. Last year's BEA boasted 37,000 attendees and they expect this year's number to swell to new heights. What does it mean for us? Great author signings in town (listed in tomorrow's Get Your Lit On) and a bookish frenzy at the convention center. If you see thousands of people wandering the downtown streets with matching book bags that are jammed full of just-out-hardbacks or heatedly discussing the best ways to market a book, you'll know why.

Photo of a book booth at the Geneva Book Fair by timtom.ch via Flickr