In response to the success of the Bookseller/Publisher Focus Groups at Wi8, ABA has arranged for a series of focus group meetings to be held during BookExpo America. Booksellers who are interested in meeting with publishers to discuss issues of common interest and mutual concern must sign up by May 3.

Monday, April 15, is the last chance for the owners and staff at ABA member stores to cast their ballots for the 2013 Indies Choice Book Awards and the E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards. Every bookseller at an ABA member store is encouraged to vote.

Tickets for the annual Children’s Book Art Silent Auction & Reception at BookExpo America are on sale now. In addition to remarkable art from new books, this year’s auction will feature pieces created in honor of Maurice Sendak, who mentored and inspired so many artists and fought vigorously against efforts to censor In the Night Kitchen.

To help ensure booksellers have voted on all ballots, registered for all programs, and reserved tickets for all events they want to attend in the upcoming months, here is a list of eight important deadlines.

Publishers request dismissal of booksellers’ lawsuit; BEA Blogger Conference to feature Will Schwalbe, Randi Zuckerberg; SBA and AARP host National Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Month; National Book Awards judges include indie booksellers; University of Nebraska Press acquires Potomac Books; Arthur Frommer takes brand back; Penguin lessens restrictions on eBooks for libraries; Hugo Award finalists announced

At Winter Institute 8, veteran booksellers Barbara Theroux of Fact & Fiction and Bill Cusumano of Nicola’s Books joined Other Press Associate Publisher Paul Kozlowski and BEA Event Director Steve Rosato to give actionable advice on the best strategies for tackling BookExpo America.

Winter Institute 8’s Bookseller/Publisher Focus Groups received rave reviews from both booksellers and publishers. Now, ABA is inviting booksellers to sign up by May 3 to meet with publishers to discuss issues of common interest and mutual concern at BookExpo America 2013.

Voting to choose this year’s winners of the Indies Choice  and E.B. White awards is open to the owners and staff at all ABA member bookstores until April 15. The deadline to reserve a spot at the ABA’s Celebration of Bookselling and Authors Awards Lunch is May 10.

ABFFE and the ABC Children’s Group at ABA are seeking donations of original art for the 2013 Children’s Book Art Silent Auction and Reception at BEA.  This year’s event will be on Wednesday evening, May 29, and will be hosted by bestselling authors Jack Gantos and Lauren Myracle.

The ABC Children’s Group at ABA is once again partnering with the Children’s Book Council to host several events at BookExpo America that are open exclusively to ABC Group member booksellers. Designed to promote networking and education, the events all have a special focus on children’s books and bookselling.