One of the notable "only in New York" events that occurred during this year’s BookExpo America was a Circle Line boat trip around Manhattan. The cruise included an emotional view of the Statue of Liberty and the site of the World Trade Center attack.

The boat trip was co-hosted by the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA) and the American Booksellers Association, with many co-sponsors. NAIBA immediate past president Fern Jaffe, of Paperbacks Plus in the Bronx, New York, played a major role in organizing the event.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the trade floor at this year's BEA, independent booksellers made time to attend panels on May 4 that were aimed at helping them market themselves better within their communities.

By Robin F. Whitten

Publishers did a lot of listening at the pre-BookExpo America (BEA) APAC conference sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association (APA). Six programs with topics ranging from new formats to the Hispanic market to a three-session Audio Publishing 101 filled the day for more than 280 members of the audiobook industry.

Ann Christophersen

This year’s Town Hall Meeting was filled with positive and constructive comments from attending booksellers.

This year’s African-American programming provided both a larger business vision and tried-and-true ideas to help booksellers maintain their businesses in a changing marketplace. The conference also boasted a variety of authors, both up-and-coming and well-established.

In an atmosphere described by attendees as buoyant and energized, greater numbers of booksellers and industry professionals than in recent years returned to New York for the city's first national booksellers trade show in over a decade. Scheduling considerations placed the show a full month earlier than usual, but few complained about an early spring visit to New York, particularly when the weather turned perfectly sunny and balmy and so many unique activities were within reach.

Attendance figures for BookExpo America, held from May 1-5 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, were announced on May 9.

The final total attendance figure was 31,726. Convention officials note that this number includes 2,167 day badges, which were not available at the convention in Chicago in 2001. Total attendance without the day passes in 2002 was 29,559. Total attendance last year in Chicago was 21,898.

Gay and lesbian publishing has come a long way in recent years. Now, more then ever, referring to a title as a gay and/or lesbian book is often an inadequate description, just as someone’s gay or lesbian identity doesn’t fully define who he or she is. Consider what Dan Cullinane, marketing manager of Alyson Publications, had to say at this year’s BookExpo America at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City: "What we’re aiming for are books that have gay and lesbian content, but aren’t limited in any way, shape, or form to that market.

C-SPAN’s BookTV was busy at this year’s BookExpo America, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City from May 1-5.

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) has announced that it is extending its online auction and adding many autographed items from BookExpo America, including concert posters signed by the Rock Bottom Remainders -- Stephen King, Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson, Amy Tan, Mitch Albom, and Kathi Kamen Goldmark. The Remainders performed at New York's Webster Hall on Saturday, May 4.